Basic Laser Information

[Keith Outten]

The idea of using a Laser in a woodworking shop isn't really that new. In the last few years less costly machines became available that are priced within reach of even the most modest of woodworkng shops. Lasers are the ultimate woodworking tool in my opinion and in time they will be available and widely used by almost all woodworkers.

Immediately woodworkers will embrace the capability to vector cut wood and plastics at a precision level approaching their local machine shop. Computer Numerical Controlled (CNC) equipment has been in the metalworking field for decades, a laser will bring a simular capability to woodworkers. Computer controlled routers are already widespread thoughout the industry and have recently been marketed to serious amateurs in home workshops. A combination of the two machines brings incredible opportunities to any shop or group that can obtain this new technology.

For starters! Ask Ken Salisbury how he identifies his work these days. Ken found a local laser engraver who would make custom wooden disks that were engraved with his company logo and information. These disks Ken inlays into his projects and they provide a professional mark to distinguish his work and his company from his competitors.

Ken doesn't own an engraver and he may never need to purchase a machine for his shop. The idea here is that this is a service that he found in his local area that he could use to his advantage. Even hobbyists should consider this type of arrangement, sharing a machine within a group or outsourcing the work to a local shop.

I hope to be able to share with everyone the basic information you will need to connect with an engraver in your area. Over time I will describe the software I use and how you may be able to learn to create your own drawings that are ready for engraving. This will save you over 50% of any fees you would normally be charged by a local service. If you have your own wood and can do your own design you would then pay only for the engraving time. This would make Laser engraving very affordable even for the home shop.

More Later!

[Ron Jones near Indy]

interests me. I will follow this forum closely.

[Joe Tonich]

what would be the price range for a set-up to make some extra $ to help defray the cost of wood and tooling related to the hobby? SWMBO thinks this hobby is pretty expensive as you usually need more tools for every diff. project you do! Would it be worth looking into in your opinion?

Joe

[Keith Outten]

Laser Engravers start in the 15 to 20 thousand dollar range. They are expensive but if you break it down it is just 25 bucks a day if you finance the machine. If you engrave just one plaque per day anything else is profit but don't even think about it until you have learned to use the machine. I'll give you some tips over time that will help you learn how it works, then you can try to develope a few projects for the machine. If after you have successfully produced a few things on someone else's machine you want to buy a laser go for it!

For most woodworkers the best deal is to find someone in your local area that owns a laser and buy engraving time. If you are willing to learn a few tricks you can learn while doing and if you are interested in your own machine you will be income positive from the day you purchase your machine. I made the classic mistake of buying a machine first, I had to learn to use the machine, develope products and market all at the same time.

The price will scare most people to death but you can learn for free and test the waters while having fun or just add some very nice engravings to your own projects.

The people who turn bowls should be listening, bowls would be a very nice project for engraving. Cabinet doors slso benefit from engraving and then there is glass and marble and leather and plastic and cloth and mat board and mirrors...you get the picture.

[Ken Salisbury]

I also have a lot of Craft Products laser engraved. Really adds to the sales:
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<IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/engrave2.jpg">
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<IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/engrave5.jpg">
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<IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/engrave4.jpg">
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<IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/engrave6.jpg">

Wooden Logo Medallions to mark my work
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<IMG src="http://www.klsal.com/logosale.jpg">

[Charles McKinley]

Hello,

Thank you for this forum. This is a topic I have had interest in for some time. What are the limits of the laser in cutting material? Are there andy laser user in Western PA or Eastern OH?

THanks

CHuck

[Howard Rosenberg]

I've been very interested in Laser Engraving for a while now. Like almost every woodworker, I dream of turning my hobby into a cottage industry-level business. I never see ads in the magazines for this type of equipment. If I wanted to do a search what would the best search words be in a search engine? Thank you, Keith. Howard

[Joe Tonich]

By saying it was somewhat within reach I was figuring a few grand. Gonna keep watch for your tips and look for a local shop w/engraving. Don't have the gonads to even MENTION a 15-20 grand piece of equipment to SWMBO! Maybe renting shop time and learning how would be feasable though.

Thanks again,

Joe

[Keith Outten]

A Laser is a big ticket iten no doubt but there are other woodworking machines that are also in the high end price range. What is uique about lasers is that they open doors for your workshop that other more traditional machines may not.

For now lets concentrate on how you can use a laser without buying it, the nice features you can add to the projects you are building in your workshop right now. Almost any woodworkng project can be engraved but remember that the machining capabilities are a major part of what a laser can provide.

If you were interested in building a project that had a huge number of repetitive cuts or a number of very delicate parts or dimentions that required very precise machining you now have an option to use a laser. Another tool to allow you to build some projects that you might not have done in the past.

Most woodworkers don't dry their own lumber or own a sawmill, these are services that you essentially outsource to someone else. This is the best way to think of using a laser, just another machining service that you can purchase.

My point is that you don't have to buy a laser! Everyone owns a computer these days and with a little effort you can add new features to your projects or gifts for your family that will make a significant difference in the final appearence of your finished work. If you are interested in woodworking full time as a business then purchasing a laser for your shop might be a way to obtain jobs your competitors can't provide.

I could cut to the chase and we could start discussing how you can make money right now but that isn't what I have in mind for this forum. There are ways that you can take a very simple wooden object that you can't sell at a craft show, add some very nice engraved graphic and sell them all day long for a nice profit. When you start personalizing gifts the value increases quiclkly.

In the next thread we will discuss the software you will need and a why.

[Fred Reitberger]

I searched and found out about Epilog. What are the others and who is the industry leader?
Thanks!

[Keith Outten]

Fred,

I believe that Universal and Newing-Hall are also major players in the Laser business.

[Ken Salisbury]

Yes Universal is a player - They have desk top units starting at $10K
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Universal Laser Systems

[Howard Rosenberg]

look like computer printers. What are the maximums in length, width & thickness of objects you can put into a machine like this? Are there any other manufacturing companies of lasers worth looking at? Thank you. Howard

[Fred Reitberger]

I looked at Newing-Hall and found nothing on their web site that even looked like a laser system. (The Universal web site looks cheap and thin on content. No information on wattage, speed, size, etc. ) Update this line. The desktop line is the thin on info web pages. I found the main site that was excellant in content and info. Epilog looks serious and committed. Any others out there?

[Bob Oswin]

Hurry Ken:

You have really piqued my interest.
You should see how I amke steel rule dies!
This is a quantum leap forward in wood technology for me!

Yipppeeee!

Bob