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I had posted in the CNC thread about taking my first steps into CNC milling, maybe getting a desktop kit or even build one myself. It was recommended to me that for my needs, I'd maybe want a laser cutter instead. First, here's what I posted in the CNC thread:quote:I've had this project I've wanted to do for years. I "collect" comic books, quoting because I don't care for the collecting part of it. I buy comics to read them. Putting them into longboxes in my closet never interested me. What I've always wanted to do is to put collections of my single-issue comics on my bookshelf, along with my trade paperbacks and hardcovers. My idea is custom-sized magazine holders[url]. The kind you buy at the store, they just come in one size. I want specific sizes for each collection. I have stories ranging from three issues to twenty six and beyond. I made these out of cardboard and duct tape; [url=http://i.imgur.com/lQJQdBG.jpg?1]they came out alright. I wasn't satisfied with the process, though. It took too long to make each one, and they aren't as strong as I'd like. They just don't hold up well. I stopped making them, and have struggled with conceptualizing a new design ever since. The laser cutter does make a lot of sense for me. The main use I'm looking out of this would be to carve wood about 1/4" or so thick, making jig joints. I have a lot of concerns about the laser cutter, though. * The unreliability of the Chinese product. I'm no stranger to buying products from the East, understanding that it could turn out to be a lemon. I jumped on the bandwagon a few years ago when people figured out that Korea was making cheap 28" LCD monitors. But with that I know what to expect, and I know what it would look like if it doesn't work. I wouldn't know how to inspect a laser cutter for damage or defect. My biggest fear is I get the K40, I try to use it, it doesn't work and I am just left clueless as to why. I love the price, but man, I'd love to spend a little more to get a tested product. * I live in an apartment. A desktop CNC machine would have its own issues here too, but with the laser cutter I am worried about fumes. I expect to use this thing beyond my little woodworking project, and get into plastics. I get that I can have the fumes sent to a windows, I think I can pull that off, but that doesn't just make the problem disappear. I have neighbors literally right on top of me. * A laser cutter is similar to a 2.5 axis CNC mill, I imagine. That's all I'd need for my comic book holder project, but again, I'm going to want to expand, and the idea of full 3 axis milling is very interesting. * But it's not true 2.5 axis, is it? One reason why CNC sounds like my solution, and not something hand-made, is the engraving. A laser cutter won't actually engrave, though, right? It doesn't create so much depth, as it scorches or etches the material. The idea I had is that I would carry over what I did with my previous design: using duct tape, I had boxes made of different colors. DC is blue, Marvel is red, Batman is black, etc etc. With engraving, I could keep all the boxes plain wood, but color in the engraving. I think it would look good. Laser cutting etching looks really sharp too, but I think the colors would help each box stand out more in my bookshelf. After all that, there is still a lot going for the laser cutter. It seems like a cheaper point of entry, and it appears easier as well. I'm especially disappointed with the cost of desktop CNC. In my research, I see that the whole point of the first Shapeoko was the ridiculous price that they got it down. Fast forward to now and the current model is about a thousand bucks. I think if I could find a Shakeopo 2 for sale, which originally retailed around $600, I'd jump at it.
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May 4, 2016 16:04
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| # ¿ May 6, 2024 08:19 |
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