Hi,
Does anyone here own a laser engraving machine?
This would be a reluctant purchase. However, we've been using commercial firms for years, and there seems to be a pattern emerging: things work fine for a few months, and then they make a mistake, damaging a bunch of front panels, whereupon they refuse to pay for the damage. I expect that 5-10% of panels might have a flaw, but firms seem to send runs and expect us to pay for trashing them. In light of the frustration, I'm wondering if we need to get a machine and do it ourselves - that way we'll only have ourselves to blame.
The panels we engrave range from 19" alloy, to 12" square powder-coated stainless. I guess we probably wouldn't ever need to do more than about 20 in a month.
I've seen flat-bed units on Ebay. Prices seem to vary like mad.
How long did it take you to master your one? If you want one that's robust and won't cause stress in terms of maintenance, what sort of budget do you think we'd need to allocate for the above kind of work?
Thank you in advance!
edit - for the sort of work we need to do, what sort of maintenance budget do you think the thing will need to have allocated to it? (assuming we make a wise purchase, and not something on its last legs). How long do the tubes last?
Does anyone here own a laser engraving machine?
This would be a reluctant purchase. However, we've been using commercial firms for years, and there seems to be a pattern emerging: things work fine for a few months, and then they make a mistake, damaging a bunch of front panels, whereupon they refuse to pay for the damage. I expect that 5-10% of panels might have a flaw, but firms seem to send runs and expect us to pay for trashing them. In light of the frustration, I'm wondering if we need to get a machine and do it ourselves - that way we'll only have ourselves to blame.
The panels we engrave range from 19" alloy, to 12" square powder-coated stainless. I guess we probably wouldn't ever need to do more than about 20 in a month.
I've seen flat-bed units on Ebay. Prices seem to vary like mad.
How long did it take you to master your one? If you want one that's robust and won't cause stress in terms of maintenance, what sort of budget do you think we'd need to allocate for the above kind of work?
Thank you in advance!
edit - for the sort of work we need to do, what sort of maintenance budget do you think the thing will need to have allocated to it? (assuming we make a wise purchase, and not something on its last legs). How long do the tubes last?
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How are you sending the data of what you want engraved?
Most of the laser engraving I have seen for metal is really a coating, the laser turns black or for anodized just removes the pigment. Are you actually having the metal cut?
I still use a motor driven bit to cut the panel. I even cut before the panel is anodized. Everything is them filled in with a special crayon.
Most of the laser engraving I have seen for metal is really a coating, the laser turns black or for anodized just removes the pigment. Are you actually having the metal cut?
I still use a motor driven bit to cut the panel. I even cut before the panel is anodized. Everything is them filled in with a special crayon.
The metal isn't being cut. The laser simply burns off the coating to reveal the stainless underneath (sometimes you can see the chromate undercoat if the laser hasn't gone in that far, so it gives the letters a 'champagne' look).
Thanks
Thanks
Then to me the issue is the translation from your desired design file and what their equipment can accept. A good general purpose engraving house should be able to take either .DWG or PDF files.
The real issue for purchasing one is not just the type of files can be used, but also the maximum size of the panel. Laser power is not much as an issue as it seems you are not time limited. Of course proper eye protection and fume extraction might just be an important issue!
I have an eBay rule, buy, try and resell to gain experience.
The real issue for purchasing one is not just the type of files can be used, but also the maximum size of the panel. Laser power is not much as an issue as it seems you are not time limited. Of course proper eye protection and fume extraction might just be an important issue!
I have an eBay rule, buy, try and resell to gain experience.
Thanks. We've been getting panels engraved, traditional as well as laser, for over 15 years. The current stainless part has been in production for 5 years and the DXF has been the same. I think that the engraver left the run to one of his assistants, who proceeded to screw up 41 panels. I'm now locked in a discussion with the engraver about who ought to pay. This has been a familiar pattern for a long time. Engravers simply don't like admitting it when they've screwed up, which is why I'm looking into buying a machine. I'd rather farm the process out to a specialist to be honest.
IS6-7-8000 XP : engraving, machining, large format cutting machine | Gravograph
The 8000 is the current version of what I use. I do have the rule that the machine should cost less than the material you run through it over the life of the machine.
I have done over 1,000 stainless steel 19" panels up to 28" high and way more aluminum and plastic panels. The machine paid for itself within a year of purchase.
I keep a bit over 100 carbide engraving bits around at any time as during a panel run I don't like to stop while bits are resharpened. I find I need to change the bit for every stainless steel panel. They last forever on plastic.
This is what I use for punching panels:
https://www.gindumac.com/product/nisshinbo-map-500_NL-PUN-NIS-2001-00001
The 8000 is the current version of what I use. I do have the rule that the machine should cost less than the material you run through it over the life of the machine.
I have done over 1,000 stainless steel 19" panels up to 28" high and way more aluminum and plastic panels. The machine paid for itself within a year of purchase.
I keep a bit over 100 carbide engraving bits around at any time as during a panel run I don't like to stop while bits are resharpened. I find I need to change the bit for every stainless steel panel. They last forever on plastic.
