[Noisebridge-discuss] Laser Cutter

Corey McGuire coreyfro at coreyfro.com
Sun Jan 9 21:09:42 UTC 2011


This is noise.  Lets talk about this in person because this navel gazing is
a lot of effort over nothing unless theirs a real time dialogue.

On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 1:06 PM, Sean Cusack <sean.p.cusack at gmail.com> wrote:

> Techshop SF has 60W Helix lasers...probably nicer than what we'd be able to
> afford by scrobbling together cash - a similar item used on ebay goes for
> ~$16k:
> http://cgi.ebay.com/EPILOG-MINI-24-60WATT-LASER-ENGRAVER-2009-SAVE-BIG-/180607860003?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2a0d113d23
> These are some nice laz0rs too - they can actually cut things (though not
> metal). A couple examples: 3/8" thick wood, 1/4" acrylic, and a bunch of
> other stuff.
>
> If you want to use Techshop lasers by yourself, and whenever you want, you
> have to take a class (~$35), and then you have to pay by the day you are in
> there ($50/day). You can probably use the laser for about 6 hours or so each
> day you pay for just in terms of scheduling.
>
> There is a way to use Techshop much cheaper too - you can come in with one
> of us Noisebridgers that are TS members, and your daily rate drops in half
> ($25/day). Additionally, I'm qualified on the lasers, so I can get you
> moving without having to take the class.
>
> So, just doing some quick math. If you can use lasers for 6 hours a day for
> $25, that means we could buy 600 days at techshop for $15k (the cost of
> buying our own laser), otherwise known as 3600 hours of laser cutting.
> Additionally, we wouldn't need to worry about maintenance or upkeep or
> damage on our own equipment. Do we really think we're going to use a laser
> this much to justify the cost?
>
> Sean
>
> On Sun, Jan 9, 2011 at 12:53 PM, miloh <froggytoad at gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> > As far as burning the place down, it is HIGHLY UNLIKELY.  These things
>> are
>> > as enclosed as a microwave.  They aren't as easy to use, and they are
>> > compatible with a limited number of materials, but people would have to
>> > REALLY FUCK UP to burn the place down with a laser engraver...like
>> engraving
>> > gasoline soaked balsa.
>>
>> Thanks for using the term 'laser engraver'.
>>
>> Does Epilog even sell laser cutters, or just laser engravers?  Perhaps
>> everyone donating towards a 'laser cutter' should know that Epilog
>> doesn't have any products (that I found listed on its website) that it
>> states can cut through metal.  Does everyone who's donating know that
>> this thing won't cut unicorn horns out of turds?
>>
>> But then, I know next to nothing about laser cutting and engraving
>> products.  Organizing numbers and costs are what I know about: if
>> laser cutters are between 5x and 10x more expensive, and Epilog's
>> 'most affordable' laser engraver is 7.3k$, then there is a large
>> initial funding gap to fill.  But why not get something more
>> affordable than an Epilog brand laser engraver?
>>
>> Jon Foote recommended a couple specific devices last year during
>> another discussion about getting a laser engraver/cutter device at
>> Noisebridge.  Some people have offered to contribute a monthly value
>> towards a cutter which is more meaningful for a device that requires
>> large sums of funding for regular and unscheduled (breakdown)
>> maintenance (these things break because they are fancy and delicate,
>> but not intrinsically because 'Noisebridge Can't have Nice Things*').
>>
>> What are the fee systems for cutting time and materials at Techshop
>> (do different materials require different cleanup, and who is the
>> maintenance technician?), will there be training and defined hours of
>> operation?  I am down with that.  Cover the Techshop solutions during
>> the meetup (or preferably here with international attention and
>> responses), and people will take it seriously.
>>
>> One last thing:  I think you should consider dubbing the DJ Booth a
>> Noisebridge Autonomous Zone, since I hear grumblings from a friend of
>> constipating the procurement of ZOMGLASERCUTTERS.
>>
>>
>> *I hate that stupid quote, especially in this case, where most LIVING
>> FOLK could CARE LESS about CUTTING THINGS WITH LASERS.  Seriously -1
>> INT for anyone who blithely repeats that quote and doesn't know how to
>> use a saw and a hammer, which are quite 'Nice Things'.
>>
>>
>>  -rma
>> _______________________________________________
>> Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>> Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>> https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.noisebridge.net/pipermail/noisebridge-discuss/attachments/20110109/e0b39594/attachment-0003.html>


More information about the Noisebridge-discuss mailing list