For those that have lasers with casters AND feet

A lot of the Chinese lasers, and I believe some of the larger US machines, have locking casters AND adjustable feet on all four corners. My question is: is there an advantage to using the feet once you have the machine permanently placed?

I guess the only thing I can think of is the advantage of being able to level the machine. Is that the idea behind the machines that have both? Casters to move into place, feet to set it permanently and level?

Maybe I'm just thinking out loud here. But I'm curious if everyone pretty much takes the time to set their machines so the casters aren't used.

Depending on your surface, the laser can move even with casters locked. As woodworker, I've got several màchines with casters and I have to be careful cause they will move. I've got concrete floor with a cheap indoor/outdoor carpet over it. It would move a bit, so I put down the feet and they help a lot. Also leveled a bit. Casters are touching, but​ feet mainly holding it in place. I know a lot of the cheaper Chinese don't have feet and a lot of guys have added them

In my opinion, leveling a laser serves no significant purpose, unless grossly out of level ie coolant bubbles, material movement, etc. The table and laser planarity are the critical factor for a stable cut. As for casters vs feet, the momentum of your gantry movements can cause the machine to oscillate and shake your material and mirrors. So having the feet firmly planted provides a larger more stable surface area for your tool to sit on, then the curved surface of a locked caster. My personal rule of thumb is, just taking the weight off the casters, and using a 4' bubble level. Thoughts??

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Merritt Conner

In my opinion, leveling a laser serves no significant purpose, unless grossly out of level ie coolant bubbles, material movement, etc. The table and laser planarity are the critical factor for a stable cut. As for casters vs feet, the momentum of your gantry movements can cause the machine to oscillate and shake your material and mirrors. So having the feet firmly planted provides a larger more stable surface area for your tool to sit on, then the curved surface of a locked caster. My personal rule of thumb is, just taking the weight off the casters, and using a 4' bubble level. Thoughts??

---

Hadn't thought about the potential for greater vibrations. That alone might be worth the time to get the feet setup properly and leveled.

I originally had the feet down but found that in order to use the pass through facility I had to move the machine away from the wall behind it and then back again when the job was finished - now use only locked casters and all is still fine. Just FWIW.

YES!!!!! I lock mine - of course. However numerous times I needed to either get back behind it or under it for something that rolled there. Even maintenance is easier if you can roll it out away from the wall.

On a larger machine not using the feet can cause some twist, unless you floor is perfectly level.

I just use the castors and lock them. The castors provided were a decent quality and have not gone flat on the bottom from the weight of the laser. I also like moving my laser out from the wall for some maintenance functions. My CNC is in the middle of the floor so I have leveled it with the feet since I really done need to move it. FWIW.