Hi, I'm a new user & would just like some friendly advice!

[HardWorkingMum]

I run a small business and one of the things I try to focus on is personalised products. As my business has progressed, its now brought me to the laser engraving world and I love the creative possibilities owning a machine could bring. But I know its not as simple as it looks & there is indeed a lot to learn about it. Not deterred though, I have spent 2 weeks researching & its now led me to here.

I would like to go for a HPC machine & I plan on travelling to a Friday demonstration to purchase one. However I have a choice that I would like a bit of advice on.

Today I've spent all day reading posts in the forum & they have been really helpful. But I have come across discussions about CAD and other programs. I have no CAD knowledge nor have I owned a laser machine before so its thrown me a bit. I want to learn though and wondered whether I should start with some small acrylic signs (10cms) on the LS320 and then once I have learnt a bit, progress to engraved chopping boards, recipe holders etc on a LS3050.

Most replies on the forum when it comes to which machine to buy say 'buy the best your budget allows' but I feel like I may be trying to run before I walk with the LS3050 with having no CAD knowledge. If I went for the LS320, I could learn with it, invest in a good amount of acrylic & also look into a CAD training course. Then progress to the LS3050 when I am a little more knowledgeable & confident.

I'd settled on this but still can't commit because I worry that

a) The LS320 + XP laptop may not cope with making a lot of small acrylic signs.

b) If I spent 3.6k on a machine & find I am hopeless using a CAD package, then I have maxed my budget out and would be stuck with an expensive machine.

So if anybody can throw any thoughts back at me, even if its something to make me look at it from a different angle, I would greatly appreciate it because I just keep jumping between the two & my head is going to explode if I don't settle on one soon!

[Tom]

Hi the first thing i would do is download free drawing package like draftsight,inkscape,ect
you might find some tutorials on you tube
although you need vectors for cutting dxf,plt,ect you can engrave with bit maps, jpegs.
both machines will do what you want . if it was me i'd pick the 3050
Tom

[Daven]

Agreed with Tom - you can also have a look for a local Fablab - quite a few are popping up where you can use a laser.

The restrictions are really down to your skills in drawing the CAD plans, drawing the artwork for engraving or editing supplied images for artwork. If you take on custom work quite often the image supplied is not of sufficient quality so you either fix it or reject it (not good).

Of course you can get the artwork done by someone else until you build the skillset. Operating the machine is simple enough but if you are busy you need to keep an eye on it as fire can pop up quite easy (had one myself this week - lucky I had only turned my back for a few minutes so was able to blow it out!).

Best
Dave

[HardWorkingMum]

Thank you both for your replies. If I was to go for the desktop version, would the one using xp be any good? I could get hold of a decent PC for this.

Also, what about this one

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laser-Engrave ... 234bad241d

and what would your thoughts be about a used one like this

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Laserscript-L ... 35e5d8e897

[Spooky]

Hiya.

Just on my way out (its my daughters birthday) the first one of the ebay machines (the 3050) is a great buy, I know the seller and trust him with my life (its not me)

Will stick up some other useful stuff when I get home later

best wishes

dave

[HardWorkingMum]

Hiya.

Just on my way out (its my daughters birthday) the first one of the ebay machines (the 3050) is a great buy, I know the seller and trust him with my life (its not me)

Will stick up some other useful stuff when I get home later

best wishes

dave

Thank you!! Hope she has a fabbie birthday

[Lightnin]

Hiya.

......the first one of the ebay machines (the 3050) is a great buy, .....

best wishes

dave

It seems like an off shoot dave ..
I like the way they have shoe horned a larger working area into it.

also, it has a 35w tube

[Tom]

That 1290 pic has been going around for about 2 years
i would be careful (i know where that shed is and that machine has not been there for a long time)
It might be genuine but!!!


it's disappeared

[Tom]

the first one isn't a 3050
But the seller is genuine (and it's not me either)

[HardWorkingMum]

Thank you all! Its all helping.

Noticed it went down too Tom. Thats helped narrow my choice down.

Can I ask whether you think the un-numbered one from eBay would cope with batch producing small acrylic signs? I would love to go for the LS3050 but it would take up my whole budget whereas the ebay one would leave some room to get acrylic etc

But I've been told this about the eBay one:

"It has a poorer quality guide rails and bearings in comparison to the LS3050 and its a part only warrant which means the user must have experience in laser systems."