Higher Quality Laser Recommendations

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jcm71

jcm71

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May 5, 2011
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Chattanooga, TN
I have taken on the task of making commemorative pens for my class's upcoming 50 year reunion. Each of the pens will have our class crest on it with the words 50th REUNION 1971-2021 underneath.

I am not happy with consistency of results I am getting with my two NEJEs, in both level of detail, and that both lasers seem to burn differently in consecutive runs. (I do let the lasers rest between burns) I have run about 30 test runs in different configurations (flat vs rotary jig), burn time, rubber band tension, and can't get the consistent results I want.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good quality laser engraver (with rotary attachment), that is compatible with a Mac/IPAD? I'm willing to go the $500 range.

In the past 24 hours I've received 35 pen orders from my classmates (and their money), and now I'm afraid of not being able to deliver a quality product. Any help, advice much appreciated.

John
 
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This isn't mine but you are wanting greater detail than this?

photo.php


https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1883907061691249&set=g.1224975237547839&type=1&theater&ifg=1
 
My concern if I upgrade to the K40 style laser is that they seem to take a lot of tweaking, add-ons and TLCs. Maybe someone who just uses one to engrave pens can chime in on that? I'm not adverse to tinkering, but I don't need another project right now, I'd like a better laser but something that's pretty turn-key.

Gary
 
My understanding about the K40 is the same as Gary's. Also, don't think it is compatible with Apple. Windows only.
 
In my experience when it comes to laser engraving $500 and quality do not go together. Heck even $2000 and quality do not go together. I have one in the $2-$3k range and I still have to tweak it and buy things for it. Although it is much cheaper than a $15k-$40k high end Epilog or Trotec.

If you spend $500 and get the K40 just know that you will have a learning curve and will more than likely need to upgrade or tweak things on it to make it run the way you want it to run.
 
brownsfn2 said:
In my experience when it comes to laser engraving $500 and quality do not go together. Heck even $2000 and quality do not go together. I have one in the $2-$3k range and I still have to tweak it and buy things for it. Although it is much cheaper than a $15k-$40k high end Epilog or Trotec.

If you spend $500 and get the K40 just know that you will have a learning curve and will more than likely need to upgrade or tweak things on it to make it run the way you want it to run.
Click to expand...

Quite true. I have owned the Glowforge for almost 18 months and it is the closest to "Kitchen appliance" operation I have seen in lasers.
 
larryc said:
brownsfn2 said:
In my experience when it comes to laser engraving $500 and quality do not go together. Heck even $2000 and quality do not go together. I have one in the $2-$3k range and I still have to tweak it and buy things for it. Although it is much cheaper than a $15k-$40k high end Epilog or Trotec.

If you spend $500 and get the K40 just know that you will have a learning curve and will more than likely need to upgrade or tweak things on it to make it run the way you want it to run.
Click to expand...

Quite true. I have owned the Glowforge for almost 18 months and it is the closest to "Kitchen appliance" operation I have seen in lasers.
Click to expand...

Does Glowforge offer a rotary attachment?
 
BURLMAN said:
larryc said:
brownsfn2 said:
In my experience when it comes to laser engraving $500 and quality do not go together. Heck even $2000 and quality do not go together. I have one in the $2-$3k range and I still have to tweak it and buy things for it. Although it is much cheaper than a $15k-$40k high end Epilog or Trotec.

If you spend $500 and get the K40 just know that you will have a learning curve and will more than likely need to upgrade or tweak things on it to make it run the way you want it to run.
Click to expand...

Quite true. I have owned the Glowforge for almost 18 months and it is the closest to "Kitchen appliance" operation I have seen in lasers.
Click to expand...

Does Glowforge offer a rotary attachment?
Click to expand...


No, but I have found a work around for certain situations. For example I have a possible 300-500 pen order where the customer wants three rows of text equally spaced around the pen and I can do that (and possibly more rows) using a jig. I can do up to 25 pens at a time using this setup.
 
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