It's fantastic that, not only have you reached so many people with chinese lasers that need guidance, but you're getting recognition for your knowledge from a company that produces them! Quite an accomplishment for a "retired" person.
Hi Ben Thanks for the kind words. I have always been a "lucky" person. I'm sure it's all to do with attitude and effort. If you never fail how can you become an expert? I'm about half way up that ladder and expect to fail a few more times. Does it worry me? No.... Learn and move on. I enjoy life. I enjoy retirement although I can never see me sitting in front of TV all day. I love engineering and acquiring knowledge and I love my main videography hobby. I suppose I ought to include my wife in that list somewhere!!. All my videos are for my own personal enjoyment (the engineering and the video subject). It has and will always be that way. The fact that so many people have followed my path (hopefully steering clear of the mistakes i have made) has been nothing short of a miracle. Who would have thought so many people were interested in such a techi subject and would waste their life watching an old guy having the most fun ever in his man cave???? Not me for certain. It's akin to laser porn!! Sincere best wishes Russ
Well Russ, Finally the new machine! It will be interesting to follow your adventures with BOTH machines now. You have taught us so very much with your series. Have fun.
Hi Keith Yes my little Chinese dragon will NOT be retiring because it still holds many mysteries that I plan to investigate. However to be able to immediately jump onto a decent machine to do comparisons , I feel will be invaluable in trying to pin those problems down with more certainty. The new machine will NOT be the star of the show, it will be more of a Macken meter....just a very useful tool. When my other videos are posted on the Think Laser You Tube channel I will let you know so that you can note it on the forum. I know that some folks are interested in it as a machine in it's own right....but it's several steps beyond a hobby machine and I don't want to alienate those that love to see me struggling with the same kit that they have. You will know only too well the fantastic experience that I have had over the past 18 months. The warmth, friendship and appreciation that my learning journey has engendered has been so unexpected and almost beyond words. I sincerely appreciate your efforts and support Best wishes Russ
congratulations Ross. Well deserved. your new machine looks very similar to mine but with much better quality drive system. Those bearings on the Y axis are beautifull and the finishing, specially wiring seems excellent. We have a lot of parts in common now. one area where I foresee issues will be fitting your beloved 1.5 lens. I myself had to do some adaptations to make it work but it's working none the less. BTW, your motors are still steppers but with feedback loop. most likely the HBS57 drive and 3 phase stepper motors. They are probably the best stepper based closed loop solution on the market and it's widely used specially in the higher end of the Chinese laser cutters, the good thing is that they offer most of the benefits you will get on a servo system with out the complications of having to tune them. I was actually about to purchase that drive, motor combo about a week ago. But decided otherwise due the DB15 connector it has, I would have had to do a lot of work to wire them with my current system configuration. I went with Teknic Clearpaths instead. Anyways, I'm very enthusiastic about the new machine.
Hi Russ, long time follower of your series and love the new machine. I started a electrical prototyping service myself and a lasercutter is something which I want to own myself. At this moment I use a CNC or a lasercutter for custom enclosures around my prototypes, but I have to outsource all my designs to a commercial party and it has to be close to first-time-right... (which is hard to do if you're designing friction-fit screw-less boxes). I thought about a K40 and upgrading it myself, but a solution like your new machine would still be affortable and much more hassle-free... so I will following the coming videos with great interest! Keep on doing what you do best and try to enjoy your retirement! (I you only put half as much effort in your carreer as you do in your video's, you have earned it big time!)
Hi Thanks for your kind appreciation. I had a wide and varied engieering career operating at all levels and for 10 years owned my own metal laser profiling business. However none of that really prepared me for the completely new learning experience involved with this Chinese technology. The challenge has certainly kept my two remaining grey cells well exercised and I have made some great friends around the world as a result. It has been an amazing experience. My initial impressions of using the new machine will be on line shortly and as time progresses you can make up your own mind about its merits as a business start up machine Best regards Russ
Very nice Russ, and well deserved. If it weren't for your video's I would still be scratching my head and cross-eyed looking at the instruction manual.
Hi Dave Two things to consider. Join the "Fellow Chinese Laser Sufferers Club" at www.rdworkslab.com. They will soon be releasing a complete rewrite of the manual that is in proper English with more detailed explanations of many of the tools and functions. When they are published on the ThinkLaser TH-cam channel I am doing a series of training videos for them that with hindsight and experience, I can now make in a form that I wish I had access to when I first started. Will save hours of following my successes and failures. Best regards Russ
G'day Russ, I look forward to your analysis of the Lightblade with great interest. It looks a lot neater and better engineered than the general run of K40 look-alikes. It also reminds me a lot of a range of other "high end" Chinese machines at around the same price. Your series is, as always, thought provoking and interesting and provides many leads for troubleshooting these often frustrating machines. Thank you for your efforts.
I just wanted to thank you for you concise, informative videos. I ordered a 50w (tongue in cheek) machine and was using it within a few hours. It will do for me for now to run along side my printing business. but a lot of guess work has been iradicated and I've created a few test projects with decent results off the bat. Thanks again. I'll be keeping my eye out for more tutorials. regards Gary
Eagerly awaiting future videos from this new machine. As a fan of your channel and fellow laser tinker'er i'm also pleased to see a company improving these laser cutter's however we must not forget the reason we all bought "china blue" machines is that they were and affordable cost. $1000-$4000 USD. Far more appealing a price than the available commercial machines at $10,000-$40,000 USD. So hopefully they were able to make improvements and offer a good enough service. That whatever increase in cost there products are compared to the low cost china models, Is overshadowed by the value of their engineering improvements and local service available.
My fear is he will leave the learning of the eBay China lasers that we can afford and start using that one that most of us could never afford at £3,500
He has pretty well worked out almost everything about his original machine. The only other thing i can think of him doing it some kind of through feed modification to it.
lengthOFpole Well, he said he is not leaving his old machine especially since most of his viewers would never ever touch this machine and what he finds on this may not necessarily work, or does work, like that on the one 99% of his audience could afford and buys.
I am eagerly awaiting future videos on your new toy as well as the old chinese machine. You have provided me with the inspiration to improve my small 40 watt 300 x 200 laser. I have added air assist, adjustable lift, laser pointer and i have fabricated copper mirrors. the copper mirrors have improved the efficiency the laser by a considerable margin. I am now in the process of upgrading to a 100 watt 700 x 500 machine. But it seems they only ship to a sea port. Not sure how that logistic will work. looking forward to your up coming copper mirror session. I cut mine with a drill based hole cutter
Great to see the new machine, I'm interested to see your power test results, and servo accuracy tests. I am a little disappointed that the supplier provided a CW3000 chiller, because for a few more dollars they could have provided a CW5000. I also hope that it is explained in the instructions that over current and heat are the two biggest culprits in short tube life. Enjoy.
