The domestication of Laser Cutters

I have been pondering the purchase of a laser cutter/engraver.

To date, I have found nothing that fits in my 'Goldilocks Zone' of price/performance/footprint ... but I am greatly encouraged by this: **LINK**

http://www.mr-beam.org/#about

It's a little too big, and a little too pricey; but looks "just right"

Any thoughts ?

MichaelG.

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Edit: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/mrbeam/mr-beam-ii-the-desktop-laser-cutter-and-engraver

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 26/05/2017 09:13:28

Thanks, John

Your response is much as I expected.

I've already realised that the market doesn't yet offer what I want ... but I think this one may be an indication of how these machines will evolve.

MichaelG.

The 'Mr Beam' one looks like a 'marketing slicked over' version of this:

**LINK**

It would leave you £1250 to make the protective box with and buy a hacksaw to shorten the travel.

I do think the Mr Beam stuff is going in absolutely the wrong direction. It is making something that is inherently useful & practical into something 'Cool, fluffy & ultimately useless'. A must have toy for the creative 'illiterati' to decorate their high tech, white gadget filled iHome. Not something that will be used, because it'll fill that white, sterile, iHome with horrible smoke and involve thoughts of practicality, and how to make things.

You may have gathered from my comments, I am far from enamoured with marketing makeovers or the target of such makeovers.

Regards,

Richard.

This one may be cheap enough for you to feel it's worth a play:

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEJE-DK-8-KZ-1000mW-USB-Laser-Engraver-DIY-Printer-Cutting-Engraving-Machine-UK/391618901817

If you do, I'd be interested in a report on how you got on for MEW.

Neil

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I was briefly tempted by that one, Neil ... but initially decided that it was too low-powered, and too small an image size [512x512 pixels] to be of much use.

However ... If you're interested in an article for MEW, that suddenly makes it much more attractive.

MichaelG.

At 38x38mm work area, it is a bit small... Shame all these things seem to work on a raster type control.

Also says it can't engrave acrylic [or metal]. Bit limited, but may be worth a play.

Regards,

Richard.

I have the 500mW version of this NEJE device, the kids bought me it! and it's a toy. It has been months since I played with it but from memory the software was limiting and whilst the laser will cut paper, burn cardboard and singe wood I wanted to remove resist from metal surfaces for etching and it failed miserably. I suspect the ability of the metal to conduct away the heat. I don't know if doubling the power to 1 watt will make a significant difference.

Andy

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Thanks for that, Andy

MichaelG.

Useful to know.

Has anyone tried the next size up?

Neil

Looks like one that's based on a hacked DVD-drive mechanism (a la Instructables) - albeit with the laser replaced.

You could replace the hot-end on a Prusa with a small laser or even a small rotary tool for engraving, you would just need slightly different firmware and to generate the right 'flavour' g-code.

Neil

Has anyone tried one of these?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40W-CO2-Laser-Engraving-Cutting-Cutter-Machine-Engraver-USB-Port-/182569467919?epid=895488433&hash=item2a81fd000f:g:UgkAAOSw-itXqu2E

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40W-CO2-Laser-Engraving-Cutting-Cutter-Machine-Engraver-USB-Port-/182569467919?epid=895488433&hash=item2a81fd000f:g:UgkAAOSw-itXqu2E

Edited By Tony Jeffree on 02/09/2017 10:36:35

Edited By John Stevenson on 02/09/2017 10:49:35

Tony,

These are the first 'useful' entry market models. Having said that they are not without problems having cut so many corners.

Do a Google on K40 laser problems

John

Thanks - will do. I notice that at least on Ebay, there is a significant price hike between these "40w" models and the larger "50w" models - such as this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Precise-50W-CO2-Laser-Engraving-Cutting-Machine-Engraver-Cutter-nUSB-/121871318887?hash=item1c6018bf67:g:iSMAAOSwg6lZln8S

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/High-Precise-50W-CO2-Laser-Engraving-Cutting-Machine-Engraver-Cutter-nUSB-/121871318887?hash=item1c6018bf67:g:iSMAAOSwg6lZln8S

Are the latter any more reliable?

Edited By John Stevenson on 02/09/2017 11:11:24

Tony,

I have one of these, had it for about 5 years now and it's worked flawlessly in a semi industrial environment.

I must admit that I use mine for engraving on stainless mainly, such as this.

Does it have a spell checker built in?

Ian P

Yeah, but you can turn it off!

John -

Thanks - faulty memory on my part, I had it in mind that yours was more powerful than 50 Watts. Good to know.