40W Chinese Laser - Engrave and Cut Leather - Discuss

[Bert03241]

dont buy a glowforge. look at Rabbit ,Thunder or boss lasers they have financing and youll be a whole lot happier. I bought a rabbit laser 6 years ago and very happy. It cost a little more but for the support and reliability of this laser it was worth it.

 

[ToddW]

which Rabbit model did you buy?  The cheapest I saw on their website was $7,800.. I would have to do A LOT of work to pay for that one..

[Bert03241]

34 minutes ago, ToddW said:

which Rabbit model did you buy?  The cheapest I saw on their website was $7,800.. I would have to do A LOT of work to pay for that one..

thats the one I bought but it was 5 years ago and on sale I paid 4 plus I picked it up at the factory no shipping fees

 

Just now, Bert03241 said:

thats the one I bought 60watt  60x40 but it was 5 years ago and on sale I paid 4

 

Edited January 12, 2022 by Bert03241

[Nikos69]

Be careful with lasered stitch holes since they will have soot transfer over to the thread. You will have to clean out the holes which is a pain. I resorted to have the laser mark the stitch holes with the same spacing as my irons.

[mchaney2003]

17 hours ago, Nikos69 said:

Be careful with lasered stitch holes since they will have soot transfer over to the thread. You will have to clean out the holes which is a pain. I resorted to have the laser mark the stitch holes with the same spacing as my irons.

This may be dependent on the strength of your laser. I use a 60W OMTech CO2 laser and have never had this issue; I laser cut every hole for my hand stitching. 

EDIT:: After re-reading the question I realized you said soot TRANSFER to the thread. Thats very dependent on the air pressure you have coming from the nozzle of the laser. I run about 25psi for cutting and have clean holes with no soot in them. I do still do a quick scrub afterward with some saddle soap or light dawn dish soap. 

Edited January 23, 2022 by mchaney2003

[ToddW]

One thing I completely overlooked is that I use a lot of chrome tanned leather.. most specifically one from Lefarc as I really like.  Have been spending the weekend reading about cutting chrome tanned leather with laser is toxic.. some say is bad for the laser although I can't find any data to support that.. might void warranty, not a clean cut as veg tan.etc..etc..etc...  I was looking hard at a Glowforge.. tempted by the boss and rabbit as the lasers are a lot stronger.  Glowforge is 40w and 45w.. just about e everyone says I would be happier with them over the glowforge. The place I want to put my laser cutter is by a window and I can vent out easily and its on the second floor so no near people.  I have looked at the filters as well..  Anyway.. deepens my questions and causing me to put off again.  I really want the laser for playing around with design and small volume stuff.

at the end of the day, I don't have a fortune to spend.  I think I am pretty set on the Cowboy class 26 sewing machine.. Was weighing the Glowforge Plus vs the basic.. or buy a clicker.  I don't have 220 or 3 phase power where I work.  That would probably have me weighing the Mighty wonder 8 ton clicker with a bed of 12" x 24.  The Glowforge is 11″ (279 mm) deep and 19.5″ (495 mm) wide but has a front loading slot so you can go long if you need to.  If I go the press, I loose the ability to etch a logo so back to dies..

This chrome tan thing brought me right back around to the clicker vs laser..

[mchaney2003]

29 minutes ago, ToddW said:

One thing I completely overlooked is that I use a lot of chrome tanned leather.. most specifically one from Lefarc as I really like.  Have been spending the weekend reading about cutting chrome tanned leather with laser is toxic.. some say is bad for the laser although I can't find any data to support that.. might void warranty, not a clean cut as veg tan.etc..etc..etc...  I was looking hard at a Glowforge.. tempted by the boss and rabbit as the lasers are a lot stronger.  Glowforge is 40w and 45w.. just about e everyone says I would be happier with them over the glowforge. The place I want to put my laser cutter is by a window and I can vent out easily and its on the second floor so no near people.  I have looked at the filters as well..  Anyway.. deepens my questions and causing me to put off again.  I really want the laser for playing around with design and small volume stuff.

at the end of the day, I don't have a fortune to spend.  I think I am pretty set on the Cowboy class 26 sewing machine.. Was weighing the Glowforge Plus vs the basic.. or buy a clicker.  I don't have 220 or 3 phase power where I work.  That would probably have me weighing the Mighty wonder 8 ton clicker with a bed of 12" x 24.  The Glowforge is 11″ (279 mm) deep and 19.5″ (495 mm) wide but has a front loading slot so you can go long if you need to.  If I go the press, I loose the ability to etch a logo so back to dies..

This chrome tan thing brought me right back around to the clicker vs laser..

