I just started a small laser cutting and engraving business in Rwanda and you sir have just made my job A LOT easier! I am incredibly grateful for the information you have shared here. I have also watched the DIY machine series and I can't wait to get started on a similar project soon too. Rock on, dude!
maybe i can help you, please add my whatsapp:+86-13285336692 mail:Jessica@danuomachinery.com I'll give you the detailed machine information I'll give you the quotation
Mostly very obvious business info and really nothing related to using a laser to make money. Well done, but probably titled incorrectly to say the least.
I agree Radek. I understand the positions/sentiments of some of the other in this sub thread, but I think the point is that while these points may be obvious to experienced small business owners, it is great advice for someone just starting out. And, for those having to pivot from a previous business (due to impact of Covid), it shows that very similar principles apply to multiple areas of business...which is good affirmation and a confidence builder in uncertain times.
So, I own a laser for a while. Launched a product and continued down that rabbit hole :) . I have been browsing the interent for hundreds of hours. Just finding things that would speak for itself or useless/fake/1-in-a-million-chance-business-cases. Now everything I have learned the hard way the last few years is all in your video. Very well done, great video. definitely a must watch for laser cutter businesses.
I am currently working for a laser cutter company. Really appreciate your creativity! Our company develops and design laser systems for small businesses for over 20 years. We do hope there're more of you get interested in laser cutting technology and we can explore the business possibility together!!
Thank you for including some real examples in there with actual numbers! Over the years, I've had a lot of "fun ideas" that I talked myself out of after going through the number exercise. You did some of the leg work for me, so I appreciate that! Fantastic video!
Years ago, my dad bought his first laser engraving machine. Somewhere during the process, someone handed him a mini book on how to make money with his laser (from one of the companies selling the machines). He got it in his head he could make a full-time income with the laser and after about a year was disappointed when he had not even done enough to cover his monthly payments. I wish this video had been around then. I tried to explain these concepts to him, but it took a while. I partnered with him and helped him turn his laser from a hobby to a business. Primarily, selling products on Amazon. Of course, our “non-essential” items on Amazon are not moving now, but we do really well in normal years. Etsy is a good marketplace for both products and services. My sister and I teach selling on Etsy, and one thing I would caution anyone getting started on Etsy is that the high competition means you need to get creative on your listings. Think of hyper targeted ways to promote your products, not just laser engraving/cutting services. As mentioned in the video, it’s a good idea to have a wide selection of examples...just make sure you have run your costs and time to make it profitable for you. That killed us in the beginning (my dad pretty much charged $5 a project, but it would take him 2 hours to complete- because he was going off the $1 per laser minute but didn’t account for any other expense). Well done!
Hi Sir, This is Hunter from Quick Laser .Kindly send mail to : mojiewen@quickestlaser.cn ,and my WhatsAPP NO is +8613761994748 . I'll share more info to you . Best Regards.
@@ryanrickerts5982 Lol. It's actually a free course, but I need to update it with some Etsy changes. I recently set up a new site to help drive traffic to crafty shops. Feel free to send me a message through that site: craftyuniverse.com/contact/ or even submit your shop (if you have one)! It's free to get your shop listed...just takes me some time to get the post done. I'm just trying to help shops that want/need more traffic. As for the course, if you send me a message, I can tell you the convoluted way I have it set up for free access for now. It's on my 'to-do' list to move to somewhere with easier access...but that's after I update some of the videos. Even with slightly older content, it's all the same concepts. I started a new shop at the end of April (not laser engraving related though) and moved it to the top 3% of shops on Etsy. I'm trying to catch my sister in the top 1% of shops. I followed everything we teach - so it's all still valid. For laser engraving, I'm trying to get on Walmart since they have a new integration with Shopify. Lots of potential right now!
Having worked as Laser operator for a company over in Australia for the past 20 odd years, we've found the best solution for customised "products" (more so) the service of providing a customised product, is to have a set minimum price for all jobs, that way you're able to absorb the costs and still make a profit. It can be a bit hit and miss and some jobs are little profit and some are high profit. It that way though gives the customers an idea of what something will cost down the line in the future etc. A lot of the customers more often than not are willing to pay big money for a one-off, customised part etc. Loved seeing your perspective on it all nonetheless and you provided some very insightful information!
Hi Rob. I build laser cutting business here in Indonesia since 2016, without owning a machine (its super expensive). Basically i just act as intermediate between the machine owner who doesn't know how to get a client and the client who didn't know what queries to search for in google. That's the reason i jump into SEO. Now i mostly in page one for many related laser cutting keyword. Which converted into 250 leads every months. Lately im considering to owning my own machine, and i'm gratefull your video pops on my feed. And supprisingly you have a really good content, and its all make sense after you explain your background. It has really good structure, and communicate everything clearly. I start to watch all your video, and probably gonna ask more about the building process. Great content!
Fantastic video. I've been running a laser cutting based business for about 7 months and was doing it part time for a couple years before that - - everything you are saying is bang-on. Thank you!
Thank you for showing real pricing concerns. Craft people tend to ignore many things, such as production time, laser tube wear, and air filter replacement. Your presentation helps everyone stay profitable. Know your design and production costs, have fun, and serve the customer with a quality product or service. Your channel will get us there!
I watched 4 minutes of your video and knew then that you are to be in anyone's primary sources for instructions and inspiration that is serious about this field!
maybe i can help you, please add my whatsapp:+86-13285336692 mail:Jessica@danuomachinery.com I'll give you the detailed machine information I'll give you the quotation
I just acquired a small 3d printer that included a laser engraver. That raised my curiosity on the laser engraving/cutting. I watched your whole serie on the development of the diy laser engraver/cutter, and I learned a lot. Eventhough I may not build my own, now I have a good idea of what is involved and the possibilities for it. I also loved your explanations and how good you organized the messages. Awesome content! I lived in Puerto Rico. I'm in the other side of the world, but also an island with the same issues of the shipping. Therefore I feel your pain and I was identified with your mindset.
