Tools - Newbie

[Soren Christensen]

Hi guys,

New to the forum and I have been going through most of it to get some hints and tips, which has been more than helpful.

However. Just starting out with a laser system(which i set to arrive in a few weeks) I kinda wanna be ready, for when it comes.

So I would love to hear, what set of tools you would suggest me to make sure i have at hand.

When I say tools, I dont mean for assembly.
For every day use, when doing woodwork, working with akryl, for marking on metal and such things.


Thanx in advance.

[Bruce Volden]

I'll chime in.

Dial calipers, various rare earth magnets, 10X loupe, disposable foam brushes, painters tape, DNA, Q tips, plastic and regular razor blades.......
You'll be adding other things as you go along. All is dependent on what you are going to be "majoring" in.

Bruce

[John Lifer]

Get some Paper mask. Wider than painter's tape. I use for masking some wood, (eliminates stain from burnt wood vapor deposits)
I've got 4" and 8" widths. I use a medium tack, I've needed high tack occasionally. (high is about same as your painter's tape)
Way easier to use if you need to cover wide area and probably 10% the cost of painter's tape. (maybe less)
I use a guy on ebay, JRS. Been the cheapest I've found.
Absolutely calipers, Nothing expensive, I use a Mitutoyo that were about $25, Grizzly has a some I got that were only $16.95, HF, no, too inconsistent.
Pack or two of cheap microfiber cloths., Magnets, and more magnets. (hold downs.) nothing high, nozzle could hit.

I made up about 3 or 4 6" acrylic and romark (two color plastic) rulers. Make yourself. Good practice and way useful. I grab them a LOT.
Roll of paper towels for use with the DNA to clean stuff. (buy gallon of DNA from big box, cheap and you will use it)

[Soren Christensen]

I'll chime in.

Dial calipers, various rare earth magnets, 10X loupe, disposable foam brushes, painters tape, DNA, Q tips, plastic and regular razor blades.......
You'll be adding other things as you go along. All is dependent on what you are going to be "majoring" in.

Bruce

Those rare earth magnets, are you perhaps able to point me in the right direction?

Get some Paper mask. Wider than painter's tape. I use for masking some wood, (eliminates stain from burnt wood vapor deposits)
I've got 4" and 8" widths. I use a medium tack, I've needed high tack occasionally. (high is about same as your painter's tape)
Way easier to use if you need to cover wide area and probably 10% the cost of painter's tape. (maybe less)
I use a guy on ebay, JRS. Been the cheapest I've found.
Absolutely calipers, Nothing expensive, I use a Mitutoyo that were about $25, Grizzly has a some I got that were only $16.95, HF, no, too inconsistent.
Pack or two of cheap microfiber cloths., Magnets, and more magnets. (hold downs.) nothing high, nozzle could hit.

I made up about 3 or 4 6" acrylic and romark (two color plastic) rulers. Make yourself. Good practice and way useful. I grab them a LOT.
Roll of paper towels for use with the DNA to clean stuff. (buy gallon of DNA from big box, cheap and you will use it)

I have been searching high and low for big rolls of masking tape, but havent been able to find the wide ones, only the small and flimse ones.
The rulers are a nice touch. Homemade and something to practice with

Again with the magnets. Love it. But not sure which to buy. :/

[Chris DeGerolamo]

What machine did you purchase?

[Soren Christensen]

What machine did you purchase?

Since im starting out in this area, i wanted something that i didnt have to do modding to, so i went with the Glowforge Pro.

I know that I could have gotten a few chinese ones for the same price, but again. I dont want to be modding. Only need to switch out the vent system and turn off the internal fan, to get it a bit more quiet and get better venting

[Gary Hair]

I would highly suggest getting a few jigsaw puzzles and maybe some word-cross books, or learn that 2nd language you always wanted to learn, to keep you busy while the machine is running. Glowforge are well known for being slower than anything on earth and you might as well put your waiting time to good use.

Since im starting out in this area, i wanted something that i didnt have to do modding to, so i went with the Glowforge Pro.

