584,800 active members*
4,751 visitors online*
Register for free
Login
IndustryArena Forum > Laser Engraving and Cutting Machines > Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics > New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?
Results 1 to 20 of 20
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    8

    New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Hi all,

    I went out on a limb and purchased a 700*500mm 60W CO2 chinese laser cutter.
    Was well packaged and easy to get up and running only took about an hour.

    Once the machine was setup i thought i would embark on setting the lens focus etc. I placed a piece of mdf down and set the focal distance using the orange spacer provided with the machine. I fired a pulse and it burns a fine dot approx 0.5mm. My first question is.. does this mean my mirrors etc are well aligned?

    My second question is i have tried vutting through some 5mm MDF and even at 90% 1mm/sec i cant cut through. Only way i can really get through is by doing multiple passes. Should i be able to get through cleanly in one pass with a 60W laser?

    Thank you for any input you might have.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    787

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Quote Originally Posted by BrendonV View Post
    Hi all,
    Should i be able to get through cleanly in one pass with a 60W laser?
    No.

    1. Your 60W laser is only SO CALLED 60W. It is at least 50W or less.
    2. For 5mm mdf 1 pass clear cut you should use REAL 80W laser.
    CNC lasers, constructions, service

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    940

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    You should check each mirror for alignment. Then do a slope test to see if your focal tool is accurate. On mine the tool was off by about 5mm from the best cut.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    492

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    yes you should be able to cut 5mm mdf with one pass with a 60 watt maybe 50 watt laser. I had a 40 watt which was really 30 watts maybe and it cut 1/4 inch plywood 1 pass. 5 mm is a littl over 1/8 inch and you should have no trouble cutting it. You must get your mirror aligned and then get the correct focus point and you'll have no troubl

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    492

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    were did you get this mis info? you don't need 80 watts to cut 5mm MDF or plywood

    Quote Originally Posted by cinematic2 View Post
    No.

    1. Your 60W laser is only SO CALLED 60W. It is at least 50W or less.
    2. For 5mm mdf 1 pass clear cut you should use REAL 80W laser.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Posts
    3

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    check each mirror for alignment,if there is no problem ,then it is OK for 60w laser tube cutting 5mm MDF

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Posts
    3

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    and you may pay attertion to the current-controll,the bigger of the current,the quicker of the cutting speed.For 60w laser tube,the best speed is 8mm/s for cutting 5mm MDF

  8. #8

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    i agree with this point , it shold use 80w laser to cut 5mm MDF , 60w is usually cut 4mm . i sell this type machine ,that is our test .

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Posts
    940

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    I can cut 1/4 mdf with my 60 watt at 90% power and 6 mm a second in 1 pass.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2014
    Posts
    128

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Quote Originally Posted by fixtureman1 View Post
    I can cut 1/4 mdf with my 60 watt at 90% power and 6 mm a second in 1 pass.
    I just checked my settings and with a 4" lens (which makes for lower power density) I cut 6mm MDF @ 12 mm/sec and 70/75 watts

    Drop that power by 25% for a 2.5" lens.

    *GOTTA* have good air assist, *any* scorching on the top side you don't have enough air.

    I'd be leery of running a tube at 90% power, I personally would cut back to 75% power and see what speed you get and be happy with that.

    -------------------------------------------

    I had this discussion with someone recently, on a given material I could choose either 15 mm/sec at 45 watts or 7 mm/sec at 30 watts....

    Assuming a 1,000 mm cut, that means 1000/15 = 67 secs at 45 watts or 1000/7 = 143 secs at 30 watts.

    1 watt = 1 joule / sec so the faster cut is 67 secs x 45 joules = 3,015 joules, and the slower cut is 143 x 30 = 4,290 joules, given that both settings are in the region of below 30% nominal power for my tube and the chiller keeps tube temp within a degree of 18 Celsius either way I'm not cooking anything, but one setting cuts the job time in half, the other settings cuts the tube load to 2/3rds of the other setting, which is great for tube gas life.

    20 chargeable hours of laser time buys a new tube though, so it all makes an interesting swings and roundabouts thing.

    I end up choosing the slower option where needed where I am looking for a perfect edge, eg acrylic, the faster option where job time and cost count and an ever so slightly less than perfect edge is required, and never run anything at over 75% NOMINAL (not peak) tube power.

    Personally I wouldn't bother with anything other than a fresh Reci tube, and at that a good one, e.g. peak power is at least 125% of nominal power.

    I (given a choice) prefer hardwood plywood to MDF in any given gauge, takes less power, it smokes less and you get less crap on the blade table blades or honeycomb if doing small parts, just think it is a better material, unless there is a specific reason for choosing MDF over ply.