Maaaaate! What an incredibly insightful and well-delivered 15 minutes of wisdom. I dont think ever seen such a transparent and all-encompassing overview of this kind. Thanks very much dude, just the ticket when deliberating whether to invest in a cutter. :)
Finally! Honest man with good information... thank you! Those informations are valuable for us who have a plan to start business with laser cutting machine!
maybe i can help you, please add my whatsapp:+86-13285336692 mail:Jessica@danuomachinery.com I'll give you the detailed machine information I'll give you the quotation
OK, this is GREAT advice, especially for beginners. A couple things I would add are first find a niche, if you can. For example, I officiate sports, so I can make unique things officials use. Because I am an official, I know what I am doing and know the needs of officials. From that “initial” step, people start seeing what I can do and this is how my business expands. EXPERIMENT, DO NOT keep doing things the same damn way. Make mistakes; you will be amazed at what you can learn from this which will allow you laser using a new / modified technique with insights learned from an unplanned “mistake.” You will do things you never thought possible, but for the lesson you learned from a mistake. I have been doing lasering for 15 years, and I continually update my technique, my laser settings, use new / different raw materials to laser, look for better ways to do stuff, etc. Likely a first beginner perception is that you are going to make a million bucks your first year; you would be lucky to make 1-2 percent of that. One way to minimize one’s costs is to get raw materials from a business that sells to other business; do not buy raw materials from a consumer outlet. Most businesses will have special arrangements for other businesses. We are a sure volume user and they reward that. For example, I have a relationship with a large fabric store, so I get a 20% discount on everything I buy. I do not buy my acrylic from Home Depot or other big box store; I purchase all my plastic from large businesses who sell to people like me. Look for free advertising. Make a nice gift for the person who cuts your hair; they will display at their business place and other customers will like what they see and ask “who made that?” Give free samples of something to a social busy-body; their word of mouth advertising is very powerful. Make a sincere effort to know your graphics software and how make cool designs. The video shows a design in Photoshop. You cannot (as far as I know) use a bitmap program for anything other than engraving. If you are going to cut stuff with a laser engrave (about 90% of the stuff I do), you need to know the difference between a vector and raster image. If there is a way to cut an object from Photoshop, I do not know how to do this. By far, the most common, useful, and easy to use software is CorelDraw. A laser engraver is, truly, a laser printer. You can “print” anything to it - because it is just another device: a printer. Often, to test a connection, owners print a simple text file to see if it is transmitted to the laser. You do not _have_ to print it, but you could: it would print, i.e., laser, as a raster image. You MUST have the attitude expressed in the video: if you make a mistake, redo it. Do quality work and only sell quality work. Third rate lasering will be a death knell to your business. Also, know what you can and should not be lasering, such as PVC, and other materials. Learn the lasering properties of your materials. Again, I am continually doing / using / experiment with mechanics differently every few months or so. If something is organic, there is an excellent chance you can laser it. Formica / laminate is mostly made from paper. I am one of the few people who figured this out and make a lot of stuff with Formica - and ya cannot use a more durable product than laminate. And, it is a really inexpensive “raw” material. Finally, Rob has a nice beard and nice slim body, but he talks funny…
Thanks for this. No BS, this is so applicable to anything someone can make. This was presented so clearly how to proceed with an idea for any creative endeavor, not just laser cutting. Really appreciate the content.
I don't normally comment on videos but thought it necessary to show some praise to @furtherfabrication for such on-the-spot video content. Rob gives an honest break-down of the industry for those of us gathering knowledge. I'm now a subscriber. Thank you!
thanks, this was the best video about making money in laser cutting far better than most ive watched. Im really considering adding a laser cutter to my already existing business, again thanks for such a great video.
Great video ! I’m a professional musician in the Los Angeles area, and currently starting up a woodworking business to help me get through COVID 19. Your video is full of practical info and explained clearly. Thanks for taking the time to produce this.
I worked, at a pretty high position, for (2) of the most well known suppliers of higher end, gantry based lasers, and I can say that I am quite impressed with your video.
SO much of this makes sense. I want to get into laser cutting, but I also want to get my 3d printing business flowing better as well. Problem is I just don't see a lot of profit in 3d printing, at least, not in the way I want to do it. I don't want to do custom projects. I want to create things to sell. But that's the tricky part. There are tons of people who wrench on their own cars, add upgrades, wheels, paint, bigger engine, and then they sell the vehicle for half what they invested.. I don't want to be that guy. The hobby craze is geared toward selling all this stuff to people who are just going to try it out and fail, or people who just want to do it for themselves. Very few people actually make a profit, let alone a living. The people who are making the real money in 3d printing are the artists who have thousands of followers on patreon and release 1-10 3d rendered models a month fueling the fantasy gaming crowd. You have to be buzzworthy for people to find their way to your site and not just get lost in the masses. You have to go viral.
What a great video, I'm a hobby blacksmith looking to really start making money with THAT and I was amazed at how applicable this all was. I found my way here as I'm looking to invest in some kind of cool machine I can make stuff with as I get really tired of my boring machine operator day job and close in on the last of my student loans. I have connections across the 3d printing world so that sounded a little pedestrian and laser cutters have always interested me more as a tableotop wargamer where laser cut MDF scenery of the HIGHEST quality is abundant. Thanks for uploading this top notch content.
