Laser Cutting Machine

[nelsonic]

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Shenzhen-Triumph-Metal-cutting-Stainless-steel_60487641276.html

Spec:

I'm concerned about the weight: "3300KG" as I won't be able to move it without an industrial fork-lift ... 😕

Sent enquiry via Alibaba Message:

[nelsonic]

https://makezine.com/2015/12/02/a-guide-to-buying-your-first-laser-cutter/

[nelsonic]

http://hpclaser.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=42

[nelsonic]

The ultimate laser cutter machine is "Trotec" ... (often referred to as the "Rolls Royce" of lasers)
https://www.troteclaser.com/en-gb/trotec-laser-machines/laser-cutters-sp-series

Detail: https://www.troteclaser.com/fileadmin/content/images/Laser_Machines/SP_Series/SP-series-laser-cutter.pdf

Obviously they don't have prices on their website ... 🙄
So I sent them a request:

I strongly suspect that the price will be the cost of a house
given that a refurbished 300mm machine is $15K:

[nelsonic]

Found this on ebay which appears to be good:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Rose-Graphix-4x8-Flatbed-Laser-Cutter-Engraver-150W-CO2-52-x100-1-yr-WNTY-USA/151828433215

Their website lists it slightly cheaper:
https://bescutter.com/collections/lasers/products/industrial-level-52x100-co2-laser-cutter-100w-to-150w

Sent enquiry about postage to Portugal. 📩

They also sell a Fibre Laser:
https://bescutter.com/collections/lasers/products/industrial-fiber-laser-metal-cutter-300w-to-1200w-52-x-100

This is a really insightful video which shows just how big the Fibre laser machine is ... 😮

https://youtu.be/nmBxwyo1QSE

[nelsonic]

The Boss Laser HP-5598 looks really good:
https://www.bosslaser.com/boss-ls-5298.html

Of particular not is the "FREE Lifetime Tech Support".
$26,488.00 is more "expensive" than the "Rose Graphix" model above,
but I suspect the product is worth it.

[nelsonic]

https://www.icontainers.com/quotes/FCL/USSAV/PORT/US/PTOPO/PORT/PT/?dv20=1&dv40=0&hc40=0&freight=true&include_origin_charges=false&include_destination_charges=false&first_quote_id=3282948

[nelsonic]

This type of design is only possible with a Laser Cutter:

http://www.core77.com/projects/43929/Aviator-Chair-A-Flat-Folding-Leather-Chair-Made-Using-No-Joinery

[nelsonic]

If the objective is to cut metal, then a Plasma cutter might be a better option:
http://www.cncrouterparts.com/pro-cnc-plasma-kit-p-444.html

https://youtu.be/nz_1wMBvI58

[nelsonic]

https://3doutlet.shop/collections/gravadores-a-laser/products/maquina-de-corte-gravacao-a-laser-1300x2500mm

https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Widely-Used-Fabric-And-Wood-60_62233536532.html

I'm a bit undecided about using a Laser Cutter for Woodworking for two reasons:

1. Lasers burn the sides of the wood during the cutting process.
2. It reduces the designs I am able to create to 2D with right-angle edges.

This is a good post on comparing the pros/cons of CNC Routers and CNC Lasers:
https://oshkoshdesigns.com/modern-woodcutting-cnc-routers-vs-lasers

After a bit more reading I remembered that Lasers open up a whole other world of possibilities!
See: https://aplazer.com/20-crafty-uses-for-a-laser-engraver-and-cutter

[nelsonic]

Just came across this competition on Instructables:
https://www.instructables.com/contest/furniture2019

How to: https://www.instructables.com/class/How-to-Write-an-Instructable-Class/

I'm sure that by the time our Laser cutter arrives there will be plenty of entries, but let's check back and see. 💡

[iteles]

@nelsonic If we're able to get the confirmation of the order to him soon, Samir should be able to place the order tonight (i.e. before morning in China).

Personally, I would go for the 180W machine over the 150W or 130W.

The advantage of having things cut after one pass outweighs the additional cost in my view, but I would insist on 10 hours of support thrown in there too at the price we are being quoting.

The only disadvantage I see is the lower dpi on detailed engraving (200 dpi) but that's still relatively detailed and I don't imagine we'll need THAT much more than this on a regular basis.

