Chinese supplier question - looking for somewhat higher end

[George Carlson]

The problem will be getting it in in time. I assume you want to use it for a sec179 expense. As I recall, the equipment must be in operation before the end of the year, not just paid for. Importing a laser, even if the manufacturer has it in stock, will take a couple of months, especially near the end of the year. Try Rabbit, I think they keep units in stock here in the US.

[John Finnegan]

The problem will be getting it in in time. I assume you want to use it for a sec179 expense. As I recall, the equipment must be in operation before the end of the year, not just paid for. Importing a laser, even if the manufacturer has it in stock, will take a couple of months, especially near the end of the year. Try Rabbit, I think they keep units in stock here in the US.

Wow, good catch - I didn't know - I'll have to look into that.

Thanks,
John

[John Finnegan]

By the way, are these companies typically able to come off their quoted price somewhat?
I suppose it never hurts to ask, but what is protocol here?
Specifically, I'm looking more and more at G.Weike as a supplier.

Thanks,
John

[Mike Null]

Negotiate.

[John Finnegan]

Ok, so I'm closing in on some specifications and then looking ahead at potential logistics. It looks like I may need to move somewhat quickly on this, so I have the time difference working against me.

Really, spec wise, I have only a couple questions:

- What, if any, would be the benefit to upgrading the 1300x900 unit to Servo motors? Usage will be mostly vector cutting and vector engraving, with a small amount of raster interspersed.

- Does the spare 100W RECI tube that I'm thinking of purchasing have a shelf life? I anticipate running the laser only 1-2 hours a day in the foreseeable future, but I've heard to expect 2-3 years of working life on the tube.


And then for logistics:

-I have a CIF cost to JAX Jacksonville, FL, which is about 5.5 hours from where the final delivery would need to be (my home residence in Greer, SC). How do I go about getting it to my residence from there? Would the customs broker assist with that, would GWeike help, or am I on my own? The CIF quote to JAX is approximately $335 over FOB at Qingdao.


I appreciate your thoughts.

Thanks again,
John

[john banks]

It depends if the servo upgrade allows faster rastering and how valuable that is to you.

We have a spare tube and I swapped them after a few months to see if there was any difference (and to make sure they both worked even though one would be stored) in high speed high power rastering (there wasn't) and I could not tell them apart in any respect. It could well be that by the time we need the backup tube that has lost gas, or it could be that it is a nice backup from the one we're using most of the time which may be consumed by use, won't know for a while.

If you are in a commercial environment, then a spare would be a sensible contingency. If not, then it might be a waste if you are lucky with your first tube.

[Rodne Gold]

If you cutting thin stuff , the servo closed loop system would give you a lot better quality cut at high speed..like if you cutting paper..if you cutting 1/8th acrylic or thicker , they wont make much difference , rastering should be faster , quite a bit faster..the steppers gall at high speed.
Supposedly tubes leak gas over time , recis are better sealed than most , they aren't expensive , and its worth getting a spare..you can swap your old tube for the spare you have on hand in a year or 3 and test it , maybe keep the original tube as a spare if it works real good. Apart from that , flying a spare tube from china is not for the faint of heart.
My advice ALWAYS keep a spare on hand.
DO NOT let the chinese handle any part of shipping , get a FOB price and let your broker/shipper/forwarder handle it to your door documentaion , duties and all , all you do is wheel it in the garage and pay , members have posted their broker contacts here , you will have to search for em..

[Walt Langhans]

And then for logistics:

-I have a CIF cost to JAX Jacksonville, FL, which is about 5.5 hours from where the final delivery would need to be (my home residence in Greer, SC). How do I go about getting it to my residence from there? Would the customs broker assist with that, would GWeike help, or am I on my own? The CIF quote to JAX is approximately $335 over FOB at Qingdao.

Your pretty much going to be on your own on this. The best bet is to find some that can handle it from China to your door. Are you keeping it at your house? If so you need to let them know that so they have a truck with a lift gate so they can get the machine off the truck. If your getting a laser without legs that have wheels you'll also need to figure out how you are going to put it where you want it, lasers are not 'light' If you can't find anyone, PM I'll send you a few that I found, but regardless make sure to get several quotes. I had shipping quotes that varied by 300 - 900 bucks.

[John Finnegan]

I'm hemming a little on the upgrade to servos instead of steppers. I'll definitely be working on veneer and paper, but my current largest source of income is on 1/4 wood. The upgrade cost is approximately $1,000, which seems high to me. Hmmm...

[Ross Moshinsky]

I'm hemming a little on the upgrade to servos instead of steppers. I'll definitely be working on veneer and paper, but my current largest source of income is on 1/4 wood. The upgrade cost is approximately $1,000, which seems high to me. Hmmm...

Find out how much and how difficult it would be to switch to servos. You can always switch later if you find you need to.

[John Finnegan]

Well, now I've done it.
I just placed 50% down on a 1300 x 900 from G. Weike.
I suppose that gives me a couple days to have my internal servo vs. stepper debate.
Fingers crossed that it makes it here by the 1st - we'll see.

I'll keep y'all updated.

Thanks,
John

[Bruce Dorworth]

I can see no advantage to a servo laser versus stepper. I realize with servo motors if the laser loses a step or two it wil know and catch up where it left off, but I would think the piece would be ruined by then. Do you mean 1200 x 900? What type of laser/wattage did you order?

What type of material will you be cutting? I think you will be happy with the Gweike machine.

Bruce

[Rodne Gold]

http://www.cncroutersource.com/stepper-vs-servo.html

[John Finnegan]

I've found that the Servo that they use is a Panasonic MHMD042. It is AC 200V.

For the nerds in the group, this model is located on pg 79 (pg 41 of the pdf) in the catalog located here:

http://pewa.panasonic.com/automation...and-drives/a5/

Click on the 'Catalog PDF' tab up top.

1300 x 900 with a front and rear 20cm pass through is the model I've ordered. It will use a 100W Reci tube.

My primary money maker right now is vector cutting 1/4" veneer core birch plywood, but my next product will be on thin wood veneer and card stock paper. Intricate vector cutting will play a large part in those products. I don't anticipate too much rastering, but I can pivot if the market is there.

Unless I change my mind on the specs in the next day or two, my order is listed below.
Those more experienced at this, please let me know if there is anything you think I'm missing or being unclear about.

• 100W RECI tube (w4) - must be RECI:
  
• 1300 x 900 bed
  
• Color: Bright red with white doors
  
• Honeycomb table - iron, NOT aluminum (with knife table below)
  
• Pass through capability – front and back - 20cm
  
• (2) sets of SI mirrors – highest quality
  
• 50, 63.5, and 100mm lenses
  
• 6535 DSP Card
  
• Power z-axis bed with stepper motors - must include limit switch
  
• Servo motors on xy axis
  
• Spare tube - RECI 100W (w4)
• Spare belts
• Cylinder Rotary
  
• Irregular Rotary
  
• CW5000 chiller with pump and flow sensor
  
• Red Dot alignment - type that goes through the mirrors
  
• Exhaust Fan (sucks the smoke out of the machine)
  
• Air assist (blows the smoke away from lens)
  
• Lighting on inside of enclosure – LED on the rear of the inside
  
• Home position in top left corner (limit switch goes there)
  
• Switches on front of laser to turn on/off exhaust fan and air assist pump (if not in software)

John

[Rodne Gold]

Order an extra few stock lenses , a spare motherboard and lcd panel and a spare power supply for the tube , consider a spare servo motor ... IMO you set to go for any eventaulity..perhaps overkill..but better be safe than sorry