Very good advice, I make lot crafts by hand and looking at a laser machine. Your spot on about doing personalised custom work, I stopped doing it because while some customers are ok to work with some kept changing design which pushed up my own costs and really tests your patience and can be time consuming, their satisfaction was great in the end but found it frustrating at times. It affected my workflow and creativity. Thanks for advice as I been just cresting ideas and selling which is better. Good to see how you price your work. Good man.
This is a great video for anyone wanting (like myself) to build an at home business based around a laser cutter, whether self designed or purchased. You have done an awesome job with your laser cutter and I only wish you had these videos available when I started designing my machine. I originally bought a K40 and wanted something more realizing the limitations of the K40. I soon after started designing my own and yours puts mine to shame! Great job man! I appreciate your perseverance in following through with this whole project and creating the subsequent videos. I subscribed many months ago to see this very video! Keep up the good work! And "Radoslaw" is right, no BS and only real information to get a business off the ground.
Well I dont normally sit and watch someone talking for a long time, but I did find you video very useful, as I am just thinking about getting into laser cutting and a cnc machine, I already have a 3d printer and I am looking to combine all 3 to work for me. Your video was easy to understand and follow, and its great to see this from a fellow Kiwi. Will check out the rest of your videos as I move forward with these thing..Cheers
Awesome vid. Thanks. Another way to get work is to visit craft markets and check out what other crafties are making then try and work out ways that you can enhance or improve the sell-ability of their products with some laser work. I have found that folks who make leather items are generally eager to have some nice decorative engraving placed on their stuff. Especially those who make things like wallets, leather journal covers, dog collars and such. Lots of repeat work there. So many folks making chopping boards. Great source of work there as well. Trades people like to spray their big tools , ladders and stuff with their names and phone numbers through stencils too. Just put up some little flyers in the hardware stores in your area. Work will come. word of mouth is powerful. From my experience, engraving is more profitable than cutting. Repeat work is more profitable than one-off work. Just one more hint....Buy a bucket-load of laser ready.. simple and elegant decorative ornamental deigns from places like etsy. Print them out on A4 sheets and show or give them to your potential clients. This will help them see the possibilities to enhance their work with your services. Along the same lines of thought.... take photos or download pictures of, blank leather journal covers, cutting boards etc... and with a little photo shopping skills, superimpose your designs (as Rob mentioned in the Vid) onto these products. This can keep you busy for months,, and its a lot of fun too. Use these images to inspire your potential customers as to what is possible. It will get their hearts beating faster, I promise. I have made a good living by doing the things I have written about here. I don't do much custom work any more because I have my own products that sell well and consistently.
Thanks for sharing your experience with running your own product design business. I'm literally at the beginning of the same journey, about to finish my NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) and start my product design business, both as a service and making my own products to sell, so your video was immensely helpful.
Thank you . I am Ice Carving with cnc for 20 years and at end of 2019 bought laser to transition to Semi retirement business. . your video is really great . with recent covid event our industry has been eliminated for nearly 90 days . I hope it is enough motivation to move forward. although my plan was to cut ice for 2 more years. thanks again .
Hey i just watched your Christmas card video, incredible work! Just out of curiosity, does the water from the ice chips have a negative impact on your machine?
@@tschiess139 Good question >I have had for 4 years now i guess. it is in Freezer . recently with Covid I have turned off freezer . . Some stains from Cheap Ice blocks where found. buffed off with green pad . I seriously recommend the water cooled spindle .. with Glycol added to water. so in short no ill effects. I do also recommend automatic Oil pump to linear rails .
This is one of the best and well presented videos that actually contains sensible and practical business sense information! I’m not Even someone who has anything to do with this type of craft or anything. I was just watching this video randomly and was really taken aback by your display and presentation! I really enjoyed your video and actually peaked interest into this type of craft. Thank you so much for sharing actual real information as well as business acumen with the world. May you be blessed for your truthfulness and honesty! I will watch your videos from now on. You have a loyal fan in Fort Worth, TX!
You sir are a gentleman and a scholar for doing this video...very informative. I'm going for it...ordering a laser cutter in next couple of days. Many many thanks for taking the time to help complete strangers out. Subbed.
Thanks for all the advice man this is gold!! I am waiting for my 80 watt laser to be delivered... so nervous. This video calms those nerves by providing some inside scoop on how to make some profit !! Much appreciated mate!
These are the sort of videos I wish most would make whilst explaining things. Just on the fact alone you are willing to let people use and sell your designs, you got yourself a new sub, well done mate!
wow awesome bro, I just brought a small laser online to test the waters with my creativity in Laser engraving/cutting as something on the side, my mrs stays home so I simply wanted something where we can make money at home while I work and this was wickedly helpful as im in Auckland and just happen to come across this. Subbed and look forward to watching your vids. churr bro.
Excellent, in-depth video of the whole process. One minor incorrect perception stated was related to shipping costs in other parts of the world. I believe he said the cost to ship from NZ was $7 and he stated in the United States it would be $3. The truth here is that for USPS Priority or Retail Ground (the cheapest shipping methods available) the shipping fees in the USA will START at around $7.50 and for me living somewhat in the center of the country, giving me an overall shipping cost advantage, the East and West Coasts are the most expensive zones (besides AK or HI) and costs for a 1or 2 lb package shipping there ranges from $8.50 to $12.00 depending on destination. You can't send laser products via media mail, and sending anything via Retail Ground is inconvenient because of my location... plus it costs between $23.20 and $66.50 for a common item because the item is classified as a dimensional weight item (based on bulk rather than weight - by their formula). The one advantage living in the United States DOES offer however, is a fairly substantial market. Given the political climate however, I'm really not sure how much longer that will be the case.
Hi Sir, This is Hunter from Quick Laser .Kindly send mail to : mojiewen@quickestlaser.cn ,and my WhatsAPP NO is +8613761994748 . I'll share more info to you . Best Regards.
