OT: Laser engravers/cutters

[cowbell88]

I’m interested in getting one of these. Who has one or has experience using one? Wanting a good entry level product, but big enough to cut up to 1/2 wood.

I have been on Amazon looking, but just don’t know what brands to be looking for. Preferably less than $500. Will be used for hobby stuff right now.

 

[BulldogBlitz]

I know nothing of a laser that will cut 1/2" thick for less than $500.

 

[cowbell88]

I know nothing of a laser that will cut 1/2" thick for less than $500.

Ok. How about 1/4-3/8?

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

what kind of hobby/side business you looking at getting into?

 

[cowbell88]

what kind of hobby/side business you looking at getting into?

I’m in an adult pinewood derby racing league. We build our cars, drink some beer, and don’t have to pretend our kid made that car come race day.

Wanting something more precise than a hand held Dremel and a scroll saw when building these cars. I haven’t ruled out a CNC router machine either. After watching some you tube videos, it seems like the software is much simpler to operate on the laser.

Also would use it for Christmas ornaments and etching photos

 

[greenbean.sixpack]

I’m in an adult pinewood derby racing league. We build our cars, drink some beer, and don’t have to pretend our kid made that car come race day.

Wanting something more precise than a hand held Dremel and a scroll saw when building these cars. I haven’t ruled out a CNC router machine either. After watching some you tube videos, it seems like the software is much simpler to operate on the laser.

Also would use it for Christmas ornaments and etching photos

I'm interested in what you get.

 

[cowbell88]

I'm interested in what you get.

I’m wanting a 40W, but they are definitely out of price range and most of the 20W are above 500. I did see this one for $499 with coupon.

 

[HotMop]

Here me out, get a 3D printer instead. Imagine the possibilities.

 

[Dawgbite]

Here me out, get a 3D printer instead. Imagine the possibilities.

He said Pine Wood, not Pine Plastic

 

[HotMop]

He said Pine Wood, not Pine Plastic

You can print wood as well.

 

[Dawgbite]

You can print wood as well.

I've read that you can print meat too but I'm not eating it.

 

[cowbell88]

Here me out, get a 3D printer instead. Imagine the possibilities.

Oh, ii haven’t ruled that out either. I would like to play around with those to.

 

[kb549]

if you’re doing simple things like trying to cut out and design pine box cars, get an Xtool or something with easy to use software.

Lightburn works with most things, but it’s an extra $80 or so. And if you’re aren’t familiar with layers and stuff, it will drive you nuts. Xtool creative space is fairly intuitive and easy to use. Probably the best for what you’re going to do. The 10W will cut through what you need even if you have to do multiple passes.

be prepared to waste material running speed power tests and mistakes. Get a 3D printer for complex jigs if you’re going to do business / production. I have a xtool 10W D1 pro that I would be willing to sell. I am buying a larger one to do quantities.

working on coaster stock right now. Here’s a few.

 

[Crazy Cotton]

A cheap CNC is a lot more versatile, particularly if you're cutting more than 1/8 Baltic birch or the like.

I've had a couple of the FoxAilien CNC machines, their entry level can be had with either a router or laser head, and they're interchangeable. My first one a few years ago I got the 20W laser version of the machine and used my trim router for CNC. It was cool for engraving and thin material cutting, but trying to get through 1/2 inch material would have burnt my shop down.

I like the FoxAlien machines because they're upgradeable with bed extensions or better stepper motors, and for your purposes one of their small machines should be able to handle material as thick as 2 inches. They have a section on their site where they sell reconditioned machines that should get you under $500 bucks


a 20 watt laser max cut is about 3mm, 40 watt maybe 1/4 inch. A cheap CNC will carve out your car no problem.

Edit to add - lasers are sometimes marketed based on wattage of the unit vs wattage of the output. The one KB is talking about is probably a 60-80 watt unit, with a 10 watt output, so that's a pretty stout laser. My 20 watt is based on unit wattage, so probably 5 watts of output.

 

[Fritz!]

I’m interested in getting one of these. Who has one or has experience using one? Wanting a good entry level product, but big enough to cut up to 1/2 wood.

I have been on Amazon looking, but just don’t know what brands to be looking for. Preferably less than $500. Will be used for hobby stuff right now.

phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range ••

 

[kb549]

Good point about the wattages. 10W diode was a big dog when I bought my first. It’s still good for 75% of what I do.
:
- don’t compare a CO2 wastage and a diode wattage. I think a 60-80W CO2 is pretty close to a 10W diode in terms of its wood cutting capability, but I may be slightly off here

- you don’t want a CO2 laser for hobby use. The ones in your range are going to be Chinese. Could last you years. Could be days or weeks. Good luck getting parts in a reasonable time. Tubes are expensive and do go out. Laser diodes are typically rated in the thousands or hours of use.

