Benbox Laser Machines/CO2 Lasers/3D Printers

Great to hear from you guys and that you are still keeping yourselves busy (and there fore theoreticaly out of trouble!!).
I emptied the water out of the tube and filled it up again, making sure there were no air bubbles in it but yeah, I think it might be time for a new tube. I saw someone adding a drain pipe to extent the tube out the side to allow for a bigger tube (and therefore a more powerful one. Seems like a good idea to get a 60W instead of a 40W but I have other things to work on (a cnc I am getting working) so I will probably just get a 40W.
As far as purchases go I did not buy anything new except the house!!! So I am broke but can now make as many holes in the walls as I like!! WOOT! I also got a dog so I have been busy!!
As for the laser tube do you guys have any recomendations as to where to get one? My usual port of call would be ebay...
Off to listen to some more 'lofi'!!!!
Take care
=)

i have been more active on Discord lately myself. EleksMaker Z made me an admin on his Discord server. but it is basically dead now. I made a new laser and more server that is not tied to any brand. Lasers and anything CNC is in there.

I see you are active on Facebook. I have purchased 2 Two Trees core-xy printers over the past couple of years and use Facebook for support. Ready to trash both and Facebook along with them.

when lasering paint off of metal, like this ammo can, how do people get it white like that? if i burn the paint off, all that's underneath is dark bare steel
do you need a lot of power to turn it white

https://islandgirldezigns.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Screen-Shot-2019-12-02-at-3.40.55-PM.png

Hey all. Been gone for way too long.
First, It has been roughly two years since I last did some serious lasering. My babies have been calling out to me to be used. Sadly, I was not able to accommodate for some time.
I am going on year 3 of a new job position. I now work in the CAD design department of my company. I now have a new baby boy who is going to turn 1 in 2 weeks!!! For those of you planning on having kids..........don't have one during a pandemic...........
About 6 months ago, I sold my house and moved 200 miles more north!!! So much happier now. For those of you that do not know. I lived about 30 miles outside of Minneapolis, MN. This have been a bit "tense" in my state for the past year. I am just happy to be away from the Twin Cities now.

Now, to the main reason for this post. I have my main machine assembled again and have been looking at it in the same way a plastic surgeon looks at a woman with a lot of money. I want to make it better. Lighter gantry, better cable management..........the list goes on.

What I am thinking. Get them heavy steppers off the Y axis. Mount them in the front and make a closed loop system with the GT2 belt. Anyone else try this?
For cable management, i want me some new drag chains. I like some of the printed versions out there, but am curious what others do.