This is what I use for punching panels:
https://www.gindumac.com/product/nisshinbo-map-500_NL-PUN-NIS-2001-00001
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I would think you can re-polish the panels and have them re-marked, if it is not actually cut.
When I have had parts went out and screwed up they have offered to pay, however my cost of the parts was just the cost of material so not worth the claim. They did repay the favor. After we had a flood, they wrote off our current balance.
When I have had parts went out and screwed up they have offered to pay, however my cost of the parts was just the cost of material so not worth the claim. They did repay the favor. After we had a flood, they wrote off our current balance.
Thanks. It looks like the panels aren't cut - the laser just took off the coating. However, the coating costs more than the enclosure part itself, as we use a high-end finishing firm. Am now locked in a battle with the engraver about who'll pay for this. As far as I'm concerned, if they'd inspected the 1st off the line we wouldn't have this problem, so the onus is completely on them. There's no way they can weasel out using their T+Cs, as they charged me a 'setting up' fee, which means inspection ought to have been performed after the 1st came off the line. I've seen that C02 lasers require regular calibration, so it would appear that theirs was out, but they didn't check - thus ruining several K$ worth of our stock.
It's been suggested that I ought to check out Fiber lasers... These are way pricier than C02, but they have a sucker punch in that they project an image of what they're going to cut before they do it. However, it would appear that we can get a C02 laser for our job starting at around $2K, whereas a pro-grade Fiber will be around 6-7 times this. A C02 laser might mean we trash the odd enclosure, but this could be a price worth paying compared against the investment a fiber requires.
It's been suggested that I ought to check out Fiber lasers... These are way pricier than C02, but they have a sucker punch in that they project an image of what they're going to cut before they do it. However, it would appear that we can get a C02 laser for our job starting at around $2K, whereas a pro-grade Fiber will be around 6-7 times this. A C02 laser might mean we trash the odd enclosure, but this could be a price worth paying compared against the investment a fiber requires.
I expect the surface treatment to cost about $.05 per square inch. Material is a bit less. Of course as I own the machines to make panels, my incremental cost is just tooling.
I suspect instead of asking them to pay for the repair, ask for a free redo and a future credit equal to the repair amount.
Of course in the future ask for you to inspect the first piece.
Btw my mechanical engraver ran about $25,000! Definitely has paid for itself!!! Total panel making machines under $170,000 twenty years ago. Today $270,000. The tools long ago paid for themselves. If I were to sell them today I could recover a bit under $100,000 for them in what is a depressed market.
I suspect instead of asking them to pay for the repair, ask for a free redo and a future credit equal to the repair amount.
Of course in the future ask for you to inspect the first piece.
Btw my mechanical engraver ran about $25,000! Definitely has paid for itself!!! Total panel making machines under $170,000 twenty years ago. Today $270,000. The tools long ago paid for themselves. If I were to sell them today I could recover a bit under $100,000 for them in what is a depressed market.
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My Engraving Machine
Hey,
I own a laser engraving machine. I bought Triumph Fiber Laser Marking Machine by following this guide.
I deal with fibres so this machine is suitable for me. I bought this machine about 6 months ago and it’s working very fine. I’m not facing such problems, touchwood!
My machine is equipped with a DSP control system and supports various softwares. And it took me almost a month to master it.
The cooling system of engraving machines usually last longer 5-6 years.
My machine is low maintenance. My manufacturer gave me free maintenance.
Hey,
I own a laser engraving machine. I bought Triumph Fiber Laser Marking Machine by following this guide.
I deal with fibres so this machine is suitable for me. I bought this machine about 6 months ago and it’s working very fine. I’m not facing such problems, touchwood!
My machine is equipped with a DSP control system and supports various softwares. And it took me almost a month to master it.
The cooling system of engraving machines usually last longer 5-6 years.
My machine is low maintenance. My manufacturer gave me free maintenance.
I'm using a ULS M300. Bought used. There's a learning curve using it, mostly use SolidWorks files, but this laser can use several different file types. Also, we cut a lot of acrylic and use a HEPA filter system that costs around $3000. Lots of fumes from cutting acrylic.
You can't cut metal with the ULS M300, but I've also used a Trumpf (German made) laser engraver to directly engrave metal. Those machines are not cheap.
You can also buy a laser cutter, not something your typical hobbyist will have in their garage.
You can't cut metal with the ULS M300, but I've also used a Trumpf (German made) laser engraver to directly engrave metal. Those machines are not cheap.
You can also buy a laser cutter, not something your typical hobbyist will have in their garage.
Do you provide service to the members here on DIY, particularly for a one-off front panel for their projects?
For instance, I'm designing an integrated amp, and the aluminum front panel (1.5mm) would look nicer etched, than using those "rub on" decals for lettering the controls.
Usually it takes two tries to get the panel punched correctly and that works out because the first one engraved often isn't completely right.
So my cost starts at around $100.00.
So my cost starts at around $100.00.