[chbot] Personal Laser Cutter

[Mark Atherton]

Hey Jody,

Lots of things to like about that unit including the honeycomb support 
surface, and that it uses an IR laser. You may need additional blower(s) 
to pull out the fumes. MDF and acrylic cutting can make a big mess of 
your local atmosphere and give you headaches+.

Ask the seller if the units is complete, or will you need to buy an 
extra water chiller to cool the laser. Also, do you need an extra air 
compressor to cool the lens-head assembly ??

Spent some time with a 160W unit trying to cut ply; ended up starting a 
fire inside the material, this was exterior grade ply. Before you spend 
your money, maybe get some ply samples, and find a local firm with a 
cutter, and get some test cuts done. MDF is easy, although you may be 
pushing you luck with 12mm, and 80w; maybe the cutting will just be slow...

Send details of the product to <feedback at customs.govt.nz> and ask about 
import requirements; you will save yourself a lot of headaches by asking 
the questions first. You may need a license to import it (have needed 
one for some Aglient equipment -- easy, free). Have had several 
retraction with customs, they have been all positive. You can't sneak a 
product like this into the country without them spotting it :) Suggest 
that you sort out/understand paperwork ahead of times and save yourself 
surprises and headaches later.

Personally wouldn't spend that kind of money at Aliexpress; just too 
risky. Maybe 
http://www.ebay.com/itm/CO2-50W-Linear-Guide-Engraving-Machine-4060-Laser-Cutting-Machine-220V-NEW-Y-/171913879516 
and using Paypal (who have decent protection, should the transaction, or 
delivery turn to custard).

Finally, the software. make sure that the unit can do vector graphics 
(preferably from layered DXF). You don't want to cut from a raster image 
with one of these...

The 4060 on Aliexpress is 80W, the same unit on eBay is 50W, 
interesting, be careful.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/business-farming-industry/industrial/other/auction-1353032252.htm 
interesting price difference between T/me and ebay. Might be able to 
find a user who has bought one from this guy, and ask about the product 
directly.

HTH, Mark

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On 22/06/2017 7:57 PM, Jody Hann wrote:
I am looking at buying this unit 
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/Free-shipping-60W-new-linear-guide-4060-co2-laser-engraving-machine-220v-100v-laser-cutting-machine/32792467327.html?spm=2114.13010308.0.0.mz9Gqr

I'm going with 80W as I want to be able to cut 12mm Ply and would be 
nice to do same thickness MDFI know the density of the wood being cut 
has an effect on power required

 From peoples experience would 80W easily cut this thickness?

Also bring this unit in I assume the only other cost would be GST that 
customs may add if they wantWhat are people experience bring in 
machinery...have you been changed GST or anything else?

Any comments or thought from anyone appreciated.

Cheers Jody