Recommendations on purchasing a laser engraver / cutter?

[Denise Goodfellow]

We had one from Chris, no complaints with either the machine or the service.

[Justin Bajada]

Thanks because I read some bad reviews regarding customer service. Is the machine reliable?

Thanks

[CarlMorton.]

What are you going to use the mchine for? We might be in the market for a laser machine but would like a machine that could read registration marks to contour cut jobs. So many things to consider when buying one of these machines. Need to make the right purchase to grow your business and market.

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

[Justin Bajada]

Basically an A2 or slighly larger. We need the laser for small jobs to offer another product to our clients and maybe to get new clients.
Thanks

[CarlMorton.]

Hi Justin. We have had a look at the trotec lasers because they can contour cut around printed items. The general rule seems to be stay away from cheap imported lasers because the support is zero and the parts are not available in the uk.

Sent from my SM-G928F using Tapatalk

[Greg McCarthy]

Hello all,

We have a Gravograph which are usually more expensive but really well made.

Try to get one with a red pointer for settting up. Will save you tons of time.

There are cheaper lasers with cheaper less reliable glass tubes which I would’nt touch.

[Steff Davison]

How did your enquiries go?

I am looking at adding laser etching/cutting to my product range. Its seems to be a complicated business made to sound easy. Looking at Trotec speedy but can’t find much info on Gravograph kit. Thinking about a 60/80 watt machine. Need a machine that can get through work and produce quality results. UK service and backup also high up on wish list.

Anyone any other suggestions?

[Warren Beard]

Speak to Nigel at Grafityp, they sell lasers and have the added benefit of a good back up service and support. We bought ours from them and have had good service from them over the last few years.

[Steff Davison]

quote Warren Beard:

Speak to Nigel at Grafityp, they sell lasers and have the added benefit of a good back up service and support. We bought ours from them and have had good service from them over the last few years.

Thanks for that, spoken to Nigel, will be going to have a look this next week.

[Martin Pearson]

If you are going to have a look then consider taking a couple of files with you for them to cut, have a good think about what sort of materials you would like to be able to cut & the thickness of each material as this will make a big difference to what sort of wattage you really need.

[Leigh Howden]

I have a gcc laser from grafityp which works fine.

[Steff Davison]

Well its taken a while with moving premises and xmas etc but ordered a Trotec Speedy 400 today.

Looked at Grafityp, GCC kit decent people however decided the Speedy was the best fit for what I wanted,

All Ive got to do now is work out how to make it pay 😆

[Phil Davies]

You cannot go wrong with an HPC, their support is onsite, and I personally have 3 of their machines, 2x 1290s 80W and 150W and a 60W 6840. Oh, and unlike a lot of imports, Chris is very knowledgeable, and keeps a full range of spares, large showroom (He even has Fibre lasers for metal cutting) and a team of dedicated personnel.

I am waiting on delivery of a Trotec Speedy 120W 300 with JC Vision system for exactly that purpose. The HPC’s are absolute workhorses, and I have had zero issues with them in the past few years. They use Glass CO2 tubes which are cheap to replace, RF Tubes that the trotec etc use are very expensive! However, it depends what you want from the machine.

Just a warning (especially with this being a sign makers forum) you cannot cut any vinyl or vinyl containing materials, it liberates chlorine gas when cutting, and when combined with moisture in the air (and your lungs!) turns into Hydrochloric Acid, it will eat your lungs, and the equipment. So no Foamex, PVC sheets etc. Very dangerous.

[Steff Davison]

I have the JC vision system on this machine, I dont have a flatbed at the moment, but its sort of "future proof" if I decide to print rigid material or heavier card stock.

Currently I mainly print soft vinyl, which I will cut on my Summas and then "float" onto cut acrylic shapes, but I like the idea of printing on a flatbed then cutting direct onto the Trotec with the camera malarkey, it just depends on the economics of it as to which direction I decide to move next.