[KeithOKC]

Hi Guys,

I have had lasers before, but this is my first Chinese laser. As such I intend to share my experience with Thunder Laser, as each step with the order happens I will update this thread for the community, to help others that may wish to import.

Machine ordered:
Mars 130 Plus laser
+ With EFR ZN-1650 130w tube
+ Upgrade to 5200 Water chiller from 5000 water chiller
+ Pass-through to be sealed with metal
+ Tube is longer than machine, to be enclosed in metal extension on machine

Extras Ordered:
- extra 2 inch head and lens
- extra 4 inch head and lens
- extra 2 inch focal lens
- extra 4 inch focal lens
- extra power supply
- extra motherboard + other boards on system and RDC6442G lcd controller panel
- extra servo motor
- extra servo motor driver
- molybdenum laser reflection mirrors - QTY 6
- 6 meter extra x, y belt
- extra open flap sensor
- extra honeycomb and frame
- extra screws for mirror mounts and lens


Events & Experience (so far):
1) 6-27-2015 - started talking to Nolan @ Thunder Laser - Nolan was very prompt to answer
2) 7-9-2015 - Placed order with Nolan at Thunder Laser - To ship within 3 weeks
3) 7-10-2015 - Wired 30% deposit to Thunder Laser, Nolan confirmed receipt - laser to ship within 3 weeks

[Gozzie]

Hi Keith,

I think these reviews and timelines are wonderful help tools for anyone interested in lasers. It can really help folks make informed decisions on their purchases especially when buying overseas.
I know it helped me a lot reading the reviews from others before me. It upped my confidence level considerably.
Keep us all informed along the way. It really is good reading.

Gozzie

[KeithOKC]

Photo of exhaust and the plate Thunder Laser is adding to seal the pass-through gap.

[Nolan Yang]

Hi Keith, thank you for sharing your experience with others.
by the way, I sent a video to your email, do you receive it?

[KeithOKC]

Hi Nolan, yes I received the video thank you

[2fast4u66]

Keith,

I know you watched my review of my mars90 from thunder laser, now it's my turn to watch yours Really curious for your review on this large machine compared to your domestic machines. I'm not sure your plans with it, guessing large through cutting? I be curious on the engraving detail work. With it being such a huge machine I'm sure it will loose some detail work, again, just curious what the differences will be. As you know you're only paying a fraction so there has to be give somewhere.

We've gone weeks running the mars90 8 hrs a day. Last month it paid for itself. Only 'upgrade' I did is run shop air to it with a 120 volt solenoid that I plugged into the output for the air compressor output so the machine turns the 'air' on and off.

Killer machine, software takes minutes to learn and is super easy.

We just recently plugged the ethernet port into our router and now we can download and START files in another room! So nice when the designer can download files wireless!

Sorry for the ramble and hijack! Just excited as these machines prove you dont have to spend tons of money to get great results! Should have my second machine in a month!

[Nolan Yang]

Hi Keith, can you post some of product or the machine, let them see the effect directly. :cheers:

[KeithOKC]

2fast looking forward to receiving it, planning on using it for cutting, hoping it lives up to expectations

[Nolan Yang]

Hi Keith, we have sent out the machine to the shipping company warehouse today, when we receive the ISF information, I will send to you.
Keep in touch. :banana:

[KeithOKC]

Little update on the progress so far

7-23-2015 Received video of laser working
7-23-2015 Thunder laser says the laser is ready to ship! Asked us to send the remaining 70% of payment
7-28-2015 Remaining 70% wire transferred to Thunder Laser
7-30-2015 Nolan notified me they had sent the laser to the warehouse to prepare for shipping
8-12-2015 I emailed Nolan to check on the order and if it has shipped. Says yes it has shipped but no shipping info yet?

So far communication has been good, but they are a little behind the initial 3 week timetable we were given. We're now a little over 4 weeks in and I am told it has shipped but we have no shipping info yet or an eta.

[2fast4u66]

I think it sits at the china shipping facility for a while before going anywhere. Hopefully it's simple as they dont have any info either

[Nolan Yang]

Hi Keith, send all the papers to your email, please check it. :banana:

[KeithOKC]

Thanks got the forms. Have a great weekend!

