I picked up this laser cutter/engraver a few weeks ago and I’m having a blast with it. Etched a ruler onto my bandsaw rip fence setting jig. The more I fool around with it, the more cool stuff I find I can do with it.
"You have acquired a "monster"... by monster I mean the opportunities you have extended to your workshop adventures.
When you said cutter? Appreciate you are still playing, but what is it's expected cutting thickness?"
This is just a 5w output laser. The manufacturer says it can cut up to 15mm thick. I'm sure that means with multiple passes if you want a clean cut without burning the work piece. But I've used a big commercial C02 laser and have had nearly the same thickness limitation, but with a higher speed and also a much larger kerf. Primarily, I bought this to cut templates for my instrument designs, which is usually 1/8" thick birch plywood. This is a 15mm solid wood sample that came with the machine. I think it's Basswood. The real test will be when I try to cut out a fretboard fro 3/16" African Blackwood.
There are multiple dimensions to explore for the best cuts besides power and speed. You might want to look into the dark colored tempered hardboards as well for templates. In my experience you will get a better surface along the cut without having to deal with the changing wood grain.
You might want to look into the dark colored tempered hardboards as well for templates. In my experience you will get a better surface along the cut without having to deal with the changing wood grain.
That makes sense, and it’s an awesome tip!
Ryan/// ~sigh~ I blew up another bowl. Moke told me "I made the inside bigger than the outside".
The lens is clean splinter... when I say 9mm I mean that I need 2 passes for that... I could do more with multi passes, however, I'm lazy and don't want to spend too long cleaning up the char marks... That's why I work in laminations of 3mm and 6mm to build up the bulk for puzzles and boxes...
Usually for thicker timber I'll stick to conventional tools and/or laminate with infill, The "T" and "W" are the cut outs (waste) for the same letter inlays.
If your first cut is too short... Take the second cut from the longer end... LBD