Hi I haven't read their manual yet (if it exists). It may not because this is a service supported machine. There would normally be a installation and a short teach-in about the machine and software (you can't do much of that in 2or3 hours!!) but of course, because I probably know more about the technology and the software than they do so I never got to hear what they would advise/tell new customers. However. I shall make it my mission to educate their customers with my videos The chiller is not really and issue here in the UK especially as it's only a 60 watt tube and will be light intermittent duty. My bigger problem is where inside I am going to mount a 50 watt lamp to prevent freezing in my unheated workshop. Just occasionally we have a really cold spell of weeks but usually its only an odd couple of days here and there I shall be showing the new machine and doing a few tests with it but it will mainly be a tool for comparison as I plough on with my little Chinese dragon. There's so much more to learn anderstand with that little beastie. dont plan on spending significant money to upgrade my way out of problems, I'm more interested in finding and understanding the problems. Sometime understanding is more than 50% of the solution.. Best regards and thanks for your continuing interest. Russ
Congrats man ... You earned this. Will be disappointing a bit, to not be able to follow you on the old machine. But this machine will be sure to have troubles in it's own way. Tech moves forward, not backward. Good luck on your new adventure.
Bet you could sell that old machine for local pickup for more than what you originally paid for it. Pretty well documented how it was upgraded. Plus you have a shitload of spare parts!
Panic not....no backsliding here. It's a bit like my power meter, something new to help me solve problems with my old omachine. I will undoubtedly be doing demos and comparisons but IT is NOT a project. My little Chinese dragon still hold lots of engineering mystery for me. Thanks for comments and concerns but little changes.....I'm just a lucky guy and I really appreciate the loyal following that has developed through our common problems. Best regards Russ
Hi Russ. Appreciate your complete honesty with the new machine. Am please you can modify it as much as you want or need. In a future episode I would be interested to see what you think of the cost of the new machine compared to the 'adjusted cost' (after everything you've needed to do) of the old machine. I appreciate the the old machine has given you (us) a wealth of knowledge, too, that can't be valued. I think my first two updates to the new machine would be the air valve (as you mentioned) plus a port for the network on the side of the machine where it can be accessed.
Hi Jamie Although several people are interested in the performance of the new machine, sadly I cannot make it the "star". I still have so much more to learn form my little Chinese dragon that I shall be carrying on as normal but the new machine will appear often for comparison purposes. I see it as firstly a great way to exploit and indulge my other hobby, video and editing, whilst at the same time benefitting from a REAL and reliable piece of kit to help resolve issues with my cheap ebay machine that so many others suffer (and gain enjoyment) from. My other series of videos specifically using the new machine will eventually be appearing on a ThinkLaser You Tube channel and I will be posting the links for those that are interested, because It will be tutorials, manufacturing projects as well as performance testing that will be posted there. Hopefully with 18 months of hard won experience I will be able to make that series of videos exactly what I wished I could have had when I bought my machine. Sadly all I had was an unreadable manual and an inquiring mind. Thanks for your appreciation Best regards Russ ps I personally don't need an ethernet connection, my wifi extender works just fine. ThinkLaser would have installed one but I advised them not to bother.
Thanks for your reply, Russ. From a purely selfish point of view I'm pleased that your 'old' machine will still be your main hobby. Having the ThinkLaser model will definitely be an advantage for comparison purposes when trouble-shooting and, I'm sure at times, it will also cause just as many questions as answers, too! On the plus side - with 2 machines you can now double the manufacture your wife's Christmas cards! :) Take care and I look forward to your future videos. PS. Am glad there's an option for the external network point as that would have been an oversight in my opinion.
Whoo-hoo. Looks the part if nothing else. Really looking forward to seeing if this machine engraves without the "curtain wave", at least you'll be able to prove, or disprove, that it's a function of stepper motors and/or eccentric drive systems.
Love your videos Ross - not in the laser industry at all, but this just peaks my interest. If i were any closer, i'd be your willing and able side-kick/assistant to help test out these machines. Might just pop in to pay you a visit (if you don't mind a visitor) whenever i travel to Felixestowe to visit my cousin ;) Keep up the great work and enjoy your retirement
Hi Russ! It looks like an apple product compared to your old machine. Everything is neat and engineered with caution. Now it's time to see how it operates. So, fingers crossed and have a deep dive into it. I can imagine that you cannot wait starting the tests. As for the extraction system if you cut a lot of wood you will have to change filters very very regularly. I have asked many suppliers of Chinese and popular brand laser machines about that and all admitted the above fact. And you wife might loose you for some time!! Polis
Hi Polis I have answered this once but for some reason it appears to have disappeared. Apple product is a good comparison. In this case the "good" product arrives from China is uncrated, inspected, any latest mods added, set up and tested before recrating. It's delivered to me and an engineer comes to install and "train" me. Wood is not something I do lots of and I am aware just how sticky MDF fumes are. I already have a spare set of filters but if I need more my negotiations included 2 years of consumables. So not an issue.. Testing will be interesting because I don't thinks it's going to be a "project", I'm sure it will be a reliable working machines that I may personalize a bit. I've already binned the red light pointer and will be fitting my own little air valve, fitting a steel bed optional plate for my pin table and making target holders for testing the "open" mirror system. My first job will be to charcterize the tube performance ( a nice 60 watt EFR) Best wishes Russ
I am really looking forward to your tests of this one. I have the same issue with the artifacts that you believe are caused by the steppers, though I'll have a look at belt tension as well. Even though you are content to leave the "dragon" as is, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on possible modifications to increase the resolution of the x axis. I expect the easiest would be to use a .9 degree stepper, though I haven't been able to find a dual shafted Nema17 that is also .9 degree for the Y axis.
Sweet machine Russ, now I'm jealous...lol..as far as my laser message about speed, i was refering to the max speed which is preset at 500mm/s, I changed mine to 900mm/s then of course you have to write the change to the processor but my machine works great on the new speed.
Hi Scott Thinking a bit more about the way you suggest, It could well work ok because its a bit like racing a car around the block where you live. If the block is only 200 m square then having a 150mph ferrari is no real use because It will never be able to get above 60mph (ie my problem with small detailed paper cutting) but give it a long straight road and wow. So yes I can see that it would allow slightly better processing times if you can ever accelerate to 900mm/s . I may well dial it in. Many thanks Russ
bonjour Ross.....belle machine.....j attend avec impatience le tuto sur le awc 708c.....puisque c est celui que je vais utiliser sur ma machine qui est en construction....Salutations... DOM
Congrats on the new machine! Looking forward to seeing speed and accuracy differences. As well as the difference in using the different lenses. Have you made a Lab on what different lens sizes are used for?
Hi Mohammed Check out th-cam.com/video/WbBPps42iHc/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/1yMAr75h5O8/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/61bGzWicRRk/w-d-xo.html Best regards Russ
Hi Jesse I bought an end of batch job lot of 6 about 10 years ago at £5 each!! I absolutely hate the self tightening chucks they use on modern drills Yes these are made in China but they have proper Jacobs chucks. I still have 3 in boxes unused and being a lazy guy why reach for a hammer when I'm already holding an oriental thumper?? Regards Russ
Russ, in regards to airflow when cutting acrylic. I am having a problem with the acrylic being literally turned to liquid and sprayed onto my steel bed. The acrylic sheet stock gets cut by the laser and then drops down, landing in the residue. When the job is done, I pick all the cut parts off the table and the more recent ones have a slimy liquid coating under them, and the ones that were cut early in the operation are nearly glued to the steel plate. Does this have anything to do with the pressure of the air assist?
Hi Robert Up to now the only time I have seen liquid (and with coloured persex coloured liquid) is when I have had the acrylic laying directly on my sheet steel bed. It seems more like water condensation than any liquid acrylic. The great property of acrylic is that when you bombard the surface with intense heat it evaporates/sublimates rather than go into any sort of liquid phase. Just like steam, the vapour tends to recondense near the cut or in the cut if you are engraving. I know from experiments that too much air pressure cools the acrylic too much and decreases the cutting efficiency. In general I normally turn my air assist down to just a whisper when cutting acrylic. The extra heat in the cut helps to flame polish the surfaces. Also I normally leave the protective film on so that any surface residues can be peeled off. I have used a honeycomb table, but the risk of refelction marking goes up. I usually supend the sheet on a pin table that is about 25mm above the surface. this allows me to decide (by support or no support under the parts) whether the parts drop or not. I do not experience the issue you are describing. Maybe run a few tests with these ideas. Shout out if you are still suffering. Best regards Russ
These are a bit like Apple products. Made in China but under a watchful eye . Although the UK product goes through a second check before installation the product is still good quality right out of the factory. Might be worth contacting gareth@thinklaser.com for a chat and a quote because I know they have shipped direct from factory to remote parts without issues Here I am 2 years on and I have nothing but praise for it. I am continually upgrading, learning and re-engineering my China Blue machine but there has been no need to mess with the Lightblade. It has been a plug and play system and I have done a whole series of videos about it for Thinklaser. Look for Lightblade Learning Lab on You Tube. These are not corporate or advertising videos but my normal "say it how it is" style because there are some aspects of the whole Chinese machine design ethos I am at odds with, but that does not mean the engineering is bad just some of the design principles are not properly thought through. This is NOT a pre assembled DIY kit like my China Blue machine. So worth inquiring further Best wishes Russ
I love these videos but I noticed how heavy the 50 watt Chinese version was, and big, and I can't lift it and I sure can't get it into my house through a door. :( No garage here so looks like a moot point for me.
Nice machine and video. What is the practical use for such a machine? I understand it can cut and etch some materials, but what would one use it for practically at home?
In general, although this is a relatively low cost machine, it is beyond any normal hobbyist's budget, hence the reason why most choose the Ebay route with all the issues that entails. This is a machine for a small business, an R&D department or a school/college, where it's plug and go To justify spending about £5K you need it for a real purpose. There are many folks out there that are expressing their pent up artistic talent making and selling wooden or plastic trinkets, engraving slate or granite clock faces and pet memorial stones, Many are using these machines for making bespoke wedding stationery and memorabilia. There are lots of people making model kits from balsa wood and thin plywood. Just Google any of these subjects and you will see what I mean. However, me personally, I have no business to serve. I'm a retired engineer with lots of design experience and with 10 years experience of owning and running a metal cutting laser business. With such a background I thought this Chinese laser technology would be a great retirement activity as I'm no golfer or fisherman. As I quickly found out, this is NOTHING like the metal cutting laser technology that I knew so well. I had to start from ground zero and there was no information out there to help me. My other long-time hobby has been video/editing. So that became my new combined hobby ie learning to use and understand the machine and recording that journey for all to see. In answer to you simple question, there is no obvious justification. It's a bit like owning a camera or a drone or a set of golf clubs. None of these are of any use without an interest or intent to use them. There is pleasure and happiness to be gained from owning and using them but no financial gain to be had from any, unless you do it professionally. Thanks for the comment Best wishes Russ
SarbarMultimedia Thank you for the reply. I too am an engineer and have a lot of experience with cnc plasma cutting tables. I have a home shop filled with welders, torches, tools and garages filled with vehicles. None of these things are practical on a daily basis, but do bring some joy once in a while, so I understand. If this laser (or any other that was inexpensive) could cut sheet metal, I would be interested, from a hobby perspective. Cheers.
nice, that is closer to the one I have, but now I am looking out for a rotary adaptor... too close to Xmas to buy a new one, anyone got a spare one?? :-p
Hi Paul The short answer is no. This machine is still basically the same as a cheap Chinese machine in it's overall function........a laser tube, 3 mirrors and a lens. The big difference is in component quality, build quality and attention to detail. The first , but not obvious , difference is the use of servo motors rather than steppers. They are not true analogue servos but something called hybrid servos. Basically stepper motors with a built in rotary encoder for accurate positional feedback. It is possible to be much more aggressive with the accelerations on this machine and never fear losing steps (position). The link between the motors and the axes is via down gearing belt drives which means the steppers can run faster even at slow machine speeds. This removes a lot of the slow speed judder you get with steppers.. This machine has a third servo axis, the Z up and down. This is required to operate the auto focus system that is supplied with the machine I have mixed feelings about the benefits of such a complication but it's there as a big difference from most machines.. The laser tube itself is a top quality EFR tube and the mirrors are the best molybdenum type. It is supplied with 3 lenses for different applications, 2",2.5" and 4" focal lengths. The work bed is a flexible system in that it is basically a slatted bar bed that is supplied with a loose honeycomb table that sits on top should you need it. The BIG difference is the wiring and safety system. This machine is fully compliant for safe operating by non-skilled operatives. All access to the laser is interlock protected during operation and it is properly wired and coded to meet European machine build standards. An optional (although I thinks essential) item is the recirculating extract system that filters and decontaminates the air before dumping it back to your workshop.. Where ever you look the detailing and the engineering is top class. Summary. If I need to do a real job I always jump onto the Lightblade rather than my China Blue. Its an inviting machine to use is many ways and I love it. I still get great pleasure from my old machine because , although far from perfect, it is this imperfection that has taught me so much about the technology. The whole point of the Lightblade concept is to be a low priced proper piece of equipment for use in schools, colleges, R&D departments and small businesses. It is 3 or 4 times the price of an Ebay machine and comes with REAL warranties and support. Most hobby users will want to tinker with their machine, hence the popularity of the cheapo FleaBay offering. If you want to just use it, then you will have to swallow hard and pay up. All best wishes Russ
Think laser is supplying laser machines only in UK? Do they ship in Greece for example? I have noticed that in their website your machine is not present. They have a totally different look, Lightblade 3040, not 6040. Next available size they have is the 6090.
