I don’t see the value. I DO have a camera on my system, but only to make sure nothing’s caught on fire. My laser is in the second story of my workshop and I’m usually not… I can monitor the ‘burning’ using a small web window on my desktop.
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If you’re cutting stuff out of new flat stock it wouldn’t be all that necessary. But it seems like simply aligning your piece on the table could be much quicker and probably a lot more accurate if the piece is irregularly shaped.
Take a simple example: if you want to do a real quick design etch on a guitar pick (completely arbitrary) it seems to me that would be pretty tricky doing it by eyeball, but cake using the camera. Same for “branding” things that aren’t just being cut from new flat stock.
I dunno how much of that kind of thing I’ll end up doing, but if I do any the camera would be pretty helpful.
On a side note, I’ve been careful not to over-drive my tube and still it seems to have already lost some power compared to day 1. I’m sure I could improve on beam alignment a little, but I could also be experiencing power loss from mirror/lens dirt or whatever, or maybe even the tube is already losing the poop? From what I’ve read, seems like too often the cheap included tubes are kinda like the ink cartridges they give you with a new inkjet printer in that they are good enough to verify the thing works, but sometimes won’t let you get much work done before it goes empty. Meh.
Which brings me to the on-topic comment that this type of thing is, in part, why I opted to invest in a Hypertherm plasma for my CrossFire out of the gate.
Do you have air supply for the lens housing? Without that, Smoke can get on the lens and mirror and build up grunge REAL fast!
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Yeah. Actually as it sits the air runs all the time and can’t skip it unless you disconnect the line. I have stuff to attach so I can control it automatically, but haven’t connected it yet.
Anyways, I can’t absolutely rule it out until I check it out with my own eyes, but I suspect that it’s probably not dirt on the lower face of the lens maybe. I’ll be checking it out later today though.
Clean optics (mirrors & lens) are critical. It doesn’t take a lot to impact your power.
Alignment is very important. You’ll want to verify it at all 4 corners of the bed.
It’s possible you got an old tube, but that’s the least likely possibility.
I have no doubt I could improve my alignment at least a little. My check/tweak I did the other day showed it wasn’t bad, but I’m not exactly secure with how solid my skills are yet on that.
I doubt I have an “old” tube, but I question whether the tube that came with it was ever good to begin with of course. I went in to this purchase assuming that when tube replace time came, I would upgrade from 80 to 100W (the power supply is adequate for that). I’ll upgrade to an actual water chiller at that point too though, so it’s close to a $1K upgrade. I’d rather put that off for just a bit if I can.
I have that power meter coming at some point, so hopefully I can hold off until that gets here so I can determine the actual health of the current tube before blowing unnecessary munny.
The power supply isn’t the only thing you may need to replace. The tube length should be longer which means you’ll likely need an extension box off the end of your housing to protect you tube. Unless of course it was originally setup for a 100W tube.
You might also need to get a better lens. The different coating types can withstand different power ratings.
Way ahead of ya. I’ll be extending my tube cover box several inches, and I’m kinda counting on upgrading the whole head as well as the mirrors at some point. I like Russ Sadler’s light head design so I might just make one of those. I believe there is a more standard lens size and system commonly used my most folks and what I’ve got ain’t that.
Short answer is that there will be a lot of upgrades on this thing eventually, and many of them might end up coming sooner rather than later.
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Tis a strange evening here at home. Wifey asked me if i ever ordered a Co2 Laser yet. I repled not yet. An hour later asked if i ordered one yet… Getting spooky. Then she tells me a wood lathe would be nice to have also. Should i be scared?
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Shouldn’t be scared should just get your credit card out.
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I recommend a metal lathe instead.
You’re married. Scared is part of the equation. Lathes and lasers make life worth living.
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ahahahaahahahah
the truth in that is so real
na im not scared. She didnt question me wanting 2 cnc tables or 2 plasma cutters or anything i want for that matter. Metal lathe some day. My shop is just 30x40. Need to make some room in it.
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it’s a trap!!!
if you fall for it you will owe her…big…big…big time…hahahahahahaha
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I allready do for putting up with me for about 30 years.
we all have that brother…that is the truth for all of us…some luckier than others…
https://www.ebay.com/itm/OMTech-Upgraded-CO2-Laser-Engraver-Cutter-with-Rotary-Axis-Ruida-60W-24-x16/264944187313?hash=item3dafe777b1:g:x6MAAOSwEflftjUu Any thoughts on this? Knowing nothing about anything i thought i would get some opinions. Thank you.
You should ask the seller if it includes table height control and what the range is if it does. You will need a Z axis and that listing makes no mention of this.
Other than that, it has all the features you will need if you want to do engraving, on most surfaces, and cutting of thin materials (maybe up to 1/4" thick wood).
Well I might be jumping in deep yet again.
I purchased a cheap Mig machine (Yeswelder) last fall and this weekend it fried itself laying down some pretty mild bead. So the adage proves itself once again - going cheap ultimately seems to end in disappointment every time. I’ve been able to afford better equipment over the past few years, whether it be a lawnmower, cordless drill, kitchen knives, etc., and every time I need to replace something, the higher quality stuff invariably functions tons better if not an outright joy to use in comparison.
I ended up borrowing a friend’s “Horror Fright” Titanium MIG machine to finish the project and it worked much better, so I was considering just getting one of those for a replacement. But I got to thinking about my decision to spend a relative ton on a Hypertherm plasma for this CF table and my confidence that it will be well worth the money spent. Which leads me to consider maybe stepping up on my MIG replacement too. Part of me thinks that this stuff is all made in the same Chinese garages and it won’t matter what I buy these days, but another part still (maybe erroneously?) wants to bite into the pain now and enjoy years of sweet tool in my days ahead.
What I’ve been looking at in contrast to the Titanium is an ESAB 235i thing. Similar to the Hypertherm pricing, these cost about 6 times as much. So I’m wondering if any of y’all have any experience with similar and have some opinions to offer?
Just so ya know, I’ve been up close to some pretty bad experience in terms of quality and customer service with Miller equipment and both Lincoln & Hobart seem to be not all that great these days (see comment above about Chinese garages). Thus those brands are just off my list out of the gate. They just don’t make 'em like they useta.
Any thoughts? All are appreciated.
I own a couple esab welders and they have never broke or been brought in for any repairs so I’ve had good luck with them.
If you just want mig go for the em215ic it works well and half the price of the 235i.
If you want a multi process welder I would skip the 235ic and go for the 205ic that way you get ac/dc tig and not a whole lot more then the 235ic.
DC tig is pretty pointless unless you weld a lot of chromoly or stainless but with the ac/dc you have the option to weld those as well as aluminum.
Lincoln and miller both make really good machines as well but they do offer hobby and occasional use welders that you will find at hardware stores that are a 1/3 of the price of the upgraded models you’ll find at a welding supply place.