[wwendorf]

Good evening everyone. Well, I took the plunge and I just ordered a laser from China from a company called Bodor (bodorcnc.com).

I figured that I have gotten a lot of information from this board over the years, and I've decided to write an ongoing blog/review of my experiences in this laser purchase.

First of all, let me say that I had a budget. I needed to keep the machine below $6000 and my goal for a laser was one with at least a 48" wide bed. The BCL1309XU that I purchased is 1300mm x 900mm, and is a 130W laser. Here is the link to the machine on their website. http://www.bodorcnc.com/products/Co2...ving/1226.html
I ordered the laser with a few additional items, Four wheel rotary, Three-jaw rotary, extra set of lenses and mirrors.

I have been researching Chinese lasers for quite a while, and have had use of one on a rental basis for several years, and now is the time for one of my own for my own shop. YAY!

I will list the other lasers that I was considering. Some of the other lasers I was looking at was G.Weike, CNCcheap.com, ThunderLaser, Rabbit Laser, and Signstech. All had similar features, some charged for every addon, some included a lot of them.

I decided on the Bodor laser due to a number of reasons:
- Cost was in the range I was able to spend
- 2 year warranty - No other laser manufacturer had done more than a year from what I have been able to find.
- Software is RDWorks and seems to be some of the best laser software out there from China. (I have used lasercut and it is buggy and limited in it's features)
- Their software integrates with all of the most recent versions of Corel Draw up to X7. This was a MUST for me as I detest exporting to DXF then importing into another software. I just want to push a button, set my layer colors up, and start cutting.
- Their laser is WIFI enabled
- They sent me the software to install and test out and I did NOT need a dongle to run the software!
- The software supports dashed line etching, as well as 3d Lasering.
- Their laser is actually designed in Switzerland, and it's not the same design as every other mfg seems to have. The design is not a big portion of the reason, but after getting some photos of the lasers, I was very impressed by some of the subtle features they added into the system.
- I REALLY liked their red-dot positioning system. Instead of a little dot, it is actually a cross-hair.
- It has pass thru for full sheets of material.

The only odd thing that I found was that laser safe glass was not included by default and was a $100 add-on. No brainer for me (and my eyes).

The other thing that really impressed me is that while Hong Kong is 12hrs or so off from me, I was getting responses even when it was evening. In addition, I had some problems installing the Corel Draw addon for RDWorks, they spent 3 hrs (before any financial commitment was made by me) to help me install the software via remote desktop control. THAT is some nice customer service. I have been talking with a very nice woman by the name of Merry Gu at their company, and if she didn't know the answer to a question, she got me a very timely response.

I finally decided, after they got the software running on my computer, that I would purchase from them. I was sent a proforma invoice, and all they requested as down payment to get the manufacturing started was 30$ of the total. The total, including shipping was right around $5200. I know that I will have customs clearance stuff to do, but I've worked in shipping in my past, so will do the customs clearance stuff myself. Calling my local Customs department at my port makes it easy. They will forward you all the information you need in order to clear it from customs yourself.

So, that is my first post. I'm sure I won't be updating this for a little while as the unit has just been put into their production schedule tonight, but if anything else comes up, I will post about it.

Can't think of too much else right now.

Chat some more soon!
Wade

[AndrewSawitoski]

Im going to be following this as we are interested in the exact same machine. Where are you located and how did you handle shipping and customs?

[wwendorf]

I'm in Minnesota and I have a friends cargo company handling clearance and customs. Anderson Cargo Services. I'm expecting pics of the status of my machine next week. I will post them here when I get them.


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[wwendorf]

My laser has been built. They are getting ready to crate and ship it. I'll be getting the paperwork on Friday and shipping should be about 3 weeks. I've attached the pics they sent me of my machine. I can't wait!!! So far my interactions with them has been great and I'm very pleased.

Wade




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[AndrewSawitoski]

That machine looks fantastic. I'm glad to hear your experience has been good so far. Going to hopefully be ordering one of these in the next couple of weeks.

[sjctool]

This guy: http://www.cnczone.com/forums/commer...77886-cnc.html did not have very good luck with his Bodor laser. Hopefully it will go better for you. I wish there was more feedback on these lasers, but there just isn't that I could find.