Hi Polis They have a whole range of sizes available including multi tube but as a growing company they are not yet carrying stock. You can either apply for information to their website or contact their head of marketing gareth@thinklaser.com. I know they have plans for expansion so your inquiry would possibly accelerate any pipeline plans Regards Russ
Ok, thanks for the info. I am asking as if i do not get the finance program i told you the other time and be able to by a Universal, i have to come up with some Plan B. Have to choose between the best possible Chinese suppliers. Until now i saw your video i was going for Bodor. Bodor seems a good choice as it has a representative here in Greece. I have seen them working as i cut my stuff to this representative and they seem quite OK. Not perfect of course. They provide RDWorks also. The website is www.bodor.com to give you an idea what this is. Also they provide lasers with servo motors, so i am really looking forward for your review on this and by comparison to step motors to try to make a verdict.
Hi Polis I do have a couple of contacts with Bodor machines if you need information The servos on the lightblade ary hybrid servos in that theyare basically 3 phase stepper motors that have rotary encoders for absolute position feedback. Cannot lose steps. I have not spent much time playing with it yet but i think I will be able to tweek the accelerations because it looks a little more leisurely than my old Chinese dragon.. Regards Russ
Thank you Russ for your reply, will let you know if i ever need a reliable contact from Bodor. I have already sent some mails months ago but the specific person did not covered me much. So difficult to contact these people and let them understand what you really need. Cheers
Hi Polis Just in case there was confusion my contacts are a guy in the states and one in ireland who recently bought Bodor machines. You might want an opinion. Regards Russ
Hi John It's not within my power to say as I am not a Thinklaser employee, just a critical user that enjoys engineering and video. Can I suggest you contact gareth@thinklaser .com I know he is picking up requests from all parts of the world and may well be able to do something for you. This is not an ebay hobbyists machine but a serious piece of value for money small business, R&D, educational machine that most people will USE. My aim is to use it randomly and pull it apart to understand it and maybe improve the design (in my opinion) but if thinklaser like what I do then they are keen to incorporate improvements (or fix problems) Best regards Russ
HI Russ, i am following your channel since the beginning. :-) With your new Adventure i made the decision to buy me such a machine. Maybe you can help me with a few questions? 1. wich Model iss your new thing? I dont found it on thinklaser.com 2. what size is the workspace? 300x 400 or more and the important 3rd question: how can i order from germany and how much is the price for this machine. the only way i found on thinklaser.com is to make an enquiry...i did but no answer. best regards from Germany
Hi My new Lightblade machine is 600x400mm work area and it has a 60 watt EFR tube fitted .........but other options are available You can see more about this machine with the video series I am doing for Thinklaser th-cam.com/video/kx4vmDguCyE/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/GC8h0Zt8Du8/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/drr8sfe_l4s/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/m2dS0ig1GBA/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/B4bn11hWcz8/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/2F5O-1TH8b0/w-d-xo.html I know they can supply into Germany but as I am nothing to do with Thinklaser can I ask you to contact gareth@thinklaser.com he is the sales and marketing manager and will answer all your questions All best wishes Russ
It certainly did work straight out the box and has worked very well for the last 18 months. Build quality and reliability superior to any standard ebay machine. I love my little SH6040 because its design faults have forced me to learn so much about the technology. With all my little modifications it is now an equally enjoyable machine to use. As you follow my learning journey you will discover all the changes I have made. Best wishes Russ
Could I have justified one of these as a hobby machine? I think not. I was also looking/expecting a bit of an engineering project as well when I knowingly took the ebay route. Without all my problems the series would have been very short and dull and I would not have gained the experience I now have. That experience gave me good bargaining counters when negotiating with Think Laser to make some training videos for them. The UK equivalent of Epilog is an Austrian machine called Trotec....... that would be about 4 times the price. As a small business starter machine it seems ideal. Fantastic as it is, your Ouch says it all for the normal Jo Best regards Russ (smiling!!!)
SarbarMultimedia I agree with everything you said but don't forget us out here and start using that for videos as your new machine since 99% of your audience isn't even going to give that machine the time of day due to cost. Is it worth it? You bet but still the cost is too great for the common Joe, or Jane.
Panic not. Although I shall be retreading the path I already know for the training videos, they will be for the ThinkLaser clients. I will supply and they will post them on their own website/ You Tube channel. I'm sure they will be view able if you are interested but as I said, just remashing of old stuff. My ulterior motive was to add another tool to my kit so that I can answer many of the questions that seem to be posed by my cheapie stepper motor system. This machine has servos so I see myself getting comparisons of 3D /greyscale engraving . I shall NOT be abandoning my current series because I know there is still a lot to learn and a lot of dark corners that I haven't yet poked around in. My new machine WILL BE SHARED but NOT the focus of future videos. Best regards Russ
SarbarMultimedia Excellent. I am wondering about the servo closed loop system myself but for 3d printing and CNC router/milling because I have never been a fan of the open loop stepper motor system. One hiccup can ruin days of work since an open loop system has no way of knowing anything after it hits the endstop and starts the job.
The servo system is not quite what you might be expecting. Having spent many years working with real closed loop feed back systems on surface mount pick and place assembly machines where the gross motion,speeds/accelerations were controlled by rotary encoders on the servo but final positioning was redirected to linear encoders. This is just rotary encoder controlled servos. I have not examined or researched them yet to know what they are. Will be some time yet. Best regards Russ
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It's fantastic that, not only have you reached so many people with chinese lasers that need guidance, but you're getting recognition for your knowledge from a company that produces them! Quite an accomplishment for a "retired" person.
Hi Ben
Thanks for the kind words. I have always been a "lucky" person. I'm sure it's all to do with attitude and effort. If you never fail how can you become an expert? I'm about half way up that ladder and expect to fail a few more times. Does it worry me? No.... Learn and move on. I enjoy life. I enjoy retirement although I can never see me sitting in front of TV all day. I love engineering and acquiring knowledge and I love my main videography hobby. I suppose I ought to include my wife in that list somewhere!!. All my videos are for my own personal enjoyment (the engineering and the video subject). It has and will always be that way. The fact that so many people have followed my path (hopefully steering clear of the mistakes i have made) has been nothing short of a miracle. Who would have thought so many people were interested in such a techi subject and would waste their life watching an old guy having the most fun ever in his man cave???? Not me for certain. It's akin to laser porn!!
Sincere best wishes
Russ
Well Russ, Finally the new machine! It will be interesting to follow your adventures with BOTH machines now. You have taught us so very much with your series. Have fun.
Hi Keith
Yes my little Chinese dragon will NOT be retiring because it still holds many mysteries that I plan to investigate. However to be able to immediately jump onto a decent machine to do comparisons , I feel will be invaluable in trying to pin those problems down with more certainty. The new machine will NOT be the star of the show, it will be more of a Macken meter....just a very useful tool.
