Hi!
I’m hoping to buy a laser cutter soon, and am hoping to get input on what exactly my requirements are. There are lots of smart people here, I’d love to pick your brains for expertise!
To start with: I’m running low budget, I’ll almost certainly end up buying second hand, possibly home made. $500.00 range is affordable. So I’m not looking at new systems. For a lot of reasons, I prefer an open gantry, no box, they just get in the way of what I want to do, and I’d end up hacking it to remove the box.
What I need to be able to do is cut thin wood (masonite or similar wood, 1/8 inch thick is, I think, normal?) as well as fabric, paper and maybe vinyl.
Questions:
What is the lowest power laser that will do what I want? What would be way more than I need? If I knew the correct range, I’d have an easier time ruling things out.
Are there any brands/models that I should look at more or avoid when trying to buy second hand?
Are there software requirements for most systems? I am REALLY good with PhotoShop, and own the whole Adobe Creative Suite of programs, can easily learn any graphics or CAD program, but don’t own any others right now. Is this something I need to watch for?
Anything else I need to be aware of that I may be missing?
Are there any sites that I should check?
Know anyone who wants to sell something like this?
About me, if it matters: good graphics skills, good hand skills, have been doing craft/artwork for many years, good with tools, better with hardware than software issues, thing that fix with a wrench make sense to me. I have in mind a couple of major projects for myself, that could easily spin off into a business, if I did that, first money in would be used to buy a better laser, I suspect. The major projects for myself are part of building a house, part of the decorative style (I really don’t know words for what I want to do, haven’t seen it done anyplace. “Lattice type doors” is the closest words I have, but that’s not very close. “Laminated fretwork” might be close too, but again, not very.) I am pretty capable of working with weird systems, I run moody old cars and tools, and am used to working with machines that have personality quirks. “To make it start you have to do this, then that, and then turn the key back a half turn” is pretty common in my life. A nice shiny turnkey system in a box is not only not affordable, it’s probably not what I would get along with best. If I had time/energy etc (I don’t, I’m building a house and doing all the work I can myself, including some interesting custom cabinetry and built-ins through it all) I’d build my own system. Second choice is to figure out what will do what I want, and buy it used.
Any advice/suggestions anyone can offer would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you!!
Pearl