Have an opportunity...maybe. Need advice/have a few questions. (Purchase Related)

[Jacob John]

I have an opportunity to pick up a 2004ish Trotec Speedy I 25w with a large engraving area. The asking price is very reasonable. I have some reservations about a 13 year old machine, but it is a Trotec and the owner says it is fully functional. I do have a few questions that I hope a few of you can help answer.


I know the tube can be replaced, but can it be upgraded? I wouldn't do this right away, but I would when the tube needs replacing.
If it can be upgraded, any ballpark on pricing? I know that's wattage dependent, but even a range would be helpful.
How hard would it be to get a rotary for this thing?
In your honest opinion, what would you pay for a 13 year old Trotec based on my description?
Can anyone link me or show me where to find a Trotec I manual and/or an original product description? I tried the Wayback Machine and got nothing.


We aren't really doing a lot with our current laser, but we do have repeat customers to service, so we're wanting to at least keep a laser and this seems to fit what we're wanting to do. It's a fairly decent drive to pick up, so I'm wanting to make sure, and who better to ask than you guys/gals.

Thanks for your opinions. :)

[Lyle Cheredaryk]

Jacob
Not sure if this is the right manual, but it has a version date of 2003/03/10. So it might be the one. Have a look at it and see.
Lyle
http://microfluidics.cnsi.ucsb.edu/tools/Trotec_laser_cutter/Servicemanual%208003V14.pdf

[Jacob John]

I believe that this might be it. I found references to an 8003 Trotec Speedy C25 online, which seems to fit. Thanks!

[Andrew Holloway]

Have you tried just calling Trotec? They should be able to answer all these questions.
I once was thinking of buying an old Trotec off ebay. Called Trotec with the serial number and they told me it's service history and all info on what I would be able to do with the machine, eg, it would not run with a new version of windows, they told me the tube was over 10 years old (and the seller was advertising it as having a new tube!), etc, etc.

[Ian Stewart-Koster]

A 20 year old Trotec sold for $1000 here recently. 35 watt.
But as above - you are apparently limited in what newer operating systems will run it - the drivers for theose older models are a bit clunky, I believe - and no upgrades available - i.e. the older ones won't work on newer software.

It's still a good machine, providing the tube works, but remember you're dealoing with Win95 and Win98 era stuff...

[Scott Shepherd]

I don't know who makes that tube but since Trotec switched over to their ceramic core tubes, the price to get non ceramic core tubes repaired has gone crazy. A 45W coherent tube is over $5000 to have rebuilt/recharged by Trotec, so keep in mind, if your 25W tube went, it could be very expensive to repair/recharge.

[Jacob John]

Thanks for the responses guys! That's exactly what i needed to hear/read. I think I'm gonna pass on it for the reasons stated in this thread. The price point is good, but a 13 year old machine, unless the tube is new, could be a huge expense too soon.

[Mayo Pardo]

It may or may not be the original tube in it. You would need to find out about that.
If you find out what software it's using, you can probably call Trotec and ask them how to find out the amount of hours the machine has been on and how many hours the tube has been firing.

In the current Job Control software this is an easy to find menu item.
This would give you a good indication if the machine was heavily used or just occasionally used.

What software is running the computer they have the laser hooked up to? Do you have or can you get a similar computer set up (presuming it's older)?

[Glen Monaghan]

I know the tube can be replaced, but can it be upgraded? I wouldn't do this right away, but I would when the tube needs replacing.
If it can be upgraded, any ballpark on pricing? I know that's wattage dependent, but even a range would be helpful.



At least for Western lasers, as a general rule it is not cost effective to upgrade tube wattage by more than 5-10 watts. Some older Western (e.g., Epilog and ULS) laser models had 25 or 35W tubes and the manufacturers replaced them with 30 and 40W versions (respectively); the replacement prices might be reasonable for you, in large part because you won't need to change any other wiring, power supplies, etc., and because the manufacturers may not want to deal with the older tubes anymore so they price the new ones more aggressively (with new warranty) to induce you to upgrade vice refill.

But if you look at bigger upgrades, such as from 30 to 60W or 35 to 80W, etc., you would expect to need new power supply/supplies, wiring harnesses, and possibly controller updates and/or other bits and bobs. When you get done with the upgrade, you'll still have an older machine with older (electro-)mechanical parts (belts, bearings, motors, etc.) that runs older firmware and won't work with the latest manufacturer's software. And it will cost more in total than the equivalent higher power machine when new. Otherwise, if it were actually cost effective to upgrade the wattage, most people would buy a lower power machine and then upgrade it, and the manufacturer would lose money. For those who do buy a lower power starter machine, the manufacturer would much prefer to sell them a whole new machine than parts to upgrade their current one so they price upgrades accordingly. You can generally negotiate the price of a new machine, but expect to pay full retail for the upgrade.

Basically, upgrading power is a marketing ploy more than a reasonable option (unless you get a fantastic deal/steal on buying the old machine in the first place, such that the upgrade cost is offset by the especially low price of the machine itself, and that would be an unusual situation).

[Mark Sipes]

We aren't really doing a lot with our current laser, but we do have repeat customers to service, so we're wanting to at least keep a laser and this seems to fit what we're wanting to do. It's a fairly decent drive to pick up, so I'm wanting to make sure, and who better to ask than you guys/gals.


I have had my a 8003-25 since 2001, Charged the tube once and replaced the x-bearing rail once. The x bearings and motor 3 times. Last time I looked into the x-drive motor Trotec wanted $2,500, up from $800 for it..... Last one in the world left, really!. Has not been in production since 2009, and no there is no aftermarket maker for the motor and drive gear combo.

I would pass........

.

[Jacob John]

I have had my a 8003-25 since 2001, Charged the tube once and replaced the x-bearing rail once. The x bearings and motor 3 times. Last time I looked into the x-drive motor Trotec wanted $2,500, up from $800 for it..... Last one in the world left, really!. Has not been in production since 2009, and no there is no aftermarket maker for the motor and drive gear combo.

I would pass........




.


Great information! I had planned on passing anyway after the first few comments, but this cements it. Definitely not something I'm wanting to take on. The search continues...