This is my first post here, although I've lurked and read quite a bit. I've searched and read threads back to 2014 or so. Having worked backwards through posting dates, I've seen Bill George advising against buying a Chinese fiber laser from Ebay all the way back to when he purchased his 20w fiber from Ray Fine. I say that only to let you know I've done some reading here.
I have not bought a laser yet.
I'm not a professional, meaning I don't have a business that I need to keep running. I'm looking at this for a hobby machine.
Just a little about me if you are interested, skip to the next paragraph if your not. I have been firefighter for over 25 years, the last 7 of which I have been assigned to the Arson division as an investigator (police officer). Years ago, I worked at Texas Instruments in Dallas as an assembly tech, doing both electronic and mechanical assembly and some design. I can muddle through reading circuit diagrams but can't remember how to read resistors without cheating and looking it up. I've soldered quite a number of boards together there and in the years since. In addition to the electronic side, I also worked with the machine shop. In the years since, I have continued my enjoyment of building things. I currently have a basic machine shop at my house, a lathe and mill, with various saws, sanders, grinders and supporting tools and fixtures. I'm still learning the machine work. I worked for a while as a weldor, and currently have a fairly capable TIG welder along with stick and MIG. I also have a wood shop, table saw, band saw, planer, joiner and various and sundry other tools. My father is the woodworker. He has one of the Shark CNC Routers with Vetric software that I have played with just a little.
All that to say that I'm not afraid of working on pretty much anything either mechanical or electrical. I want a fiber laser purely for hobby work. I work on guns and build suppressors. I need to be able to etch/engrave mild steel, stainless (304, 422, 17-4ph), Titanium, and brass. I have a lot of ideas for fun things to engrave. I'm not gonna lie I might make things to sell with the machine, but if the machine goes down and it takes me a week or a month to get it back up and running I'm ok, maybe not happy but not losing money.
I have priced Fiber machines. I can't and won't spend the money for one of the US based machines. I've spent a lot of money of tools and machines for my shop, but I can't spend 10k and up on a single machine for fun. That leaves Chinese products. For purely financial reasons a Chinese machine from a US re-seller looks doable. I am trying to find what 'things' needed to be fixed on them from previous buyers. $3200 and free shipping from Ebay versus $4500 plus shipping plus duties, at least to me makes me more willing to fix it myself.
Is there anywhere to find a list of issues that are common with the Ebay type machines?
Has anyone here had much experience with one from Ebay, good or bad?
Is the EZ Cad as hard to use as they say?
I know the general advice is to stay away from the Ebay machines. I also know that you don't know what you don't know. How insurmountable are the issues with them?
Thanks,
Scott Clearman