When my other videos are posted on the Think Laser You Tube channel I will let you know so that you can note it on the forum. I know that some folks are interested in it as a machine in it's own right....but it's several steps beyond a hobby machine and I don't want to alienate those that love to see me struggling with the same kit that they have. You will know only too well the fantastic experience that I have had over the past 18 months. The warmth, friendship and appreciation that my learning journey has engendered has been so unexpected and almost beyond words. I sincerely appreciate your efforts and support
Best wishes
Russ
congratulations Ross. Well deserved. your new machine looks very similar to mine but with much better quality drive system. Those bearings on the Y axis are beautifull and the finishing, specially wiring seems excellent. We have a lot of parts in common now. one area where I foresee issues will be fitting your beloved 1.5 lens. I myself had to do some adaptations to make it work but it's working none the less. BTW, your motors are still steppers but with feedback loop. most likely the HBS57 drive and 3 phase stepper motors. They are probably the best stepper based closed loop solution on the market and it's widely used specially in the higher end of the Chinese laser cutters, the good thing is that they offer most of the benefits you will get on a servo system with out the complications of having to tune them. I was actually about to purchase that drive, motor combo about a week ago. But decided otherwise due the DB15 connector it has, I would have had to do a lot of work to wire them with my current system configuration. I went with Teknic Clearpaths instead. Anyways, I'm very enthusiastic about the new machine.
Hi Russ, long time follower of your series and love the new machine. I started a electrical prototyping service myself and a lasercutter is something which I want to own myself. At this moment I use a CNC or a lasercutter for custom enclosures around my prototypes, but I have to outsource all my designs to a commercial party and it has to be close to first-time-right... (which is hard to do if you're designing friction-fit screw-less boxes).
I thought about a K40 and upgrading it myself, but a solution like your new machine would still be affortable and much more hassle-free... so I will following the coming videos with great interest! Keep on doing what you do best and try to enjoy your retirement! (I you only put half as much effort in your carreer as you do in your video's, you have earned it big time!)
Hi Thanks for your kind appreciation. I had a wide and varied engieering career operating at all levels and for 10 years owned my own metal laser profiling business. However none of that really prepared me for the completely new learning experience involved with this Chinese technology. The challenge has certainly kept my two remaining grey cells well exercised and I have made some great friends around the world as a result. It has been an amazing experience. My initial impressions of using the new machine will be on line shortly and as time progresses you can make up your own mind about its merits as a business start up machine
Best regards
Russ
Very nice Russ, and well deserved. If it weren't for your video's I would still be scratching my head and cross-eyed looking at the instruction manual.
Hi Dave
Two things to consider.
Join the "Fellow Chinese Laser Sufferers Club" at www.rdworkslab.com. They will soon be releasing a complete rewrite of the manual that is in proper English with more detailed explanations of many of the tools and functions.
When they are published on the ThinkLaser TH-cam channel I am doing a series of training videos for them that with hindsight and experience, I can now make in a form that I wish I had access to when I first started. Will save hours of following my successes and failures.
Best regards
Russ
Not a teacher, oh sir you are wrong there. You are a gifted teacher.
G'day Russ, I look forward to your analysis of the Lightblade with great interest. It looks a lot neater and better engineered than the general run of K40 look-alikes. It also reminds me a lot of a range of other "high end" Chinese machines at around the same price. Your series is, as always, thought provoking and interesting and provides many leads for troubleshooting these often frustrating machines. Thank you for your efforts.
I just wanted to thank you for you concise, informative videos.
I ordered a 50w (tongue in cheek) machine and was using it within a few hours.
It will do for me for now to run along side my printing business.
but a lot of guess work has been iradicated and I've created a few test projects with decent results off the bat.
Thanks again. I'll be keeping my eye out for more tutorials.
regards
Gary
Hi Gary
Thanks for the kind words. Glad you were one of the lucky ones with an out-of -the-box runner
Best regards
Russ
I am addicted to your videos...loving them!
Good for you! I cant wait for the next videos!
Dude, you're aweseome! I don't have one yet but when I do I'll know so much. Thanks for your exacting analysis.
Hi Brian
It's that time of the year....try writing a begging letter to Santa!! It would be the best present ever.
Seasons greetings
Russ
Eagerly awaiting future videos from this new machine. As a fan of your channel and fellow laser tinker'er i'm also pleased to see a company improving these laser cutter's however we must not forget the reason we all bought "china blue" machines is that they were and affordable cost. $1000-$4000 USD. Far more appealing a price than the available commercial machines at $10,000-$40,000 USD. So hopefully they were able to make improvements and offer a good enough service. That whatever increase in cost there products are compared to the low cost china models, Is overshadowed by the value of their engineering improvements and local service available.
My fear is he will leave the learning of the eBay China lasers that we can afford and start using that one that most of us could never afford at £3,500
He has pretty well worked out almost everything about his original machine. The only other thing i can think of him doing it some kind of through feed modification to it.
lengthOFpole
Well, he said he is not leaving his old machine especially since most of his viewers would never ever touch this machine and what he finds on this may not necessarily work, or does work, like that on the one 99% of his audience could afford and buys.
I am eagerly awaiting future videos on your new toy as well as the old chinese machine. You have provided me with the inspiration to improve my small 40 watt 300 x 200 laser.
I have added air assist, adjustable lift, laser pointer and i have fabricated copper mirrors.
the copper mirrors have improved the efficiency the laser by a considerable margin.
I am now in the process of upgrading to a 100 watt 700 x 500 machine. But it seems they only ship to a sea port. Not sure how that logistic will work.
looking forward to your up coming copper mirror session. I cut mine with a drill based hole cutter
Great to see the new machine, I'm interested to see your power test results, and servo accuracy tests.
I am a little disappointed that the supplier provided a CW3000 chiller, because for a few more dollars they could have provided a CW5000. I also hope that it is explained in the instructions that over current and heat are the two biggest culprits in short tube life.
Enjoy.
Hi
I haven't read their manual yet (if it exists). It may not because this is a service supported machine. There would normally be a installation and a short teach-in about the machine and software (you can't do much of that in 2or3 hours!!) but of course, because I probably know more about the technology and the software than they do so I never got to hear what they would advise/tell new customers. However. I shall make it my mission to educate their customers with my videos The chiller is not really and issue here in the UK especially as it's only a 60 watt tube and will be light intermittent duty. My bigger problem is where inside I am going to mount a 50 watt lamp to prevent freezing in my unheated workshop. Just occasionally we have a really cold spell of weeks but usually its only an odd couple of days here and there
I shall be showing the new machine and doing a few tests with it but it will mainly be a tool for comparison as I plough on with my little Chinese dragon. There's so much more to learn anderstand with that little beastie. dont plan on spending significant money to upgrade my way out of problems, I'm more interested in finding and understanding the problems. Sometime understanding is more than 50% of the solution..
Best regards and thanks for your continuing interest.
Russ
Hi Russ..., congratulations for your new machine!!!! I'll be waiting for tests and comparisons you do.
Best regards,
Guido
Congrats man ... You earned this.
Will be disappointing a bit, to not be able to follow you on the old machine.
