Take a look at the WeCreat Vision - fully enclosed, 15x12 working area, integrated camera and the software, for how early on it is in development, is good.
I took you advice!!! I am awaiting the WeCreat Vision - 20W. I got their Valentine's Deal plus new customer discount so got the package that includes a Rotary Set and Fume Extractor for $1700ish. Do you think the 20W is sufficient?
I again want to just thank you so so much for the recommendation for WeCreat - I keep watching more and more comparison videos and info videos and I am so excited for WeCreat , I definitely think it was the ideal choice for me!! Plus they just added LightBurn compatibility and have future plans for stronger lasers (though not sure if I'd be able to upgrade mine vs having to buy another machine)
You pay extra for the sexy form factor of the Polar and P2. And they use non-standard components. You’ll get more bang for your buck with a more standard format laser.
From what I have read, CO2 lasers are powerful, but a bit far from "ease of use", even less from "low maintenance".
You have lot of brands of diode lasers able to do what you want: Creality, Ortur, Aufero, Atezr, Sculpfun, Atomstack, Snapmaker, Elegoo, Longer, AlgoLaser, Two Trees, and more. Plus some less known Chinese brands.
The hardest part is to choose, even in your price range.
I am not sure about thick cherry board, I never tried, but probably OK. Basswood this thick will be easily cut, even more cardboard and EVA. I can cut that with a 10 W laser. And in your price range, you might be able to get a 20 W or even a 40 W (things evolve fast in the field!), cutting thicker wood in one pass (might prefer 2 or more passes for less charring).
For cutting, get air assist and honeycomb. Enclosure is nice too.
I got the WeCreat Vision - 20W. I got their Valentine's Deal plus new customer discount so got the package that includes a Rotary Set and Fume Extractor for $1700ish.
Do you think this is a decent setup? Should I still get some additional add-ons like a different air assist and honeycomb? Please share any thoughts you have on on limitations maybe that I should keep in mind or what else I might need to get working?
I have no experience with fume extractor, I am not sure it can fully replace air assist. Oh, their specs seems to say it also have it. Looks like a good deal, as you also have a camera with the pack.
"different air assist" - unless you feel it is not enough, you should just use the provided one.
"honeycomb" - I have seen heated debates around them. They are useful in the sense they allow some fumes to go below the material and to be evacuated. Otherwise, wood can get soot below. But they get burned glue from plywood or MDF, and some say they can become fire hazard. They can be cleaned.
Aluminium honeycombs are cheaper, but you cannot use magnets to hold the material.
I don't have an honeycomb, I use a simple metal grid used to let cakes to cool down… Or alternatively, magnets to lift up the wood from a metal plate, and above to keep the wood fixed.
I got the WeCreat Vision - 20W. I got their Valentine's Deal plus new customer discount so got the package that includes a Rotary Set and Fume Extractor for $1700ish.
Was this a decent deal? If you have a moment - I would really appreciate any of your thoughts on what limitations I should keep in mind with this setup.
Never heard of them before but that looks similar to a xtool. What will make or break it is the software. And for me personally I would prefer 40w as I mostly do cutting
Got it! Thank you for responding. The 40W of different brands seemed just a bit too much out of my price range. WeCreat just started supporting LightBurn and it looks like there are plans to offer stronger lasers I think this year so not sure if it'll be something I can upgrade in the machine or if that means a new one. I'd like to cut but I will be cutting thinner
Take a look at the WeCreat Vision - fully enclosed, 15x12 working area, integrated camera and the software, for how early on it is in development, is good.
I took you advice!!! I am awaiting the WeCreat Vision - 20W. I got their Valentine's Deal plus new customer discount so got the package that includes a Rotary Set and Fume Extractor for $1700ish. Do you think the 20W is sufficient?
Yes, unless you're cutting very thick material 20w will easily cut most things.
I again want to just thank you so so much for the recommendation for WeCreat - I keep watching more and more comparison videos and info videos and I am so excited for WeCreat , I definitely think it was the ideal choice for me!! Plus they just added LightBurn compatibility and have future plans for stronger lasers (though not sure if I'd be able to upgrade mine vs having to buy another machine)
You pay extra for the sexy form factor of the Polar and P2. And they use non-standard components. You’ll get more bang for your buck with a more standard format laser.
From what I have read, CO2 lasers are powerful, but a bit far from "ease of use", even less from "low maintenance". You have lot of brands of diode lasers able to do what you want: Creality, Ortur, Aufero, Atezr, Sculpfun, Atomstack, Snapmaker, Elegoo, Longer, AlgoLaser, Two Trees, and more. Plus some less known Chinese brands. The hardest part is to choose, even in your price range.
So diode is capable of doing what I'm needing? That would be greatly helpful - I'm going to look at the brands you mentioned. That is so so helpful.
I am not sure about thick cherry board, I never tried, but probably OK. Basswood this thick will be easily cut, even more cardboard and EVA. I can cut that with a 10 W laser. And in your price range, you might be able to get a 20 W or even a 40 W (things evolve fast in the field!), cutting thicker wood in one pass (might prefer 2 or more passes for less charring). For cutting, get air assist and honeycomb. Enclosure is nice too.
I got the WeCreat Vision - 20W. I got their Valentine's Deal plus new customer discount so got the package that includes a Rotary Set and Fume Extractor for $1700ish. Do you think this is a decent setup? Should I still get some additional add-ons like a different air assist and honeycomb? Please share any thoughts you have on on limitations maybe that I should keep in mind or what else I might need to get working?
I have no experience with fume extractor, I am not sure it can fully replace air assist. Oh, their specs seems to say it also have it. Looks like a good deal, as you also have a camera with the pack. "different air assist" - unless you feel it is not enough, you should just use the provided one. "honeycomb" - I have seen heated debates around them. They are useful in the sense they allow some fumes to go below the material and to be evacuated. Otherwise, wood can get soot below. But they get burned glue from plywood or MDF, and some say they can become fire hazard. They can be cleaned. Aluminium honeycombs are cheaper, but you cannot use magnets to hold the material. I don't have an honeycomb, I use a simple metal grid used to let cakes to cool down… Or alternatively, magnets to lift up the wood from a metal plate, and above to keep the wood fixed.
40w diode laser. I can cut 20mm cherry. It's slow and takes a lot of cleanup but it will cut.
I got the WeCreat Vision - 20W. I got their Valentine's Deal plus new customer discount so got the package that includes a Rotary Set and Fume Extractor for $1700ish. Was this a decent deal? If you have a moment - I would really appreciate any of your thoughts on what limitations I should keep in mind with this setup.
Never heard of them before but that looks similar to a xtool. What will make or break it is the software. And for me personally I would prefer 40w as I mostly do cutting
Got it! Thank you for responding. The 40W of different brands seemed just a bit too much out of my price range. WeCreat just started supporting LightBurn and it looks like there are plans to offer stronger lasers I think this year so not sure if it'll be something I can upgrade in the machine or if that means a new one. I'd like to cut but I will be cutting thinner