Newbie- Laser cutting machine help, please!!

[Ldoak1]

I am looking to purchase a machine in the next couple of months and I'm totally clueless where to start or what type of machine and would apprecate if someone could point me in the right direction.

I currently work at home making decorative wooden items which I presently buy from a third party which is quite time consuming. I thought maybe if I had the equipment I could make the wooden shapes myself. I would need about 20-30 shapes cut a day and would require a relatively compact machine for my home which is low maintenance and relatively straight forward to use. Could I also ask what software you need for the computer the shapes I buy at the moment are basic nothing to intricate.

Thanks for your help anyone!

[zax15uk]

I suspect a CNC router is going to be the better option, but to determine if a laser is appropriate and what power is required you will need to provide some additional information.

What are the maximum sizes for your wood shapes and thickness range you need to cut?

Are they just flat cut out or do they have some Z-depth variation.

Zax.

[Ldoak1]

They are flat cut and the maximum size would be approx 10 inches.

Thanks

[zax15uk]

If they are solid wood and thickness is less than 1/2", or ply with a thickness of less than 3/8" a laser may be a reasonable option. Yes you can cut more but it becomes increasingly difficult to get an acceptable edge quality and speeds are slow.

If you are also planning to engrave then the laser makes more sense, but the router has many more advantages in my opinion.

You could pick up a decent quality small CNC router for under £2k Home or a cheap desktop for £1k (check out ebay).

Zax.

[Ldoak1]

Thanks Zax,

I'm not planning on engraving just looking to cut my own shapes out and wood thickness would vary from thin to thick.

Thank you for the information you have provided it's been very helpful

Lorraine

[DLawson]

Originally Posted by Ldoak1 They are flat cut and the maximum size would be approx 10 inches. Thanks

Inscot Machine Tools supply a wide range of Laser cutting machines

Contact us if you require help

sales@inscot.com

[cncengraver]

Originally Posted by Ldoak1 I am looking to purchase a machine in the next couple of months and I'm totally clueless where to start or what type of machine and would apprecate if someone could point me in the right direction. I currently work at home making decorative wooden items which I presently buy from a third party which is quite time consuming. I thought maybe if I had the equipment I could make the wooden shapes myself. I would need about 20-30 shapes cut a day and would require a relatively compact machine for my home which is low maintenance and relatively straight forward to use. Could I also ask what software you need for the computer the shapes I buy at the moment are basic nothing to intricate. Thanks for your help anyone!

Hi friend.

If you wood thickness is vary difference.the wood cnc router should be your good option. We chinese cnc router manufacturer and would like to show you some wood cutting samples.Hope you like it.






If you interested China cnc router please feel in free to contact us.

thanks

bryant

[DavenUK]

Have a look at HPC Laser in West Yorkshire - thay also do CNC machines. I have one of their 3020 machines.

Cheers

Dave

[bpoulin]

As far as less time consuming, I'm not sure laser is the best choice. You can't start it, and leave the room to go do something else. Wood can and will catch on fire. I have had my machine working for less than a month and already put out one small fire. So consider your time editing the design to what you like, then laying it out in the cutter software. Then if it's a basic raster cut 10"x10" depending on the material could take 3-5 minutes, so let's assume you make 20 pieces that's 1hr and 40 minutes of time you have to babysit the machine. Also the edges will be browned or black, which if you are going for that look great if not you'll need to finish the edges. CNC router will cut in about the same amount of time, maybe less. There are more edge variations (curves and designs from different router bits) the laser will only give you a 90deg cut and nothing else.

[ASTECH.CNCTOOLS]

Originally Posted by Ldoak1 I am looking to purchase a machine in the next couple of months and I'm totally clueless where to start or what type of machine and would apprecate if someone could point me in the right direction. I currently work at home making decorative wooden items which I presently buy from a third party which is quite time consuming. I thought maybe if I had the equipment I could make the wooden shapes myself. I would need about 20-30 shapes cut a day and would require a relatively compact machine for my home which is low maintenance and relatively straight forward to use. Could I also ask what software you need for the computer the shapes I buy at the moment are basic nothing to intricate. Thanks for your help anyone!

It depends on your actually work demand! So far good choice is CNC router and Laser engraving cutting machine. The difference is that, wood cnc router could realize surface 3D relief performance, with a little rough cutting edge; but to laser cutting machine, the cutting edge will be very smooth, just a little black sometimes, and could not realize surface 3D performance. So, more important is your work, if you prefer beautiful embossment,wood cnc router is better.