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Toys Hardware

Desktop Laser Cutting/Engraving 147

Posted by michael from the keep-remaining-fingers-out-of-the-equipment dept.
bwags writes "I ran across this VersaLaser desktop Laser Cutting and Engraving printer. I really do not know what I want to do with it, but you gotta admit it is cool. Maybe make some balsa wood airplanes. At only $10K, I want the purple one!"
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Desktop Laser Cutting/Engraving More

Desktop Laser Cutting/Engraving

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  • battle bots (Score:5, Funny)

    by minus_273 ( 174041 ) <aaaaa&SPAM,yahoo,com> on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:29PM (#5769701) Journal
    after reading what the laser will cut through.. man i wish they could have one of those on a battle bot :-p

  • Hmmm.. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by pdbogen ( 596723 ) <tricia-slashdot@cer[ ]us ['nu.' in gap]> on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:30PM (#5769703)
    Not just wood, but a variety of materials, too..

    I wonder if it can fabricate keys. "Government Property - Do Not Duplicate," here I come.

    • Re:Hmmm.. (Score:5, Interesting)

      by roseblood ( 631824 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:31PM (#5769714)
      This would be great for cutting out the internal structures for model aircraft. Do you know how many spars and struts are in a 1:24th scale model of an F-14?

    • Re:Hmmm.. (Score:3, Interesting)

      by ebuck ( 585470 )
      When I worked for a univeristy that had such keys, we could never get them replicated. Well, that was until we put a piece of colored tape over the "warning" message and wrote the room number of the key on the tape.

      After that, there was never a problem.
      • I never even bothered to tape them over. They guy at the hardware store would ask me whether I wanted him to stamp "Do not duplicate" on the copy, though.

    • Re:Hmmm.. (Score:1, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      now you've gone and done it...their company will have to close down now since they hsve really been selling a security circumvention violation...

    • REALLY intricate holiday cookies? (Score:2, Funny)

      by Anonymous Coward
      One shudders to think what Martha Stewart would do with one of these things...

  • Well (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:31PM (#5769709)
    If you shave your arm, numb it a bit, adjust the power, you have a home laser tattoo machine.

    • Re:Well (Score:3, Informative)

      by wotan2525 ( 570711 )
      Actually I sell used equipment like this, very similar machines made by the same company (www.ulsinc.com). I've burned myself a few times on them and it doesn't leave a permanent scar, but it does hurt like a crazy mofo! www.usedlasers.com is mine, if you're interested. Good Luck, Rob

  • $10k!! (Score:5, Funny)

    by SpanishInquisition ( 127269 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:31PM (#5769711) Homepage Journal
    Imagine the price of a replacement cartidge on that one...

  • I envision... (Score:5, Funny)

    by philovivero ( 321158 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:31PM (#5769715) Homepage Journal
    ...a (slashdotted) website actually hosted on one of these with content along the lines of "AOL CD in the Microwave" showing how you can carve an AOL CD into a cease-and-desist letter in five seconds flat.

  • Sad story (Score:1, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Our company bought something like this to engrave the company name in our laptop computers. (about 60 of them) However, we realized too late that the power was too high. We ended up wrecking about 15 of them. When I turned mine on afterwards, smoke actually came out of it.
    • Unfortunetly thats just not possible because these machines have 0 - 100% power adjustments in .1% increments. If it was too hot, you could have just turned it down. Thats why you're just acting like a fool. I play with these machines everyday. www.usedlasers.com rob
  • You can tell the server is in the process of being slashdotted, the main image took about a minute to load.

  • Do you expect me to talk Goldfinger?? (Score:5, Funny)

    by TechnoGrl ( 322690 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:35PM (#5769741)
    "No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!"

  • so... I wonder... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by Drakin ( 415182 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:36PM (#5769744)
    How many request for a free sample will VersaLaser be getting. (For those who haven't been to the site, they offer a free sample of material cut with the lazer)

    More junk to collect!

  • I've seen this somewhere before. Nice tool for creating prototypes and models of vehicles, espesially air-planes. However I didn't know this technology was available for PC. And for what a price!
    • I thought the same thing. My suggestion to them was to flood college workshops with them. $10k is still high for a hobbyist to buy it and learn how to use it. However, if they can go to a local community college and sign up for a course, they can learn it pretty quickly. The price point and the ease of setup is what leads to revolutions in engineering and economics. Now that it is reasonably priced, they just need to seed the market for learning the technology. Computers were that way for some time.

