scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Hey guys, I accidentally bought a laser cutter last week and I've now got it working reasonably well. I'm planning on making wargaming tokens and templates at the moment but I'm looking for other suggestions. Not looking to make a massive profit, just to make it pay for its self and it's upkeep. Anyone want anything making? Makes good keyrings... 3mm acrylic is the medium of choice. Stuff I've made so far:         |
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Last Edit: Jul 24, 2012 9:28:26 GMT by scruff
1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,962
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Laser cutter...MiataMark
@garra
Club Retro Rides Member 29
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Christmas decorations name badges house signs car badges (you've already started but custom) key rings book ends plate stands (go to a craft fair and see what people are making in wood etc and think if you could make it in perspex) ummm how much was it?  |
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Jul 24, 2012 10:08:31 GMT
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Cheers.
It was £500 + faff.
It turned up without software and it's all bespoke to the unit so no generic options to download.
I've also modified it quite a lot already... trivial things like earthing the case for example!
If you are thining of takign the plunge give me a shout - lots to consider (Like it might be a pile-o-sh*te)
If anyone wants anything doing let me know and I'll have a go.
If you want an image it needs to be montone (black/white or similar) jpeg/bitmap to get predictable results.
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,962
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Laser cutter...MiataMark
@garra
Club Retro Rides Member 29
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Jul 24, 2012 10:19:33 GMT
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pet name tags If you went to a craft fair or similar could you do custom jobs while people waited? How would it work with ABS (Lego)? I really must get some work done, and stop going off on yet another tangent  |
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Jul 24, 2012 10:22:51 GMT
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Should be OK on ABS, not tried.
Could do it 'while you wait' I suppose for basic stuff.
It only take s a few mins to draw/engrave/cut.
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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Jul 24, 2012 15:48:03 GMT
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Could you make me 4 key rings, only letting willing to pay?
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Jul 24, 2012 16:39:13 GMT
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Yep, PM your requirements and I'll let you know.
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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awoo
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,505
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Jul 24, 2012 22:24:31 GMT
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oooohhhh, I may well be hitting you up for this, would you be able to cut foam? 10mm low density stuff. i need some bits cutting up for a little project i have and was thinking laser cutting. Ive had bits made with laser for metal and was very impressed with the results
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Depends on the foam I suppose as I can't cut anything that might contain chlorine.
Polyurethane foam should be OK (normal seating foam) and I plan on making some case inserts at some point.
It'll not give a fine cut if the foam is thick but it should cut OK - What you thinking of?
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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awoo
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,505
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Jul 25, 2012 12:03:51 GMT
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ill drop you a message
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Switch panels etc would be good, especially for kit cars and the like. Mine has some Dynamo style stickers labelling the switches and looks a bit pants for example.
Presume good for making bespoke little bolt together cases for mini car amps, hobby electronics etc.
How many could you make in bulk? Ran a 200 entry marathon last week and rather than a proper metal, shaped medal got a cheesy thin tin 'star' (like you might pin to your 5 year old playing sheriff) with a cheap sticker 'marathon 2012' on the rear. A nice laser cut perspex tag with event name and date would have been far more appreciated. May be worth contacting local running clubs as the smaller events do struggle with medals at times.
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,962
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Laser cutter...MiataMark
@garra
Club Retro Rides Member 29
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Presume good for making bespoke little bolt together cases for mini car amps, hobby electronics etc. Cases for Raspberry Pi computers. Second the comment about "medals", trophies/awards as well. An engraved plaque mounted on a wooden plinth would be great. Mark |
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Engraving A4 sheet sized stuff takes 30-45 mins+
60 odd tokens to an A4 sheet so to get a reasonable return for machine time they won't be that cheap - maybe 30-40p each?
I've seriously under quoted for a couple of jobs and I'm starting to regret it, but it's my fault so I'll just get on with it. It's time that's the killer, it's just so slow and no way of speeding it up really. It's a learning experience.
Every line in an engraving has to be done seperately so it's like a single pin dot matrix printer.
It's better for vector cuttign in bulk as it's much faster; a 30mm disc takes 3-4 mins to engrave and ~15 secs to cut out
It's much more suited to one offs or small <10 runs.
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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markbognor
South East
 
Posts: 9,969
Club RR Member Number: 56
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Laser cutter...markbognor
@markbognor
Club Retro Rides Member 56
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Jul 26, 2012 17:20:07 GMT
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Thing to make with a lazy cutter? I've made one or two things before, www.micra.org.uk/threads/random-stuff-youve-made.34168/I've sped up jobs I've done by only very rarely engraving blocks of fill. Things like text and outlines can be made bolder by using a contour type command and add two or three more lines 0.2ish of a mm away from the last. the laser line will be around 0.2mm anyway. Gathering '08 trophies, clear 3mm engraved inserts:  Chess set, laser cut parts, CNC& manually machined plinths.  EasyPCD PCD quick reference tools. These are an example of where I abandoned etch fills and went with a few contoured outlines to massively speed up jobs.  All sorts of key rings   |
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Jul 26, 2012 18:05:36 GMT
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I'yll be intouch for some keyrings i want doing for a new venture  |
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Top tips there, thanks! Its the engrave that's the killer and vector is much quicker. I'll have a look. Added a couple of fans to the electrics to keep things cooler too. |
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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MiataMark
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,962
Club RR Member Number: 29
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Laser cutter...MiataMark
@garra
Club Retro Rides Member 29
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Love the Bugsy Malone cars in this thread.... Mark |
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1990 Mazda MX-52012 BMW 118i (170bhp) - white appliance 2011 Land Rover Freelander 2 TD4 2003 Land Rover Discovery II TD52007 Alfa Romeo 159 Sportwagon JTDm
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Jul 27, 2012 21:23:08 GMT
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 Commission for 4 keyrings |
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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scruff
Part of things
Posts: 621
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Jul 27, 2012 21:25:03 GMT
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Wargames (Warmachine) template  |
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1994 Lotus Esprit - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
1980 Porsche 924 - Fragile red turbo with pop up lights.
I spy a trend...
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markbognor
South East
Posts: 9,969
Club RR Member Number: 56
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Laser cutter...markbognor
@markbognor
Club Retro Rides Member 56
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Jul 27, 2012 22:39:40 GMT
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Love the Bugsy Malone cars in this thread.... Mark Cheers matey. I can't quite tell if you are already from the pics Scruff, but clear looks much nicer if you mirror the etch, so that you etch on what will be the rear of the object, and thus look through it to see the image. |
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Last Edit: Jul 27, 2012 22:43:05 GMT by markbognor
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