The new small lasers?...

[Zac Altman]

It seems that there are all of these new smaller desktop laser systems that are slowly becoming available. They are smaller, look more consumer friendly and they have a simpler driver.What do you think about all of these smaller systems?

Right now I can only really think of 4 of these type of lasers: Trotec Rayjet, Epilog Zing, ULS Versalaser 2.30, GCC C180. Are there any others? Which one is the best?

What are your thoughts on these new systems/the whole new class of laser in general??

[Steve Clarkson]

Zac......not sure how many people will vote......I can't, since I don't own any of those machines nor do I have enough knowledge about them to recommend one over another.

[Zac Altman]

There seems to be a huuge lack of actual user comments on these machines (with possibly the exception of the Versalaser). All I can find is the official site with specs and some shady videos.

Edit: It did get one vote...better than nothing i suppose

[Mike Null]

Zac

I suspect the results are due to very low ownership among members of the forum.

[Zac Altman]

And probably the fact that these are meant for a more "consumer" market. They dont go to forums for help, they go back to the people they bought it from; most people here work off eachothers help/info, but that happens with everything.

I reckon they are also less technologically minded..in a sense. Im just saying that because these lasers are meant to be simpler to use and as a result a wider variety people are able to work them out.

[Doug Griffith]

I think a poll where "the best" is asked is far too subjective. Also, the only people halfway qualified to make such a judgement would need to be experienced in using ALL of the machines. Even then, their judgement would be based on their particular application. I doubt you will find such a user.

I also think the people here on SMC run the gamut of user types.

Cheers,
Doug

[George Brown]

My 2 cents worth...

I looked at the universal one, was not overly impressed. Small, light weight, impression I got is that it is for more a high end hobbyist than commercial/production/serious user. If I couldn't afford anything else, might consider it, but would rather not.

[Lee DeRaud]

It seems that there are all of these new smaller desktop laser systems that are slowly becoming available.For some very low value of "new": the Universal VL200 (i.e. the original Versalaser, on which the VLS-2.xx series is based) has been on the market 5-6 years at this point.

(I've had mine for four years...and anyone who thinks I'm "less technologically minded" must be new around here. :cool:)

[Robert Ray]

I looked at the Zing, Versalaser 2.30, and the Laserpro C180. You did not ask which was cheapest, and the poll results only show which is most popular, but I am telling you, of these 3, the C180 is hands down the best!

I don't know anything about the Trotec though.

You have to come up with some artwork that taxes these lasers, and have your material engraved, vector cut, 3d rastered, etc. Then compare the results, and the time taken to produce them. IF you do that, you will see I tell the truth.

Let's face it... Epilog wins the popularity contest, they have great service, and you just might need it. Universal wins the laser repair cost contest, because they make their own, and even OEM them to other companies. GCC has the most versatile drivers, and one of the most stable, vibration free mechanisms, as they have more experience with laser engravers than most.

-Robert Ray

[Mike Ireland]

I will have to disagree with you Robert on GCC having more experience than most - both Universal and Epilog have been making lasers for over 20 years, GCC has been making lasers for only 9-10 years at most. Being somewhat biased, I would also say that the Universal Driver is extremely versatile, flexible and easy to use.

[Angus Hines]

Well I like my larger GCC product. I dont know much about the others. BUt fair warning....If you go with the GCC 180.

DO NOT BUY IT FROM SIGNWAREHOUSE. You will have nothing but issues.

Buy it from Laserproi.com
or laserprona.com

[Ray Uebner]

I have a Trotec Speedy 300 45 watt and love it. The Rayjet is new and will be looking at it in Vegas at the ARA Show. I foud out that the software for the Speedy will not work with the Rayjet which would be a drawback, but will see what they have. I am looking at it because of the support I get from Trotec has been great so kind of wanted to stay with the same vendor. I am thinking of putting it in my motor home or trailer when I do shows.

[Paul Lee]

last year we saw the Zing at ARA. The boss wanted a small laser to take to craft shows. We have a Epilog in the shop and she wanted a Zing because we know the settings, but it was not ready when we needed it. We got a Versalaser 230 with 30 watts. I am here to tell you it is the coolest little machine. We just look up the material, set the thickness and click on the green start button. Just that easy. The only thing we don't like is that you can't see what is going on inside very well. The lens has a metal cover over it and it blocks the view.

[Rodne Gold]

Zac , have you formulated your workable business plan yet ....
Cos if you haven't , your polls are useless.
You have been asking the same basic Q for many months now , either committ to a laser or dont.

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[Zac Altman]

@Rodne: Im not looking to purchase one. I just think there is a lack of input on these systems and it would be great to see everyones thoughts on them.

@Paul: I really like the estimated time feature in their drivers, but I dont like the fact that it is full screen. It would be nice if they offered a 'lighter' version of the driver.

@Lee: Only recently have these lasers become a standard. I know ULS have had their versalaser line for a a while. In 2008 alone the Zing, Rayjet and C180 all came out...I think this really shows that lasers are becoming somewhat more 'mainstream'...well more people are interested.
+ I was saying that the lasers are easier to use which allows those who are less technologically minded to use them, but that doesnt mean that everyine who uses one is less technologically minded. They are simpler.

[Dan Hintz]

@Rodne: Im not looking to purchase one. I just think there is a lack of input on these systems and it would be great to see everyones thoughts on them.
I guess I'm a little confused on the point of the thread, then... :confused:

They will all typically be decent systems if used for the proper market. If you're not looking at picking up any of these systems, why bother worrying about them? I remember some of your older posts, and your plan of attack still seems unclear to me...

[Lee DeRaud]

Lee: Only recently have these lasers become a standard. I know ULS have had their versalaser line for a a while. In 2008 alone the Zing, Rayjet and C180 all came out...I think this really shows that lasers are becoming somewhat more 'mainstream'...well more people are interested.Translation: "It doesn't matter how long something has been around, it's not a 'standard' until someone copies it."
While that may be true to some extent, try to remember that the copy isn't the standard, the original is.

I agree that "more people are interested", but it looks like what more people are interested in is getting a piece of an existing market, not creating a new one. When the price of lasers starts dropping like the price of computer printers and disc drives did or they start selling them at Best Buy, then we can start using words like "mainstream".

[Lee DeRaud]

I guess I'm a little confused on the point of the thread, then... :confused:Back in the late '80s, I worked with a couple of guys who, for no apparent reason, decided I was their personal computer guru. Every couple of days they came up to me to ask which graphics board was better or which monitor was better or is SCSI better than ESDI or how much RAM does it take to...you get the idea. This went on for months (literally), and of course it was at a time when new products were coming out weekly, generating new questions and alternatives. It got so I dreaded going in to work the day after the latest Byte or PC magazine hit the newsstands. Eventually I moved on to a different project and I suppose they latched onto some other poor bugger with their questions, but for all I know neither of them has ever bought a computer to this day.

It dawned on me that the two of them would never have as much fun actually owning or using a computer as they did playing their endless "what if" game in quest of the Perfect System.

I'm not saying that's what's happening here, but you never know.

[Doug Griffith]

endless "what if" game in quest of the Perfect System.

Kind of like fantasy football.

I'm used to people who have "great ideas" and pick my brain over and over only to do nothing in the end. They often offer to partner up with me but have nothing to contribute themselves besides "the idea".

Cheers,
Doug

[kyle bonnell]

I have two Versa Laser 2.3's. Very quick to learn if you have an open mind.