I cut chrome tanned leathers all the time. It is NOT nearly as bad as some uninformed folks say. There are several threads on the Glowforge forums about this as well. 

Also, do not buy a Glowforge. PLEASE do not waste your money. You will pay twice as much, for a laser with half the bed size, that cuts half as quickly. I am not exaggerating. 

You want to get a chinese laser, at least a 50W, hopefully a 60W. Do NOT get a 40W, these are basically shenanigans. 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/1364016877267714 <- This group has a lot of info and is a great resource. 

[ToddW]

if you don't mind me asking.. what do you have?  

I have 2 tarantula PRUSA 3d printers that I have had to mess with.. Carbon fiber boards, better print heads etc..etc..etc.. Very difficult to get going and LOTS of jacking with.  I bought an Ultimaker 2 a while back and the thing just works.. over and over and over..  No Jacking with.  My point is that my experience with the chinese 3d printer was not that great although it ultimately worked.  Kinda like the chinese cobler machine I bought.. it sews.. but lots of jacking with..  I am definitely not opposed to doing work..  I am very mechanical and software savy.. but.. I really want something to work out of the box and work over and over..

What I want is a large cutting bed.. camera inside so I can see.. My preference would be to have something that I can feed material for long pieces like this shotgun case..   Glowforge does all that..  the pro is a 45w but at $5K, you start getting closer to the Boss or rabbit.  I do like the financing option as well..  The leather I tend to go to is a chrome tan leather.  I can vent out or buy a filter.. Not super concerned with the fumes as the laser is by a window I can vent out of.  I do want it for stuff I will be selling so needs to be professional grade.  Probably looking at it wrong, but I have viewed the glowforge like my Mac.  Can I get a more powerful, more feature Intel or AMD laptop cheaper.. yes.. but my Mac just works...

I do appreciate the conversation.. Just looking to be pointed int he right direction as my brain is hurting..   I am "almost" to the point of just going the 8 ton might wonder clicker route but really don't want to have to continually have dies made until I know something is going to sell..

[mchaney2003]

23 minutes ago, ToddW said:

if you don't mind me asking.. what do you have?  

I have 2 tarantula PRUSA 3d printers that I have had to mess with.. Carbon fiber boards, better print heads etc..etc..etc.. Very difficult to get going and LOTS of jacking with.  I bought an Ultimaker 2 a while back and the thing just works.. over and over and over..  No Jacking with.  My point is that my experience with the chinese 3d printer was not that great although it ultimately worked.  Kinda like the chinese cobler machine I bought.. it sews.. but lots of jacking with..  I am definitely not opposed to doing work..  I am very mechanical and software savy.. but.. I really want something to work out of the box and work over and over..

What I want is a large cutting bed.. camera inside so I can see.. My preference would be to have something that I can feed material for long pieces like this shotgun case..   Glowforge does all that..  the pro is a 45w but at $5K, you start getting closer to the Boss or rabbit.  I do like the financing option as well..  The leather I tend to go to is a chrome tan leather.  I can vent out or buy a filter.. Not super concerned with the fumes as the laser is by a window I can vent out of.  I do want it for stuff I will be selling so needs to be professional grade.  Probably looking at it wrong, but I have viewed the glowforge like my Mac.  Can I get a more powerful, more feature Intel or AMD laptop cheaper.. yes.. but my Mac just works...

I do appreciate the conversation.. Just looking to be pointed int he right direction as my brain is hurting..   I am "almost" to the point of just going the 8 ton might wonder clicker route but really don't want to have to continually have dies made until I know something is going to sell..

I purchased the OMTech 60W with a 20" x 24" bed. It has dual passthroughs, so I use it for making belts. It ran me about $2200 after shipping, and I put about 800 worth of upgrades into it as soon as I got it. I use a software called Lightburn with it, and I believe Lightburn can run on a mac. 

 

I use this for engraving custom designs into leather - I can find a cool pic I like on the internet, convert it to a vector in 15 minutes, and have it burned onto leather and cut out in no time. I can also set it to engrave and cut 20 small designs and just read a book while it makes me money. Its friggin great. 

 

[ToddW]

ok.. definitely sounds interesting and price is very attractive..and agree bigger more powerful than a glowforge.

If you don't mind, which 60w did you buy as they are $2,800 + shipping on OMTech's website.  The 50w are more along the pricing you mentioned.  Also interested in the upgrades you chose as I see fan's, chillers, filters, etc..  I would like to work through the unit and options to see where I am at..

Lightburn does work on a mac and supports camera..  Also looks like OMTech has financing..

what would be nice is to take a pdf plan.. import it and hit a button to cut.  What I would engrave is branding/logo's on my wallets..