I run a print house that specialise in box making and paper packagings. I have a Mitsubishi fiber laser cutter that is used for making stamping dies for the boxes that we print. We recently opened a rubber stamp making department and bought a Trotec Speedy 400 to engrave the stamps. The crazy thing is that we took up so much jobs that the machine paid for itself within like 1 and a half months. We were making 200+ rubber stamps per day from online orders and more than $2,000 profit each day.
Great video - concise, and explained with so much experiential leanings - big thank you!! You covered the Entrepreneurship module of my MBA in 14 minutes
Hello friend, Please check the G.weike fiber laser manufacturer, which served over 150 countries with 17 years of experience. My Whatsapp:+86 18563714947,we are the supplier of FSL,BOSS Laser in USA
Rain is nice. If you want to make a followup video, you could talk about more specific examples - focusing on certain hobbies, propmaking (like your background), architectural, tools/jigs etc.
Rob. Thank you so much for explaining each part..im new to this laser stuff n dont have idea on how to start making money i dont even have a product yet... any other info or ideas are appreciated... your the Best .again Thank you
It's amazing when someone takes time out of their own schedule to try and help others. Thanks for that and keep up the great work, obviously you're talented, so all the best
Great video.....spoken like a true prodigy. This information is priceless for a guy like me whos just starting out. AWESOME filled up my white board ( yes I have white board )
Hello friend, Please check the G.weike fiber laser manufacturer, which served over 150 countries with 17 years of experience. My Whatsapp:+86 18563714947,we are the supplier of FSL,BOSS Laser in USA
Very straight forward vid Rob. Thanks for someone trying to get started this is the kind of information that is needed the most, but most people overlook.
Excellent content provided, it summarises my years of experience in starting a business. It's very accurate, complete and to the point. Rare such really truthful and useful videos.
Awesome tips, I think you did great, I’m a newbie/hobby so a lot of your info was ... wow did not know/think about 50% of this before... I actually learnt something, and you didn’t sound like a robot... lol thank you
Absolutely brilliant & wishing better for you & with quality like this the futures best is well deserved for you, top job & thanks for sharing your knowledge & experience 👍😉🥇
Hey, thanks so much for making this video. I built my own laser cutter a while back and have been toying with the idea of starting a small business around it. This video really helped explain some of the ins and outs of what that would entail. I'm from South Africa btw. I would love to see more content like this. Cheers mate.
This is the best video I have seen about starting a laser cutting buisness! I have been looking for information about this for so long! You hit it right on the head! Thank you!
I just bought an LOTR ring from Weta Workshop! Gonna propose to my boyfriend with it. Also, Blade Runner is one of our favorite movies! Thank you so much for the amazing laser cutting advice.
Hello friend, Please check the G.weike fiber laser manufacturer, which served over 150 countries with 17 years of experience. My Whatsapp:+86 18563714947,we are the supplier of FSL,BOSS Laser in USA
![ลองสุ่มไอโฟน 990 โกงมั้ย? [ โกงมั้ยครับ ep.101 ] | DOM](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/bfsWe0j492k/mqdefault.jpg)
I just started a small laser cutting and engraving business in Rwanda and you sir have just made my job A LOT easier! I am incredibly grateful for the information you have shared here. I have also watched the DIY machine series and I can't wait to get started on a similar project soon too. Rock on, dude!
maybe i can help you, please add my whatsapp:+86-13285336692 mail:Jessica@danuomachinery.com
I'll give you the detailed machine information
I'll give you the quotation
This video is GOLD. Real advice no BS.
100% agreed
Say good buy to the skilled artist
Mostly very obvious business info and really nothing related to using a laser to make money. Well done, but probably titled incorrectly to say the least.
klaus os say hello to an artist with a different set of skills.
I agree Radek. I understand the positions/sentiments of some of the other in this sub thread, but I think the point is that while these points may be obvious to experienced small business owners, it is great advice for someone just starting out. And, for those having to pivot from a previous business (due to impact of Covid), it shows that very similar principles apply to multiple areas of business...which is good affirmation and a confidence builder in uncertain times.
So, I own a laser for a while. Launched a product and continued down that rabbit hole :) . I have been browsing the interent for hundreds of hours. Just finding things that would speak for itself or useless/fake/1-in-a-million-chance-business-cases. Now everything I have learned the hard way the last few years is all in your video. Very well done, great video. definitely a must watch for laser cutter businesses.
Classy guy giving legit advice. A TH-cam gem.
As a marketing person I appreciate your approach on this subject. (NEVER compete on price, hone your craft and always be telling people what you do)
I am currently working for a laser cutter company. Really appreciate your creativity! Our company develops and design laser systems for small businesses for over 20 years. We do hope there're more of you get interested in laser cutting technology and we can explore the business possibility together!!
Thank you for including some real examples in there with actual numbers! Over the years, I've had a lot of "fun ideas" that I talked myself out of after going through the number exercise. You did some of the leg work for me, so I appreciate that! Fantastic video!
You have the most lovely demeaner. Thank you even though this isn't something I would do but I enjoyed your presentation.
Years ago, my dad bought his first laser engraving machine. Somewhere during the process, someone handed him a mini book on how to make money with his laser (from one of the companies selling the machines). He got it in his head he could make a full-time income with the laser and after about a year was disappointed when he had not even done enough to cover his monthly payments. I wish this video had been around then. I tried to explain these concepts to him, but it took a while. I partnered with him and helped him turn his laser from a hobby to a business. Primarily, selling products on Amazon. Of course, our “non-essential” items on Amazon are not moving now, but we do really well in normal years. Etsy is a good marketplace for both products and services. My sister and I teach selling on Etsy, and one thing I would caution anyone getting started on Etsy is that the high competition means you need to get creative on your listings. Think of hyper targeted ways to promote your products, not just laser engraving/cutting services. As mentioned in the video, it’s a good idea to have a wide selection of examples...just make sure you have run your costs and time to make it profitable for you. That killed us in the beginning (my dad pretty much charged $5 a project, but it would take him 2 hours to complete- because he was going off the $1 per laser minute but didn’t account for any other expense). Well done!
