MatthewEmerick Report post Posted February 8, 2023 Does anyone know about how much time a laser cutter saves? For example, if cutting an intricate pattern takes 5 hours by hand, about how long would it save to laser cut? I'm really looking for a proportion, like 1/3 of the time. Even a rough estimate would help. My project is a set of leather armor. I have a pattern but it's fairly intricate and would take a while to cut it all out. I have a place that can cut it by laser for me, but it'll cost a couple of hundred dollars. I just want to know if it would be worth it. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastorBob Report post Posted February 8, 2023 Would it be cutting out the actual pieces or creating a pattern in said pieces? Do you have all the images digitized already if it's to cut out individual pieces? Are you doing this as a one-off or are you planning on making more of the same? Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MatthewEmerick Report post Posted February 8, 2023 It would cut out the pieces as well as mark a border for me to do more work on. I have all of the files (36 total) for the armor. The breastplate file is the largest, as it's all there. The others are collections of smaller files. This is just a one-off project. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
PastorBob Report post Posted February 8, 2023 3 hours ago, MatthewEmerick said: It would cut out the pieces as well as mark a border for me to do more work on. I have all of the files (36 total) for the armor. The breastplate file is the largest, as it's all there. The others are collections of smaller files. This is just a one-off project. If it is a commissioned piece, is the client willing to pay an additional $200 bucks. if you charge $20 per hour, will it take you less than 10 hours to cut out by hand? Since it is a one-off, I would probably do it by hand. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ArkieNewbie Report post Posted February 21, 2023 It would also depend on the thickness of the leather and power of the laser. For $200 you're not going to get much over a 5.5 watt laser. In my experience it takes my 5.5W laser about 12 passes to cut 5/6oz leather. Keep in mind I do not have an air assist. If you were to have an air assist it may cut off some passes. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MatthewEmerick Report post Posted February 23, 2023 I just got the latest quote. It will be around $500, which is more than I spent on leather for the project. I'm turning it down and plan to just spend several dozen hours cutting leather. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
