If you watch the video on Bar Mills site, they're using ULS (Universal Laser
System) machines, looks like the M series.
http://www.barmillsmodels.com /
http://www.ulsinc.com /
Nice machines.
Val
Does anyone know what kind of laser cutter is preferred for the production
of laser kits?
Thanks.
dlm
-------------------------------------------
Dan L. Merkel
The Bar Mills site is back up, but seems to be missing some files. I
suspect they had server problems.
Video #2 at the bottom of the main page will show their lasers at work. But
that file seems to be AWOL at this moment.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Peteski's link to the (Redsail) M300 laser is interesting. Don't confuse
that with the M-300 from ULS. The Redsails are make in China, with no
apparent USA support structure. The ULS (as well as the Epilog brand,
another good one) are USA made and supported.
~~~~~~~~~~~
If considering a laser cutter, remember that there's more investment than
just the machine. You'll need and exhaust system (more than a bathroom
squirrel cage fan) and (usually) a compressor with oil and water filters to
blow dust/debris from the work area. And a place to put it all. And
software to make your drawings (CorelDraw is common, CAD programs can be
used as well.)
"May the force be with you"
Val
The Bar Mills link doesn't seem to be working right now... I tried this one
and then did a Google search; neither one worked. : (
dlm
The VersaLASER line is the most popular. I keep watching the prices on
these - they've gone down quite a bit but are still too pricy for the
occasional doodad. *
P.S. http://www.ulsinc.com/versalaser/english /
--
* PV something like badgers--something like lizards--and something
like corkscrews.
On Aug 7, 2:27 pm, pv+ snipped-for-privacy@pobox.com (PV) wrote:
Here is a unit that is within a hobbyist's price range:
http://www.scrapbookdiecutter.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=S&Category_Code=LSR
Peteski
On Aug 9, 4:16 pm, pv+ snipped-for-privacy@pobox.com (PV) wrote:
True but it is not 50 grand either. I don't think they'll even get
much cheaper than this. Certainly not under couple thousand of US
dollars. We are talking here about a laser powerful enough to burn
through materials like wood or plastic and a precision XY drive. That
setup will always cost money. Unlike printers which manufecturers can
sell below cost but still make lots of money selling consummables,
laser cutters can't be sold using the same scheme.
Peteski
True but it is not 50 grand either. I don't think they'll even get
much cheaper than this. Certainly not under couple thousand of US
dollars. We are talking here about a laser powerful enough to burn
through materials like wood or plastic and a precision XY drive. That
setup will always cost money. Unlike printers which manufecturers can
sell below cost but still make lots of money selling consummables,
laser cutters can't be sold using the same scheme.
Peteski
I think you are right... when I graduated from college, my brother gave me
an electronic calculator that had tons of functions on it. Cost about $300.
Today, a more capable calculator with graphing is w whole lot less than
that. The only drawback might be that not too many people will want laser
cutters to have sitting around the house... but most people can make use of
calculators even if they have far more functions than they will ever use.
dlm
True but it is not 50 grand either. I don't think they'll even get
much cheaper than this. Certainly not under couple thousand of US
dollars. We are talking here about a laser powerful enough to burn
through materials like wood or plastic and a precision XY drive. That
setup will always cost money. Unlike printers which manufecturers can
sell below cost but still make lots of money selling consummables,
laser cutters can't be sold using the same scheme.
Peteski
I think you are right... when I graduated from college, my brother gave me
an electronic calculator that had tons of functions on it. Cost about $300.
Today, a more capable calculator with graphing is w whole lot less than
that. The only drawback might be that not too many people will want laser
cutters to have sitting around the house... but most people can make use of
calculators even if they have far more functions than they will ever use.
dlm
~~~~~~~~~~~
And unlike printers (or calculators), laser cutters take up a lot of space,
make a lot of noise, and often leave a lot of smell, depending on what you
cut.
Val
Just about any of them will work.
I use a VersaLaser VL300
12 x 24 work area
30 Watt
I have about $8000 into mine and it was purchased used.
New price would be about twice that.
And yes these are a costly item.
If you go with a Chinese laser, it would be cheaper, but be prepare to
do all of you own support, e-mail from China if you can get a reply.
Look at any of the Universal or Epilog line and you cannot go far wrong.
Any of the units that is only a few years old should work.
Some of the very early units would only do raster (etching) and not
vector (cutting) work.
There are several sites on the iternet that you can research on. One
being www.sawmillcreek.org
Howard Garner
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