Very cool, Tim. Several years ago I had a job in which I used CO2, fiber, and YAG diode marking lasers to make equipment ID plates and labels. Because the diode laser software allowed more control of laser pulse width and frequency, we were able to mark stainless and brass very well and even aluminum somewhat successfully. The aluminum was more just a contrast in texture rather than color. With the stainless, we could even get some subtle color variations (blues, reds, purples). With the brass, especially, it was important to make two passes at different power, speed, pulse width and pulse frequency to get a high contrast mark.
If you are going to make a fixture for doing the key fobs make it to take multiple fobs at a time and run them as a single job. That way you will only run the focus once per fixture with a batch of fobs. Failing that, get into the G code and workout what the focusing routine is and how it calculates and stores the focus height. Then you could edit the G code to remove the focussing stage and just input the value.
@TimWelds this was very helpful. I have been looking for that showed more than wood. Are you going to do any more material testing? Like on jewelry, glass and clear acrylic(with black card stock under it).
A external air pump can be good. Internal ones could be proprietary design or of a type that is hard to replace. External you can just pop one on from a large selection available. Might not look the same, but it's the CFM that counts. Should also be cheaper.
laser goes with any color , only white takes a little tweak. make it a tad stronger and slower in the settings and it pretty much works and even if you can have a filter coupled to your machine , never - ever - use it with PVC or anything chlorine in the mix. you'd be basically creating sarin gas/ mustard fumes. and die... other than that, great fun
Awesome review. During the demonstration of the leather keychains is what I was looking for throughout YoutUbe and only found it here on your channel. Your correct, and glade it is not me. WeCreat is off engraving if not dead center of the laser plate. For the life of me I couldn’t do batching with serval of the keychains, the engraving would turned out good maybe one or two, others way off. I guess I’m not the only one who caught this.
The problem with doing work to pay for the machine, much less making a profit, isn’t as easy as most people think. The biggest problem is where are you going to sell small things that everyone else is also making? I’m pretty skeptical about that. These things are best for what you were talking about in using it for, visualization for prototyping. Most people end up using this for little personal things. It’s like small 3D printers that people get excited about, but just end up printing little Star Wars souvenirs and chess pieces. If someone is planning to buy one of these, or a 3D printer, don’t expect to use the excuse of making money with it. Instead, if you have something you need to do that these machines will help you with, and if the value of that, to you, is worth the expense of the machine, then go for it. But in general, don’t expect these to pay for themselves in actual money.
That really depends on your creativity. If I were to agree with your comment, then perhaps it could be addressed for all types of crafting: sewing and embroidery machines, vinyl cutters (such as Cricut, Brother Scan N Cut, Siser Romeo & Juliet), heat presses, and sublimation tools. The fact is, it's not entirely true. Someone who is well-skilled or gifted in the craft world and has an artistic eye to create something from WeCreat or any other lasers will most likely succeed in making revenue. It’s being done every day and proven. It is really hard to place a limit on what works for one person and not another. No matter the tool being used to create something out of nothing, it is a trillion-dollar business. So, the odds of getting a laser to pay for itself look pretty damn good, in my opinion.😎
@@LouRao actually, it’s difficult to make money with these things. Some people do it. But even on TH-cam there are many who have said they couldn’t. And you’re not hearing from the vast majority who don’t come to TH-cam. It’s a business and businesses are hard. I know, because it had two over the years.
@@algerienaucanada a couple. And others have tried and said that they failed. It’s difficult. Just because a few are successful doesn’t mean most will be.
I keep hearing the phrase, 'single pass'. If I have thicker wood, can it cut with multiple passes? Is there an option or would I just need to re-run the job to cut twice?
Hello thinking of getting one but I would like to see if there is anyway I can laser on a basketball with this machine or is there a way to make it work?
Very good informational video Tim, thank you. I'd love to get one but at 71 I need to get rid of my tools (to old to use them! LOL!). I've got a problem of buying new interesting tools without a purpose to use them (it's a "I've got them just in case"). Thanks again for your videos, your a down to earth person doing a great job.