    • Re:3D Copying (Score:5, Funny)

      by sydlexic ( 563791 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @03:24PM (#5769907)
      I've seen this somewhere before.

      yeah, slashdot about a month ago. we call this the RAINs effect: Redundant Array of Infinitely-repeating News stories.
      • from the keep-remaining-fingers-out-of-the-equipment dept.
        bwags [mailto] writes "I ran across this VersaLaser [versalaser.com] desktop Laser Cutting and Engraving printer. I really do not know what I want to do with it, but you gotta admit it is cool. Maybe make some balsa wood airplanes. At only $10K, I want the purple one!"

        ( Read More... [slashdot.org] | 11 [slashdot.org] of 93 [slashdot.org] comments )


        (I'm sorry, I just couldn't resist. Hope it's not too subtle.)

  • As seen on TechTV (Score:4, Informative)

    by cheezycrust ( 138235 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:43PM (#5769774)
    As they mention on their site, TechTV did a short story [techtv.com] about it (it's the last item on the list).

  • Wonderful. (Score:2, Funny)

    by mrseigen ( 518390 )
    Now our children's limbs can atrophy further, because we no longer have need for scissors and manual dexterity. Thanks, technology! In 2048 when children are routinely born with no arms I'll be thanking this widget after fitting the little buggers for hoversleds.
  • I didn't see the article because server was busy but this sounds like laser stereography.

    Very cool stuff.

    Alot of companies use this type of machine to make paper models of buildings for architecture . Fast prototyping stuff.

  • PCB Routing (Score:4, Interesting)

    by Gyorg_Lavode ( 520114 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @02:56PM (#5769824)
    I wonder if these could be used as an inexpensive way of routing PCBs. It seems it would be more reliable way to make boards without using a drill bit which would definately be niced. They don't seem to mention it being usable on metals though.

    • Re:PCB Routing (Score:3, Informative)

      by ahecht ( 567934 )
      The problem with using lazer cutting on metals is that a lot of the light will reflect back up and fry the lazer. You would need to put a non-reflective coating on first. If you've ever bought stainless steel that had a white plastic sheet on it that you had to peel off, it was probably lazer cut, because the white plastic was the above mentioned non-reflective coating.
      • Thats what I was guessing it was. It would be interesting if there was a way to focus through the upper non-reflective layer w/o damaging it to isolate traces below the reflective layer. Then use a different intensity/setting/whatever to burn off the reflective insulation above where you want solder pads.
      • Couldn't you position laser at an angle to reflect
        somewhere else?

      • Re:PCB Routing (Score:2, Informative)

        by Anonymous Coward
        It's a CO2 laser. Metal at that wavelength is plainly opaque, as is most of the solids mentioned. That's the whole reason it can cut--if it were "light" in the visible sense, it couldn't cut the glass because it would be passing through it. That's why there are 2 lasers in the product--the one is used as pointer (visible spectrum) to show where the invisible beam is (CO2 laser, which does the cutting).

        More likely the wattage is not strong enough to cut metal, but is on the other materials. 500W seems w

      • Re:PCB Routing (Score:3, Informative)

        by NormalVisual ( 565491 )
        In several years of working for a large laser marking/engraving system manufacturer, I've never seen reflection from the workpiece damage a laser (not sure how it could, really). If you're getting a lot of reflection, it means that the beam is not coupling well into the workpiece, which usually means you're using the wrong laser for the job. I always get a chuckle when I hear of customers trying to mark on wood with a Nd:YAG rail and complaining of poor performance.
    • If you click on the tab that says "What VersaLaser Does" [versalaser.com], you'll find that they mention metal alot. However, it says that it does "Marking or Engraving Only" on metal and circuit boards, among other things.
    • Unfortunatly they cannot do anything in metal... you'd need about 400 watts of CO2 to get close.

      Regards,

      Rob
      www.usedlasers.com
      • So much for using this for evil leet case modding...bleah.


    • I was thinking the same thing. It doesn't look like it would work although I bet you could cover your copper board with an etchant resist and burn that off with a laser.
      Then you could put the board in a chemical bath.

