Novice and a New Project

[Trevor Wootton]

Hello everyone,
I am just about to start a new project. I am a service engineer with a very small embroidery business that we run from home, and I was planning to specialise in turning photographs into embroidered pictures, as well as all the usual other bits and pieces, this hasn’t worked to well. For medical reasons I have got to change my job, so after research I have decided going to expand the business to include laser engraving. We’ve looked at a number of companies selling engraving machines and decided that all in all HPC seem the best ones to go with. We are again going to try to specialise in the photographs into pictures and wine glass, flower vase engraving, plus lots of the other trinkets and things that keep coming to mind. With having to get a shop in town and all the other bits that go with that, and buying the engraving machine and accessories I’m working on abit of a tight budget. Hopefully with the HPC team back from the foreign visit, I am going to arrange a visit to see the machines very soon. My question - has any one got any useful tips on the machine to buy. I was looking at the 6040 or the 6840. Reading different write ups, unless there were bits of info missing from the articals, or I miss understood some of the articals, (most likely)they both seem to have various advantages over each other. I will be running Coral Draw X5. Any tips please for a ‘complete’ novice.
Thanks
Trevor

[Trevor Wootton]

I thought I'd better add that I do not intend purchasing a machine and opening a shop. When I buy the machine it will come to my embroidery 'workshop' for 4 / 6 weeks whilst we 'practice' and hopfully make some 'stock' , only then will it go to the shop.
Cheers
Trev (Wootton)

[Spooky]

Trev,

Go with the 6840, that extra 80mm you can be sure will be needed on the third job you do (sods law says it will be 610mm long)
Also you have the benefit of a machine that will split down into two parts and fit through a "normal" household door (trust me,Chris got one into my computer room through a normal household door).

Company wise HPC machines are much the same as most of the far eastern machines.. BUT what you get with HPC is customer support and THAT is worth far more than a few gimiks.. I've been on the phone to Chris at 8pm in the evening for some advice and he's always so happy to help. Chris and Charlotte make a great team when it comes to backup after purchase and emails rarely go more than a few minutes without an answer. Chris isn't just a real professional he's a real nice chap with it.

As to Corel draw...humm not my personal choice but I already had a licensed version of AutoCAD (I'm a draughtsman by profession) so I didn't have the expense of having to buy it again. I've tried Corels offering and don't really like it much.
If you get against the wall on drawings give me a call or email and I'll give you a hand (No Charge of course)..

best wishes

Dave

ps:I have no link with HPC or Chris or Charli other than as a very happy customer

[Trevor Wootton]

Cheers for that Dave. I'm going up to see the machines and ask some questions on Friday. I'll post me findings and thoughts at the weekend. Getting excited and worried at the same time about the new venture, but I'm going ahead regardless. Spending all my spare time planning and getting ideas from people.
Speak later
Trev

[Trevor Wootton]

Hi
Just to let you know we went to Halifax on Friday (2 hrs late, ruddy traffic). Thanks to Chris for all the info and help. I'm picking up my 6840 mid June. Enjoy reading all the forums.
All the best to everyone
Trev

[bob]

Have fun Trevor and welcome to the Laser world ...
Remember find your niche as this pays for the machine the rest is just fun -if you get the time.
Bob