But this machine will be sure to have troubles in it's own way.
Tech moves forward, not backward.
Good luck on your new adventure.
Bet you could sell that old machine for local pickup for more than what you originally paid for it.
Pretty well documented how it was upgraded. Plus you have a shitload of spare parts!
Panic not....no backsliding here. It's a bit like my power meter, something new to help me solve problems with my old omachine. I will undoubtedly be doing demos and comparisons but IT is NOT a project. My little Chinese dragon still hold lots of engineering mystery for me.
Thanks for comments and concerns but little changes.....I'm just a lucky guy and I really appreciate the loyal following that has developed through our common problems.
Best regards
Russ
Hi Russ. Appreciate your complete honesty with the new machine. Am please you can modify it as much as you want or need.
In a future episode I would be interested to see what you think of the cost of the new machine compared to the 'adjusted cost' (after everything you've needed to do) of the old machine. I appreciate the the old machine has given you (us) a wealth of knowledge, too, that can't be valued.
I think my first two updates to the new machine would be the air valve (as you mentioned) plus a port for the network on the side of the machine where it can be accessed.
Hi Jamie
Although several people are interested in the performance of the new machine, sadly I cannot make it the "star". I still have so much more to learn form my little Chinese dragon that I shall be carrying on as normal but the new machine will appear often for comparison purposes. I see it as firstly a great way to exploit and indulge my other hobby, video and editing, whilst at the same time benefitting from a REAL and reliable piece of kit to help resolve issues with my cheap ebay machine that so many others suffer (and gain enjoyment) from. My other series of videos specifically using the new machine will eventually be appearing on a ThinkLaser You Tube channel and I will be posting the links for those that are interested, because It will be tutorials, manufacturing projects as well as performance testing that will be posted there. Hopefully with 18 months of hard won experience I will be able to make that series of videos exactly what I wished I could have had when I bought my machine. Sadly all I had was an unreadable manual and an inquiring mind.
Thanks for your appreciation
Best regards
Russ
ps I personally don't need an ethernet connection, my wifi extender works just fine. ThinkLaser would have installed one but I advised them not to bother.
Thanks for your reply, Russ.
From a purely selfish point of view I'm pleased that your 'old' machine will still be your main hobby. Having the ThinkLaser model will definitely be an advantage for comparison purposes when trouble-shooting and, I'm sure at times, it will also cause just as many questions as answers, too!
On the plus side - with 2 machines you can now double the manufacture your wife's Christmas cards! :)
Take care and I look forward to your future videos.
PS. Am glad there's an option for the external network point as that would have been an oversight in my opinion.
Whoo-hoo. Looks the part if nothing else. Really looking forward to seeing if this machine engraves without the "curtain wave", at least you'll be able to prove, or disprove, that it's a function of stepper motors and/or eccentric drive systems.
Mastermind!! THANK YOU SOOO MUCH!! Love your Lessons .. Cheers from Germany!
Congrats on the machine and thanks for all of the informative and funny videos!
Love your videos Ross - not in the laser industry at all, but this just peaks my interest. If i were any closer, i'd be your willing and able side-kick/assistant to help test out these machines. Might just pop in to pay you a visit (if you don't mind a visitor) whenever i travel to Felixestowe to visit my cousin ;) Keep up the great work and enjoy your retirement
Well done mate... looking forward seeing your videos
greatings from Germany :) You have a good voice to listen to and understand everything - even as a german ;)
Hi Russ! It looks like an apple product compared to your old machine. Everything is neat and engineered with caution. Now it's time to see how it operates. So, fingers crossed and have a deep dive into it. I can imagine that you cannot wait starting the tests. As for the extraction system if you cut a lot of wood you will have to change filters very very regularly. I have asked many suppliers of Chinese and popular brand laser machines about that and all admitted the above fact. And you wife might loose you for some time!! Polis
Hi Polis
I have answered this once but for some reason it appears to have disappeared.
Apple product is a good comparison. In this case the "good" product arrives from China is uncrated, inspected, any latest mods added, set up and tested before recrating. It's delivered to me and an engineer comes to install and "train" me. Wood is not something I do lots of and I am aware just how sticky MDF fumes are. I already have a spare set of filters but if I need more my negotiations included 2 years of consumables. So not an issue.. Testing will be interesting because I don't thinks it's going to be a "project", I'm sure it will be a reliable working machines that I may personalize a bit. I've already binned the red light pointer and will be fitting my own little air valve, fitting a steel bed optional plate for my pin table and making target holders for testing the "open" mirror system. My first job will be to charcterize the tube performance ( a nice 60 watt EFR)
Best wishes
Russ
Just tell 'er indoors it's a new pair of shoes. I'm sure she will understand 😀👍 yeah right. Best of luck with the new adventures.
I am really looking forward to your tests of this one. I have the same issue with the artifacts that you believe are caused by the steppers, though I'll have a look at belt tension as well. Even though you are content to leave the "dragon" as is, I would appreciate hearing your thoughts on possible modifications to increase the resolution of the x axis. I expect the easiest would be to use a .9 degree stepper, though I haven't been able to find a dual shafted Nema17 that is also .9 degree for the Y axis.
1:55 Now I know what a they meant by "Rotary Hammer"! Thank you, Russ!
I was only going by the description on the box ""Hammer Drill." it's the best multi functional tool in the workshop.....except for myself.
Brilliant alternative use for a power tool @ 2:00 ! :D
Hi Peter
That's not an alternative use, it said hammer drill on the box!!!
Regards
Russ
Sweet machine Russ, now I'm jealous...lol..as far as my laser message about speed, i was refering to the max speed which is preset at 500mm/s, I changed mine to 900mm/s then of course you have to write the change to the processor but my machine works great on the new speed.
Hi Scott
Thinking a bit more about the way you suggest, It could well work ok because its a bit like racing a car around the block where you live. If the block is only 200 m square then having a 150mph ferrari is no real use because It will never be able to get above 60mph (ie my problem with small detailed paper cutting) but give it a long straight road and wow. So yes I can see that it would allow slightly better processing times if you can ever accelerate to 900mm/s . I may well dial it in.
Many thanks
Russ
bonjour Ross.....belle machine.....j attend avec impatience le tuto sur le awc 708c.....puisque c est celui que je vais utiliser sur ma machine qui est en construction....Salutations... DOM
Congrats on the new machine!
Looking forward to seeing speed and accuracy differences. As well as the difference in using the different lenses. Have you made a Lab on what different lens sizes are used for?
Hi Mohammed
Check out
th-cam.com/video/WbBPps42iHc/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/1yMAr75h5O8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/61bGzWicRRk/w-d-xo.html
Best regards
Russ
That's one way to fix the curtain issue:):):)
fourth like! :) I('m as excited to see this in action as you are, mate!
Using a drill as a hammer...I knew I liked you.
