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Thread: Portable Laser Setup

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    St. Petersburg Florida
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    57

    Portable Laser Setup

    My wife recently started a bakery and got involved with a local Saturday morning market. I'd like to get my laser business going by getting involved with the market as well. I was wondering if anyone here has done this. What have you used to transport the laser from the house to the truck, from the truck to the market, and then back.

    I already built a rolling cart for my ULS 2.3 but its not exactly roll into the back of my F150 portable. Like everything I do, I tend to over build things and they end up very heavy, but they last. It's compact being 2' x 4' and it holds the laser, blower, battery back up, material storage and laptop. The cart doesn't need to carry all that stuff. Just need something to ensure the safe transfer of the laser.

    Driving home I was thinking about the stretchers that go in the back of an ambulance. I could build something similar but would take quite a bit of work. I know I can build it but maybe someone here has already done it different way.

  2. #2
    Look at folding carts for chop saws. Some of them have large wheels and a decent sized platform for getting across a job site. I can't see it being to hard to modify/adapt on of those to suite your needs.

    Maybe like this one:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VZNEM0...mitersaws0f-20
    Last edited by Brian Lamb; 10-14-2017 at 3:58 PM.
    Brian Lamb
    Lamb Tool Works, Custom tools for woodworkers
    Equipment: Felder KF700 and AD741, Milltronics CNC Mill, Universal Laser X-600

  3. #3
    Sometimes buying something that has already been invented is your best option. https://www.foldingcarts.com/
    Mike Null

    St. Louis Laser, Inc.

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  4. #4
    Hydraulic cart and a ramp might be something to look into. I would secure belts on the laser with zip ties and use ratchet straps with pipe insulation to secure to the cart.

    Trailer is really the best way to go for events. So much easier to load/unload.

  5. #5
    My machine rep has what I could best describe as a small version of an ambulance gurney, as he pulls it out of his minivan the back wheels retract down, and the front wheels come down while the minvan is still supporting the other end of the table. Goes back in the same way. All adjustable, very slick and easy. Could be hydraulic, I'm not sure but it makes moving a 250# engraver a simple one-man deal. I have no idea the brand or what but I can find out....

    --edit-- Just looked at Mike's link, the gurney-looking things down a couple of rows, it's like one of those
    Last edited by Kev Williams; 10-14-2017 at 10:43 PM.
    ========================================
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  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    St. Petersburg Florida
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    That's exactly what I'm looking for. All I could find were hospital gurneys and stretchers. Way too big and kind of morbid. Hopefully these are not too expensive. Generally when you have to request a quote it's too much.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    St. Petersburg Florida
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    57
    Quote Originally Posted by Brian Lamb View Post
    Look at folding carts for chop saws. Some of them have large wheels and a decent sized platform for getting across a job site. I can't see it being to hard to modify/adapt on of those to suite your needs.

    Maybe like this one:

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000VZNEM0...mitersaws0f-20
    I have a table saw with a base like that but I really didn't want to tip the laser over on end. The models Mike showed is exactly what I had in mind.

  8. #8
    Join Date
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    Salesmaker is one brand. But about $2k for their small one that folds into a vehicle like a gurney. I'd probably get one of these and make a base for the laser that I could roll into my vehicle. https://www.harborfreight.com/500-lb...art-60730.html

    Especially if you were doing say weekly.
    Or if you are using open pickup, get one of these and make a base that would allow four point corner lift.
    https://www.harborfreight.com/12-ton...nch-60731.html
    Woodworking, Old Tools and Shooting
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  9. #9
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    St. Petersburg Florida
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    Just received the price from Salesmaker this morning and they want $1700 for their low profile cart that holds 300lbs. I find that ridiculous. I'm going to put together my own with pneumatic tires and a roll off top.

    John Lifer, I like the idea of the cart from Harbor Freight. Now that I've seen some of the designs I have some ideas to work with. I'll post pictures when I'm finished.

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