For the past several months, I've been looking at getting a laser for my leathergoods design company (my full time gig, 1 other employee, not just a hobby). I plan on doing mostly vector cutting for new prototypes, and possibly using it for production work if I can find a setting that doesn't leave char marks on the surface of the leather as happened when I demo'd an epilog locally. (though I'm sure that, once I get it, I'll find a TON of things that I *could* do with it, including engraving, and expand my offerings). I realize that a chinese machine (shenhui, from what I've seen around) would be WAY cheaper than the trotec 400 that I've been contemplating, and probably work swimmingly for the vector cutting that I'm planning on, but I'd love to see one in action locally, maybe bring a few pieces of leather to see how the laser handles the particular material I work with.
So, anybody know of someone in the central florida area that's running a shenhui? (or, if there's another reliable chinese laser that I'm missing, I'd love to know about it). I'm trying to decide whether I'm just being smart in buying a possibly more reliable western machine, or if I'm being stupid and chasing a brand that is overkill for what I need it for.
I'd like to get this checked out soon, because I'll be going to a convention here in orlando in the end of april, and was going to purchase one of the 'big three' (uls/trotec/epilog) there if I haven't settled on a chinese model.
background on me, if it helps with any comments someone might want to offer on my situation to help me decide: I've used autocad for about 20 years, so creating/manipulating/working with vector files is no problem...I don't have much experience in corel, but I'm sure I can figure it out if necessary (or just work from dxf's from autocad), along with solving any other software-side issues with running a not-as-user-friendly chinese machine. I've never used a laser system before; all of my work is currently done with dies and a hydraulic clicker for production, and paper printouts and an xacto for prototyping. That said, I don't want to spend a ton of time screwing around to get a chinese laser working/keep it working, so if the cost of paying less up front is notably more time tinkering after the sale, I'd rather just drop the cash on a western machine.