      I bet there are much less expensive ways to do this though :)

    • Um maybe i'm missing the point, but why not just buy a machine designed specificially for making circuit boards. The price is about the same...

      Slashdot even had an article on making your own PCB milling machine a while ago
    • CO2 cutting is well documented to work on a variety of materials...

      Including most metals. The beam itself has enough power that individual atoms are vaporized before heat conduction has enough to work. But expect your cutting rate to be kinda low with metals...

  • Try before you buy... (Score:5, Interesting)

    by PontifexPrimus ( 576159 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @03:09PM (#5769865)
    You could check here [toybuilders.com]; they seem to have at least one laser cutter, plus several other 3d-fabricating machines. You can even submit your own CAD-files for jewelry, toys etc.

    • Re:Try before you buy...Or buy your own! (Score:4, Informative)

      by t0qer ( 230538 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @03:49PM (#5769986) Homepage Journal


      Those are all professional grade machines, I never saw those before and thank
      you for the link.


      However have you ever seen the [rolanddga.com]
      stuff Roland puts out? They make a desktop CNC mills for under $1500
      that can produce small items. Leases start at $100 @ mo. They have
      desktop laser 3D scanners (put a real world object in, produces 3d model) too.



      • You reminded me of a business idea I had a few years ago (and since I'm not going to impliment it, and with 6+ billion ppl on the planet there's no way it's an original idea, so keeping it "secret" is just selfish & stupid):

        Basically, I thought it would be really cool to combine a camera (get color), 3D laser-scanner (get shape), styrofoam mill (make shape), and airbrush (put color). Then, place the device beside the traditional PhotoBooth in malls across america, and people would be lining up for the

  • Yes, now my counterfeit plates ... (Score:4, Funny)

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 20, 2003 @03:53PM (#5770003)
    will produce even cleaner and crisper $100 bills.
  • James Bond: Do you expect me to talk, Goldfinger?
    Auric Goldfinger: No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die.
    [A laser is about to cut Bond in half.]
    James Bond: I think you made your point. Thank you for the demonstration.
    Auric Goldfinger: Choose your next witticism carefully Mr. Bond, it may be your last.

  • Engrave Windows CD (Score:3, Funny)

    by SpikyTux ( 524666 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @04:26PM (#5770095)
    I find one use of it - If you can't get a refund of your unused Windows CD, engrave it with the words "It sucks! Give me back my money!" and send it to Microsoft.

  • But can you... (Score:4, Funny)

    by NewtonsLaw ( 409638 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @04:48PM (#5770162)
    But can you attach it to a fricken shark's fricken head?

  • Case Modding (Score:1, Insightful)

    by sharph ( 171971 )
    You could use this to put windows in your case, as well as etch designs into the window.
    • Or, you could RTFA, and learn that it's not powerful enough to cut metal... as could could the moderators who pushed this to +3 Insightful...

  • URL for their demo video (Score:4, Informative)

    by metlin ( 258108 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @04:58PM (#5770204) Journal
    The URL for their demo video is here -http://www.versalaser.com/english/techtv.wmv [versalaser.com]

    It is kinda slowing down, right now am getting about 20kbps.

  • How about bigger projects? (Score:4, Informative)

    by cgleba ( 521624 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @05:24PM (#5770312)

    For bigger projects there is a company called
    Photomachining (http://www.photomachining.com)
    that has some pretty serious laser systems that
    sell for about $100k. Check it out. . .some
    pretty neat stuff.

    They'll also laser machine just about anything for
    you in any custom way. Anything from PCBs to
    medical devices to laser-etched guitar picks.
  • My uncle has something similar to this, just a few years old. He can do some pretty cool stuff, he just does a greyscale image in corel draw and sends it to the engraver. He can do batch jobs and such, hes making good side money by doing things for weddings such as mirrors with a picture of the couple cut out of the silver...etc He got his used for less than 5000$...Quite intersting stuff
  • Took movie offline today while investigating DDOS attacks. Will make the movie active again shortly.

  • Every time I try to do desktop laser cutting (Score:3, Funny)

    by WillASeattle ( 661188 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @08:31PM (#5771026)
    The teacher starts yelling at me.

    Something about "public property".