I wish you for your great initiative and future success...❤️ All the best mate..
Hi Sir, This is Hunter from Quick Laser .Kindly send mail to : mojiewen@quickestlaser.cn ,and my WhatsAPP NO is +8613761994748 . I'll share more info to you . Best Regards.
might as well tell us where your Etsy selling classes are offered!
@@ryanrickerts5982 Lol. It's actually a free course, but I need to update it with some Etsy changes. I recently set up a new site to help drive traffic to crafty shops. Feel free to send me a message through that site: craftyuniverse.com/contact/ or even submit your shop (if you have one)! It's free to get your shop listed...just takes me some time to get the post done. I'm just trying to help shops that want/need more traffic. As for the course, if you send me a message, I can tell you the convoluted way I have it set up for free access for now. It's on my 'to-do' list to move to somewhere with easier access...but that's after I update some of the videos. Even with slightly older content, it's all the same concepts. I started a new shop at the end of April (not laser engraving related though) and moved it to the top 3% of shops on Etsy. I'm trying to catch my sister in the top 1% of shops. I followed everything we teach - so it's all still valid. For laser engraving, I'm trying to get on Walmart since they have a new integration with Shopify. Lots of potential right now!
Having worked as Laser operator for a company over in Australia for the past 20 odd years, we've found the best solution for customised "products" (more so) the service of providing a customised product, is to have a set minimum price for all jobs, that way you're able to absorb the costs and still make a profit. It can be a bit hit and miss and some jobs are little profit and some are high profit. It that way though gives the customers an idea of what something will cost down the line in the future etc. A lot of the customers more often than not are willing to pay big money for a one-off, customised part etc. Loved seeing your perspective on it all nonetheless and you provided some very insightful information!
Hi Rob. I build laser cutting business here in Indonesia since 2016, without owning a machine (its super expensive). Basically i just act as intermediate between the machine owner who doesn't know how to get a client and the client who didn't know what queries to search for in google. That's the reason i jump into SEO. Now i mostly in page one for many related laser cutting keyword. Which converted into 250 leads every months. Lately im considering to owning my own machine, and i'm gratefull your video pops on my feed. And supprisingly you have a really good content, and its all make sense after you explain your background. It has really good structure, and communicate everything clearly. I start to watch all your video, and probably gonna ask more about the building process. Great content!
Fantastic video. I've been running a laser cutting based business for about 7 months and was doing it part time for a couple years before that - - everything you are saying is bang-on. Thank you!
Cheers mate. That's awesome, stoked to hear you've been able to go full time with it!
Thank you for showing real pricing concerns. Craft people tend to ignore many things, such as production time, laser tube wear, and air filter replacement. Your presentation helps everyone stay profitable. Know your design and production costs, have fun, and serve the customer with a quality product or service. Your channel will get us there!
I watched 4 minutes of your video and knew then that you are to be in anyone's primary sources for instructions and inspiration that is serious about this field!
maybe i can help you, please add my whatsapp:+86-13285336692 mail:Jessica@danuomachinery.com
I'll give you the detailed machine information
I'll give you the quotation
I just acquired a small 3d printer that included a laser engraver. That raised my curiosity on the laser engraving/cutting. I watched your whole serie on the development of the diy laser engraver/cutter, and I learned a lot. Eventhough I may not build my own, now I have a good idea of what is involved and the possibilities for it. I also loved your explanations and how good you organized the messages. Awesome content!
I lived in Puerto Rico. I'm in the other side of the world, but also an island with the same issues of the shipping. Therefore I feel your pain and I was identified with your mindset.
Maaaaate! What an incredibly insightful and well-delivered 15 minutes of wisdom. I dont think ever seen such a transparent and all-encompassing overview of this kind. Thanks very much dude, just the ticket when deliberating whether to invest in a cutter. :)
Took the words out of my mouth!
Finally! Honest man with good information... thank you! Those informations are valuable for us who have a plan to start business with laser cutting machine!
maybe i can help you, please add my whatsapp:+86-13285336692 mail:Jessica@danuomachinery.com
I'll give you the detailed machine information
I'll give you the quotation
OK, this is GREAT advice, especially for beginners. A couple things I would add are first find a niche, if you can. For example, I officiate sports, so I can make unique things officials use. Because I am an official, I know what I am doing and know the needs of officials. From that “initial” step, people start seeing what I can do and this is how my business expands. EXPERIMENT, DO NOT keep doing things the same damn way. Make mistakes; you will be amazed at what you can learn from this which will allow you laser using a new / modified technique with insights learned from an unplanned “mistake.” You will do things you never thought possible, but for the lesson you learned from a mistake. I have been doing lasering for 15 years, and I continually update my technique, my laser settings, use new / different raw materials to laser, look for better ways to do stuff, etc. Likely a first beginner perception is that you are going to make a million bucks your first year; you would be lucky to make 1-2 percent of that. One way to minimize one’s costs is to get raw materials from a business that sells to other business; do not buy raw materials from a consumer outlet. Most businesses will have special arrangements for other businesses. We are a sure volume user and they reward that. For example, I have a relationship with a large fabric store, so I get a 20% discount on everything I buy. I do not buy my acrylic from Home Depot or other big box store; I purchase all my plastic from large businesses who sell to people like me. Look for free advertising. Make a nice gift for the person who cuts your hair; they will display at their business place and other customers will like what they see and ask “who made that?” Give free samples of something to a social busy-body; their word of mouth advertising is very powerful. Make a sincere effort to know your graphics software and how make cool designs. The video shows a design in Photoshop. You cannot (as far as I know) use a bitmap program for anything other than engraving. If you are going to cut stuff with a laser engrave (about 90% of the stuff I do), you need to know the difference between a vector and raster image. If there is a way to cut an object from Photoshop, I do not know how to do this. By far, the most common, useful, and easy to use software is CorelDraw. A laser engraver is, truly, a laser printer. You can “print” anything to it - because it is just another device: a printer. Often, to test a connection, owners print a simple text file to see if it is transmitted to the laser. You do not _have_ to print it, but you could: it would print, i.e., laser, as a raster image. You MUST have the attitude expressed in the video: if you make a mistake, redo it. Do quality work and only sell quality work. Third rate lasering will be a death knell to your business. Also, know what you can and should not be lasering, such as PVC, and other materials. Learn the lasering properties of your materials. Again, I am continually doing / using / experiment with mechanics differently every few months or so. If something is organic, there is an excellent chance you can laser it. Formica / laminate is mostly made from paper. I am one of the few people who figured this out and make a lot of stuff with Formica - and ya cannot use a more durable product than laminate. And, it is a really inexpensive “raw” material.
