Hi I don't know much about Laser cutters, but I am considering getting one. On eBay, there are some very affordable. Under $500.00. However, Most of them states Engraving Cutting. I am wondering if these kind of laser cutter is only good for engraving? Are they capable of cutting thin piece (< 5mm) of alloy aluminum sheet or wood?
Thanks in advance.
50W CO2 lasers will cut various plastic materials and wood upto about 5mm (depends on the
material a LOT). You won't be able to afford anything that can cut metal, CO2 cannot do this,
its just reflected back at the lens assembly and melts it! Besides you need much more power
with metal, several 100W at least, and these lasers are less efficient so you need lots of
power and cooling (many kW)
For engraving its probably a much less powerful CO2 laser tube or a diode laser, unable to cut
much thickness. You can engrave on anodized surfaces BTW, since Al2O3 will absorb infra-red.
You need more than a laser cutter: a smoke extractor or filter and a water circulation system to
cool the laser tube, so the costs mount up.
Those $500 laser cutters are (usually) just an imported Chinese machine. Where as there is noting wrong with that.. you have to understand what you are getting. These are -NOT- turn key ready to use laser cutters/engravers.. usually with much mechanical problems and issues to tweak.
Also the software that comes with these are notorious for being kaka.
As mentioned you'll need a fiber laser to cut metal.. a CO2 will not.
However you can -mark- metal use cermark.. or engrave in anodized metals..etc.. (same with painted or powder coated)
My 40w (which is rumored to really be more of a 25-35w) can cut up to 1/4 acrylic no problem in one pass.. maybe thicker but I havent tried.
Wood is tricky.. its usually the 'glue' in the ply/particle boards that messes with your cuts rather than the wood.. but all material is trial and error at first.
The cheapest hobby laser I have found is from FSLaser.com
They have good and bad reviews.. (usually pertaining to their old 4th gen model and customer service).. but that hasnt been MY experience.. (or others I talk to)
their current 5th gen will be about $4k when all said and done.
water pump/tank
air pump for air assist
exhaust fan (many use one from Harbor Freight)
honey comb table
The software and controller board are good though.
One thing you pay for (alot) is the work envelope. (The size of material you can put inside the machine to engrave or cut).. The 5th gen from FSL is only 12x21 inches.. (not sure if you get all that area though...but close)
I've made an RGB bluetooth controlled lamp with mine and other odds-n-ends..
lightsaber stand..etc:
I saw someone put it on the hood of their car and engrave on it.
You might check youtube for videos of the laser cutter you have in mind being used. On materials like wood that char black you may be able to make multiple passes to eventually burn thru thicker pieces.
I've done a bit of research into this myself - the thing that really holds me back (money aside) is the space needed for the equipment (not just the cutter, but the pump, water cooling system, fume extraction, etc), a place to put it (you only want to run one of these indoors if you have a REALLY good fume extraction system in place), and the fear that I wouldn't use it enough (interestingly - for reasons I won't go into here, but you can research it to find out why - for CO2 lasers, to get the longest life out of them, you need to use them more - they actually degrade when not being used, or being used only a little).
I've looked at the ebay stuff, I've looked at the FSLasers offerings (they really just import from China, then do the quality upgrading, testing, and tweaking for you), and also the "big boys" (you get what you pay for, btw - I love Universal Laser's equipment - but it is hella expensive). The best bang for the buck, though?:
Yes - it's a kit; no - it isn't fancy. But as a kit you build yourself, you'll know every inch. You can upgrade and mod it at-will. You get a huge cutting area and a decent-size (wattage) laser to boot. The downside is the construction time, and the tweaking, and configuration, setup, etc - you'll also have to come up with your own fume extraction and water cooling system.
But it is cheap - very cheap - well worth it cheap. Think of it like a 3D printer kit...
The other alternative (not quite as cheap, though) - check out Craigslist advertisements for your area. Sometimes, a business will sell off (for whatever reason) an old ULS or other "big name" laser cutter - something old, like from the 1990s or so. What you'll get will likely be dead - or near dead. But from there, you'll get the mechanicals (servos, linear motion hardware, etc) and the optics (laser optics are not cheap for CO2 lasers!) - you would have to supply a new driver system (maybe Mach3 or something?) plus a new laser (or have the old tube refurbished or such from the original company that made the machine - if they are still in business of course).
What you'll end up with - if you shop right - is (generally) a well made chassis/machine with a large cutting area, plus (likely) great accuracy and maybe more (focusing, bed height controls, etc) - that you won't get on other machines easily. But you will end up paying more (less than new, much more than you may want).
Finally - whatever you do - don't cut PVC (NEVER) it releases chlorine gas - which will kill you - and keep a fire extinguisher handy when cutting - and don't leave the cutter to cut by itself. Fires can, do, and will happen - be prepared!
Thank you all for the informative info. Base on all the downside effects that come with it. I think I will give up the idea of getting a laser cutter.
rich1812:
Based on all the downside effects that come with it. I think I will give up the idea of getting a laser cutter.
