If toggling the laser isn't doable, then you could use a shutter. If the
shutter can't handle the heat, then a mirror that deflects the beam.
On Sun, 22 Jun 2025, Wayne S via cctalk wrote:
I think you could get around any potential damage by running the tape between 2
thin flat pieces of metal that had holes drilled vertically that lined up with
the laser. Would have to determine what power laser was needed, if you needed
more than one laser to get speed — maybe one for each hole. Also would have to
have a way to toggle the laser on and off. Would have to get a laser that could
be toggled, most are made to be run continuously. Even pulsed are almost
continuous. Maybe figure out a way to block the light instead of turning it
off. The logic would be easier with a toggle.
You made me think about this a lor😀
Sent from my iPhon>
On Jun 22, 2025, at 14:16, Wayne S <[email protected]> wrote:
Laser would catch the mylar on fire or melt it at least, i’m thinking.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 22, 2025, at 14:09, Anders Nelson via cctalk <[email protected]>
wrote:
I would love to see someone create a galvo-laser system for punching
paper/mylar tape. On Aliexpress you can get a galvo set for (all prices
USD) ~$30, a 10W laser head for $40, and I expect making a stepper-motor
driven capstan wouldn't be too hard for someone with the time. Then add a
low-speed fan attached to a 3D printed tape guide with a slit for chad
suction/collection and fume exhaust. Not sure what kind of anvil/platform
you need for a laser beam - maybe just the uncoated side of a ceramic floor
tile sitting at an angle in the chad chute to absorb the laser energy, with
the platform having a void sized for the punching area.
I imagine the whole thing could be pretty compact and wicked fast!
--
Anders Nelson
www.andersknelson.com
On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 9:24 AM [email protected] steven--- via cctalk <
[email protected]> wrote:
On 06/21/2025 11:47 PM AEST Gavin Scott via cctalk <
[email protected]> wrote:
A paper-tape reader is easy enough, just something where you manually
pull the tape past an optical reader etc.
I have a ~cheap diode laser cutter and on my someday get around to it
list is to write a paper tape "punch" program that will cut a one foot
strip of punched paper tape out of a larger piece of paper, with the
possibility of using a roll of paper and manually advance it a foot at
a time using the sprocket holes and some pins for alignment.
I wrote a tool to make 5-level Baudot, 8-level ASCII, Whirlwind, chadless
etc. paper tape using a home CNC vinyl/stencil cutter
https://github.com/1944GPW/ptap2dxf
I saw another similar utility on Hackaday that uses a laser, but it did
not have as many format options.
https://hackaday.com/2025/01/29/paper-tape-with-lasers/
Steve.
