Laser Cutter

[MrBasse]

Originally Posted by M.Kong-Sivert

We were offered a laser cutter costing $4-5,000. We just get to choose which one they give us.

I guess it has been a long day as I'm still not picking up what you are putting down...

Do you get to choose from a group of lasers they have already? Or are they giving you a check and saying "go buy a laser?" If the former, pick the one that seems to suit your needs (probably the highest wattage available). If the latter, I still vote used market with the highest wattage you can find.

You can use them for really cool things, but just know that at this price range you can't buy a laser cutter . You can get a used laser engraver though (it will cut paper, some plastics and other soft materials). We use ours to cut foam core, card board and paper for prototyping. I have engraved promotional items. Fundraisers are a cakewalk when you have a laser and a bunch of time to load a part and press "go" several hundred times. I have even read that you can use them to create custom circuit boards by engraving off coating to leave your circuits behind.

Just be sure to get adequate ventilation for the space you run it in as nasty fumes come out of things when they are vaporized...

[Greg Needel]

if you only have 4-5,000 look at full spectrum laser. Their customer service is not great but you get a good amount of machine for the money.