Now you're talking! 
I appreciate and enjoy mine!
I didnt know enough about lasers in general to get a "KIT"...
I also didnt want the LASER to BE the project.. I wanted it to be a tool FOR other projects. (but no way I could afford an UL or Epilog of course.. those are like $10k starting.. and I'm just a hobby guy really, I have a 9-5)
For myself, the FSLaser was the most (only?) realistic purchase that made any sense.
I too have read that FSL just imports as well.. completely on the 4th gens, and several 'upgrades' done on the 5th. However the controller card/board and the software are not, and in my opinion those are two VERY crucial areas. (especially for beginners)
It takes some time understanding how to align things (mirrors, tube).. but it isnt that bad. 
(heck I figured it out!) lol
The people at the local maker space use theirs for making quick/custom PCB's for etching.
(and making solder paste masks).
^ I still prefer using my vinyl cutter for that! and I love it that I save $25-$35 each time I make one myself!
If you have many interests in life, the laser may -can- be a handy tool.
First, you shall know below questions:
1.The material you need to cut
2.The thickness of the material
3.The largest size of your raw material sheet
4.The quality required of the cutting
Those $500 laser cutters are very cheap ,so you can choose the laser cutter depend on your needs.You can search on Chinese B2B platform like Alibaba, Made in China and en.ofweek.com
Pre order only.
Does not look to be a particularly useful machine to me .
4x4 (inch) cutting area?
(and I thought I was hurting with 21x12 cutting area!) LOL..
I dont many/any examples from this machine?
LaserLance:
I do wish the area was larger, but it seems that, for the majority of my parts, it will work. What would make the system more useful to you?
A much larger cutting area.
Although it says hobbylaser, some of the examples given such as marking tools and use on a conveyor would indicate industrial use.
Surface etching, not a huge requirement for that at small size.
Metal front panels possibly but would have to accommodate 19 in rack sizes.
I do a fair amount of cutting and a little engraving.
Both are outsourced.
I only own a O2 laser.. never own/used a fiber based one.
but.. software is king for these kinds of things. (unless you can write your own programs to control the thing.. not only stepper movement stuff.. but controling the power/output..etc)
how it takes in a file and 'renders' it is also important to me. (which is one of the +'s IMHO to the FSL machine...hardware aside)
what about oversized material?
example:
while my 'cutting area' is technically 21x12 for my machine.. I have the ability to remove my floor.. so I can cut/etch on materials/objects that wont fit inside the work envelope. (ie: set it on my car hood or on a snowboard..etc)
I'm not clear if what you get it the whole thing? enclosure? or if the pics of the 'head/floor/base' is what you get only?
(if the later.. there are MANY issues with that)
I can 'mark' metal with my CO2 laser.. but I need the help/usage of cermark (or similar).. not a RAW metal marking..
Hello, when your budget is sufficient, I recommend you Trotec or universal lasers. Their machines are widely used in Europe or the US and many users prove the quality. But if your budget is limited, like for example the noncommercial labs like us, it’s hard to buy a top brand laser. So some reliable Chinese brands are better choices. We are now using a Thunder Laser Nova35 80W laser. The quality is very good with this price. What’s more, they offer the BEST tech supports！
I'd like to see some links to what you bought.... and more importantly, FROM WHO?
I have not seen nor heard of any support when buying a Chinese/import laser before?
(if it exists, more people may want to go the same route)
a person at my local makerspace just order a chinese/import laser..
They stated that after some tweaking/tuning.. they really enjoy the laser.
For me.. (and I only have had my one laser.. nothing before it, and not much exposure to others)..
My concern is the software/tool chain of these Chinese/imported lasers..
I have a FSLaser (5th gen).. which from my understanding is all an 'import'.. and assembled here in the US/Las Vegas.
But the controller board is created here in the US.. and does have support.
More so the software is very easy to use...
I can 'print' (ir: send any image/text) to my laser form ANY program that 'prints'
The laser shows up like a printer/print driver..
So I can send stuff directly from Photoshop or Illustrator.. but also Microsoft Word or even Notepad.
The software is said be getting a nice upgrade with a bunch of features people have been collecting/suggesting too..
I dont think these compare in price to the chinese import pricing vs size.... but its a nice intermediate machine before getting into the Epilogs and Trotecs..
Say good!
I bought it from ThunderLaser(http://www.thunderlaser.com/)
I just search a laser on cnczone(General Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine Discussion) and find many users buy a laser from this company.
They post their buying experiences and share their samples there.
Try to search "thunder laser" on this froum, you can find the answer.
I bought it from Thunder Laserwww.thunderlaser.com
I just search a laser on cnczone(General Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine Discussion) and find many users buy a laser from this company.
They post their buying experiences and share their samples there.
Try to search "thunder laser" on this froum, you can find the answer.
I recommend Trotec laser and Universal machines, quality and engraving result is very good
dejksrh:
I recommend Trotec laser and Universal machines, quality and engraving result is very good
My budget is limited, only five to six thousand dollars
