Originally Posted by KustomKoncepts  What I Want is a laser for engraving and cutting. I don't have a specific need for it just a general use. |
Hi, Well first off you need to decide what you might want to cut or mark. A CO2 laser will not mark metal until you get into the thousands of Watts range. You can get a Nd-Yag laser that will mark metal and should cut thin metal but they are more expensive than a CO2. With a CO2 you can mark anodized aluminum as it boils off the color from the anodizing process and shows a white aluminum below so dark anodized colors are better for that. Gold and silver colors it is hard to see the work. You can also mark hard metals with a CO2 using a product called cermark but it is expensive (250g = $120) and ideally needs to be applied with an airbrush. A CO2 will cut almost all softer material like Plexiglas and thin woods to about 1/4" You can cut thicker by slowing down the speed but there are all sorts of trade offs. Laser power is laser power. It is collimated light so it is not exponential as with conventional light so a 50 Watt will cut at a faster speed than a 25 Watt, maybe not twice a as fast but close. Lasers are pretty slow generally with rastering work. You should get some sample Corel files and the material of what you think you might want then go to a laser dealer and have them cut or mark it so you can see. I think where you are at the moment in this thinking process, you should talk with some laser vendors and get them to show you what can and cant be done. Dave