Lasers for home workshops

[jrbarney]

Will we ever see lasers that can be used safely in home workshops to make parts for model prototpes that are too unusual to be comercially viable ? Are the safety problems too great ? Is the programming too complex ? Is the cost too great ? With what materials could they be used - wood, plastic, metal ?

[jrbarney]

Will we ever see lasers that can be used safely in home workshops to make parts for model prototpes that are too unusual to be comercially viable ? Are the safety problems too great ? Is the programming too complex ? Is the cost too great ? With what materials could they be used - wood, plastic, metal ?

[Anonymous]

Why not a CNC mill you could scan a picture into and cut a ________ ?

[Anonymous]

Why not a CNC mill you could scan a picture into and cut a ________ ?

[areibel]

Well, They're here (if your checkbook is fat enough)!
There is a laser in the metal shop at work that uses a PC and a CAD program to engrave the design into wood, plastic, metal or glass. Runs on 120v., you only need to duct the exhaust outside to run it. It will cut through sheet stock with a couple passes (like cutting out window and door openings). All for about $28,000!
I'm saving my pennies!

[areibel]

Well, They're here (if your checkbook is fat enough)!
There is a laser in the metal shop at work that uses a PC and a CAD program to engrave the design into wood, plastic, metal or glass. Runs on 120v., you only need to duct the exhaust outside to run it. It will cut through sheet stock with a couple passes (like cutting out window and door openings). All for about $28,000!
I'm saving my pennies!

[Wdlgln005]

Lasers are starting to come on saws and other devices. I'm surprised some of these tools haven't been applied to building benchwork. Make square cuts. Make table legs equal so that the top is level, then cut foam to make model grades. How about a laser tool to help lay out the 15" curve?

[Wdlgln005]

Lasers are starting to come on saws and other devices. I'm surprised some of these tools haven't been applied to building benchwork. Make square cuts. Make table legs equal so that the top is level, then cut foam to make model grades. How about a laser tool to help lay out the 15" curve?

[cacole]

I think OSHA, as well as price, are the biggest hurdles to overcome. A careless user could cause blindness or get severely burned from improper handling of a laser.

[cacole]

I think OSHA, as well as price, are the biggest hurdles to overcome. A careless user could cause blindness or get severely burned from improper handling of a laser.

[coal drag]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

I think OSHA, as well as price, are the biggest hurdles to overcome. A careless user could cause blindness or get severely burned from improper handling of a laser.

You can do that with the impropper handling of a FORK !!

[coal drag]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cacole

I think OSHA, as well as price, are the biggest hurdles to overcome. A careless user could cause blindness or get severely burned from improper handling of a laser.

You can do that with the impropper handling of a FORK !!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by areibel

Well, They're here (if your checkbook is fat enough)!
There is a laser in the metal shop at work that uses a PC and a CAD program to engrave the design into wood, plastic, metal or glass. Runs on 120v., you only need to duct the exhaust outside to run it. It will cut through sheet stock with a couple passes (like cutting out window and door openings). All for about $28,000!
I'm saving my pennies!

Hey there! Can you give me some more info on that laser cutting machine at work? My work is trying to obtain a cutting system similar to what you just described but not having to shell out $100,000 for a huge machine. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by areibel

Well, They're here (if your checkbook is fat enough)!
There is a laser in the metal shop at work that uses a PC and a CAD program to engrave the design into wood, plastic, metal or glass. Runs on 120v., you only need to duct the exhaust outside to run it. It will cut through sheet stock with a couple passes (like cutting out window and door openings). All for about $28,000!
I'm saving my pennies!

Hey there! Can you give me some more info on that laser cutting machine at work? My work is trying to obtain a cutting system similar to what you just described but not having to shell out $100,000 for a huge machine. Any info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

[bcammack]

You can get a flatbed laser "plotter" for around $10k or less nowdays. It will etch plastic, cut paper and wood. One of the fellows in the Atlas N scale forum has turned out an astonishingly detailed caboose with his.

[bcammack]

You can get a flatbed laser "plotter" for around $10k or less nowdays. It will etch plastic, cut paper and wood. One of the fellows in the Atlas N scale forum has turned out an astonishingly detailed caboose with his.