Originally Posted by Konstantin  First thing I need to get is what wattage should I use.
My general idea is that I can use a laser to do cutting of some materials, but I dont know how many watts do I need to cut what type of material. My intended projects involve cutting wood veneer maybe up to 3mm in thickness. |
It fully depends on material you want to cut. But general rule is: the more - the better.
For 3mm wood 100W CO2 should be enough.
Originally Posted by Konstantin Can I use a 100Watt CO2 sealed tube laser at 30Watts to engrave? |
Shure you can.
Originally Posted by Konstantin The engraving process must take in consideration what type of material I want to engrave? |
Of cource you must make desicions WHAT and HOW you want to cut/engrave it. You will be responcible for the results. And each case is individual.
Originally Posted by Konstantin What would be a bad engrave job a hole burned in the piece? |
Sorry, not understood...
Originally Posted by Konstantin Are there solid state lasers 25-50Watts range that could be used to cut or engrave? |
I think yes, they exist. Just search web for info about them. But you should know that not any laser can cut/engrave any material. It depends on laser's wavelength.
Originally Posted by Konstantin Can I use the same laser to cut and to engrave? |
Yes, you can (see above). Actually, there is almost no difference between marking (engraving) and cutting. You use low power - burn some material - and get marks, or use high power - burn more material - and cut thru.
Originally Posted by Konstantin The project in my mind looks like a couple of servos, gecko powered to move an XY table, maybe 1m x 1.5m, with a laser tube on the side of the table and mirrors to direct the beam to the work piece.
This makes me wonder about what software should I take in consideration. |
Will not reconnend anything, it all depends on hardware. And I'm not a big specialist in building controls for motion systems.
Originally Posted by Konstantin Mach3 will aid me in that?
What does that mean, does it mean that I will have to make my own Gcode I wish to cut/engrave? |
If you will use Mach2/3, you will need to create G-coded programs for it using special CAM software. For my home-built laser machine Mach2 works pretty fine.
Originally Posted by Konstantin Would I need more software for photo engraving? |
There is no straight answer, it all depends on what hardware/software you will use. Generally, it depends on how well (accurate, fast) you can control your laser power/frequency, and how it is implemented in a software.
Originally Posted by Konstantin Should I buy something other than gecko´s to drive my servos, some other type of controller more suited for laser applications? |
Motion system is almost absolutely independend from what laser hardware you will use.