Benbox Laser Machines/CO2 Lasers/3D Printers

So almost a year ago I posted this Thread
http://benboxlaser.us/index.php?topic=40.0

and now I finally have one 

After messing with laser for a day I had results like this



So it was on to my first project  (lots of blurry pictures I will try to take more and replace these)

This tabletop is about 30 years old and looked like it, water stains, chipped brown stain etc, Friday I said it is ugly and I sanded the old finish off and decided to use the laser to "enhance" it

It's not fancy, I used a lot of stock pictures

Okay,
I grew up reading adventure stories and watching movies about treasure hunting and exploring far away continents...it was daring and romantic in a way

This table is my Journal and is covered with sketches from our Journey

We start are adventure here; every adventurer needs a compass to point the way



A basic world map is needed to plan our adventure


Are first stop was Paris



along the way we lost are sister ship to a kraken!!



next stop was to a cave structure deep in the snow covered mountains



where we searched for an ancient map of the amazon that led to great treasure, sadly the caves were empty 

we spent a week digging in Greece



Food and wine were great but we were getting low on funds and needed to find treasure

So we left the Mediterranean and

 Our journey continued to Africa as we landed in Cairo



We found a crew and set off on the Nile



We passed the Great pyramids after a few weeks on the river



While searching the Pyramids we found this old map



and we set sail for the Amazon jungle, 2 weeks into the trip we saw many mighty sea creatures, that tried to eat our ships



As we approached the coast we saw "skull mountain" which was on the old map we found!!!



We headed deep into the jungles and found many great pyramids



and many stories of fabulous creatures in the night



after the Dr. deciphered this great wall in the tomb



we found this old treasure map



apparently Volcanoes and adventure really go hand in hand as we saw many on our trek up to the coast



we passed many a crew of various pirates along the way



our adventure continues as we search for long lost relics and treasures



Hardest part was all the different woods arranged in a butcher block, and setting laser up so I could cut where I wanted

I used a couple quick clamps and scrap wood

So last year I gave up on laser because I could not turn power down and with the 5.5w it would just burn through wood and set everything on fire 

So after screwing around with farm stuff, I am back at it and find out that a "fix" is there, namely changing the pin on controller to allow laser adjustment...woo..woop

Last week or so I have been screwing around trying to upload firmware and stuff, no luck at all

biggest issue was the computer was not finding the laser and or com port after moving pin, I could move it back and it picked it up 

I took the controller to work to fiddle with it in spare time, no problems T2 and firmware good to go, come home and nothing 

I had T2 running and G-code written, no connection to laser

This morning it dawned on me!! only 1 difference between work and home...the usb cable, yup, I was using and extension that was known to be good, I swapped it out and hit connect and walla!!! grbl 1.1 is ready and connected to port 9, hit send and laser, smoke and no fire!!!

Garfield cut on power of 100 on cheap pine, 25 shows real good on cheap pine

This cord has this "filter" on it, and it caused all my grief



No only problem is the 30 min, timeout for trial version  so off to buy real one because I can't learn this when I keep having to start over and the line limit, isnt letting me play...so off to paypal

THANK YOU TO ZAX and SITE STAFF FOR ALL THE WORK

 so we can show newbies what the machines can do? and get ideas and share them?
Maybe even share programs, settings and such?

Okay
General safety issues and questions

I noticed my glasses are green, is that special?

I have seen Orange laser glasses also

And I have used green curtains for welding around other people

I need to build a shield for laser, I have seen different color acrylics, does color need to comply with a certain laser color?

Let's discuss, because the laser light just reflecting off the shiny rails is a lot bouncing around room (so I have considered painting the rails flat black) good or bad??

and I need a pair of glasses that fit over prescription glasses also...pain to focus a beam that is blurry 

I just received my 5.5w 30 x 40 DIY table kit from Banggood today (or so says the email)

I figured wth and pulled the trigger a month or so ago

I hope to start assemble this weekend, I hope it is a "benbox" type or close enough for this forum to be helpful

it is a "duraframe" type setup (rails are aluminum extruded shape, cut to length)

Is this considered one of the ones on this forum?

Also if you read my posts as Captn Kirk would speak, it is easier to read me