Budget Laser Cutter

[Thinkfreely]

I am fairly new to modding. I have done custom painting and acrylic pieces but I wanted to see if anyone know of a good laser cutter I can use for acrylic sheets that I can use in my garage? I know one of the concerns is certain engravers give off fumes, but I also know there are laser cutters that are safe in a open garage type situation.

Any help on this would be great, looking for a maybe a DIY cutter for $200-$400.

[W-L]

5 hours ago, Thinkfreely said:

I am fairly new to modding. I have done custom painting and acrylic pieces but I wanted to see if anyone know of a good laser cutter I can use for acrylic sheets that I can use in my garage? I know one of the concerns is certain engravers give off fumes, but I also know there are laser cutters that are safe in a open garage type situation.

Any help on this would be great, looking for a maybe a DIY cutter for $200-$400.

For that cost you are in the laser engraver territory not laser cutting, even cheap Chinese laser cutters usually start in the 1K range.  There are laser engravers that can also do some minor cutting such as the Eleksmaker brand but it's limited very limited in what it can do. You would be best to source a local plastics supplier and supply them cut files to have them do the work to have the finish parts in hand. 

 

https://www.banggood.com/2500mW-A3-30x40cm-Desktop-DIY-Violet-Laser-Engraver-Picture-CNC-Printer-Assembling-Kits-p-1003863.html?cur_warehouse=USA

 

[Thinkfreely]

6 minutes ago, W-L said:

For that cost you are in the laser engraver territory not laser cutting, even cheap Chinese laser cutters usually start in the 1K range.  There are laser engravers that can also do some minor cutting such as the Eleksmaker brand but it's limited very limited in what it can do. You would be best to source a local plastics supplier and supply them cut files to have them do the work to have the finish parts in hand. 

 

https://www.banggood.com/2500mW-A3-30x40cm-Desktop-DIY-Violet-Laser-Engraver-Picture-CNC-Printer-Assembling-Kits-p-1003863.html?cur_warehouse=USA

 

But I have seen videos of people using DIY acrylic cutters that don't seem expensive?

[W-L]

10 minutes ago, Thinkfreely said:

But I have seen videos of people using DIY acrylic cutters that don't seem expensive?

The expensive part is not the mechanical components of the cutter but the laser tube if it’s CO2 or diodes themselves and the drivers that power them. Most of the hobby diodes you see won’t be able to cut through stuff or will require multiple passes. 

 

For example this diode is a 5500mw unit that can do some minor cutting, most of these can’t do clear products.

https://m.banggood.com/EleksMaker-EL01-5500-445nm-5500mW-Blue-Laser-Module-PWM-Modulation-2_54-3P-DIY-Engraver-p-1287790.html?rmmds=detail-bottom-alsolike#popupStatedetail

[Thinkfreely]

35 minutes ago, W-L said:

The expensive part is not the mechanical components of the cutter but the laser tube if it’s CO2 or diodes themselves and the drivers that power them. Most of the hobby diodes you see won’t be able to cut through stuff or will require multiple passes. 

 

For example this diode is a 5500mw unit that can do some minor cutting, most of these can’t do clear products.

https://m.banggood.com/EleksMaker-EL01-5500-445nm-5500mW-Blue-Laser-Module-PWM-Modulation-2_54-3P-DIY-Engraver-p-1287790.html?rmmds=detail-bottom-alsolike#popupStatedetail

 Thats very helpful. I am really getting into pc modding, and right  now I cut acrylic with my motosaw/ by hand, but I really want to start doing software for precision.

[W-L]

11 hours ago, Thinkfreely said:

 Thats very helpful. I am really getting into pc modding, and right  now I cut acrylic with my motosaw/ by hand, but I really want to start doing software for precision.

If you are planning to do a lot of laser work it may be worth while to save up for a cheap high wattage CO2 laser from China.