laser cutter

[abdullahseba]

What is the cheapest laser cutter for 1cm wood & plastic 

[kizzap]

 

I don't know if it is possible to ask a more open-ended question then what you have just asked.

What is the cheapest laser cutter for wood & plastic 

Things this question doesn't cover.

Material information (i.e. soft/hard woods, what types of plastic.)
Material size (from something that fits on a desk, to things that take up complete rooms.)
Price Range ($$$)
How you plan to control it (what software, etc, or are you hoping the supplier provides it with documentation)
Where it will be located (you need to be considering ventilation)
Business or Personal
Do you have anyone experienced with CNC to set it up

asking "What is the cheapest laser cutter for wood & plastic" does NOT cover any of those points satisfactorily.

Try again.

[abdullahseba]

I don't know if it is possible to ask a more open-ended question then what you have just asked.

What is the cheapest laser cutter for wood & plastic 

Things this question doesn't cover.

Material information (i.e. soft/hard woods, what types of plastic.)
Material size (from something that fits on a desk, to things that take up complete rooms.)
Price Range ($$$)
How you plan to control it (what software, etc, or are you hoping the supplier provides it with documentation)
Where it will be located (you need to be considering ventilation)
Business or Personal
Do you have anyone experienced with CNC to set it up

asking "What is the cheapest laser cutter for wood & plastic" does NOT cover any of those points satisfactorily.

Try again.

i just want any laser

[Kjelt]

ever heard of google 
but to answer your question you have the garbage chinese crap and the decent ones, the decent ones are going to set you at least back for $20k even more all depending on size of the machine and the power of the laser.

[kizzap]

i just want any laser

ANY laser? Here you go then.

[linux-works]

for me (bay area guy) the cheapest laser cutter is a $100/mo membership to the techshop

only problem is that you can only reserve 2 hours at a time on them and only a few times a week.

I did ask how much the epilogue units they have cost and it is $20k and upwards.  wow...

they do break down and act finicky.  I've had the epilogue lock up many times on me needing a reboot (damn!).  it loses my settings or carefully set home/origin and really pisses me off.  and this is a pro level unit, not come onehunglow POS.

not sure the import units are worth your while.  this needs to be precise and well designed, which you won't get from china (sorry).

best to rent time on them than buy them.  maintenance and even just having the right ventillation ducting setup for your shop is going to cost good money.

sometimes there are community colleges that offer affordable courses that have shops.  a guy near me takes courses just to get access to their milling machines, cnc's, etc.  I didn't have time to sign up for college courses but I was able to find techshop near me, which was, admittedly, lucky based on my locale.

these are not $5k 'buyable' toys.  they are quite expensive and even the expensive epilogues are not as well built as I would have hoped and they cost what a CAR costs, more or less.

[free_electron]

The epliog machines are really great but cost a hefty amount of money. and the laser needs maintenance  + tube replacement

[G7PSK]

If you want to cut 1CM thick you need to get in touch with these people http://www.amada.co.uk/ . They will fix you up for a price. This one should do note the price P.O.A. http://www.amada.co.uk/product/preowned/details/82/lc-2415-alpha-iii-hybrid-laser

[linux-works]

The epliog machines are really great but cost a hefty amount of money. and the laser needs maintenance  + tube replacement

and stepper motors, and mirrors and even the bed.  the bed wears out (that black honeycomb thing) and has to be replaced periodically.

[abdullahseba]

ever heard of google 
but to answer your question you have the garbage chinese crap and the decent ones, the decent ones are going to set you at least back for $20k even more all depending on size of the machine and the power of the laser.

i ment the actual tube or diode

[Kjelt]

i ment the actual tube or diode 

Ok then you're question would have been what the cheapest laser unit would be to cut 1cm of wood/plastick.

Check out the chinese vendors for > 75W CO2 lasers but realize that cheap is not always good  .
example:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/100W-CO2-Laser-Tube-Power-Supply-Engraver-Cutting-/160470882860?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item255ccf5a2c