Using A Laser Cutter -
The Future Is Now
Laser Cutters Can Make Any Shape Design A Reality
Acrylic plastic can be shaped by several different kinds of tools. Sheets can be cut with table saws, jigsaws, or any other kind of electric or hand-powered saw. Pieces can be routered or beveled at the edges or polished to a smooth shine using a buffer. There are even machines that cut acrylic using a micro-condensed jet stream of water!
The Laser Cutter is probably the most versatile and convenient tool available for cutting acrylic business signs.
I Use Laser Cutters Every Day
I use two lasers in my shop every day, and I can't believe we ever got along without one. We used to saw-cut every sign. It's a good method, but sawing is slower, there's a chance of cracking the acrylic, and complex shapes were more difficult to make even on a jigsaw. We needed to be able to produce more custom signs faster and yet remain cost effective. The laser cutters provide that, and better than I'd hoped.
Large industries use floor-standing models designed to cut sheets that are several feet long. The large volume of material that can be cut at one time combined with the speed of the laser cutter provides industry with a cost-effective signage production tool.
The table surface holds the material while a mechanical "arm" moves the laser along the acrylic, leaving a thin and precise cut line. Almost any design that can be made in a computer art program can be cut with a laser cutter. The design layout can have many pieces on a sheet of material and all can be cut in one session.
But what if you're a small business owner? For example, if you own a sign business or an award-making shop you can use a laser cutter to speed up your productivity. Do you have room for a floor model like the larger industries do?
If not, you're still in luck. You can get all of that industrial laser cutting power in a small desktop unit specially made for the small business owner.
Now Affordable And Practical For Small Business
Universal makes several laser cutters that are small and self-contained units. Safe to use and easy to find room for, these laser cutters pay for themselves.
For example, if you need dozens of nameplates for award statues, you can engrave and cut them several at a time using the laser cutter. And you can cut piece after piece using the computer art program to design all the nameplates to be cut at once.
That's much faster than saw cutting and engraving by hand.
All of the Low Profile series of acrylic signs and photo frames are cut, shaped, and flame-polished using a floor model laser cutting table. The variety of shapes, thicknesses and materials provide endless creative possibilities.
What To Look For
The best bet by far for small and medium businesses is the VersaLaser Desktop System. The compact VL-200 model measures 26" wide, 25" deep, and 14" high. These small units won't cut heavy metal, but they can cut many types of materials you would be likely to use for making signs. Fabric, leather, paper, cardboard, fabric, rubber, plastic and wood can all be cut or engraved.
Versatility is important, especially if you want to do custom work.
More Power, Or Less?
The materials you use and the type of projects you do determines how much power you need. The higher the laser's level of wattage is, the thicker the material you can cut. Standard cutting and engraving can be performed by the 25-35 watt laser, the lowest power model. The highest power VersaLasers have 150-300 watts which is extreme power for faster cutting and deep engraving at high speed. It all depends on what you're cutting, and how quickly you want it.
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