Hey Tim. Huge fan. I've been following your videos since the day I started welding. You've been so influential and helpful in my journey to welding. This comment does not pertain to this video. I figured my best chance at reaching you would be through a comment on your most recent video. As there is no contact information for people to ask questions such as an email address. That I know of anyways. To my question. I recently ran across a video that said it was Mag welding. I thought it was a typo at first but upon some light research I found out Mag welding is a totally different process then Mig. This was a shock to me as I thought I knew about all the processes of welding. I was wondering if you could do a video explaining the differences between mig and mag and where it would apply or how you would use it. I can't find any youtube videos explaining it surprisingly. Thanks man. Have a good day.
That’s a great suggestion, I get asked about this all the time. Whenever there’s an active component to the gas, which is basically always the case with steel, it’s technically MAG. In the US, most people call all of it MIG, so I use that term. The technically correct term for all of it is Gas Metal Arc Welding. I wouldn’t call it a totally different process, you use the same machine and basically the same technique. It’s more important to understand the different transfer modes, which I go over in a video called 5 types of MIG welding explained.
Hello, I have bought the 20w unit a while ago and keep running into few issues and I was wondering if anyone else has this issue and how to diagnose and solve them. One of the problems is that when after autofocus I run the job, the laser hits the object and pushes it down which damages the laser. Another issue is that it keeps disconnecting the USB. Also, at times I click on the start button but nothing happens and after a while it says sending the job was not successful. The same problem happens when I click the button to start the job. Thank you.
Sorry off topic but can I get a gut check on this quote? I was quoted over $400 for 4x8 .25” hot rolled plate. I don’t have any local welding friends or know other shops so I’m trying to get an idea if this is a good price. Seems insane but I’ve heard prices are awful and I’m not in the market for bulk prices. Thanks.
I agree, "repeat last job" would be an awesome addition. Thanks for sharing your thought
Copy and paste works to do multiple
Very cool, Tim. Several years ago I had a job in which I used CO2, fiber, and YAG diode marking lasers to make equipment ID plates and labels. Because the diode laser software allowed more control of laser pulse width and frequency, we were able to mark stainless and brass very well and even aluminum somewhat successfully. The aluminum was more just a contrast in texture rather than color. With the stainless, we could even get some subtle color variations (blues, reds, purples). With the brass, especially, it was important to make two passes at different power, speed, pulse width and pulse frequency to get a high contrast mark.
If you are going to make a fixture for doing the key fobs make it to take multiple fobs at a time and run them as a single job. That way you will only run the focus once per fixture with a batch of fobs. Failing that, get into the G code and workout what the focusing routine is and how it calculates and stores the focus height. Then you could edit the G code to remove the focussing stage and just input the value.
@TimWelds this was very helpful. I have been looking for that showed more than wood. Are you going to do any more material testing? Like on jewelry, glass and clear acrylic(with black card stock under it).
A external air pump can be good. Internal ones could be proprietary design or of a type that is hard to replace. External you can just pop one on from a large selection available. Might not look the same, but it's the CFM that counts. Should also be cheaper.
Nice machine
We own a Zing, CO2 system. Works good, great software, but big learning curve.
Nice video.
Thank You. I learned much needed info.
Where do you get your material for the patches for hats? Thanks for this video. I just bought it! I want to start doing patches for my hats!
Great review! I ended up getting it since I am a beginner
laser goes with any color , only white takes a little tweak. make it a tad stronger and slower in the settings and it pretty much works
and even if you can have a filter coupled to your machine , never - ever - use it with PVC or anything chlorine in the mix. you'd be basically creating sarin gas/ mustard fumes. and die...
other than that, great fun
Awesome review. During the demonstration of the leather keychains is what I was looking for throughout YoutUbe and only found it here on your channel. Your correct, and glade it is not me. WeCreat is off engraving if not dead center of the laser plate. For the life of me I couldn’t do batching with serval of the keychains, the engraving would turned out good maybe one or two, others way off. I guess I’m not the only one who caught this.
The problem with doing work to pay for the machine, much less making a profit, isn’t as easy as most people think. The biggest problem is where are you going to sell small things that everyone else is also making? I’m pretty skeptical about that. These things are best for what you were talking about in using it for, visualization for prototyping. Most people end up using this for little personal things. It’s like small 3D printers that people get excited about, but just end up printing little Star Wars souvenirs and chess pieces. If someone is planning to buy one of these, or a 3D printer, don’t expect to use the excuse of making money with it. Instead, if you have something you need to do that these machines will help you with, and if the value of that, to you, is worth the expense of the machine, then go for it. But in general, don’t expect these to pay for themselves in actual money.
