Dan Gelbart laser center

A laser center for locating work on a mill or drill press, based on a video by Dan Gelbert.

Based in part on previous work at https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:2980992

Original video: 

The STL is currently sized to what parts I had, and to the keyless chuck on my own machine.

The FreeCAD file is laid out using the “Master Sketch” method with ShapeBinders, so most dimensions should be editable. I used the latest Linkstage3_Asm3 appimage of FreeCAD, but AFAIK this should also work in version ≥ v19.

All screws I used were M3, and the holes are sized to take tapered heat-set threaded inserts, with the exception of the balance hole on the bottom. The hole sizes can be changed and the chamfers changed if necessary.

The ‘spokes’ in the center are printed and kept through the assembly process. Once assembled and wired, I balanced the assembly upside down on a point, and used the provided circle of holes to add M3 screws to static balance the assembly. Only after balancing did I cut the spokes.

Currently, I've roughed in a couple pockets for AAA batteries, but I strongly suggest editing the shape to accomodate a mass-produced battery holder and/or smaller batteries.

Major points:

• 2 degrees of freedom for the laser diode holder
• 3-point contact mounting, with a single set-screw lockdown onto chuck.
• Diode mount does not need to be loosened to remove from chuck.
• laser diode holder is printed in the given orientation so that adjustment is easy without layer lines locking together