Another thing to think about is do you want a rotary to do round stuff. Get one that has enough depth to accommodate that.
Epilog Fusion M2 40 Watt CO2 Laser
I'm probably going to get slammed for this, but some of the el-cheapo 3d printers have a laser head (or can be converted to have a crappy one pretty cheaply - http://www.instructables.com/id/Conv...AVER-Under-40/). Its not actually useful for anything real past putting some not-to-deep marks on stuff.... but I've been considering doing that as a toe-in-the-water. You can get some of the 3d printers that ~mostly~ work for around $200-300 dollar range (Anet A8 & friends). They do take a bit of fiddling and hand holding but it seemed like it might be an interesting way to learn how this stuff works before springing for a "real" system.
Again this isn't something that I'd use for more than a toy.. but its a cheap way to stick your toe in the water.
Just a few more options for you in that small size range machines...
Versalaser from Universal, 12" x 16" or 12" x 24" working area (in the small sizes)
https://www.ulsinc.com/products/platforms/vls2-30
Epilog Zing, 12" x 16" or 12" x 24"
https://www.epiloglaser.com/products...ser-series.htm
Trotec Rayjet 50, 12" x 18"
http://www.rayjetlaser.com/en-US-US/...engraving.aspx
Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers
Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.
Likely the most dangerous garbage on the market, 445nm blinds permanently for fun and gives no second chances. The mechanism for damage from 445 is 20x that of a CO2 laser (Based on photon energy)
The eye will focus any strays onto the macula lutea making the damage non fixable (unlike a cheap shot from a co2 that burns the eye lens)
I cannot in all honesty slate these 445's enough, they are dreadful ,dangerous garbage that should be purged from the laser community
On the GF Chase?
@$2,000 probably worth a punt as you only want it for giggles, @$4,000 not a hope
You did what !
I initially looked at the gf for a couple of days. Then with just a little research, abandoned the thought. My initial machine that I priced was a ray fine 500x900 unit at about $3000 with a rotary and shipping. So about $3500 with customs. I upgraded to larger machine. Not too much over $5k. No way would I even think about a gf. No way.
Woodworking, Old Tools and Shooting
Ray Fine RF-1390 Laser Ray Fine 20watt Fiber Laser
SFX 50 Watt Fiber Laser
PM2000, Delta BS, Delta sander, Powermatic 50 jointer,
Powermatic 100-12 planer, Rockwell 15-126 radial drill press
Rockwell 46-450 lathe, and 2 Walker Turner RA1100 radial saws
Jet JWS18, bandsaw Carbide Create CNC, RIA 22TCM 1911s and others
If the OP is looking at spending about $5k, the is a Universal VersalLaser VL-300 with honeycomb and rotary on that auction place starting at $5999.
Might be a good option. and priced about right
Howard Garner
Thanks, everyone! Most of you have it right, this is really just a toe in the water, I wanna mess around kinda purchase. Thanks as well to everyone who is suggesting alternative machines!
Epilog Fusion M2 40 Watt CO2 Laser
If you're the handy type, you might consider a K40. $300 is pretty cheap to get into a CO2 based laser, and from what I've seen the K40 is miles better a 5w laser diode attached to a 3d printer.
Last edited by Bill George; 03-09-2018 at 10:22 AM.
Retired Guy- Central Iowa.HVAC/R , Cloudray Galvo Fiber , -Windows 10
I keep eye protection on at all times regardless, Booth policy where I work.
I'm entertaining a cheapo laser strictly just to mess with because the epilog is not mine, it belongs to the company I work for, I just happen to be the only one here who knows how to use it. Sometimes I'm allowed to do my own stuff off company time, but I'd rather have my own hobby style laser, that way if something breaks, it's not the Epilog on my dime.
Epilog Fusion M2 40 Watt CO2 Laser
I was quoting this machine /thinking about very particular job/ at 2017 from official seller and answer was:
"A NEW Rayjet 30W machine including Out to Air extraction, delivery , installation and training would come to €11,995 + VAT" what makes over 18k $. Ouch.... Totally different range of prices, over 3.5 times of mentioned 5k$.
It was in Europe, so no TAX duties. Samples what they make was ugly, but probably they won't know what they should to do... I have to visit them and do my own to know what is possible.
Red & Black KH-7050 / 80W EFR F2 / "24mm" head with lens 20/mirror 25mm / extended working area 720x510 | Foison vinyl cutter 2FT wide | Was working on Epilog, Mimaki, Mutoh, Roland, Graphtec, CNCs, laminators etc.
Lasers : Trotec Speedy 300 75W, Trotec Speedy 300 80W, Galvo Fiber Laser 20W
Printers : Mimaki UJF-6042 UV Flatbed Printer , HP Designjet L26500 61" Wide Format Latex Printer, Summa S140-T 48" Vinyl Plotter
Router : ShopBot 48" x 96" CNC Router Rotary Engravers : (2) Xenetech XOT 16 x 25 Rotary Engravers
Real name Steve but that name was taken on the forum. Used Middle name. Call me Steve or Scott, doesn't matter.