Heisler Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 I don't know that I can be in Denver. I'd eventually get arrested for attempting to demolish the Bronco's facilities. I wonder if your reaction to the events in the novel The Sum of all Fears is different than most... Also, you people need to stop filling me with model railroad lusts until I acquire the necessary real estate for Tiny Town. It's torture. TYVM. You don't need that much space, you just need a good shelf at least 15" wide and preferably running the full length of one wall. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Mine is fairly hands free, just need to make sure the material doesn't catch fire while in use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Argh, double post Edited January 28, 2015 by Sergeant_Crunch Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeySloth Posted January 28, 2015 Author Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Cool. So you could be painting\watching TV while it runs if it's in the same room or visible? That's what I'm really wanting. It's also good to see that you don't need a dual laser to do cutting and engraving at the same time. Edited January 28, 2015 by MonkeySloth Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 (edited) Yeah, most of the time I'm so mesmerized watching the laser work that I'm just staring at it anyway. Edited January 28, 2015 by Sergeant_Crunch 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted January 28, 2015 Share Posted January 28, 2015 Only one laser is used. The power is increased and speed reduced for cutting. For the Epilog it's pretty straightforward using the software driver for the engraving/cutting settings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeySloth Posted January 30, 2015 Author Share Posted January 30, 2015 So how well would these cut plastic\styrene? My brother's company is looking into game pieces similar to the wizkids pirates line, which really did seam like Styrene to me, but having trouble finding a manufacturer that's not Chinese bases. Would a cutter just melt it or would maybe like 10w be fine? Also isn't MiniCannuk in the plastic industry? I remember someone on this board is and I have questions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dilvish the Deliverer Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 My brother has been doing plastic injection molding for the last *counts* 20 years or so. If you can't fins someone here, let me know and I can pass questions on to him. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeySloth Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Cool. He's not looking at molding but anything we can find out about printing on styrene and cutting it. If he would know anything about either of those that would be great. The big challenge is he's really just looking at maybe 300-500 of each model so not the types of numbers that factories want to get involved with--which is why I suggested figuring out how to do it ourselves and make to order. If a laser cutter will do the cutting then we just need to figure out printing (and then I get access to a cutter without spending anything. *cue evil laugh*). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 Yes, laser engravers will cut plastic. Especially thin card like you're talking about. Just don't cut vinyl, it produces a corrosive gas when burnt. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonkeySloth Posted January 31, 2015 Author Share Posted January 31, 2015 Yes, laser engravers will cut plastic. Especially thin card like you're talking about. Just don't cut vinyl, it produces a corrosive gas when burnt. That's what I was worried about with plastics in general. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGP Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 So how well would these cut plastic\styrene? My brother's company is looking into game pieces similar to the wizkids pirates line, which really did seam like Styrene to me, but having trouble finding a manufacturer that's not Chinese bases. Would a cutter just melt it or would maybe like 10w be fine? Also isn't MiniCannuk in the plastic industry? I remember someone on this board is and I have questions. If you want to talk laser cutting with someone on this board try "wdlanghans" (aka Impudent Mortal). He owns one. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dibbler Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 (edited) That 40-80W, is that the power of the laser? How do you handle eye safety? :) Edited January 31, 2015 by Dibbler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TGP Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 That 40-80W, is that the power of the laser? How do you handle eye safety? :) I know this one. You don't stare into the emitter. Specifically you don't remove the whole cutting bed assembly, crawl under the machine, look up and program the cutting head assembly to make a few passes over your eyes to 'see what the laser looks like'.** In RL a laser is invisible** from the side. No (appreciable) energy exits the beam sideways. **(Also, I think these lasers are on frequencies outside the visible...) I guess a bozo could put something in the laser that was a reflective surface for the frequency that is outside the visible range the laser operates on and this might then reflect a beam out of the machine potentially harming and injuring personnel. Whether that is feasible at all, I'll wait for WD or somebody that has used one to explain. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant_Crunch Posted January 31, 2015 Share Posted January 31, 2015 I don't look directly at the point where the laser is working and don't place reflective material face up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.