Finally, Rob has a nice beard and nice slim body, but he talks funny…
Great advice there, thanks for sharing!
Sorry about the accent, I know it's a bit odd haha
Thanks for this. No BS, this is so applicable to anything someone can make. This was presented so clearly how to proceed with an idea for any creative endeavor, not just laser cutting. Really appreciate the content.
Excellently verbalized. Clear, concise and to the point! Well done.
I don't normally comment on videos but thought it necessary to show some praise to @furtherfabrication for such on-the-spot video content. Rob gives an honest break-down of the industry for those of us gathering knowledge. I'm now a subscriber. Thank you!
thanks, this was the best video about making money in laser cutting far better than most ive watched. Im really considering adding a laser cutter to my already existing business, again thanks for such a great video.
Great video ! I’m a professional musician in the
Los Angeles area, and currently starting up a woodworking business to help me get through COVID 19. Your video is full of practical info and explained clearly. Thanks for taking the time to produce this.
Dang. Why didn't this video exist 5 years ago when I had to learn all these things the hard way. Great video!!
I worked, at a pretty high position, for (2) of the most well known suppliers of higher end, gantry based lasers, and I can say that I am quite impressed with your video.
SO much of this makes sense. I want to get into laser cutting, but I also want to get my 3d printing business flowing better as well. Problem is I just don't see a lot of profit in 3d printing, at least, not in the way I want to do it. I don't want to do custom projects. I want to create things to sell. But that's the tricky part. There are tons of people who wrench on their own cars, add upgrades, wheels, paint, bigger engine, and then they sell the vehicle for half what they invested.. I don't want to be that guy. The hobby craze is geared toward selling all this stuff to people who are just going to try it out and fail, or people who just want to do it for themselves. Very few people actually make a profit, let alone a living. The people who are making the real money in 3d printing are the artists who have thousands of followers on patreon and release 1-10 3d rendered models a month fueling the fantasy gaming crowd. You have to be buzzworthy for people to find their way to your site and not just get lost in the masses. You have to go viral.
Straight forward, clear advice derived from experience. Couldn't ask for anything better!
What a great video, I'm a hobby blacksmith looking to really start making money with THAT and I was amazed at how applicable this all was. I found my way here as I'm looking to invest in some kind of cool machine I can make stuff with as I get really tired of my boring machine operator day job and close in on the last of my student loans. I have connections across the 3d printing world so that sounded a little pedestrian and laser cutters have always interested me more as a tableotop wargamer where laser cut MDF scenery of the HIGHEST quality is abundant. Thanks for uploading this top notch content.
Very good advice, I make lot crafts by hand and looking at a laser machine. Your spot on about doing personalised custom work, I stopped doing it because while some customers are ok to work with some kept changing design which pushed up my own costs and really tests your patience and can be time consuming, their satisfaction was great in the end but found it frustrating at times. It affected my workflow and creativity. Thanks for advice as I been just cresting ideas and selling which is better. Good to see how you price your work. Good man.
Came here for laser cutting advice and found the a guy that helped build blade runner 😲. Thanks for the info! Very helpful!!
This is a great video for anyone wanting (like myself) to build an at home business based around a laser cutter, whether self designed or purchased. You have done an awesome job with your laser cutter and I only wish you had these videos available when I started designing my machine. I originally bought a K40 and wanted something more realizing the limitations of the K40. I soon after started designing my own and yours puts mine to shame! Great job man! I appreciate your perseverance in following through with this whole project and creating the subsequent videos. I subscribed many months ago to see this very video! Keep up the good work! And "Radoslaw" is right, no BS and only real information to get a business off the ground.
This could literally be applied to almost any sort of etsy business. Great vid!
Definitely. I will share this in the laser forum facebook.com/groups/4105345129538639/ Awesome video!
"I'm gonna break this topic down into two different approaches"
*Slide shows "Approach 2" and "Approach 2"* :D
Great video. Thanks :D
hahaha good spotting, I can't believe I let that one slip through!
@@FurtherFabrication Meeeeekaaniiiiiiiik
@@FurtherFabrication I see what you did there - "let that ONE slip through" 😁
@@arose62 Get this man a trophy. 😂
unbelievably clear and open explanation. brilliant video.
