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New Laser Cutter Working Group

Mission:

To research and recommend an additional laser cutter to be purchased by LMN.


Working Group Members:

How YOU can help:

Please feel free to edit this wiki page, or send a message to members@lansingmakersnetwork.org
  • Help answer some of the questions below.
  • Tell us your needs or concerns.
  • Join this working group!
    • To do that, edit this wiki page add your name, and send a message to members@lansingmakersnetwork.org.

Considerations:

  • The new laser cutter should be able to be shipped to LMN within a reasonable time frame

Questions that need to be addressed:

(Educated guesses are okay here)

  1. What kind of materials and how thick can we cut with:
    • 60 Watt cutter
    • 80 Watt cutter
  2. What kind of infrastructure improvements will this need?
    • Power
    • Venting
  3. What can we expect for support?
    • Will it be supported by an ebay distributor?
    • Will we need a Chinese speaker?
  4. What software will we need?
    • Some of these cutters list several supported graphics formats but not gcode.
    • How do we mix cutting and engraving?
    • Will we also need to purchase AutoCAD or the like?

Items to research:

  • Ebay Laser Cutters
    • Do any of these have forum followings such as the K40 does?

Budget:

  • It was suggested that $1300 could be paid for by LMN (gut feeling from Carl)
  • Other possible donations could get an additional $1100 fairly easily.

To Do:

  • Create a Grid on this wiki with links, prices, wattage, cutting size, and additional notes.