[wwendorf]

Yes, I read that review after I ordered, and it did make me a bit nervous. But, I'm still comfortable with my decision. I hope it turns out as planned. So far I've had very good interactions with the company. I also liked the swiss design. I did notice that there was a lot of custom stuff on the laser in that review, so I'm wondering if that had a lot to do with some of their issues.

I did tell them I was doing a review of the entire process as we go along.

You always take a bit of a chance with the chinese machines. I just can't afford the US made ones. They are SO expensive.

Wade

[wwendorf]

Well, here are the packing and crating photos. Looks like they have a sturdy base for it going.

I'm really seriously excited! I've already go the laser software installed, and I'll tell you, it's 100x better than lasercut which is what I have been using for the past few years. WAY better.

Wade

[AndrewSawitoski]

Do you have the contact info for the shipping company you are using. We are going to order our machine this week I think. Thanks

[wwendorf]

Anderson Cargo-Managed Freight, Logistics, Tradeshow Asset Management

Bryan Trandahl - [email protected]

You just have Bodor ship to the closest Ocean port (there happens to be inland ocean ports, Minneapolis is one), then Anderson will just have to manage the customs clearance and local pickup and delivery.

Just do me a favor, and tell them that I recommended them to you.

Thanks,
Wade

[AndrewSawitoski]

Anderson Cargo-Managed Freight, Logistics, Tradeshow Asset Management Bryan Trandahl - [email protected] You just have Bodor ship to the closest Ocean port (there happens to be inland ocean ports, Minneapolis is one), then Anderson will just have to manage the customs clearance and local pickup and delivery. Just do me a favor, and tell them that I recommended them to you. Thanks, Wade

Thanks. I will definitely mention your name.

[blh8426]

I am curious how this turns out also.

[wwendorf]

Just a little update:

Bodor sent me a spreadsheet I had to fill out for the shipment. Wasn't sure what most of it meant or needed to say, so I got on the horn with my forwarder and he helped me fill it all out. Apparently there is something called an ISF that needed to be filed prior to Bodor being able to ship the laser.

This is what an ISF is:
The Importer Security Filing (ISF), also known as 10+2, is a US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulation requiring importers and vessel carriers to provide data electronically to CBP for in-bound ocean shipments.

So, it took a few days for it to be accepted, and now Bodor has the necessary information and has tendered the shipment to their forwarded in Hong Kong.

So, it's now officially on it's way! Very excited!!!

Wade

PS. Sounds like customs clearance costs, duties, etc... will run me approximately $700-800 over the cost of the laser. Right on my budget!

[sjctool]

Just a little update:

PS. Sounds like customs clearance costs, duties, etc... will run me approximately $700-800 over the cost of the laser. Right on my budget!

Is the $700 to $800 your total shipping costs?

[wwendorf]

No, Bodor ships to to any seaport, inland or coastal (inland is more obviously, and I live very close to Minneapolis which has an inland sea port).

From there, there are customs costs and duties and clearance fees for the customs broker, I also have to have a one time importer bond of some sort.

The forwarder takes care of all that for me.

Wade

[sjctool]

So what will be your total out of pocket for shipping and fees?

[wwendorf]

So what will be your total out of pocket for shipping and fees?

$700-$800 should be my additional costs on top of the cost of the laser, which included shipping to my inland sea port.

Bodor includes ocean shipping for free to NYC port. They charged me $190 extra to go to an inland sea port.

Hope that clarifies things.

Wade

[blh8426]

Are you going to post pictures of you laser after set up? Have you had any out of the box trouble?

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[wwendorf]

I haven't gotten it yet. I will be posting pictures, but it doesn't arrive till late Dec/early Jan.

Wade

[Techni]

Hi wwendorf,

I have sold and serviced quite a few Bodor machines over all they are the same as all the other chinese lasers nothing specail about them other than the design of the body which some other manufacturers have started copying you know after all it is china , 90% of the chinese manufacturers use the same controllers and laser tubes bar a few here and there who have made their own. Regarding the 2 years warranty that only covers the motion system, power supply and mother board I don't think the laser tube is included in that. If you need any help you can message me will be glad to help out.

Thanks
Kumar