Hi Jesse
I bought an end of batch job lot of 6 about 10 years ago at £5 each!! I absolutely hate the self tightening chucks they use on modern drills Yes these are made in China but they have proper Jacobs chucks. I still have 3 in boxes unused and being a lazy guy why reach for a hammer when I'm already holding an oriental thumper??
Regards
Russ
What is gained by closing air supply when cutting acrylic?
Russ,
Am I correct in assuming that the new machine has the same controller as our chinese machine?
Scott Thorne
Hin Scott
Yes almost
Its a RDC 6442S
RDWorks sees it as the same
Regards
Russ
Russ, in regards to airflow when cutting acrylic. I am having a problem with the acrylic being literally turned to liquid and sprayed onto my steel bed. The acrylic sheet stock gets cut by the laser and then drops down, landing in the residue. When the job is done, I pick all the cut parts off the table and the more recent ones have a slimy liquid coating under them, and the ones that were cut early in the operation are nearly glued to the steel plate. Does this have anything to do with the pressure of the air assist?
Hi Robert
Up to now the only time I have seen liquid (and with coloured persex coloured liquid) is when I have had the acrylic laying directly on my sheet steel bed. It seems more like water condensation than any liquid acrylic. The great property of acrylic is that when you bombard the surface with intense heat it evaporates/sublimates rather than go into any sort of liquid phase. Just like steam, the vapour tends to recondense near the cut or in the cut if you are engraving. I know from experiments that too much air pressure cools the acrylic too much and decreases the cutting efficiency. In general I normally turn my air assist down to just a whisper when cutting acrylic. The extra heat in the cut helps to flame polish the surfaces. Also I normally leave the protective film on so that any surface residues can be peeled off.
I have used a honeycomb table, but the risk of refelction marking goes up. I usually supend the sheet on a pin table that is about 25mm above the surface. this allows me to decide (by support or no support under the parts) whether the parts drop or not. I do not experience the issue you are describing.
Maybe run a few tests with these ideas. Shout out if you are still suffering.
Best regards
Russ
Shame they are not in Australia yet, as I am in the market for a decent machine.
These are a bit like Apple products. Made in China but under a watchful eye . Although the UK product goes through a second check before installation the product is still good quality right out of the factory. Might be worth contacting gareth@thinklaser.com for a chat and a quote because I know they have shipped direct from factory to remote parts without issues
Here I am 2 years on and I have nothing but praise for it. I am continually upgrading, learning and re-engineering my China Blue machine but there has been no need to mess with the Lightblade. It has been a plug and play system and I have done a whole series of videos about it for Thinklaser. Look for Lightblade Learning Lab on You Tube. These are not corporate or advertising videos but my normal "say it how it is" style because there are some aspects of the whole Chinese machine design ethos I am at odds with, but that does not mean the engineering is bad just some of the design principles are not properly thought through. This is NOT a pre assembled DIY kit like my China Blue machine. So worth inquiring further
Best wishes
Russ
Hi Tassie Spirit,
We can supply direct to Australia, however, we are unable to offer local support.
Gareth @ Thinklaser
SarbarMultimedia Thank you for that quick reply, and I will chase up Gareth very soon.
Nice one.
I'm surprised Russ! 😮👍🏼
I love these videos but I noticed how heavy the 50 watt Chinese version was, and big, and I can't lift it and I sure can't get it into my house through a door. :( No garage here so looks like a moot point for me.
Fair russ
I want learning laser machine assembly
Nice machine and video. What is the practical use for such a machine? I understand it can cut and etch some materials, but what would one use it for practically at home?
In general, although this is a relatively low cost machine, it is beyond any normal hobbyist's budget, hence the reason why most choose the Ebay route with all the issues that entails. This is a machine for a small business, an R&D department or a school/college, where it's plug and go To justify spending about £5K you need it for a real purpose. There are many folks out there that are expressing their pent up artistic talent making and selling wooden or plastic trinkets, engraving slate or granite clock faces and pet memorial stones, Many are using these machines for making bespoke wedding stationery and memorabilia. There are lots of people making model kits from balsa wood and thin plywood. Just Google any of these subjects and you will see what I mean.
However, me personally, I have no business to serve. I'm a retired engineer with lots of design experience and with 10 years experience of owning and running a metal cutting laser business. With such a background I thought this Chinese laser technology would be a great retirement activity as I'm no golfer or fisherman. As I quickly found out, this is NOTHING like the metal cutting laser technology that I knew so well. I had to start from ground zero and there was no information out there to help me. My other long-time hobby has been video/editing. So that became my new combined hobby ie learning to use and understand the machine and recording that journey for all to see.
In answer to you simple question, there is no obvious justification. It's a bit like owning a camera or a drone or a set of golf clubs. None of these are of any use without an interest or intent to use them. There is pleasure and happiness to be gained from owning and using them but no financial gain to be had from any, unless you do it professionally.
Thanks for the comment
Best wishes
Russ
SarbarMultimedia Thank you for the reply. I too am an engineer and have a lot of experience with cnc plasma cutting tables. I have a home shop filled with welders, torches, tools and garages filled with vehicles. None of these things are practical on a daily basis, but do bring some joy once in a while, so I understand. If this laser (or any other that was inexpensive) could cut sheet metal, I would be interested, from a hobby perspective. Cheers.
Dear Sir!
You could tell me the type of twin-drive drive that drives the X-Y axle engines. (2 blue drives).
Thanks:. K.Lajos
They are LEADSHINE Easy Servo driver Model HBS57
The motors are Nema 23 Model 573HBM10-1000
Best wishes
Russ
Grateful thanks!
nice, that is closer to the one I have, but now I am looking out for a rotary adaptor... too close to Xmas to buy a new one, anyone got a spare one?? :-p
machine looks good
made in China ?
Is there a comparison chart between the standard Chinese machine and this upgraded machine
Hi Paul
The short answer is no. This machine is still basically the same as a cheap Chinese machine in it's overall function........a laser tube, 3 mirrors and a lens. The big difference is in component quality, build quality and attention to detail. The first , but not obvious , difference is the use of servo motors rather than steppers. They are not true analogue servos but something called hybrid servos. Basically stepper motors with a built in rotary encoder for accurate positional feedback. It is possible to be much more aggressive with the accelerations on this machine and never fear losing steps (position). The link between the motors and the axes is via down gearing belt drives which means the steppers can run faster even at slow machine speeds. This removes a lot of the slow speed judder you get with steppers.. This machine has a third servo axis, the Z up and down. This is required to operate the auto focus system that is supplied with the machine I have mixed feelings about the benefits of such a complication but it's there as a big difference from most machines.. The laser tube itself is a top quality EFR tube and the mirrors are the best molybdenum type. It is supplied with 3 lenses for different applications, 2",2.5" and 4" focal lengths. The work bed is a flexible system in that it is basically a slatted bar bed that is supplied with a loose honeycomb table that sits on top should you need it. The BIG difference is the wiring and safety system. This machine is fully compliant for safe operating by non-skilled operatives. All access to the laser is interlock protected during operation and it is properly wired and coded to meet European machine build standards. An optional (although I thinks essential) item is the recirculating extract system that filters and decontaminates the air before dumping it back to your workshop.. Where ever you look the detailing and the engineering is top class.
