First Post: I'm looking to purchase my first 30 Watt MOPA Laser

[Matthew McGinniss]

So please point me in the right direction. I've looked at a few US based resellers and their prices are all of the place for what appears to be the same Chinese lasers so I'm hoping to save a few bucks by purchasing directly from the manufacturer. The main use for the laser will be to engrave titanium before anodizing it.

Here's a few samples of my anodizing work just to give you an idea of what my finished projects look like.

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/Mobile%20Uploads/20170228_224232_zpsbbvmgqk0.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/20170302_205713_zpsikmzlked.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/20170226_213910_zpskaaf580d.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/20170220_133031_zpskhghqqjb.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/20161225_124404_zpsohrahmor.jpg
http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/20161210_151832_zps3o0dllly.jpg

[Kev Williams]

so help me out here-- If you can anodize titanium like that, what exactly to you need a MOPA laser for? (tongue a little in cheek but I am serious!)

[John Lifer]

Hope he'll answer, but my guess is that all those swirls and patterns are lasered and anodizing doesn't take in those areas? Good guess or not?

[Matthew McGinniss]

so help me out here-- If you can anodize titanium like that, what exactly to you need a MOPA laser for? (tongue a little in cheek but I am serious!)

Anodizing wears off and I'm also wanting to do more intricate patterns that can't be achieved with my current methods.

[Matthew McGinniss]

Hope he'll answer, but my guess is that all those swirls and patterns are lasered and anodizing doesn't take in those areas? Good guess or not?


The patterns are achieved by masking and anodizing each piece at a different voltage which is a very time consuming process.

[Kev Williams]

I may be wrong here, (like that's a stretch ;) )
--but based on my admittedly limited research into MOPA fiber's lately, expecting a MOPA to render colors like those in your pics may in the long run prove as disappointing as expecting a 'typcial' fiber to end your need for Cermark (it sure didn't end mine!)

[Matthew McGinniss]

I may be wrong here, (like that's a stretch ;) )
--but based on my admittedly limited research into MOPA fiber's lately, expecting a MOPA to render colors like those in your pics may in the long run prove as disappointing as expecting a 'typcial' fiber to end your need for Cermark (it sure didn't end mine!)

I'd don't expect nor do I want the to achieve the same colors. I'm just wanting to be able to shallow engrave intricate patterns then I'll bead blast and anodize it afterwards.

[Keith Downing]

http://i435.photobucket.com/albums/qq74/mattal21/Mobile%20Uploads/20170228_224232_zpsbbvmgqk0.jpg






Really curious to know if these have a functional purpose of some type? Or are they purely decorative shapes? Thx

[Matthew McGinniss]

Really curious to know if these have a functional purpose of some type? Or are they purely decorative shapes? Thx

They're ornate EDC (everyday carry) bottle openers. The makers sells them for $120 and they sell out within a few minutes of being posted on her website.

[John Lifer]

Sent you a PM with contacts

[Neville Stewart]

I believe a MOPA will do what you what you need.

[David Somers]

Matthew!

Those are really cool looking! Your skill with anodizing is terrific and they look excellent. Please dont take offense at this. But $120 for an "Every Day Carry" bottle opener? Makes me wonder what a special "Sunday Go To Meetin' bottle opener would cost? Holy cow! My "church key" cost me 31 cents. Not being a church goer I never felt the need for a special Sunday key, but that is just me.

$120 to open a bottle? Yehaaaaaa! Clearly I retired from the wrong profession and now find myself in the wrong income bracket! <grin>

[Matthew McGinniss]

Matthew!

Those are really cool looking! Your skill with anodizing is terrific and they look excellent. Please dont take offense at this. But $120 for an "Every Day Carry" bottle opener? Makes me wonder what a special "Sunday Go To Meetin' bottle opener would cost? Holy cow! My "church key" cost me 31 cents. Not being a church goer I never felt the need for a special Sunday key, but that is just me.

$120 to open a bottle? Yehaaaaaa! Clearly I retired from the wrong profession and now find myself in the wrong income bracket! <grin>

Thanks for the kind words. I've been perfecting my process for over a year and it's always evolving. As for the bottle openers, $120 is on the low end of the price spectrum, when they're offered in more exotic materials (Zirc, Timascus, mokuti, Zircuti, etc.) the price can get into the 4-$500 range.

[Matthew McGinniss]

Sent you a PM with contacts

Thanks for the info. I have a quote from Blanca, now I need to decide which one to purchase (30W or 60W).

[David Somers]

Hmmmmm. The folks here with Fibers can better answer this, but my thinking would be that if you can power down the 60 watt enough to do your delicate work well then you have the high power capacity when you decide you want to really goose it and gouge out material for a deep engraving. Mind you, without experience in a fiber I dont know where that sweet spot is in terms of power on a galvo fiber. And of course, part of the equation for you is what your production needs are too. Having a 60 watt might be great, but if you rarely use it except for low volume jobs the extra passes and time a 30 watt would take to do the same thing may not be an issue. We seem to be developing a good amount of expertise here on galvo fibers so folks should be able to help you with that part of the equation.

[Gary Hair]

Thanks for the info. I have a quote from Blanca, now I need to decide which one to purchase (30W or 60W).

My advice would be to buy two 30 watt machines vs one 60 watt. With two machines you will absolutely get double the throughput vs one machine and you will not get that with 60 watts vs 30. The other side benefit is you have a backup machine in case something happens to one of them. In my time running fibers I haven't had that come up, but you know it will eventually.