New Forum Needed

[Randy222]

Is there a forum for laser platforms like glowforge, xtool, creality falcon 2, etc.

If not, would be neat to have a forum just for these tools.

[Zero999]

I've never heard of them and had to Google.

I disagree. If anything, we need a simulation/CAD software forum, as it's something most people here all use, rather than some obscure as a laser engraver.

[tggzzz]

Is there a forum for laser platforms like glowforge, xtool, creality falcon 2, etc.

If not, would be neat to have a forum just for these tools.

Being "neat" is not sufficient

What benefits would there be?
How else could those benefits be achieved?
What are the disadvantages?

There's no point in considering a sub forum until there are a large number of threads on a topic. Even then, a sub forum has to be weighed against "ghettoisation" and the enticement for newbies to double post in different sub forums.

[CatalinaWOW]

I agree that the need is not compelling.  I have a laser cutter, and find it a fun and useful tool, but far less relevant to the other content of this forum than 3D printing which has earned a home here

There is a great deal of material on this subject in YouTube videosifthe OP wants to learn about/compare these things

[Randy222]

As many hacks that go on with scopes, or defects in functionality, or comparing features for just about any other device, the same applies to the laser platforms too.
5-diode 40w vs the 2-diode 20w head unit, firmware hacks, stepper motor swaps and controls.

There's countless discussions to have over the various laser cutting & engraving tools. It's really no different than "3D Printing" forum, in terms of users discussing specific things related to the forum title.

[Zero999]

There's countless discussions to have over the various laser cutting & engraving tools. It's really no different than "3D Printing" forum, in terms of users discussing specific things related to the forum title.

Are there? This is the only thread, I'm aware of where it has been mentioned. No doubt it is discussed, but I disagree about it being common. I just searched the forum for engraving and got 7 pages of results and most of them weren't about laser engraving. I then tried searching for LTSpice and got 20 pages.

[thm_w]

Probably no one would mind if you posted it in the Mechanical or 3D printing section.

[Randy222]

Probably no one would mind if you posted it in the Mechanical or 3D printing section.

But they are not 3D devices/tools.
Mechanical forum? Maybe.
Or just post in Projects, or maybe Other Equipment & Products

Other seems plausible, but the laser tools are fairly unique.

There are related posts spread around in various forums, etc

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/crowd-funded-projects/glowforge/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/reviews/40w-co2-laser-cutterengraver-any-useful-for-electronic-hobbyist/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/mechanical-engineering/40w-300x200mm-laser-cutter-engraver-vollerun/
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/making-high-quality-home-etching-easy-66mil-pcbs-exposed-with-an-sla-printer/

[Ian.M]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/mechanical-engineering/
"Machining, Fabrication, Robotics, CNC and other automation."
is the right place. There are already about half a dozen laser cutter/engraver topics there. CNC is CNC no matter whether you have a spinny sharp bit, an abrasive  jet, a plasma torch or a laser beam.  It all boils down to a G-code tool path.

[EEVblog]

I disagree. If anything, we need a simulation/CAD software forum, as it's something most people here all use, rather than some obscure as a laser engraver.

Err:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/

There is even 6 sub forums for various popular tools.

[Randy222]

https://www.eevblog.com/forum/mechanical-engineering/
"Machining, Fabrication, Robotics, CNC and other automation."
is the right place. There are already about half a dozen laser cutter/engraver topics there. CNC is CNC no matter whether you have a spinny sharp bit, an abrasive  jet, a plasma torch or a laser beam.  It all boils down to a G-code tool path.

I think of "CNC" as the software and hardware that controls the movements of the machine or "tool", which is common to anything CNC. Laser cutting/engraving machine is I guess a tool used by CNC machine?

[beanflying]

Is there a forum for laser platforms like glowforge, xtool, creality falcon 2, etc.

If not, would be neat to have a forum just for these tools.

I have moved my Laser Cutter thread into Mech Eng and the couple of 'Mechanical CAD' threads there too.

If you want a forum about Lasers specifically then https://forum.lightburnsoftware.com/ other than that for some moronic reason the Apple's of the Laser Cutter world use Farcebook 

[tggzzz]

I disagree. If anything, we need a simulation/CAD software forum, as it's something most people here all use, rather than some obscure as a laser engraver.

Err:
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/eda/

There is even 6 sub forums for various popular tools.

And that illustrates the problem with taxonomies subdividing things: where to put a post. Consequence: people double post and/or ask a post to be moved, which I suspects irritates the mods.

Another example. If I have a subtle problem with a DVM, should I put a post in repair, or test equipment, or metrology?

Libraries have the same problem with the Dewey Decimal taxonomy.

Subforums are only useful when browsing. In the end taxonomies only indicate where something shouldn't be, not where something actually is. The more elaborate the taxonomy, the more places you have to browse.

Searching would find something even if there was only one single forum and everything was in it.

[Shock]

The mechanical engineering forum is a catch all for non pcb related fabrication, the exception is 3D printing (which already lacks participation).
https://www.eevblog.com/forum/mechanical-engineering/

[Ian.M]

CNC is CNC no matter whether you have a spinny sharp bit, an abrasive  jet, a plasma torch or a laser beam.  It all boils down to a G-code tool path.

I think of "CNC" as the software and hardware that controls the movements of the machine or "tool", which is common to anything CNC. Laser cutting/engraving machine is I guess a tool used by CNC machine?

That may be a useful distinction for manual milling machines and even lathes converted to CNC control, but for modern machining centers, and all the types of XY cutters, you cant separate the machine and the CNC as you cant even move the cutting tool 1" without going through the CNC control to do so.

[Randy222]

CNC is CNC no matter whether you have a spinny sharp bit, an abrasive  jet, a plasma torch or a laser beam.  It all boils down to a G-code tool path.

I think of "CNC" as the software and hardware that controls the movements of the machine or "tool", which is common to anything CNC. Laser cutting/engraving machine is I guess a tool used by CNC machine?

That may be a useful distinction for manual milling machines and even lathes converted to CNC control, but for modern machining centers, and all the types of XY cutters, you cant separate the machine and the CNC as you cant even move the cutting tool 1" without going through the CNC control to do so.

Sounds plausible, good argument.
That's basically saying "all tools controlled by CNC, are CNC machines".
CNC with a laser head is of course however, a unique CNC machine, it's not like CNC lathe, or CNC polar coord robotics. The only thing they have in common is "CNC", but they all do something different, and the method used to "CNC" will vary.

"CNC" topics surely fit into a CNC forum.

CNC Machines however don't always have discussion about "CNC" itself, topics can be more "machine" related.

I am all good on my question about new forum. But this has been enlightening.