Looking to buy my first Laser engraver for metal and or wood.
I hear stories that you can use a metal laser on wood but not vice versa.
Other rumors I have heard involve "some" import lasers are toys and won't last long or claim to work without chillers and burn out in a few hundred hours.
Main purpose is engraving aluminum, some steels. Possible other uses are wood and precious metals.
I will be traveling with the laser possibly (depends on if co2 or fiber I guess) to shows to make stuff.
Mostly engraving or doing graphics on weapons for now but want to be able to make challenge coins and other one off items.
Suggestions? Directions? What not to buy?
I like whatever atomicengraving dot com and others that do some neat multilayer stuff but I am not looking for a $100K or even $50K industrial machine.
I already have a bridgeport series one CNC and do some stuff in the shop already.
The one thing I notice about lasers is the item to be engraved has to generally be a flat surface or on a rotary spindle.
My thought process is the laser moves so fast and does a wide area at once whereas a CNC mill only can use the single tool at a single location.
Is this correct?
I have also seen Laser Cutting machines that are true "tool" oriented and cut like a regular CNC but do they make Engravers and Markers that work that way?
Any input is welcomed.
JC