Robert,
Many questions...
I have used the laser for 4 years so no warranty. I have cut a lot of pieces so I've always expected that something would fail. I would call this a normal occurance. Laser tubes have a limited life, that's well known. I didn't expect it to kill the power supply though but I've since learned that it can happen.
This machine costs $3,500. The one I would really like would be about $15k which is the reason I didn't get it as I'm only using it for my hobby. But that does not meant that the more expensive one would hold up better, laser tubes are still laser tubes. The higher priced machine has some additional features that would be nice to have but in my opinion don't justify the extra $11,500 (and I wouldn't know hot to explain it to my wife...).
So hopefully next week I will get replacement parts shipped to me and then life is good again!
Michael
The Breitenbach - Rosenheim Railroad V3
michaelrose55 tedtedderson They should send a loaner. Wouldn't that be nice !
tedtedderson They should send a loaner.
They should send a loaner.
Wouldn't that be nice !
Hey Michael-
In industry there is a phrase 'mean time between failures'. It denotes a reasonable expected working life for a given piece of equipment.
You've done a ton of work and cut hundreds, if not thousands, of pieces. In terms of calendar months or machine hours or pieces cut, has your laser stood up to the tasks and performed as advertised? Or, has it suffered a premature death? And if so, is it covered under warranty? I assume you haven't abused it or tasked it beyond its limits.
I'm just trying to get a feel for the useful lifespan and output of one of those marvelous toys. Should you have gotten a higher-capacity model? Or a heavy-duty industrial model? What would be the cost differential of the next higher model? And would that extra cost result in a longer life for the kind of work you've been doing?
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
At any rate, this layout is awesome. Free magazine article.
Thanks for sharing.
T e d
Brunton What's happening with the laser repair?
What's happening with the laser repair?
Waiting for the test result. Takes a while...
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
More progress:
I laid some more track at this small station:
I laid more track along the back wall of the layout room:
I still have the mill from the last layout, even if it's been damaged a little bit. But it gives an idea of how this scene might look later on:
A few additional pictures of this area:
This part of the mainline doesn't need any bridges so I can lay track in this area:
I added a few more led strips to light up the corner:
Without my laser I have to find other jobs around the layout. Today I decided it was time to install some lighting at Gustavsburg. It's not complete yet but 17 feet are up and shining.
Before:
After:
I've glued down and painted/sealed the last of the roadbed until the laser comes back to life...
This is the last subroadbed I can mount in place before the laser comes back to life. I have enough roadbed for this area so I will glue it down and then lay track in this area.
Update on the laser: after doing a few tests it looks like the high voltage power supply for the laser tube is dead. I've removed it from the machine and shipped it to the manufacturer. Now we sit back and wait...
I added another 8 feet of subroadbed to the branch line:
As I'm still in laser withdrawal I have to find other ways to work on the layout. The left half of the tunnel track didn't have walls yet so I started cutting some foam and gluing it on:
michaelrose55 Bad news: my laser cutter just died while I was producing more roadbed. No idea how long it will take to get it fixed. Looks like something in the control system has an issue.
Bad news: my laser cutter just died while I was producing more roadbed. No idea how long it will take to get it fixed. Looks like something in the control system has an issue.
Rich
Alton Junction
I've extended the benchwork all the way into the corner and placed some plywood sheets on top. These are the last sheets of plywood for this layout !
I've added a new piece of background:
I started this morning by removing a few feet of the background:
I wanted to go and buy some plywood today but I had to spend the morning doing some urgent yard work and then it started to rain. Florida in the summer...
So all I did today was clean the benchwork and prepare the room for the last act of making subroadbed:
...and a coat of paint:
Lots of roadbed again:
I've added a lot of risers today and had a lot of fun doing it!
OK, now I have four reasons for my feeling about you.
richhotrain ahh, so you are just north of Onewolf. I am impressed that you guys can build these large layouts without a basement. Of course, Onewolf has an outbuilding. Where is your space in the house? Rich
ahh, so you are just north of Onewolf.
I am impressed that you guys can build these large layouts without a basement. Of course, Onewolf has an outbuilding. Where is your space in the house?
That's easy. When I looked at buying a home in FL again I made sure it came with a lot that has enough space for a layout building . So a few weeks after me moved I had a builder put it up for me. Here's a picture:
And this is the layout room at originally 1,400sf:
And here's a picture of the very first attempt of building a N scale layout at this location:
richhotrain Michael, I have a sister in Sarasota, a golfing BIL partner in Port Charlotte, and friends in Fort Myers. All on the west coast. Are you anywhere near any of these spots? Rich
Michael, I have a sister in Sarasota, a golfing BIL partner in Port Charlotte, and friends in Fort Myers. All on the west coast. Are you anywhere near any of these spots?
No, I'm smack in the middle, 45 minutes north of the Orlando Airport in Orange City.