Hayley Dawson
04-19-2013, 8:47 AM
I know, lots of people ask this. I'm feeling a little over my head though.
Background: I'm a techshop RDU member, which closes permanently tomorrow. I had started a little side business that was making me some spending cash etching glass there and doing some work with wood/acrylic. Given the amount of inquiries I have going with zero advertising, I was about to really ramp up the whole thing into a real business. And, then tech shop is closing, which, means now I need laser access if I am going to do anything with this.
I've tried to do some research online and, figure out what my needs are, but I'm still confused on a few things.
1. Are Rabbit and Hurricane Lasers chinese produced, already imported, and then US supported? Is the quality of support good?
2. FSL, Epilog, ULS, Rabbit, and Hurricane....are the choices for already in the US lasers from hobby to small shop level correct? or did I miss someone? (I say small shop as I know there are some massive industrial lasers out there as well..)
3. I know I absolutely, positively, have to have a reliable rotary attachment - i know FSL, Epilog, ULS have this. Do Rabbit and Hurricane?
4. Does anybody have a rough idea what yearly maintenance costs are? I know there's purchase price + sales tax + freight + rotary + I'll have to inquire about other individual fees + blower tube + air compressor (right?), but that doesn't tell me how much per year it will cost me to run it. I know there's the power cost, but i'm not sure how often folks are budgeting for tubes, or....other things that I'm not sure what they are yet?
5. I hear things about water cooling and chillers, it's my understanding that Epilog and ULS lasers..dont have these? Do you have to have those to run? I thought air assist/ventilation was the large external to-the-purchased-system requirement.
6. I am more creative, than mechanically inclined, more software than hardware oriented (I program by day, and create things at night) - am I in over my head considering one of these at all? I can follow directions and trouble shoot some basic things on computers and other equipment, but some of the discussions on various forums are well beyond my capacity to quite get. I do not CNC outside of laser-use or reverse engineer anything really, nor do I have access to a shop anymore where i could fabricate a lot of custom parts to fix/replace things.
Based on some research I know I do not want an FSL laser. After that though, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by choices. I am familiar with Epilog systems in terms of what I've already used. The budget starts at $9k for what I have to throw at this, but... if $9k will not get me a laser that suits my needs I'd rather find out the price of one that will and work that out instead. I saw a few systems on usedlasers based on another thread here, and that looks appealing truth be told in that I could get a 60W Epilog (which is what I'm most familiar with in addition to a 40 or 45 and the 60 really made a speed difference in my work) EXT for less than a new 60W Helix, but...that's still a lot more than $9k and I have no idea how reputable buying from that site is.
So if anyone has advice on...whether I am in over my head entire in ability to keep it up and running, and whether there is a buisness appropriate middle ground somewhere between $9k and $25k?
Oh- for the budget, i mean as purchase price w/ sales tax and most of the fees for the laser itself. I'm budgeting extra for the rotary, delivery, and air compressor for ventillation (or if i'm wrong that it's an air compressor, what I should be getting instead).
Thanks all.
Background: I'm a techshop RDU member, which closes permanently tomorrow. I had started a little side business that was making me some spending cash etching glass there and doing some work with wood/acrylic. Given the amount of inquiries I have going with zero advertising, I was about to really ramp up the whole thing into a real business. And, then tech shop is closing, which, means now I need laser access if I am going to do anything with this.
I've tried to do some research online and, figure out what my needs are, but I'm still confused on a few things.
1. Are Rabbit and Hurricane Lasers chinese produced, already imported, and then US supported? Is the quality of support good?
2. FSL, Epilog, ULS, Rabbit, and Hurricane....are the choices for already in the US lasers from hobby to small shop level correct? or did I miss someone? (I say small shop as I know there are some massive industrial lasers out there as well..)
3. I know I absolutely, positively, have to have a reliable rotary attachment - i know FSL, Epilog, ULS have this. Do Rabbit and Hurricane?
4. Does anybody have a rough idea what yearly maintenance costs are? I know there's purchase price + sales tax + freight + rotary + I'll have to inquire about other individual fees + blower tube + air compressor (right?), but that doesn't tell me how much per year it will cost me to run it. I know there's the power cost, but i'm not sure how often folks are budgeting for tubes, or....other things that I'm not sure what they are yet?
5. I hear things about water cooling and chillers, it's my understanding that Epilog and ULS lasers..dont have these? Do you have to have those to run? I thought air assist/ventilation was the large external to-the-purchased-system requirement.
6. I am more creative, than mechanically inclined, more software than hardware oriented (I program by day, and create things at night) - am I in over my head considering one of these at all? I can follow directions and trouble shoot some basic things on computers and other equipment, but some of the discussions on various forums are well beyond my capacity to quite get. I do not CNC outside of laser-use or reverse engineer anything really, nor do I have access to a shop anymore where i could fabricate a lot of custom parts to fix/replace things.
Based on some research I know I do not want an FSL laser. After that though, I'm feeling a little overwhelmed by choices. I am familiar with Epilog systems in terms of what I've already used. The budget starts at $9k for what I have to throw at this, but... if $9k will not get me a laser that suits my needs I'd rather find out the price of one that will and work that out instead. I saw a few systems on usedlasers based on another thread here, and that looks appealing truth be told in that I could get a 60W Epilog (which is what I'm most familiar with in addition to a 40 or 45 and the 60 really made a speed difference in my work) EXT for less than a new 60W Helix, but...that's still a lot more than $9k and I have no idea how reputable buying from that site is.
So if anyone has advice on...whether I am in over my head entire in ability to keep it up and running, and whether there is a buisness appropriate middle ground somewhere between $9k and $25k?
Oh- for the budget, i mean as purchase price w/ sales tax and most of the fees for the laser itself. I'm budgeting extra for the rotary, delivery, and air compressor for ventillation (or if i'm wrong that it's an air compressor, what I should be getting instead).
Thanks all.