Laser Cutter Machine:
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You can choose a laser cutter machine from a variety of sizes and power levels. It all depends on what materials you are cutting and engraving, how many projects you plan to produce, and the types of designs you're making. In any case, a laser cutter machine is very affordable and pays for itself in no time at all. I still ask myself how my sign shop ever got along without one, and you will too once you see them in action.
Here's how to determine what you kind of laser units are best for you and your business.
What Kind Of Laser Cutter Machine Do You Need?
A laser is more than a tool for your business, it's an investment. Making wise investments in your business pays off in the long run, especially with lasers. It's not difficult to choose when you take a few moments to think about what you need in a laser machine.
If you need tips on how to find the right laser, look no further! Here is a simple checklist to help you choose your machines. Consider these 3 simple questions before you buy and you can't go wrong.
What Kind Of Projects Are You Planning On Doing?
Are you cutting or engraving, or both?
Here's a simple rule: The power of the laser cutter machine is one factor that determines it's ability to engrave or cut. All lasers with lower power levels are capable of engraving and cutting a variety of substances. Higher power machines can handle deeper cuts and are best for large numbers of pieces.
For example, in my sign shop, we cut acrylics made of different materials and in a variety of thicknesses. Our smaller laser machine runs at 40 watts and the larger unit runs at a 100 watt maximum.
Through experience and experimentation, I have found that the smaller unit can cut acrylic up to 3/4 of an inch (19.05 mm) in thickness. The larger unit easily cuts 1 inch (25.4 mm) acrylic.
Either laser cutter machine can cut acrylic in the thicknesses we use for our sign projects, which range from 1/32 of an inch to 3/16 on the average. Power is better for very thick projects, thinner materials require less power to cut. Again, all of the lasers listed below can handle these smaller thicknesses and engrave beautifully.
If you're concerned with the settings and capabilities of the lasers you buy, they come with full instructions on how to operate them, and this includes settings for different materials and thicknesses. Most common materials and thicknesses are listed for you and can be adjusted easily if necessary. Acrylic, wood, fabric and even paper can be cut using lasers.
Power isn't the only factor in determining laser cuts. The other is speed, as in the rate of time the laser moves when cutting.
Cutting Speeds
Another factor that determines what you can do with a laser is speed. Speed for lasers is given as IPS, or Inches Per Second.
All lasers can be adjusted to alter the speed of the arm mechanism the laser is attached to. Thicker materials may require the laser to move more slowly, giving the beam more time to complete the cut all the way through the material. It's a simple adjustment to make, and the lower powered machines can cut thicker materials, just not as quickly as the higher powered ones.
Be aware however that higher speeds do not equal faster throughput. Speeds often need to be adjusted according to the type of cutting and engraving being done.
The best advice I can give you is to do what we do in our shop, experiment!
Use a few scraps of the acrylic material you will be using for your project. Create a simple shape, such as a square, and note the laser settings. Then time how long it takes to cut the material. Actually, the laser cutter machine also does this for you. Our unit records the time when the first cut is made, then stores the time and runs a countdown on all the other pieces telling me how much longer the laser will take to finish each cut.
You will quickly and easily determine cutting times and settings for whatever materials you need to cut.
Faster speeds will finish the cuts sooner, but don't cut as deep. If your laser has a lot of power you may be able to run it at or near it's top speed. If the laser cutter machine has a lower power capability, you may need to allow for a slower cutting time and reduce the speed of the laser arm. The time factor for projects is anywhere from a few moments to several minutes or an hour or so. It all depends on the amount of detail and the shapes being cut or engraved and the volume of pieces you're cutting.
When determining time factors, it helps to remember that laser machines are reducing your production time to a fraction of what it would be if you used any other cutting methods. In short, lasers are very fast!
This leads us to the next factor to consider for laser projects: size. As in the size of the pieces and the number of pieces that need to be cut or engraved.
How Large And How Many?
If you're working on smaller pieces, such as engraved nameplates for award plaques or door number tags, you can fit them on smaller machines. If your projects are larger, you obviously need a laser that is large enough to fit the pieces into. For this reason, you need to consider the size of the laser table surface.
Also, if the pieces number in the dozens, a smaller machine will do just fine. However, if your piece count numbers in the hundreds or thousands, you should use a larger size machine. This way you can make more pieces with each cut.
Again, if you know what kind of projects you need to make, it's easy to choose a laser machine that will do the job.
You'll Be Amazed At What A Laser Cutter Machine Can Do
There's no end to the variety of creative projects you can make yourself. You'll be amazed at how versatile lasers can be, and how many kinds of projects you can make with them.
In my acrylic sign shop, we use laser cutter machines for most of our projects. Everyone loves to come in and watch them work, and people are always fascinated with the variety of things we can make and engrave with our lasers. It's a beautiful thing!
The Laser Cutter Machine Guide
Below you will find a list of the best laser cutter machines available for all your cutting and engraving needs. Each photo is linked to a page with more specifications on that unit including size, workspace, and power capabilities. All of these units can be purchased online and come with specs and full instructions on how to put them to work for you. These machines are easy to use and will give you years of productivity.
We list some of the basic specification for each unit. Click on the laser photo for more information about each product. From there you can read the specs and choose the power level that you need, and purchase the unit you need from that page.
No matter what types of acrylic projects you're creating, these lasers will make it happen for you and your business.
Laser Cutter Machine List
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GCC LaserPro C180 Engraving System
Work Area: 18 x 12 in. (458 mm x 309 mm)
Power: 12 Watt, 30 Watt, 40 Watt
Price:
C180 12 watt 1-4 -- $ 8,998.95
C180 30 watt 1-4 -- $12,458.95
C180 40 watt 1-4 -- $14,728.95
GCC Spirit GX Engraving System
Work Area: 34 x 24 in. (860 x 610mm) Extendable to 38 x 24 in. (965 x 610 mm)
Maximum Speed: 80 IPS
Power: 30 Watt, 40 Watt, 60 Watt, 100 Watt
Price:
Spirit GX 30 watt -- $18,758.95
Spirit GX 40 watt -- $22,328.95
Spirig GX 60 watt -- $29,468.95
Spirit GX 100 watt --$39,298.95
GCC LaserPro Spirit Engraving System
Work Area: 25 x 18 in. (640 x 460mm) Extendable to 29x18 in. (736 x 460 mm)
Maximum Speed: 60 IPS
Power: 100 Watt
Price: Spirit 100 watt -- $34,828.95
GCC Venus II Engraving System
Work Area: 11.8 x 8.3 in. (300 mm x 210 mm)
Maximum Speed: 20 IPS
Power: 12 Watt, 30 Watt
Price:
12 watt VII-12 -- $ 6,998.95
30 watt VII-30 -- $10,798.95
GCC S290 LaserPro Laser Engraver, Vinyl Cutter and Printer
Work Area: 25 x 18 in. (640 x 460 mm) Extendable to 29 x 18 in. (736 x 460 mm)
Maximum Speed: 60 IPS
Power: 10 Watt
Price: S290-10 -- $32,658.95