[KeithOKC]

Update:
8-18-2015 Was contacted by thunder laser's shipping forwarder. Very nice person, very professional. Sent the documents we needed to import the laser over 2 days later
8-22-2015 Laser arrived in USA. Extra $319.42 china to us freight forwarder charge and fees, on top of the $475 us to china shipping from Thunder laser.
9-10-2015 Laser clears customs and ready to ship to us. USA La to oklahoma shipping $710.00 + all other fees. - Wired money to Customs Broker

Thoughts so far:

+ Transit is moving smooth.

- It's looking like my total transit and importing bill will be around $2396.44. This is about ($400) more than I expected at the max. Duties and taxes were not to bad, it's the shipping charges ($475), destination delivery charges ($319.42), unloading charges ($101.73), and inland shipping ($712) that are getting expensive quick..

- I was surprised at the extra $319.42 destination delivery charge, I thought the $475 would include most of the fees to get the laser stateside and then I would have to pay duties and taxes and such. The duties and taxes were expected, the extra $319.42 on top of all the other fees was not. ($319.42 = AMS charge, ddc charge, d/o fee, pier pass, clean truck, chassis fee, psf, port security charge).

- Next up they will load the laser and transport it to Oklahoma ($712 fee). This is about $250 more than Houston would have been I now realize. Live and learn for next time.

+ If all goes as planned I should have it in the next week or two, about a month ahead of schedule!

[Nolan Yang]

Hi Keith,
I remember shipping cost is USD 475, it includes all documents fees in China port, the transportation from our factory to China port, and from china port to your sea port, insurance during shipping.
when the machine arrives at the port, you still need to pay local fees to your local shipping company(destination delivery charges, unloading charges, and other customs fees and documents fees)
then the machine will be sent to the warehouse. of course, if you ask shipping company transport it to your door, they will charge you inland shipping.
USD 712 is a little expensive, I wonder whether it is far from warehouse to Oklahoma.(I'am not familiar with the geography in USA, sorry)
can you send the bill to us, I can check whether it is normal.

[KeithOKC]

Hi Nolan,

The $319.42 destination delivery charge on top of the $475 shipping is what took me by surprise, I'll shoot this over to you.

[KeithOKC]

Ok I finally was able to get the boxes out using a farm jack + jack stands.

I don't have it running yet but I thought I'd share some photos of the unboxing.

Notes:
1. Most of it appears to be in very good condition after the travel overseas.
2. Spare cutting honeycomb was a bit dinged up (see photos)
3. They appear to have sent me the wrong mirrors. Cheaper gold mirrors instead of the Molybdenum laser mirrors I was told will come with it. This is problematic as 130 watt will crack these mirrors fairly quickly due to the heat. That's why I speced the molybdenum laser mirrors. I have an email into Nolan @ Thunder laser on this, I hope they will send replacements.
4. I appear to be short the control board spares I ordered. Email in to Nolan @ Thunder laser on this as well.
5. On the tube there is a black spot just below the end (see photo) unsure if this normal, or anything to worry about? Also the black bands holding the power cables to the tube, do those need removed or can I leave them during operation?
6. Everything else seems ok, I will know more once we get it wired up.
7. Photos of unpacking below. Note the photo with the double doors. It's hard to imagine how big this thing is without a size comparison, we just barely cleared those double doors with only 2" on each side!

[Nolan Yang]

Hi Keith, thank you for the pictures, and I receive your email and reply you just now. I copy the answers and post it on the comment section.
1. the mirrors are Mo, but these are spare ones, you don't use it right now. In order to protect it,
its surface is coated with glod layer, you can use alchohol to erase it.

2. the left one is control board, and right one is LCD.

3. I rememeber you order 1 spare 2" head(include 2" lenses inside), 1 spare 4" head(include 4" lenses inside),
1 spare 2" lenses and 1 spare 4" lenses, right?

4. Yes, I can see a block spot on the tube, I will confirm this problem with our technical engineer, by the way,
the machine can work normally? and black bands holding the power cables, no need to remove it.

5. yes, water chiller and laser cutter power 220v, and please remember water chiller plugs into wall not laser cutter, it is important.
attachment is water chiller manual for your reference, do you find a CD ROM on the tool box?
you can see the guiding videos, manual, software installation in it. or you can download it from our website directly.
http://www.thunderlaser.com/down
http://www.thunderlaser.com/how-to-u...-laser-machine

Please try to use the laser cutter, if you have more questions, please let me know, ok?

[Nolan Yang]

sorry, forget to post a picture of Mo mirror.

[KeithOKC]

Hi Nolan,

Once I used the alcohol I saw the mirror turned silver. Thanks!

Let me know what the tech says about the black spot on the tube after the holiday. Thank you!