Bryce Mccloud
09-16-2011, 1:46 AM
Hello to all
My first post - and it looks like a long one
I've been researching laser engravers here for a bit and I am ready to make the plunge -
I've narrowed it down to the epilog brand I think
All the samples I have done have been for my primary use - to engrave woodblocks for my letterpress business. For those unfamiliar it is a printing process that presses metal and wood block into paper to transfer the ink. Likely many have seen the work on high end cards or wedding invitations! Right now I get plates made via acid etching or using a polymer plate process when not using hand carved blocks and old metal type.
It seems to be a subset of a subset for laser engravers but I know several people who are getting good results working this way. I am still honing in on the best material for the use. Recommended to me is solid cherry and maple to produce fine detail that will stand up to the pressure a press exherts on the block. The press requires blocks to be .918 of an inch to run. Thinner material can be shimmed up.
I am fairly confident that with a bit of practice I can get the process to work. But any advice before I put my money on the barrel is appreciated
I am looking at helix 24 mainly for the bed size - I routinely use blocks up to 18x24 now and don't want to limit my work to the smaller sized machines. But because of my budget I am considering the 30 watt machine to start with.
The question is ....what can a 30 watt machine do? Or maybe what CAN'T a 30 watt machine do?
We will be producing blocks for ourselves mainly and thus I will need to make just a few a day max. *I can't imagine a situation where I will be trying to crank out a bunch of volume - so speed will be a relative thing. Right now it takes days to get plates back from my suppliers.
The sales reps tell me power equals speed - from what I have seen I'm looking at a between 30 minutes and a few hours per block On the demo 30 watt
So beyond engraving for type blocks I hope to do some fun things like cut complicated shapes out of paper, mat board, and hopefully wood. The goal to make interesting limited run things to sell in my shop. I'd like to cut stickers and the like too but I've read about needing to watch out for vinyls and PVC
How thick of material can I hope to cut with a 30 watt machine? With a reasonable speed ( say less than a regular work day :))
I'm hoping to cut cleanly at least 1/8 inch and would be really happy with 3/8 or 1/2 inch
Mostly plan to use wood for these cutting projects. They are secondary uses but I really want to maximize my investment and get as many uses out of the machine as I can. I would be going with a laser over another plate maker system for just this sort of versatility.
The reps tell me I can upgrade to a higher watt tube down the road if I really need more power.
What kind of cost would I be looking at to step up to a 45 or 60 watt tube?
I'm also a Mac user so I am considering getting a pc to dedicate to this machine and I guess find a copy of photoshop and illustrator to run on it as those are my regular programs. Anybody out there have a better idea?
Finally price
How much wiggle room is there in the new prices - is this like a car? Or buying a Mac computer where the price is the price.
That's everything I can think of right off the bat
I really appreciate the forums collective wisdom
Thanks for your time
Best
Bryce
To see what I do isleofprintingdotcom
My first post - and it looks like a long one
I've been researching laser engravers here for a bit and I am ready to make the plunge -
I've narrowed it down to the epilog brand I think
All the samples I have done have been for my primary use - to engrave woodblocks for my letterpress business. For those unfamiliar it is a printing process that presses metal and wood block into paper to transfer the ink. Likely many have seen the work on high end cards or wedding invitations! Right now I get plates made via acid etching or using a polymer plate process when not using hand carved blocks and old metal type.
It seems to be a subset of a subset for laser engravers but I know several people who are getting good results working this way. I am still honing in on the best material for the use. Recommended to me is solid cherry and maple to produce fine detail that will stand up to the pressure a press exherts on the block. The press requires blocks to be .918 of an inch to run. Thinner material can be shimmed up.
I am fairly confident that with a bit of practice I can get the process to work. But any advice before I put my money on the barrel is appreciated
I am looking at helix 24 mainly for the bed size - I routinely use blocks up to 18x24 now and don't want to limit my work to the smaller sized machines. But because of my budget I am considering the 30 watt machine to start with.
The question is ....what can a 30 watt machine do? Or maybe what CAN'T a 30 watt machine do?
We will be producing blocks for ourselves mainly and thus I will need to make just a few a day max. *I can't imagine a situation where I will be trying to crank out a bunch of volume - so speed will be a relative thing. Right now it takes days to get plates back from my suppliers.
The sales reps tell me power equals speed - from what I have seen I'm looking at a between 30 minutes and a few hours per block On the demo 30 watt
So beyond engraving for type blocks I hope to do some fun things like cut complicated shapes out of paper, mat board, and hopefully wood. The goal to make interesting limited run things to sell in my shop. I'd like to cut stickers and the like too but I've read about needing to watch out for vinyls and PVC
How thick of material can I hope to cut with a 30 watt machine? With a reasonable speed ( say less than a regular work day :))
I'm hoping to cut cleanly at least 1/8 inch and would be really happy with 3/8 or 1/2 inch
Mostly plan to use wood for these cutting projects. They are secondary uses but I really want to maximize my investment and get as many uses out of the machine as I can. I would be going with a laser over another plate maker system for just this sort of versatility.
The reps tell me I can upgrade to a higher watt tube down the road if I really need more power.
What kind of cost would I be looking at to step up to a 45 or 60 watt tube?
I'm also a Mac user so I am considering getting a pc to dedicate to this machine and I guess find a copy of photoshop and illustrator to run on it as those are my regular programs. Anybody out there have a better idea?
Finally price
How much wiggle room is there in the new prices - is this like a car? Or buying a Mac computer where the price is the price.
That's everything I can think of right off the bat
I really appreciate the forums collective wisdom
Thanks for your time
Best
Bryce
To see what I do isleofprintingdotcom