The purpose of this thread is to document my entire experience purchasing a laser from China, as it happens, with the goal of (hopefully!) making the process a little easier for the next person.
So here goes...
Background:
I own and operate an acrylic fabrication business... specifically products related to aquariums and aquarium filtration (NextReef Systems). We operate a CNC router, a CO2 laser from Universal, and a bunch of other equipment, and I also have a computer/engineering background... I have a high degree of familiarity with CNC and controllers.
I love our existing ULS laser, and if cost were no object, I'd purchase another one without hesitation. However, we need a machine in the 100-150w range, with a bed of at least 24x48 - their PLS range of machines fit the bill, but I'd be looking at about $65,000+ for one. The economics on that simply don't work for us...
Over the last year or so, I've been closely watching some of the American companies that bring in and support laser machines from China. I've also been working with a friend that scratch built a 4x8 machine from Chinese parts. One of my biggest complaints with the Chinese machines has always been the software and support, and a couple of these places have actually created their own controllers and software... and even offer retrofit kits.
So this is the plan... find the best machine I can to import, and set my expectations realistically. I expect to receive a machine that works, but I also expect it to have some quirks, and probably need to be tuned and dialed in. I expect that I will need to modify or improve some things, and I've budgeted for a replacement controller and software if I can't work with what's included. Worst case scenario is that I will have to rebuild a substantial part of the machine.
Search:
I posted this thread about a month ago:
http://www.cnczone.com/forums/laser_...50w_laser.html
I originally looked at the vendors here in the US - the two I talked to seemed very knowledgeable. Their prices on the machine we need are a good 1/4th the cost of a ULS machine. Honestly, if you have no electrical or CNC background, and just want something affordable that will work and be supported by someone on this continent, they're probably the way to go.
I also started searching site like Alibaba... and there are a TON of machines out there. It's amazing. You'll quickly figure out that a lot of them are the same machine with a different name (I think a lot of resellers claim to be manufacturers). I contacted about 10 different companies, and posted my thread on here as well.
After some correspondence, I narrowed it down to about 3 vendors (ExLas, Goldensign, and G. Weike) I was comfortable with - I also started to dig more deeply on those three. Lots of Google searches. Do not expect the websites for these vendors to have much information... or sometimes even exist... there is often more info on Alibaba.
I asked a lot of questions... specific questions... what controller, what tube, how specific things worked... the more you know before hand, the better questions you can ask. I also think it helps to make sure the salesperson knows you know what you're talking about... some of these places will try to tell you anything. If sense anything odd... pandering, dishonesty, etc... move on. I also looked at the machines companies posted on my query here.
Ask for pictures... same as above, ask for a LOT of detailed pictures and videos. I was especially interested to see how they set up the electronics and wiring - some were neat, clean and well laid out, some weren't... and that's an indication of attention to detail for me.
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