Tips for Buying a Co2 Laser Cutter
If you’re considering purchasing your first co2 laser cutter then this article will help you to answer some common questions, and provide an overview of the important factors that you should consider before deciding which type of laser machine is right for you.
Did you know that laser machines can be used for a wide variety of purposes? Whether you’re a business owner, engineer, hobbyist or a student, lasers are a great way to laser cut, engrave and mark a wide range of materials. In this article, we'll outline some things to consider before purchasing your first co2 laser machine.
Will you be using the machine for personal or business purposes?
What is your budget?
What are the key features I will need?
What laser training & on-going technical support is provided?
How much space will I need to dedicate to my laser machine?
What materials are you looking to process on your laser machine?
How often will I need to get my laser machine serviced?
Will you be using the machine for personal or business purposes?
From small desktop models to large factory machines, there’s a co2 laser cutter for every need. Here’s a look at the different types of machines available and what they can do:
1. Small Desktop Laser Machines - A great introductory laser for Small Businesses Hobbyists & Students.
The best laser cutting machine for small businesses and hobbyists. Our smallest laser machine from our Vision laser systems the 4060 (400x600mm bed size) a compact desktop laser cutting machine. This small laser machine is ideal for those smaller spaces.
They have a small work area, typically with a 300mm x 500mm, but naturally larger models are available with much bigger work areas. Their compact design makes them easy to use and they don’t require a lot of space.
Small desktop laser machines are great for hobbies and businesses alike, making small things like prototyping, product branding, coasters, or name tags. They also work well with small projects like cutting out vinyl stencils for painting walls or windows. And if you’re a student, these machines can help you with your class projects. They work well with a variety of materials including acrylic, stone, paper, card stock, cardboard and plastics, thicknesses would depend on the power of the laser source.
2. Mid-Sized Laser Machines - Great for Cutting & Engraving
The perfect laser machine for small businesses. The Vision 1290 laser machine is one of the larger co2 lasers in our Vision range. This flexible low cost machine provides both cutting and engraving operations within a laser Class 1 process environment. Our Vision laser systems combine high speed processing with high beam placement accuracy resulting in high quality, cutting, engraving and marking results generated economically.
The next step up from small desktop laser machines are mid-sized co2 laser machines. These are great for business owners, engineers and small manufacturers who need to cut or engrave larger items. They usually have a work area of about 600mm x 900mm, with some models having even larger work areas and are usually best for businesses that have a good load of work that needs processing, but still a range of cutting and engraving.
3. Larger Industrial Laser Machines - Great for Manufacturing and Large Scale Projects
Large format laser machine. We have configured the Vision range of laser machines to make laser cutting and engraving a truly great experience. From setup, through usage, to after sales support, you will find that we always go above and beyond at Focused Laser Systems.
If you own a business and need to make large items like signs, custom wood furniture and complex engravings on large material sheets, then consider an industrial level co2 laser machine. These larger machines can handle larger work areas upwards of 1000mm x 1200mm and they’re designed for making multiple cuts and engravings.
How much does a co2 laser machine cost?
What is your budget? Prices for co2 laser machines range from under £3,000.00 for a refurbished laser machine, and up to £35,000 for large format laser machines. If you’re just looking to cut and engrave a few items now and then, then a smaller model will work well. But if you need to produce lots of products, consider purchasing a larger, or even industrial sized laser machine with an extended warranty plan. Buying lower-end models may cost less initially but they may also come with higher operational costs compared to the high-quality models.
What are my most important features?
There are many different models of co2 laser machines available on the market, so it’s not surprising that there will be some differences in their specs. But while you might be tempted to purchase the cheapest machine on sale, think about whether it possesses all of the features you require. If you’re looking for more than just basic cutting and engraving functions, then look for a model that offers additional features like adjustable laser power controls, faster cutting speeds, support for multiple file types, higher quality components and those extra lens kits for working with complex materials.
What laser training & on-going technical support is provided?
Nowadays, there are a lot of cheap laser machine imports on the market. However, it is important to choose a company that offers quality laser systems, paired with excellent training and on-going technical support for their machines after you purchase them, because lasers are complicated pieces of equipment, and not everybody can repair or service them when required.
Make sure your chosen laser system has reliable tech support available if something goes wrong or needs troubleshooting by having someone who can help answer questions in an efficient manner. Either through phone calls/chats, email correspondence or even on-site if needs be.
Being able to access reputable tutorials about how to best utilize the machine's features as well as critical information regarding its maintenance, so that they may be maintained when necessary without any issues arising due to insufficient guidance from manufacturers' websites.
How much space will I need to dedicate to my laser machine?
The bigger your laser machine, the more space you’ll need to place it in your office or studio. It can take up anywhere from one foot to about six feet of clearance around the machine depending on its size. If you have a small office or studio, then you might want to consider a smaller desktop model that fits into tight spaces or a more mobile model that you can simply roll away after use.
What materials are you looking to process on your laser machine?
You can laser engrave, cut, and mark a number of different materials for various applications. These materials include but are not limited to wood, rubber, acrylic, glass, ceramics, metals, textiles, and most non-metallic materials – Excluding PVC.
Co2 lasers will mark some bare metals when coated with a metal marking solution. For more information, check out our metal marking sprayA full list of the materials which are safe to process can be found here.
However, not all of them can be done on the same machine. For example, if you’re looking to use your co2 laser for light cutting of wood, then you may consider buying a cutter that is relatively smaller with lower power capabilities. This will help you stay within your budget while still offering enough power to make accurate cuts. On the other hand, if you plan on doing some medium sized fabrication work, such as cutting and engraving furniture, then you may want to consider a larger unit with more power (and more expense).
How often will I need to get my laser machine serviced?
A laser machine requires upkeep, regular upkeep would include cleaning the lens, removing debris from the laser bed, checking the laser alignment and lubricating the rails and bearings.
However after time your laser will require a full service by a laser technician, to perform a more in depth health check on the laser machine. Such as a laser tube health check, belt check and re-tension, full laser alignment, replacement of the chiller unit water, check and test all laser safety and proximity sensors, and bed level. Your laser machine may also require some replacement parts. These checks are also important to do some preventative maintenance by replacing parts before they break and potentially damage other components.
To ensure a laser machine lasts as long as possible, it's crucial to get regular checkups from qualified and experienced laser technician.
For example, if you don't clean the lenses and mirrors of your co2 laser on time they can become cracked or damaged which means that you'll have to replace them and spend money that could have been saved.
Regular maintenance also ensures that there is consistency in output so that you're able to cut materials with precision every single time!
Laser machines take upkeep and you should account for this, before purchasing any laser machine.
When you purchase a laser machine from a reputable company, you should be able to get away without having your laser systems serviced for around 2 years. But this is entirely dependent on the materials you are processing and the amount of use your machine gets. You’ll also have the added benefit of warranty with your new machine purchase.
Final Thoughts...
Which of these factors are you considering in your decision to purchase a co2 laser cutter? There are so many things to consider and it’s likely that there is no one perfect machine that will meet all the needs for every business. It can be overwhelming and confusing to choose which type of laser cutter is best suited for each individual company/person; however, we hope this article has provided an overview of some important questions to consider when deciding what laser machine would work best for you. Don’t hesitate to give us a call if you have any other questions or get a quote for one of our own Vision Laser Cutters, or even one of our refurbished laser machines!
