Laser Engraver

[KeithB]

Mods, if this is too off topic for this site please feel free to remove it and let me know. I realize I am a new member and guest here and don't want to violate the rules.

I was looking at buying some new technology for the shop. I have a need to be able to put serial/part ID numbers on some small parts that we plan to make. I was looking at a flat bed laser engraver.

The one I am considering uses a 100W CO2 laser and has a working area of 15" x 30". It comes with an accessory rotary drive that allows engraving of cylindrical parts such as gun barrels. It will cut thru 1/2" plastic and wood, as well as paper, leather, canvas, cloth, and other materials. It's not powerful enough to burn thru metal but it will engrave most metals just fine with the use of a surface modifier (paint or a special tape) to increase absorption and prevent reflection from shiny surfaces.

After checking out what they do I've noticed a lot of products now that are laser engraved. I can think of dozens of commercial uses and even more personal uses for something like this. Youtube has a lot of videos showing all sorts of uses for one of these things.

So my question to the membership here is this: Does anybody have any experience with one of these things? What have you used it for? What would you use it for if you had one?

Again, I apologize if this is too off topic for this site.

 

[Rick]

I see no problem with the post other than Brad will now have to have one. When ya start doing barrels etc with it show us some pics.

On the bright side ya didn't mention the price. (Brad's wife reads these posts )

Think I will move the thread to General Discussions though until ya do some gun parts with it. (Or start putting names on your bullets )
.

 

[KeithB]

Thanks for the "blessing". The one I looked at runs about $10K, but the smallest ones start at around $4K. I don't want the biggest one they make, but I do need it to do industrial size and speed work. The smallest ones would make great hobby machines. The software lets you use most clip art so if you had a picture of something you like you can burn it on the grips of a .45 or the side of a holster. The low end models have smaller working areas and less powerful (60W on up) lasers.

At first I wanted one just to engrave small parts but I soon realized that we could use it to cut out/profile parts from Delrin sheets and thin hardwood, neither of which I want to run through my CNC mill.

 

[yodogsandman]

You could certainly generate some income with a machine like that. A disabled couple I knew of were just cutting out cutesie moose with sayings on them and selling them to vacation destinations around the area. They got about 60K per year with this part time side business of theirs.

 

[fiver]

you could probably design and move that design over to other stuff like barrels and receivers.

 

[smokeywolf]

Used to utilize a laser engraving/etching service, which conveniently was right across the parking lot from my anodizer. Their work was really amazing.
I do know that Mary Brown, aka MaryB over on the other site has a laser engraver and offers engraving/etching services. If you're of a mind, I'm sure she could offer input.

I would think that aside from part identification, such a tool could prove beneficial in making your brand more visible to existing and more specifically potential customers.

 

[358156 hp]

And stencils. Don't overlook stencils. Lots of people are painting & coating guns, making specialized stencils shouldn't be an issue. For a more commercial bent, try out etching/engraving promotional items like stainless Yeti type cups with company logos, and that sort of thing. I don't necessarily anticipate big money on such projects, but a nice steady cash flow is comforting. Even is smaller amounts.

 

[KeithB]

I've seen a lot of gift shop stuff that has been cut out in ways that make me think a laser cutter was involved. Cut out moose are fine if it puts the beans on the table! Our local museum offers dinosaur model kits that have been cut from thick paper of some type. Probably die cut but equally doable with a laser cutter and cheaper for small scale production. (Dies aren't cheap.)

Never thought about stencils. A friend of mine (and my biggest customer) has a stencil cutter so I never really considered dipping into his rice bowl. But if it will do things his stencil cutter won't do then I'm sure we can work out a mutually beneficial arrangement of some sort.

Another friend of mine runs a place called Midwest Hydrographics. He does ceramic coating and numerous varieties of paint type dip coatings on firearms and other types of sporting equipment. He is always getting requests for engraving that could be done on a flat bed engraver. He told me that if I get one to make up a couple of sample items and leave them in his shop with a stack of business cards.

Some of the software available will allow you to cut a jigsaw puzzle. I was going to talk to some of the professional photographers and print shops in the area to see if they might want to offer jigsaw puzzles made from photos provided by their customers.

I was also thinking of talking to the local flooring contractors to see if they would be interested in offering wooden utility/electrical box covers made from the same material as the flooring they put down. When we had Brazilian Cherry flooring put in our house I saved the scraps and turned them into switchplate covers. I had to use a manual and CNC mill and a router to do the job. I could do it a lot faster easier and with less chips if I could burn them out completely in one step and then round the edges and countersink for screws where needed.

Also thought about offering leather cut outs of various holster styles for the DIY crowd to sew up. Ditto for cutouts of 1911 grips, ready for the user to sand and finish.

Don't think I could make enough doing any one thing with an engraver, but with enough ideas around to check out maybe I could make it pay for itself.

 

[Josh]

Have you checked the laser life and replacement cost of the machines? I have not gotten to use them but when I was in the mould making business I thought of it for an alternative to milling the product ID on the mould. Until then I didn't know the laser needed replaced every 25 or 30 thousand hours (if I remember that correctly)

 

[KeithB]

Apparently mechanically replacing the laser unit itself isn't difficult, sort of a unplug, plug in and go process. I will check the specs on longevity before I invest. Also the guarantee(s), standard and extended. I did note that the brand I am looking at has service reps all over the country.