"Laser cutter" Topic

I would like to invest in prototyping and producing laser cut models, mostly mdf, paper and acrylic. What are the standard options, buy a more or less 400 dollars 40w machine on ebay? Are they better brands than others, are these machines usually reliable, do they use a lot of maintenance, spare parts? Do they have more "hidden costs" or constraints?

Good questions!! I want to know too!

Another… Where do I buy MDF in the States?

A very good question…I found this channel on YouTube, very informative about laser cut stuff. I believe she is in the U.S. and answers questions pretty fast.

YouTube link

P.

I have limited experience, a friend of mine and I both got the cheap Chinese engravers off of Amazon a few months ago. Biggest issue so far is the crappy proprietary software that doesn't import outside files well.

I splurged and spent extra for a larger machine, still 40 watt. The ability to do large terrain boards (I have been doing 10x10" terrain tiles lately) and tall buildings has been worth it to me.

Skipper John, I get 1/8"/3mm at my local lumber supply yard. Not Home Depot/Lowes, but a real lumber yard.

There are plenty of reviews on YouTube.com. Search by model name, or watch 40 Watt Laser Cutter videos from the search results list. They all seem similar in quality and issues. Cheers!

Hmmm, tempted to investigate acquisition of one…

Got me to look at them.

Consulting the hive mind because I'm too lazy to Google …

Are there laser cutters that can cut through the material at a 45-degree angle, instead of just straight through at a 90-degree angle to the surface of the material? I'd very much like to have places where I can drop in a strength value chit that is cut the same way. Then you can easily push it out from below to insert a new value.

Take a look at a video demonstrating a laser cutter in action… The short answer is, "No." The material to be cut is laid out flat, beneath an X-Y laser head (mirrors, and a lens to focus the beam for cutting). The laser could cut at a 45-degree angle, but the head positioning system, would crash into the material to be cut, which would not be laying flat, beneath it.

Try using a moto-tool, with a cutting wheel. Hold it at 45-degrees, and cut your slot into the bases. Not the best, but it should work. Cheers!

Need to do it on a mass scale, along the lines of die-punching counters.

Too bad.

Thanks!

"The short answer is, "No." The material to be cut is laid out flat, beneath an X-Y laser head (mirrors, and a lens to focus the beam for cutting). The laser could cut at a 45-degree angle, but the head positioning system, would crash into the material to be cut, which would not be laying flat, beneath it."

I was thinking about the head tiltled at a 45-degree angle, or being rotatable. I would imagine that there are such laser cutters, but they are probably far too expensive … for now.

@emckinney and @Sgt Slag：
No, you've got it all wrong.There is actually a machine that can do 3D laser cutting. I can't provide any pictures now, but my partner once showed me a small piece he made with a 3D laser cuter, a small piece of wood with details on it. He says the process is more complicated, slower and more expensive than normal laser cutting. It seems difficult to mass produce.