[shobley]

After several weeks of reading the forum and thinking it over, I finally took the plunge and ordered the Strong 40W CO2 Laser Cutter/Engraver from the eBay vendor strong_signstech.



I just received the unit and I'm starting a blog diary of my experiences here:

Buying a Laser Cutter from China (Part One)…

I have some experience with CNC routers, having built one a couple of years ago.

My long-term goal is getting a laser cutter running with Mach3, with a much larger cutting bed.

Steve
This week, I have been mostly working on…

[zax15uk]

Hey Steve,

The Strong machines are actually pretty good, the earlier models were trash but they have improved. The price on ebay is a steal too - so congrats!

Yes a few loose screws are to be expected (although the large silver knob you mentioned is supposed to be loose - it's for raising and lowering the table and just temporarily attaches).

I believe you got Newlydraw with it, which works really well. I would run the machine with it for a while and then determine if you need to change to Mach3. You can still mod the machine and keep Newlydraw since it's fairly generic and you can easily change the parameters (bed size etc).

I look forward to following your blog, and may have to 'borrow' a few ideas

Zax.

P.S. I'm also an expat, moved here from England in '99.

[shobley]

Yeah, so far the vendor has been pretty responsive.

It's a shame most of these things run from parallel ports, PCs with them are getting increasingly hard to find...

[zax15uk]

Most are available with a USB option, although perhaps not on ebay.

Parallel cards can be easily added to any desktop - and they're cheap.

As you've probably read, the fastest way to destroy the tube is to run it with insufficient cooling (or with hot spots from bubbles etc). I highly recommend installing a fail safe flow switch, wired in series to the interlock. That way if the pump they provide (junk) fails you won't crack the tube.

Zax.

[cinematic2]

1. 960 USD is extremely much for that kind of laser bee.
I pay 500 USD with the same shipping cost.
2. LPT version is archaic. No one customer would pay me a dime for such a relic.
3. You got machine with the old laser type.
New lasers, much better has spiral electrodes instead of metal-in-glass electrodes.
4. 40W power of 700mm chinese laser is a lie.
This laser has no more than 32-33W.

Sorry

[zax15uk]

@cinematic2

New 40W Desktop CO2 Laser Engraver&Cutter 210x205mm +CE | eBay

It comes with Newlydraw, and they offer USB and other options if needed.

Here's my take...

1. Under $1000 is very reasonable, and in the US there would be no duty for an individual so that is the final cost.

2. Actually the parallel port version of these desktop machines has far fewer problems. I agree the design isn't the latest but for reliability I prefer it.

3. It has a standard Chinese glass tube. They work.

4. Partially true - I measured mine with a calibrated meter at 35-36W (I believe, it was a while ago but I did post here at the time) but it was down to 32W after a few months and then stabilized and still working 2 years later. It is beginning to degrade again so will likely fail soon - but a new tube is cheap.

:cheers:
Zax.

[cinematic2]

1. Under $1000 is very reasonable, but 500 is much better.
500 with usb and new model laser of course.
2. Actually the parallel port is a relic. Nobody would buy such mistake.
3. It was a standard Chinese tube year ago. New lasers have 2-3 times longer lifes and the cost is almost the same. Almost means about 10%
4. I had more than 60 "so called" 40W lasers in last 6 years from 5 different factories. No one achieved 34W. 40W is a myth.
DC excited laser`s power belongs to its lenght. 700 mm can not be 40W. This is phisics. 40W laser MUST be about 1000mm long.
Only one chinese factory sells lasers with a testing report. Others don`t.
I mean laser factory, not engraver manufacture.
You may complain EVERY chinese laser machine on the market because of its exaggerated laser power.

[Ken_Shea]

1.
I pay 500 USD with the same shipping cost.

And where would that be?

[Lasersolution]

Our 40w co2 laser engraving machine is hot now

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[mondo50m]

Post deleted.....resurrection of an old post.