2026 Frikkin Lasers Challenge: Laser Bandsaw

For the 2026 Frikkin Lasers Challenge, a maker known as WeldingRod1 has built what he calls a Laser Bandsaw—a manually-operated laser cutter that, true to its name, has neither band nor saw. The tool uses a seven-watt blue laser diode paired with a custom copper heatsink and a beam dump of stacked box knife blades to prevent dangerous reflections. Per Hackaday, while it won't cut through heavy materials, it excels at softer ones like balsa wood and can strip black paint with impressive speed. With the contest deadline approaching, the builder has published all project files online and is encouraging others to submit their own laser creations.

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