- a 20W diode is going to cut quicker than a 10W. And a 40W is going to cut really quick. (All diode). And by cutting quick, I mean you can run it faster and cut deeper or cut thicker material iness passes.

- When it comes to metals, a 40W diode is going to cut deep into brass where a 10W is going to basically mark the surface or do light etching (in similar passes and speeds).

- IR lasers are a whole “nuther thing for etching - not in the $500 budget or what you’re trying to do

- - best advise is watch marketplace and watch for someone’s wife who “thought she could do that’, but didn’t realize you have to have a little farking or AutoCad/PowerPoint/Excel drawing skills to make designs that are clean.

and lastly, have your kid learn the software and run the machine. You’ll find out which cuss words they know and use regularly.

 

[cowbell88]

A cheap CNC is a lot more versatile, particularly if you're cutting more than 1/8 Baltic birch or the like.

I've had a couple of the FoxAilien CNC machines, their entry level can be had with either a router or laser head, and they're interchangeable. My first one a few years ago I got the 20W laser version of the machine and used my trim router for CNC. It was cool for engraving and thin material cutting, but trying to get through 1/2 inch material would have burnt my shop down.

I like the FoxAlien machines because they're upgradeable with bed extensions or better stepper motors, and for your purposes one of their small machines should be able to handle material as thick as 2 inches. They have a section on their site where they sell reconditioned machines that should get you under $500 bucks


a 20 watt laser max cut is about 3mm, 40 watt maybe 1/4 inch. A cheap CNC will carve out your car no problem.

Edit to add - lasers are sometimes marketed based on wattage of the unit vs wattage of the output. The one KB is talking about is probably a 60-80 watt unit, with a 10 watt output, so that's a pretty stout laser. My 20 watt is based on unit wattage, so probably 5 watts of output.

I saw a YouTube clip of a dragon car being carved on CNC. I watched that video several times, and am amazed at the incredible precision.

I will check them out for sure. Thanks for the info.

 

[cowbell88]

Good point about the wattages. 10W diode was a big dog when I bought my first. It’s still good for 75% of what I do.
:
- don’t compare a CO2 wastage and a diode wattage. I think a 60-80W CO2 is pretty close to a 10W diode in terms of its wood cutting capability, but I may be slightly off here

- you don’t want a CO2 laser for hobby use. The ones in your range are going to be Chinese. Could last you years. Could be days or weeks. Good luck getting parts in a reasonable time. Tubes are expensive and do go out. Laser diodes are typically rated in the thousands or hours of use.

- a 20W diode is going to cut quicker than a 10W. And a 40W is going to cut really quick. (All diode). And by cutting quick, I mean you can run it faster and cut deeper or cut thicker material iness passes.

- When it comes to metals, a 40W diode is going to cut deep into brass where a 10W is going to basically mark the surface or do light etching (in similar passes and speeds).

- IR lasers are a whole “nuther thing for etching - not in the $500 budget or what you’re trying to do

- - best advise is watch marketplace and watch for someone’s wife who “thought she could do that’, but didn’t realize you have to have a little farking or AutoCad/PowerPoint/Excel drawing skills to make designs that are clean.

and lastly, have your kid learn the software and run the machine. You’ll find out which cuss words they know and use regularly.

Thanks for the info. Will definitely keep you in mind.

A phrase that I use a lot when working on stuff is “Ragedy a$$ piece of **** mother fu€ker”!! So, I’d fully expect that from him!

 

[Dawgbite]

Is it really worth doing if there’s not at least some possibility of drawing blood?

 

[cowbell88]

Is it really worth doing if there’s not at least some possibility of drawing blood?

I did this with a scroll saw, not a dewalt, but was a scroll saw. Drilling holes in each section and feeding blade through and attaching to bottom slot ( when you can’t see bottom slot for the block in the way), definitely increases chances of drawing blood!

 

[CochiseCowbell]

View attachment 886188
I did this with a scroll saw, not a dewalt, but was a scroll saw. Drilling holes in each section and feeding blade through and attaching to bottom slot ( when you can’t see bottom slot for the block in the way), definitely increases chances of drawing blood!

Good job reducing weight. But, I think wheels will help the speed more.

 

[cowbell88]

Good job reducing weight. But, I think wheels will help the speed more.

And that “hand hold” block attached to the back would create some serious drag!