[nelsonic]

@iteles it appears that having a 180W might mean that we can't do "delicate" work because the CO2 laser cannot be run at less than 10% of full output. see this thread:
https://sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?222774-Specifically-what-s-the-difference-in-60-80-and-100-watts-chinese-laser-machine
It's not just a "lower DPI" it's that the intensity of the laser might be too high and thus it will obliterate the material we are attempting to engrave ... we can always test it and if the 180W is "too strong", we can get a lower wattage bulb. 💭

Given that the main purpose of this machine is to cut our furniture for @home, I am inclined to agree that cutting the 15mm Plywood in a single pass is preferable to multiple passes with the 130W tube.

Our main objective is getting the furniture made ASAP.
Given that I've calculated 200h (or 4 weeks of machine time),
it's probably wise to not need to double it by having to do two passes for each cut. 💭

Email copy proposal:

Olá Samir,

Depois de conversarmos decidimos que queremos avançar com a compra da
Máquina de Corte/Gravação a Laser 1300x2500mm 
com o upgrade do tubo e fonte de alimentaçao para os 180W.

Queremos também adicionar a base extra para podermos cortar materiais
mais maleáveis e tecidos como tínhamos falado (mas que venha com as lâminas instaladas).

Os dados de facturação são os seguintes:
[Company name]
[MDC address]
VAT no: [insert here]

Se nos poder enviar um orçamento com o preço final,
poderemos efectuar a transferencia bancaria.

Muito Obrigado,
Nelson

Feel free to edit this email copy directly.
LMK when you think it's OK to send.
Thanks.

[iteles]

@nelsonic Done! Please insert the correct dados de facturação (MDC address).

[nelsonic]

Sent ✉️ ✅

[nelsonic]

Received invoice:

Sent the mountain of cash:

💸

Now to wait 6 - 8 weeks for it to arrive ... 🚢 ⏳

@iteles did Samir confirm that he had placed the order? 💭

[iteles]

@nelsonic Nope. They said they'd call but didn't.

[nelsonic]

@iteles want to call them now? (they don't work weekends...)

[iteles]

I've been trying but they're not picking up :/

[nelsonic]

@iteles by now they are half way around the world with our cash ... 🙄

[iteles]

OK, they called me back. Apparently they got the email and are processing the order but of course it's not the weekend already in China. He said he'd call back on Monday with more concrete timelines.

[iteles]

Spoke to Bruna today and the transporter is delayed and not expected in Leixões until 12th February 🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[nelsonic]

Cool. I don't need furniture to start living in the house. 👍
I slept a whole summer on the floor on an air mattress, without a wardrobe or anywhere to store my things, living out of a suitcase and it was great! 🚀

[iteles]

👍 Also don’t need a bed structure

[iteles]

Confirmed today that the expectation is that the container will arrive on 13-Feb-2020 and that the transport to Braga will be the next day.

I have asked Samir to also look into getting the 'empilhadora' necessary to lower the machine from the truck to ground level. He mentioned it would be about €50 an hour, only 1 hour should be necessary and will confirm with us nearer the time.

[nelsonic]

[nelsonic]

Image without text:

[nelsonic]

Air Quotes image without text:

[nelsonic]

In 2019 pre-pandemic supply chain constraints and "chip shortages" ...,
the 1300x2500mm 130w laser cutting machine cost €7,499 + VAT (IVA) which I though was a good deal!
see: #70 above (this is why we take screenshots!)

In 2022 the exact same machine from the same seller costs €14,600 ... almost double!
https://3doutlet.shop/product/maquina-de-corte-gravacao-a-laser-1300x2500mm-130w/

We could sell our machine for more than we paid for it ... 💰
How many Hedge Funds have doubled their money in the last 2 years? 🤣

Obvs not selling our machine. Just went looking for something on their site and saw this and was amused.

[nelsonic]

@hyprstack this is the laser cutter we got: #70 in 2019. ⚡
It's total overkill for "Hobby" projects. 🙄
But I want to build actual furniture with it so I figured having a "full-size" bed was the way to go.

And as you can see from the thread #70 it's gone up in price in the 2 years we've had it so it's basically an "investment" that's been sitting appreciating in value. 📈 😜
As soon as I'm finished with my current coding contract I'm planning to spend 2 days a week doing CAD/CAM + Furniture making.

When you visit us in Braga I will show you how it works (if you don't already know...).