Exactly! Or don't look at it as a tool to make money. Look at it more as a hobby for yourself.
That really depends on your creativity. If I were to agree with your comment, then perhaps it could be addressed for all types of crafting: sewing and embroidery machines, vinyl cutters (such as Cricut, Brother Scan N Cut, Siser Romeo & Juliet), heat presses, and sublimation tools. The fact is, it's not entirely true. Someone who is well-skilled or gifted in the craft world and has an artistic eye to create something from WeCreat or any other lasers will most likely succeed in making revenue. It’s being done every day and proven. It is really hard to place a limit on what works for one person and not another. No matter the tool being used to create something out of nothing, it is a trillion-dollar business. So, the odds of getting a laser to pay for itself look pretty damn good, in my opinion.😎
@@LouRao actually, it’s difficult to make money with these things. Some people do it. But even on TH-cam there are many who have said they couldn’t. And you’re not hearing from the vast majority who don’t come to TH-cam. It’s a business and businesses are hard. I know, because it had two over the years.
It depends. I saw a couple of sellers are making a killing using this kind of machines. Creativity is a must to survive.
@@algerienaucanada a couple. And others have tried and said that they failed. It’s difficult. Just because a few are successful doesn’t mean most will be.
I keep hearing the phrase, 'single pass'. If I have thicker wood, can it cut with multiple passes? Is there an option or would I just need to re-run the job to cut twice?
Hello thinking of getting one but I would like to see if there is anyway I can laser on a basketball with this machine or is there a way to make it work?
Very good informational video Tim, thank you. I'd love to get one but at 71 I need to get rid of my tools (to old to use them! LOL!). I've got a problem of buying new interesting tools without a purpose to use them (it's a "I've got them just in case"). Thanks again for your videos, your a down to earth person doing a great job.
These days everyone should have a simple 3d printer and a cnc laser is a good tool for transferring designs to material from pc
Bearing Hanger for a Go Kart axle. I know that layout well...
Hey Tim. Huge fan. I've been following your videos since the day I started welding. You've been so influential and helpful in my journey to welding. This comment does not pertain to this video. I figured my best chance at reaching you would be through a comment on your most recent video. As there is no contact information for people to ask questions such as an email address. That I know of anyways.
To my question.
I recently ran across a video that said it was Mag welding. I thought it was a typo at first but upon some light research I found out Mag welding is a totally different process then Mig. This was a shock to me as I thought I knew about all the processes of welding.
I was wondering if you could do a video explaining the differences between mig and mag and where it would apply or how you would use it. I can't find any youtube videos explaining it surprisingly.
Thanks man. Have a good day.
That’s a great suggestion, I get asked about this all the time. Whenever there’s an active component to the gas, which is basically always the case with steel, it’s technically MAG. In the US, most people call all of it MIG, so I use that term. The technically correct term for all of it is Gas Metal Arc Welding. I wouldn’t call it a totally different process, you use the same machine and basically the same technique. It’s more important to understand the different transfer modes, which I go over in a video called 5 types of MIG welding explained.
That's awesome!!
Can it cut and engrave on rubber?
Nice!
Hello, I have bought the 20w unit a while ago and keep running into few issues and I was wondering if anyone else has this issue and how to diagnose and solve them. One of the problems is that when after autofocus I run the job, the laser hits the object and pushes it down which damages the laser. Another issue is that it keeps disconnecting the USB. Also, at times I click on the start button but nothing happens and after a while it says sending the job was not successful. The same problem happens when I click the button to start the job. Thank you.
You should be able to claim it on tax,seems to be a great toy,(machine) looks very useful, thanks for sharing, all the best to you and your loved ones
Can it cut metal?
Sorry off topic but can I get a gut check on this quote? I was quoted over $400 for 4x8 .25” hot rolled plate. I don’t have any local welding friends or know other shops so I’m trying to get an idea if this is a good price. Seems insane but I’ve heard prices are awful and I’m not in the market for bulk prices. Thanks.
It’s about right for retail, but it’s always worth calling a few places.
@@TimWelds thank you!
I would maybe change that thumbnail- this is not a simple laser. Seems like a decent product though, nice review!
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👌🏼😎