I know that I could have gotten a few chinese ones for the same price, but again. I dont want to be modding. Only need to switch out the vent system and turn off the internal fan, to get it a bit more quiet and get better venting

[Bill George]

You also need to have a good working fire extinguisher, a Lazy Boy chair, side table for drinks and snacks. Window AC to keep the room temp below 75 DegF. Time to read the Search results on this Forum from the past 4 years about the Glow Forge.

[Gary Hair]

You said you got a "laser system" and people started to give advice based on that information, when we found out you got a Glowforge we had to shift gears and make recommendations based on this new information. I was 100% serious about my previous recommendations.

Lets just make one thing clear guys.

Im not interested in anything else than tool tips, that are a must have/nice to have around.

So please keep all comments about that and nothing else

[Rob Damon]

#1 Fire extinguisher (for when a fire happens)
#2 Notebook and pencil (to record what settings work and don't work)
#3 Internet connection (Software updates/research recommended settings from manufacturer)
#4 Time (to spend on youtube learning how other users of your specfic laser got it to work with specific material)
#5 Scrap material (you will burn through alot of material until you get the right setting for your machine)
#6 Cleaning wipes (to clear lense and mirrors)
#7 Just normal measurement tools.

[Soren Christensen]

#1 Fire extinguisher (for when a fire happens)
#2 Notebook and pencil (to record what settings work and don't work)
#3 Internet connection (Software updates/research recommended settings from manufacturer)
#4 Time (to spend on youtube learning how other users of your specfic laser got it to work with specific material)
#5 Scrap material (you will burn through alot of material until you get the right setting for your machine)
#6 Cleaning wipes (to clear lense and mirrors)
#7 Just normal measurement tools.

Thank you,
This is what I need

[Dave Sheldrake]

1: Decent Co2 fire extinguisher
2: A second decent Co2 fire extinguisher

[John Lifer]

Look for vinyl application tape, Paper specifically. Suppliers that do the vinyl car wraps have it. I KNOW you have someone in Denmark that does vinyl car wraps.
I'll not say anything about your choice in laser... Today..... Except you HAVE to have a good internet connection.

[Soren Christensen]

Look for vinyl application tape, Paper specifically. Suppliers that do the vinyl car wraps have it. I KNOW you have someone in Denmark that does vinyl car wraps.
I'll not say anything about your choice in laser... Today..... Except you HAVE to have a good internet connection.

Again good advice.

However, my order was pushed back a few weeks and I happen to meet a guy from a danish rep of Trotec. We have agreed to meet at their showroom next week, for a demonstration of a handful of various materials to show me the "stock".

I have been looking at Trotec and have been very satisfied with their machines, but they are just in a completely different price range. (i know the phrase, you get what you pay for). Have been eyeing their Speedy 300 Flexx, but just not sure its worth the extra $$$ for the flexx, when you have materials as cermark and likewise.

[Gary Hair]

Flexx is one of those things that sound great at first but once you really research it the benefit dies away quickly. The way a fiber works is 100% suitable for galvo and not so much for gantry and for most engraving purposes you won't get anywhere near the same results with a gantry as you will with galvo, both in quality of engraving and production speed. Then when you throw cost into the mix you find that a galvo is really the way to go. I don't know the current price for the Flexx upgrade but when I bought my Speedy 400 it was enough to easily buy two fiber lasers today. Another consideration is redundancy - with a Flexx machine as your CO2 and fiber, when one is down the other is likely down as well, not so with separate machines. You are correct that Trotec are in a completely different price range and comparing with similarly priced machines it's still the better value (to me anyway) and there is no comparison whatsoever to any glass tube machine. High speed coupled with ultra-fast acceleration means that there are few machines that can keep up with it. Add in the fact that they are built like tanks and you have an unbeatable combination. Get the Speedy 300 without the fiber option and I guarantee you won't be sorry!

Again good advice.

However, my order was pushed back a few weeks and I happen to meet a guy from a danish rep of Trotec. We have agreed to meet at their showroom next week, for a demonstration of a handful of various materials to show me the "stock".

I have been looking at Trotec and have been very satisfied with their machines, but they are just in a completely different price range. (i know the phrase, you get what you pay for). Have been eyeing their Speedy 300 Flexx, but just not sure its worth the extra $$$ for the flexx, when you have materials as cermark and likewise.