"EBay Laser Cutters" Topic

All,

I have been looking at the following things on Ebay, and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them (just 2 examples – there are many others):

auction
auction

So, for around $370 USD I can get my own laser cutter. Heck, I have spent that much on a laser printer not too long ago…

But, you may get what you pay for. Is a 40w laser powerful enough to cut MDF and acrylic (1/8 or 1/16 in)?

I am quite proficient in Corel Draw, so maybe with one of these in my basement I could custom build my 4x8 table cityscape for a reasonable price.

Got at larger 50w off Ebay, works OK. Will cut 2 & 3mm MDF

Can get 3mm laserable MDF in USA but is not easiest to find & 2mm you would have to get from UK, as no one seems to sell it in USA.
Instead of MDF could use laser plyboard.

Regards

MMG.

The issue is not so much the price, it's what you get for your money.

The specification should be fine as my 40W cuts up to 6mm acrylic. The issue is one of set up and warranty.

I looked at the budget offerings on e-bay and the price difference between those and basically the same machine sold through a specialist local retailer.

In the end I paid more and have not regretted doing so as that way I got full technical support, and maintenance under warranty when things didn't work as they should have.

At $370 USD it's probably worth the gamble just find out what the consequences and options are if you can't get it working or three months down the line the cheap build quality has turned it into nothing more than a large paperweight.

It's a frickin' "laser." You have to buy it!

Seriously, it will probably be pretty useful to cut small stands straight as string. If you have the money, go for it. Perhaps use the google machine to do the research first.

At the very least, you can probably use it for those gripping, final, James Bond, or Batman scenarios, where the hero is to be lasered to death.

Probably will work best with plastic, or laser figs……

As long as you realize the device is meant for one-off production and not commercial manufacturing then you might consider it a likely investment.
Tech support can be priceless though.

Do they come with sharks?

If no sharks at least get ill-tempered sea bass.

Yeah this would be for my projects only. Once my table was done, I might try to cut stuff for by buddy. But I do realize that these machines would not survive production work.