Summary. If I need to do a real job I always jump onto the Lightblade rather than my China Blue. Its an inviting machine to use is many ways and I love it. I still get great pleasure from my old machine because , although far from perfect, it is this imperfection that has taught me so much about the technology. The whole point of the Lightblade concept is to be a low priced proper piece of equipment for use in schools, colleges, R&D departments and small businesses. It is 3 or 4 times the price of an Ebay machine and comes with REAL warranties and support. Most hobby users will want to tinker with their machine, hence the popularity of the cheapo FleaBay offering. If you want to just use it, then you will have to swallow hard and pay up.
All best wishes
Russ
I've been looking to find a price list for one of these...perhaps one of the smallest ones but can't find one. Can you help?
How much it ?
Think laser is supplying laser machines only in UK? Do they ship in Greece for example? I have noticed that in their website your machine is not present. They have a totally different look, Lightblade 3040, not 6040. Next available size they have is the 6090.
Hi Polis
They have a whole range of sizes available including multi tube but as a growing company they are not yet carrying stock.
You can either apply for information to their website or contact their head of marketing gareth@thinklaser.com. I know they have plans for expansion so your inquiry would possibly accelerate any pipeline plans
Regards
Russ
Ok, thanks for the info. I am asking as if i do not get the finance program i told you the other time and be able to by a Universal, i have to come up with some Plan B. Have to choose between the best possible Chinese suppliers. Until now i saw your video i was going for Bodor. Bodor seems a good choice as it has a representative here in Greece. I have seen them working as i cut my stuff to this representative and they seem quite OK. Not perfect of course. They provide RDWorks also. The website is www.bodor.com to give you an idea what this is. Also they provide lasers with servo motors, so i am really looking forward for your review on this and by comparison to step motors to try to make a verdict.
Hi Polis
I do have a couple of contacts with Bodor machines if you need information
The servos on the lightblade ary hybrid servos in that theyare basically 3 phase stepper motors that have rotary encoders for absolute position feedback. Cannot lose steps. I have not spent much time playing with it yet but i think I will be able to tweek the accelerations because it looks a little more leisurely than my old Chinese dragon..
Regards
Russ
Thank you Russ for your reply, will let you know if i ever need a reliable contact from Bodor. I have already sent some mails months ago but the specific person did not covered me much. So difficult to contact these people and let them understand what you really need. Cheers
Hi Polis
Just in case there was confusion my contacts are a guy in the states and one in ireland who recently bought Bodor machines. You might want an opinion.
Regards
Russ
Any Chance of getting to machine direct from china to Australia?
Hi John
It's not within my power to say as I am not a Thinklaser employee, just a critical user that enjoys engineering and video. Can I suggest you contact gareth@thinklaser .com I know he is picking up requests from all parts of the world and may well be able to do something for you. This is not an ebay hobbyists machine but a serious piece of value for money small business, R&D, educational machine that most people will USE. My aim is to use it randomly and pull it apart to understand it and maybe improve the design (in my opinion) but if thinklaser like what I do then they are keen to incorporate improvements (or fix problems)
Best regards
Russ
HI Russ, i am following your channel since the beginning. :-) With your new Adventure i made the decision to buy me such a machine. Maybe you can help me with a few questions?
1. wich Model iss your new thing? I dont found it on thinklaser.com
2. what size is the workspace? 300x 400 or more
and the important 3rd question: how can i order from germany and how much is the price for this machine.
the only way i found on thinklaser.com is to make an enquiry...i did but no answer.
best regards from Germany
Hi
My new Lightblade machine is 600x400mm work area and it has a 60 watt EFR tube fitted .........but other options are available
You can see more about this machine with the video series I am doing for Thinklaser
th-cam.com/video/kx4vmDguCyE/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/GC8h0Zt8Du8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/drr8sfe_l4s/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/m2dS0ig1GBA/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/B4bn11hWcz8/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/2F5O-1TH8b0/w-d-xo.html
I know they can supply into Germany but as I am nothing to do with Thinklaser can I ask you to contact gareth@thinklaser.com he is the sales and marketing manager and will answer all your questions
All best wishes
Russ
HOW ABOUT IT WORKS ?
It certainly did work straight out the box and has worked very well for the last 18 months. Build quality and reliability superior to any standard ebay machine. I love my little SH6040 because its design faults have forced me to learn so much about the technology. With all my little modifications it is now an equally enjoyable machine to use. As you follow my learning journey you will discover all the changes I have made.
Best wishes
Russ
Sorry the model is SH5030
£3,500? OUCH! Epilog would be 20k USD but still.
Could I have justified one of these as a hobby machine? I think not. I was also looking/expecting a bit of an engineering project as well when I knowingly took the ebay route. Without all my problems the series would have been very short and dull and I would not have gained the experience I now have. That experience gave me good bargaining counters when negotiating with Think Laser to make some training videos for them.
The UK equivalent of Epilog is an Austrian machine called Trotec....... that would be about 4 times the price. As a small business starter machine it seems ideal. Fantastic as it is, your Ouch says it all for the normal Jo
Best regards
Russ (smiling!!!)
SarbarMultimedia
I agree with everything you said but don't forget us out here and start using that for videos as your new machine since 99% of your audience isn't even going to give that machine the time of day due to cost. Is it worth it? You bet but still the cost is too great for the common Joe, or Jane.
Panic not. Although I shall be retreading the path I already know for the training videos, they will be for the ThinkLaser clients. I will supply and they will post them on their own website/ You Tube channel. I'm sure they will be view able if you are interested but as I said, just remashing of old stuff. My ulterior motive was to add another tool to my kit so that I can answer many of the questions that seem to be posed by my cheapie stepper motor system. This machine has servos so I see myself getting comparisons of 3D /greyscale engraving . I shall NOT be abandoning my current series because I know there is still a lot to learn and a lot of dark corners that I haven't yet poked around in. My new machine WILL BE SHARED but NOT the focus of future videos.
Best regards
Russ
SarbarMultimedia
Excellent. I am wondering about the servo closed loop system myself but for 3d printing and CNC router/milling because I have never been a fan of the open loop stepper motor system. One hiccup can ruin days of work since an open loop system has no way of knowing anything after it hits the endstop and starts the job.
The servo system is not quite what you might be expecting. Having spent many years working with real closed loop feed back systems on surface mount pick and place assembly machines where the gross motion,speeds/accelerations were controlled by rotary encoders on the servo but final positioning was redirected to linear encoders. This is just rotary encoder controlled servos. I have not examined or researched them yet to know what they are. Will be some time yet.
Best regards
Russ
Price
£5000 to £600 depends on extras.
gareth@thinklaser.co.uk for exact prices and sizes
Best regards
Russ