Esp32 Burninator
About the project
This project was an excuse to use tiny stepper motors that I found on aliexpress. I've always been fascinated with cnc machines and burning lasers. Something so small cannot cut metal but can burn paper.
Project info
Difficulty: Expert
Platforms: Arduino
Estimated time: 1 day
License: GNU General Public License, version 3 or later (GPL3+)
Story
This project name came from the wonderful Strongbad animations by Homestarrunner and was an excuse to use tiny stepper motors that I found on Aliexpress. I've always been fascinated with cnc machines and burning lasers. Something so small cannot cut metal but can easily burn paper. It has no real practical use since it measures only 1.1”x 2.3” using two linear stepper motors and a DVD burning laser diode.
The top pcb has most of the components of the two boards. Controlling both motors I'm using an oled display, esp32, usb interface chip, stepper motor to control one axis of movement, microSD just in case, power supply bits and a tiny limit switch so the motor will know when it is in the home position.
The bottom pcb only has the other stepper motor driver and limit switch.
The burning laser diode is from a busted dvd drive and to focus the point I removed the lens from a red laser cat toy. For the Arduino sketch I turned off the laser, told the motors to go home until both limit switches are triggered, moved to a print and burned a square.
Video of it in action
Schematics, diagrams and documents
Code
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