Well I dont normally sit and watch someone talking for a long time, but I did find you video very useful, as I am just thinking about getting into laser cutting and a cnc machine, I already have a 3d printer and I am looking to combine all 3 to work for me. Your video was easy to understand and follow, and its great to see this from a fellow Kiwi. Will check out the rest of your videos as I move forward with these thing..Cheers
Awesome vid. Thanks. Another way to get work is to visit craft markets and check out what other crafties are making then try and work out ways that you can enhance or improve the sell-ability of their products with some laser work. I have found that folks who make leather items are generally eager to have some nice decorative engraving placed on their stuff. Especially those who make things like wallets, leather journal covers, dog collars and such. Lots of repeat work there. So many folks making chopping boards. Great source of work there as well. Trades people like to spray their big tools , ladders and stuff with their names and phone numbers through stencils too. Just put up some little flyers in the hardware stores in your area. Work will come. word of mouth is powerful. From my experience, engraving is more profitable than cutting. Repeat work is more profitable than one-off work. Just one more hint....Buy a bucket-load of laser ready.. simple and elegant decorative ornamental deigns from places like etsy. Print them out on A4 sheets and show or give them to your potential clients. This will help them see the possibilities to enhance their work with your services. Along the same lines of thought.... take photos or download pictures of, blank leather journal covers, cutting boards etc... and with a little photo shopping skills, superimpose your designs (as Rob mentioned in the Vid) onto these products. This can keep you busy for months,, and its a lot of fun too. Use these images to inspire your potential customers as to what is possible. It will get their hearts beating faster, I promise. I have made a good living by doing the things I have written about here. I don't do much custom work any more because I have my own products that sell well and consistently.
Great advice! awesome. Really helpful to have you share some of your experience there!
Thanks for sharing your experience with running your own product design business. I'm literally at the beginning of the same journey, about to finish my NEIS (New Enterprise Incentive Scheme) and start my product design business, both as a service and making my own products to sell, so your video was immensely helpful.
Thank you . I am Ice Carving with cnc for 20 years and at end of 2019 bought laser to transition to Semi retirement business. . your video is really great .
with recent covid event our industry has been eliminated for nearly 90 days . I hope it is enough motivation to move forward. although my plan was to cut ice for 2 more years.
thanks again .
Hey i just watched your Christmas card video, incredible work! Just out of curiosity, does the water from the ice chips have a negative impact on your machine?
@@tschiess139 Good question >I have had for 4 years now i guess. it is in Freezer . recently with Covid I have turned off freezer . . Some stains from Cheap Ice blocks where found. buffed off with green pad . I seriously recommend the water cooled spindle .. with Glycol added to water.
so in short no ill effects. I do also recommend automatic Oil pump to linear rails .
@@ronaldmeyn2618 Thanks for the reply, i failed to consider it would be in the freezer. keep up the impressive work
This is one of the best and well presented videos that actually contains sensible and practical business sense information! I’m not Even someone who has anything to do with this type of craft or anything. I was just watching this video randomly and was really taken aback by your display and presentation! I really enjoyed your video and actually peaked interest into this type of craft. Thank you so much for sharing actual real information as well as business acumen with the world. May you be blessed for your truthfulness and honesty! I will watch your videos from now on. You have a loyal fan in Fort Worth, TX!
the rain noise in the background is soothing
great job doing the video!
You sir are a gentleman and a scholar for doing this video...very informative. I'm going for it...ordering a laser cutter in next couple of days. Many many thanks for taking the time to help complete strangers out. Subbed.
Wow, that city looked amazing! I wanna hear more about that stuff.
dude you have my dream job, im also an industrial designer, i really want to work doing props for movies and live in new zealand, youre so lucky!
Thanks for all the advice man this is gold!! I am waiting for my 80 watt laser to be delivered... so nervous. This video calms those nerves by providing some inside scoop on how to make some profit !! Much appreciated mate!
These are the sort of videos I wish most would make whilst explaining things. Just on the fact alone you are willing to let people use and sell your designs, you got yourself a new sub, well done mate!
Wow! You crushed it! Well done! Genuine and very solid/sensible advice!
Best ever speech about practical small business entrepreneurship.
A boom of useful information
Love sci fi and totally saw Blade Runner. You guys did an amazing job!!! The city and scenery were awe inspiring.
wow awesome bro, I just brought a small laser online to test the waters with my creativity in Laser engraving/cutting as something on the side, my mrs stays home so I simply wanted something where we can make money at home while I work and this was wickedly helpful as im in Auckland and just happen to come across this. Subbed and look forward to watching your vids. churr bro.
Your expertise in this field really reflect in your very thorough explanation, cheers!
Excellent, in-depth video of the whole process. One minor incorrect perception stated was related to shipping costs in other parts of the world. I believe he said the cost to ship from NZ was $7 and he stated in the United States it would be $3. The truth here is that for USPS Priority or Retail Ground (the cheapest shipping methods available) the shipping fees in the USA will START at around $7.50 and for me living somewhat in the center of the country, giving me an overall shipping cost advantage, the East and West Coasts are the most expensive zones (besides AK or HI) and costs for a 1or 2 lb package shipping there ranges from $8.50 to $12.00 depending on destination. You can't send laser products via media mail, and sending anything via Retail Ground is inconvenient because of my location... plus it costs between $23.20 and $66.50 for a common item because the item is classified as a dimensional weight item (based on bulk rather than weight - by their formula). The one advantage living in the United States DOES offer however, is a fairly substantial market. Given the political climate however, I'm really not sure how much longer that will be the case.
Thank you for taking the time to make this video, enjoyed listening to what you had to say.
Trying to get up my courage to buy an expensive machine for products I make. This was so helpful. Thanks for the numbers, especially.
Hi Sir, This is Hunter from Quick Laser .Kindly send mail to : mojiewen@quickestlaser.cn ,and my WhatsAPP NO is +8613761994748 . I'll share more info to you . Best Regards.
