Now that I am not only pending an article on the Mousetrap, but have discovered we have mice, it's time to revive my laserbox so that I can make the parts for the new mousetraps. Up to now everything has been living and breathing 3D printing, but these projects call for the laser cutter.
If you read the article for the original Build a Better Mousetrap (https://savagecircuits.com/build-a-better-mousetrap/), you'll see there was a point where a mouse was able to get its teeth on an edge of the enclosure and chew away at it until I got out.
One of the things I learned from having this trap in action for weeks was that if a mouse can get its teeth onto an edge, it will chew. By using cast acrylic, I can make sure there are no seams or edges for the mouse to chew on. As of the time I build the original prototype, I was not aware of, nor could I find anything similar online.
Since then, there have been many microcontroller-based (usually Arduino) mousetraps, though many seem to be demos, never actually having been in service, nor being build like a permanent project. What I mean by that is these projects just have wires connecting everything together and nothing protecting the circuitry, sensor or mechanical aspects. Some seem impractical.
But, the ones with enclosures seem oversized. That is, the mouse has a lot of room to run around inside. When you're crate training a dog, you must be sure the dog doesn't have room to move around inside the crate. They should be comfortable, but otherwise stay in place. There are several reasons for this.
So the new traps have smaller enclosures. The mouse has room to enter and walk to the peanut butter, but no room to run or jump. The original project had an enclosure the size of a cigar box. The newer versions have a square tube not much bigger than a large mouse. The V2 mousetrap (https://savagecircuits.com/build-a-better-mousetrap-v2/) has an end-cap that traps the mouse and allows for release. The V3 mousetrap (https://savagecircuits.com/build-a-better-mousetrap-v3/) has the same thing, but also has a trap-door underneath to drop the mouse into the bucket.
This is all covered on the project pages, but it is time to get the laser cutter fired back up.
I plan on getting the baffle sanded on Saturday morning and installed by noon. I will then perform some test cuts in anticipation of the Mousetrap projects, which need laser cut acrylic. I will post some progress on here.
I did get the baffle done and installed, but my second P2S was having some weird issues on a print which caused me to cancel it more than once. I still don't feel like everything is working properly.
Almost ready to start testing acrylic cutting / engraving.
20260922_225353_640x480.jpg
You can see in the photo the baffle I cut for the window. It has a hole for the exhaust hose, which is hanging down in the back.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 22, 2026, 10:59 PMAlmost ready to start testing acrylic cutting / engraving.
20260922_225353_640x480.jpg
You can see in the photo the baffle I cut for the window. It has a hole for the exhaust hose, which is hanging down in the back.
I wish I could turn an old 3d printer into one....
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Sep 23, 2026, 12:02 AMI wish I could turn an old 3d printer into one....
https://www.instructables.com/Convert-a-3D-PRINTER-to-LASER-ENGRAVER-Under-40/
Quote from: granz on Sep 23, 2026, 06:44 AMhttps://www.instructables.com/Convert-a-3D-PRINTER-to-LASER-ENGRAVER-Under-40/
And you save $4,500.00 over what I paid for my Laserbox. :-[
By the way, Bambu Lab just announced a new Laser cutter, better than mine, nearly half the cost. ::)
Bambu Lab R1 (https://bambulab.com/en-us/r1)
Quote from: granz on Sep 23, 2026, 06:44 AMQuote from: JKnightandKARR on Sep 23, 2026, 12:02 AMI wish I could turn an old 3d printer into one....
https://www.instructables.com/Convert-a-3D-PRINTER-to-LASER-ENGRAVER-Under-40/
Thanks will check it out.
Quote from: Chris Savage on Sep 23, 2026, 12:11 PMQuote from: granz on Sep 23, 2026, 06:44 AMhttps://www.instructables.com/Convert-a-3D-PRINTER-to-LASER-ENGRAVER-Under-40/
And you save $4,500.00 over what I paid for my Laserbox. :-[
By the way, Bambu Lab just announced a new Laser cutter, better than mine, nearly half the cost. ::)
Bambu Lab R1 (https://bambulab.com/en-us/r1)
Lotta cash lol. Elegoo has one, though the Bambu is larger work area 600 * 300 or 3000 if you have the belt option. https://us.elegoo.com/products/elegoo-phecda-laser-engraver-cutter-10w-20w?variant=44479770820711 (https://us.elegoo.com/products/elegoo-phecda-laser-engraver-cutter-10w-20w?variant=44479770820711) ELegoo's is 400*400
Today was the first day I had to actually fire old girl up! It's been so long, I almost forgot how things worked! LOL
Laserbow_Now_01.jpg
As a test, I opted to cut a simple square out of this sheet of clear acrylic.
Laserbow_Now_02.jpg
The results were pretty good with the default settings.
Laserbow_Now_03.jpg
This is what it looks like from within the software.
Awesome!!!
That looks really nice,
@Chris Savage. Maybe I'll pick up one of those some day.
Quote from: JKnightandKARR on Today at 12:42 AMSoo handy
What is being cut in that video is the original beta enclosure for the V2 Mousetrap. It seems to be missing the mounting holes, so I must not have saved it after I added them. So now I will have to post-cut those holes. It can still be done with the Laserbox. The protective coating is still on the acrylic, and the camera will help me align the mounting holes for the servos, control board and sensors.