Is buying a cheap laser cutter worth it?
It’s a question we're asked on a regular basis and naturally, we all have a budget we need to work within. But is buying a cheap laser cutter really worth it?
As with so many things, you get what you pay for. As you can imagine, we've seen it all, from £300 laser machines to £30,000 - So it really does depend on what you are wanting to get out of your laser machine.
Laser engraving machines are incredible pieces of engineering that can cut and engrave a wide range of materials. However buying a laser can be a daunting prospect but hopefully, In this article, we'll address a few topics which will hopefully help you make an informed decision when purchasing a laser machine.
Laser Machine Safety
The main issues around buying a cheap laser, regardless of where they come from, will likely have faulty parts, inferior optics, and patchy customer service.
Unless you are able to troubleshoot, fault find, and repair parts or components yourself then we would suggest spending a little more on a reputable company that can offer you a good warranty and aftercare service.
If you are a hobbyist feel free to buy a cheap laser and see if you can get it to work but just be aware of the wiring and safety features they have, we see so many of these cheaper laser machines that come directly from China and they're a hazard waiting to happen.
Safety Classes
But how do I know my laser machine is safe to use? In the Uk, Lasers are classified for safety purposes based on their potential for causing injury to humans’ eyes and skin.
When purchasing a cheap laser machine it's important to take into consideration the safety class of the laser.
Class 1 Lasers
Safe, even for long-term intentional viewing. Safe for unaided eye exposure. Laser radiation of this class is harmless - even with prolonged radiation exposure.
The perfect laser engravers and cutters for schools, hospitals, and businesses. Providing you with peace of mind. To view a class 1 laser machine - check out our Lightblade collection of lasers.
Class 2 Lasers:
Considered safe for normal operation. Class 2 lasers' output power is below 1 milliwatt. All Class 2 lasers emit visible light only. A Class 2 laser is relatively weak.
It normally would not harm an eye unless a person deliberately stared into the beam. Laser protective eyewear is normally not necessary. A Class 2 laser is not a skin or materials burn hazard.
Class 3 Lasers:
There is only a small hazard potential for accidental exposure. A class 3 laser is generally low-powered. It normally would not harm eyes during a momentary exposure of less than 1/5 of a second to the laser light.
Do not deliberately look or stare into the laser beam. Laser protective eyewear is normally not necessary. A Class 3R laser is not a skin or materials burn hazard.
Class 4 Lasers:
Hazardous for eye exposure. They also can burn skin and materials, especially dark and/or lightweight materials at close range. They should be used with extreme care.
Class 4 visible-beam lasers are high-powered. A Class 4 laser can cause a significant eye injury if the beam enters the eye. Even staring at the diffuse reflection of a laser "dot" on a wall or other surface, may cause an eye injury within a few feet of the dot. Do not stare at the laser "dot" when it is close to you.
At Focused Laser Systems, if you're a school, hospital, business, or governmental organization, we would strongly recommend you source a laser system with a class safety of no less than 2. To provide you with peace of mind and most importantly protecting the safety of your employees and those operating the laser machine.
Training and ongoing technical support
When you purchase a laser machine unless you have previous experience, it's not as simple as plugging the machine in a pressing go. You need an understanding of;
Design software to create your artwork - generally the most popular design software used an Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Sketch.
Software for layout, editing, and control software for your laser cutter. Generally, we recommend using Lightburn or RD works with our laser machines.
Naturally, it's also important to have a clear understanding of how your laser machine works and having a maintenance system in place to keep your laser in tip-top working condition.
Now the problem that will arise when you purchase a cheap laser machine is you will not be provided with the above support. So you need to be confident and driven to source this information yourself.
If you purchase one of our laser machines it entitles you to LIFETIME e-mail and telephone technical support, so you are not alone.
Laser Machine Warranty
When failures occur it's important to know how quickly your laser machine can be fixed and be back up and running. So look carefully at the small print of system warranties.
At Focused Laser Systems our laser cutting and engraving machines, laser tubes, and consumables come with a warranty. On our Lightblade laser machines, they come with an impressive 2 years warranty.
Final Thoughts
Spending a fortune on a laser machine doesn't make sense if you're a hobbyist looking to have a play around. However, if it is needed for professional requirements, it is worth investing in a machine with optimal performance, high speed, efficiency, and accuracy. Your budget is going to determine the kind of machine you will buy.
At Focused Laser Systems, we have a wide range of affordable class one laser systems with accuracy, speed, warranty, and ongoing support - You should check out our Lightblade and Lasertech machines on our website.
