"laser cutter" Topic

thinking of starting a terrain range using laser cut mdf ,any advice would be great before we make the jump

Don't buy the Chinese machines – they have a LOT of quality issues.

Can you make it not smell like burned mdf?

I've had good luck with ours. It was from hurricane lasers. It is a chinese machine and the software is crap unless you get the corel draw one. It might work better :) we have the universal one.

Epilog is your high end. They are nice machines. I have worked on one before.

Watch your bed size and make sure you can source the mdf locally first. Ours is 16" by 12". I'm concentrating on scifi buildings in 15mm right now. I already know that 28mm will start to be an issue. It's not terrible because the buildings would have to be modified for shipping reasons anyway but it's always nicer to cram more stuff into one sheet. Cuts costs and operating time.

A couple shots of perfume might mast the burnt mdf smell. :) Could be a signature of the company.

Practice designing buildings and outsource a few cuts. It will cost you some cash up front but its a lot better then getting a machine and sitting on it while you learn the ropes.

Ponoko is a good service but I'm sure any of the other companies might work with you. I'd probably do it if someone asked.

make sure you have a good place to put it. You'll need someplace to vent it. Might want to keep small children away from it. MDF has formaldehyde in it. You'll need good ventilation and expect it to stink a lot.

Not sure where you are based but have you tried

hpclaser.co.uk

they will give you a demo of the machines and how to use them as well.

I bought from FSLASER in Las Vegas NV.

Was a drive of 7 hours for me to go there and get it, they showed me how to align it and such, and all the workings.

Mine is a Hobby Machine, and works well for me, I make terrain for myself and a few friends, it ran about 2k, for a 40 watt.

If you want to run a service, I would suggest a 60-80 watt unit.

Epilog was out of my rage for cost, but again not a commercial use for me.

I have the mid line hobby from FS Laser, 9.5 x 14 inch
the next up in newer with a removable bed up to 60 or 80 watts, and a larger cutting area.

I do mostly 15mm so the bed is plenty large enough for my needs, but for 32mm buildings it might have some size issues.

Looked at many, went with what I could afford.

FSLaser takes a standard Chinese laser and does a few upgrades makes sure it works, and has a 1 year on hobby and 2 I think on larger units.

Also every month they give a 300dollar credit to a user picked from projects submitted. Some amazing stuff made.

I would spring for the newer unit and the 45 watt tube it has, if it had been out when I bought.

You will need software, I suggest Corel Draw, it works well, with the laser, but most anything can be used.

The main things is breaking it all down to the parts and then the materials.

One material I want is called Laser Board, but seems very hard to find, another is 2mm MDF all I can get local is 3mm or 1/8 and that is not MDF but hard back board.

I have cut many papers, even some cloth.

I have some leather I will be working with soon for patches.

I do not expect to make my money back, but it is fun.

There are many folks selling Laser Cut buildings now, so as a commercial run, I would have more than a few designed and stuff that is unlike what others have before starting.
The market seems heavy atm with them, but if you have great designs it can work, as CORSEC has proven. :)

It works? News to me. We have 9 or so designs on the market and have sold a grand total of like $120 USD worth of terrain.

I have put a lot of thought into or pricing structure and design philosophy. My little 40 Watt can't complete with the 75-100 watt guys on cut time. They also don't need a margin because they don't want to go into retail. The new formula is kinda complex involving the level of detail, total volume of the kit, and the number of times it needs to be loaded. This freed me to do the designs I wanted not just the ones that where cheap enough. If I want to add an element then I do. No cost is involved till it reaches the next tier of detail.

The market is kinda saturated. However, there are some holes. We have found a few but didn't see many sales so now we are planning a kickstarter and that will determine if we keep doing this grand experiment or not.