    YMMV etc

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    787

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    We use 80W (glass) for 5-6mm DRY plywood to have clean cut with sensible speed.
    Wouldn`t even try with such 50W because of slow speed and black edges.
    Same quality you can reach with 50W RF.
    CNC lasers, constructions, service

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    492

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    It may be slow but hey its what he has for a machine ya know. You have to use what you have. My 40 would cut 6.3 mm Baltic birch 1 pass. yes it was slow and had chard edges. The tube was rated 40watts peak which I figure is 30 watts or less running. So telling him NO it won't is wrong it will.
    A better solution if he has time would be to cut 2 4mm and glue them. I agree with Elaser that hardwood is a much better choice then MDF. I use Baltic Birch, Cherry, Walnut, and Alder and they all cut easy.


    Quote Originally Posted by cinematic2 View Post
    We use 80W (glass) for 5-6mm DRY plywood to have clean cut with sensible speed.
    Wouldn`t even try with such 50W because of slow speed and black edges.
    Same quality you can reach with 50W RF.

  13. #13
    Endurancerobots Guest

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    I am not sure about Chinese electronic quality. A lot of people claimed that it has to be replaced...
    That is why we offer didoe laser as an addiotional tool for excisting CNC router or 3D printer.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Posts
    8

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Hi all thanks for the feedback. I have taken it all on board and tried many things to rectify the issues. From my research basically I have come to the conclusion that the tube is just not running anywhere near 60w. I have the mirrors perfectly aligned and can't even cut through 3mm ply at 90% power 5mm/sec. I have been speaking with Marco from light object and given the dimensions of the tube its estimated its about a 40 watt tube. I have just ordered a new 80w reci tube and new power supply so hopefully that will get things back on track.

    Will let you know when I have the new tube the outcome

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Dec 2014
    Posts
    10

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Brendon, you're on the right track. I have the same/similar machine to yours and getting good cutting performance was a problem with the original tube. Marco patiently guided me through the issues and I am now running the 45w/50w tube he sells, and it's cutting through any of the wood or ply products I need cut at 65% power, with excellent consistency.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    4

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Hi all I spend all day with the alligments of the mirrors but I can't cut a mdf of 3mm I already try the following parameters

    Min 30% Max 85% Speed 20
    Min 30% Max 90% Speed 10
    Min 30% Max 100% Speed 2

    This machine only engraves.??
    Thanks for the Help.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    492

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    you haven't told us anything start a new thread what machine what wattage
    Quote Originally Posted by 3spin3t3 View Post
    Hi all I spend all day with the alligments of the mirrors but I can't cut a mdf of 3mm I already try the following parameters

    Min 30% Max 85% Speed 20
    Min 30% Max 90% Speed 10
    Min 30% Max 100% Speed 2

    This machine only engraves.??
    Thanks for the Help.

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Posts
    492

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Brendon, Im curious how long is your tube, if its 700mm which Im guessing it is then your looking at about 25 to 28 watts if its 1010mm then its 40 watts.An 80 watt tube will be 1225 mm and 80 mm in Dia. just so you know what you have and what youy should be getting


    Quote Originally Posted by BrendonV View Post
    Hi all thanks for the feedback. I have taken it all on board and tried many things to rectify the issues. From my research basically I have come to the conclusion that the tube is just not running anywhere near 60w. I have the mirrors perfectly aligned and can't even cut through 3mm ply at 90% power 5mm/sec. I have been speaking with Marco from light object and given the dimensions of the tube its estimated its about a 40 watt tube. I have just ordered a new 80w reci tube and new power supply so hopefully that will get things back on track.

    Will let you know when I have the new tube the outcome

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Dec 2016
    Posts
    4

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Quote Originally Posted by Bigbird48 View Post
    you haven't told us anything start a new thread what machine what wattage
    Thanks I open a new thread

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Jun 2015
    Posts
    10

    Re: New 60W Chinese Laser Cutter. How thick should it be able to cut?

    Quote Originally Posted by BrendonV View Post
    Hi all thanks for the feedback. I have taken it all on board and tried many things to rectify the issues. From my research basically I have come to the conclusion that the tube is just not running anywhere near 60w. I have the mirrors perfectly aligned and can't even cut through 3mm ply at 90% power 5mm/sec. I have been speaking with Marco from light object and given the dimensions of the tube its estimated its about a 40 watt tube. I have just ordered a new 80w reci tube and new power supply so hopefully that will get things back on track.

    Will let you know when I have the new tube the outcome

    hi BrendonV, how did this all turn out in the end as i have been looking at buying a 60w-80w laser cutter

    Ace8421

Similar Threads

  1. Buying a chinese laser cutter
    By diegope in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 08-27-2018, 09:58 AM
  2. Chinese laser engraver cutter
    By Techie_stephy in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: 07-03-2015, 02:03 AM
  3. Chinese laser cutter issue
    By ariemeir in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 06-04-2014, 11:24 AM
  4. Laser cutter-- for G10 .093" thick
    By jascamera in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 07-25-2012, 08:13 PM
  5. HELP - clueless about a chinese LASER cutter
    By cat_d in forum Laser Engraving / Cutting Machine General Topics
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 12-11-2008, 08:07 AM

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •