[Noisebridge-discuss] Laser Cutter!

[Jonathan Foote]

LASER CUTTER.

WANT.

After seeing the awesome you can do at Tech Shop and NYCResistor, I'm
willing to spearhead (lenshead?) an effort to get a laser cutter for
Noisebridge. Though I've used one a couple times,
I'm a relative noob. Talking points:

1. Is this cool?

2. What do we want in terms of power, deck size, cost (i.e. name brand
or Chinese)? Used (cheaper, but potential for fraud and jankiness)  or
new ($$$$) ?

3. Assuming people are OK with it at Noisebridge, where does it go?
The DJ booth seems good in terms of corner location (low vibration,
out of the way, some sound isolation) and access to window/wall (for
ventilation). The DJs might disagree. Thoughts?

4. How do we pay? Consensus donations seems to be a workable solution,
but we would have to figure out a quid pro quo (i.e. donors get
priority or something). Is $20K an unreasonable goal?

5. Maintenance. Who babysits and fixes it when it breaks? (I will
volunteer some but can't be there 24/7.)

Grey started a wiki page in June. If you are interested in donating,
using, or just interested, please sign up:
https://www.noisebridge.net/wiki/Lasercutter

I will summarize any list discussion there.


Just in: I asked Bre Pettis of NYCResistor (who makes a living on his)
for advice. Here's his response:

> Minimum: 35 Watt Epilog Mini. 12x24  Machine + Filter + Tax = 20K
>
> Very Desirable: 60 Watt Epilog. 24x36 Machine + Filter + Tax = more than 20k.
>
> We wish we had gotten a more powerful machine, but because we didn't know better and it's a lot of money, we went with the mini.
>
> Don't get a chinese off brand machine. They are cheap and well, cheap.