  • they should use it to replicate themselves another web server or two to handle the /. load...

  • Jesus Tapdancing Christ! (Score:3, Insightful)

    by NETHED ( 258016 ) on Sunday April 20, 2003 @08:48PM (#5771096) Homepage
    500 WATTS!??! Even if a third of that power actually goes to lasing, thats a really powerful laser!
    • I didn't see anything on the site indicating the actual laser power, but I'll bet money it's under 25 watts. It's quite common to see 100 watt lasers draw 7-8 kW, most of which goes to heat.

    • Calm down (Score:3, Informative)

      by SuperBanana ( 662181 )
      500 WATTS!??! Even if a third of that power actually goes to lasing, thats a really powerful laser!

      Calm down....electrical input and lased light output have NOTHING to do with each other.

      Most cutting/welding lasers are usually no more than 100W lased light output(and we're talking BIG units here, for cutting thick, strong metals, and doing so quickly). In fact, if you look at the parent company's website for this "junior" unit, you can see they offer modules from 20W to about 60W. I'm guessing the "j

      • Re:Calm down (Score:3, Interesting)

        by ipsuid ( 568665 )

        Licensing is via the CDRH (part of the FDA). According to the specifications for the printer:

        "Class 1 safety enclosure for CO2 laser beam. Class IIIa for red laser pointer."

        This means that the CO2 laser is fully enclosed when the cover is closed (which would be opaque to infared red) and the cover would have a interlock switch to turn off the laser when open.

        If the beam were exposed, then it would be a class IV device, require a key switch, and all kinds of other fun stuff.

        The best CO2 lasers can

    • 500 WATTS!??! Even if a third of that power actually goes to lasing, thats a really powerful laser!

      Most lasers have a power efficiency of about 1%... sealed CO2 lasers happen to have an efficiency of up to 20%... which is why they're used for stuff like this... but still not too much to get excited about.

      100 W of heat is a good amount, but not really spectacular when it comes to cutting...
  • that's where I say it today, the ad on Pg 116

    thanks for looking up the price, I was going to hit the website later
    today and you saved me the trouble..

  • Not a cure-all (Score:4, Informative)

    by cybermace5 ( 446439 ) <g.ryan@macetech.com> on Sunday April 20, 2003 @09:58PM (#5771298) Homepage Journal
    It's great for actually cutting stuff, for when you're using flat materials; fast, and a very small kerf.

    As such it's just a 2D device. Can't do some of the more useful CNC work such as fly-cutting surfaces, pocket cutting, and 3D slopes.

    If you want to do the same thing and can live with an 1/8" or 1/16" kerf, you can build a homebuilt CNC machine for an incredibly low price. Depending on what parts you make and where you get them, the price can range from near nothing to $750. Plus you get 3D profiling and a much more flexible machine: put a pen in it and sign lots of certificates, put a woodburning iron in it and make a cool clock face, put a small router in it and engrave your logo into your valve covers.

    Just do a Google search for "homebuilt CNC" and you'll find plenty of good links.

  • erm.... (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    I wonder what would happen if I took the laser off they cutting table and used it freehand to cut.... other things... I'd like to see my cat chase that dot :)
  • Wow, notice how the ads at the top are for the item advertised in the story!
  • I could sharpen my sword collection with that
  • After all, didn't they already have one of these things in the movie "goldfinger"? Admittedly that only printed onto huge blocks of gold, or secret agents.

  • OOS it! (Score:1, Interesting)

    by Anonymous Coward
    Come on hackers... somebody GPL a design so we can all roll our own with parts from radioshack!

    why spend $10k when you can spend $1k and built it yourself?
  • Engrave some little 35 millimeter metal sheets, gut a disposed disposable camera, and pow! the flashpoint projector!

    http://www.hactivist.com/flashpoint/
  • I'm a member of an antique auto club, and as time passes a lot of the perishable plastic parts from the 50's and 60's are becoming unavailable new. The plastic from those years eventually got brittle and disintegrated. It would be lovely to be able to reproduce these parts using 3d printing tech, but is that even possible given today's state of the art?
  • I use a LaserPro [laserprousa.com] Mercury 50W machine at work, and can cut up to 20mm thick acrylic.. only our imagination limits the use of the machine... it's real fun work sometimes :)

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