22 Jun
2025
22 Jun
'25
2 p.m.
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 steven(a)malikoff.com steven--- via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> wrote:
On 06/21/2025
11:47 PM AEST Gavin Scott via cctalk <
cctalk(a)classiccmp.org> 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.