Im very grateful for the time you spend to help me and everyone!
The content is so rich. Really appreciate your work mate!
Thank you! Sometimes just hearing/seeing the steps and pros and cons we may or may not have already known are the kick in the butt we all need!
Rob, real nice of you serving others with your knowledge. Happy Easter.
I run a print house that specialise in box making and paper packagings. I have a Mitsubishi fiber laser cutter that is used for making stamping dies for the boxes that we print. We recently opened a rubber stamp making department and bought a Trotec Speedy 400 to engrave the stamps. The crazy thing is that we took up so much jobs that the machine paid for itself within like 1 and a half months. We were making 200+ rubber stamps per day from online orders and more than $2,000 profit each day.
That's amazing those buildings in blade runner 2049 were laser-cut, i thought they were CGI!
Probably a mixture of both
@@ukmeximan Good info, thanks :)
@@ukmeximan llmnmlml
Great video - concise, and explained with so much experiential leanings - big thank you!! You covered the Entrepreneurship module of my MBA in 14 minutes
Really appreciate the build guide! Just purchased the full set of plans and hope to get started when I'm back to work.
Dude you've got really good stuff here, I hope you upload again soon! I just got a k40 but I've always liked tinkering so thanks for teaching us!
Hello friend, Please check the G.weike fiber laser manufacturer, which served over 150 countries with 17 years of experience. My Whatsapp:+86 18563714947,we are the supplier of FSL,BOSS Laser in USA
Rain is nice. If you want to make a followup video, you could talk about more specific examples - focusing on certain hobbies, propmaking (like your background), architectural, tools/jigs etc.
Rob. Thank you so much for explaining each part..im new to this laser stuff n dont have idea on how to start making money i dont even have a product yet... any other info or ideas are appreciated... your the Best .again Thank you
Great video, honest, no gimicks. I hardly ever subscribe to people on TH-cam, but for what its worth, you are now in the club :)
Hey ma. This video is gold. Thanks alot. Am an enthusiast who is dreaming. . This definitely was super for me.
awsome video thanking you .helped heaps .im also in nz and just ordered a small hobby machine
Exceptional well presented that enabled me to clearly comprehend for a 76 year old
Thank you for sharing. I am in the process of setting up a machine in my garage to start my business
It's amazing when someone takes time out of their own schedule to try and help others. Thanks for that and keep up the great work, obviously you're talented, so all the best
Great video.....spoken like a true prodigy. This information is priceless for a guy like me whos just starting out. AWESOME filled up my white board ( yes I have white board )
Thank you for sharing. This was very helpful! (and I loved the sound of the rain!)
I was just looking for a laser engraver for hobby use and stumbled across this video, what great advice !
Hello friend, Please check the G.weike fiber laser manufacturer, which served over 150 countries with 17 years of experience. My Whatsapp:+86 18563714947,we are the supplier of FSL,BOSS Laser in USA
What a great video. Thanks for posting and helping those who are interested.
An amazing amount of great info in under 15 minutes!
WOW ... fascinating, didactic and altruistic ... CONGRATULATIONS ... a hug from Lisbon, Portugal, EU
iv bought your cad files just for the 3d printer parts but it all been helpful so far
Very helpful comparison. Thank you for sharing with actual data on costs and profits.
Thank Rob
Added this to my bookmarks.
Beauty work!
hey thanks bro. ive just brought a banggood jobbie to get started engraving boards. great vid man.
Very straight forward vid Rob. Thanks for someone trying to get started this is the kind of information that is needed the most, but most people overlook.
Very good video, informational without being boring, lots of good advice!
Excellent content provided, it summarises my years of experience in starting a business. It's very accurate, complete and to the point. Rare such really truthful and useful videos.
Going to point this video out to my digital fabrication class. Great info and well delivered.
Awesome tips, I think you did great, I’m a newbie/hobby so a lot of your info was ... wow did not know/think about 50% of this before... I actually learnt something, and you didn’t sound like a robot... lol thank you
Fantastic video. Really valuable advise, not only for the laser market.
AWESOME THANK YOU VERY MUCH !!! Very generous of you to share valuable insights and information good luck for your future 👌
Great advice! Just getting as much information as possible before I invest in a Laser...Thanks
Absolutely brilliant & wishing better for you & with quality like this the futures best is well deserved for you, top job & thanks for sharing your knowledge & experience 👍😉🥇
Nice presentation. Valuable information for any type of business. Well done.
Hey, thanks so much for making this video. I built my own laser cutter a while back and have been toying with the idea of starting a small business around it. This video really helped explain some of the ins and outs of what that would entail. I'm from South Africa btw. I would love to see more content like this. Cheers mate.
This is the best video I have seen about starting a laser cutting buisness! I have been looking for information about this for so long! You hit it right on the head! Thank you!
Really informative video. Thank you. Please make more!
I just bought an LOTR ring from Weta Workshop! Gonna propose to my boyfriend with it. Also, Blade Runner is one of our favorite movies! Thank you so much for the amazing laser cutting advice.
Very well spoken and well organized. Great job man.
Nice video
I don't even own a laser cutter, but I think this advice also goes really well with 3D printing
A friend just got a laser. Great and honest review. Thank you!
Hello friend, Please check the G.weike fiber laser manufacturer, which served over 150 countries with 17 years of experience. My Whatsapp:+86 18563714947,we are the supplier of FSL,BOSS Laser in USA
Thank you Sir... I took a lot away from your video and believe your knowledge and ideas can be useful to any trades person... 👍🏻
This is priceless information, I wish I had know the cons of a service based business before I started. But you've laid it out pretty well.
Good video i like it when you design things that can profit yourself, and the ideas about selling your product was an amazing lessons.... Keep it up