Need to Cut 20ga Stainless...?

[tof1]

Let me start off by saying I'm new to lasers. I need to cut 20GA No.8 non-directional stainless steel with a thin 2 layer protective PVC film. I was hoping that it could be done with a 100W laser but from what I've read it looks like it need to be at least 200W...?

I've been looking at a Shop Sabre 100W laser setup but the $65K price tag isn't that appealing when I can get a 200W Synrad laser (just the laser) for $40K.

Another thing I was talking with Shop Sabre and they said if I needed to add "height control" it would add $15K to the price. Would the stainless warp enough to have to use a height control??

Is there anyone who has retrofitted a CNC router table with a equivalent laser?? I have a shop full of tools and am very DIY, just not electronically which might be my downfall in this situation.

Thank you for any help!

[tof1]

[MacGyver]

100W might be doable, but it's going to be slow. A 200W will hep significantly... I imagine you'll get about 1/2" per second cut speed. Not a speed demon, but usable

[KTP]

Well, if you have 40k in your pocket, why not skip the 200 watt and buy this 400 watt:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Synrad-Fires...2em118Q2el1247

[tof1]

100W might be doable, but it's going to be slow. A 200W will hep significantly... I imagine you'll get about 1/2" per second cut speed. Not a speed demon, but usable

I guess it's better than nothing...

Well, if you have 40k in your pocket, why not skip the 200 watt and buy this 400 watt:

http://cgi.ebay.com/New-Synrad-Fires...2em118Q2el1247

I'd love to just buy that but I wouldn't know how to get it setup on a CNC table.