New Trotec Machine?

[Jiten Patel]

Keith, what you want is a 3 axis galvo. They have an additional mirror in the galvo head which gives up to 850mm x 850mm working area from memory. Not sure about spot size and detail.

[Keith Winter]

Hi Jit,

So you replaced the Speedmarker with a 400 flex? Just trying to folllow this because most of the 400s I see are co2 here in the US, I don't think I've ever seen a 400 flex in person if that's what you switched to?

The Speedmarker was in essence mis-sold to us. We were demo'd on a 100w Speedmarker running at 30% to "simulate" a 30w which we all know is not true. A 100w running at 30% is still putting out 100w, just 30% of the time. So we were wow'd and bought the 30w (in our naivety). It never performed anything near like what we had seen but we made do and made it work for us. Still an amazing machine. We used it for 2+ years and it paid for itself 20x over. We then got our 400 and the detail we could produce on this thing is incredible. We upped out game and now most of the designs and products we create just simply would not work on the speedmarker due to the spot size. Add to that, that we can lay-down a bed of material and leave it running with no manual intervention means we can concentrate on generating more business rather than a 1 by 1 basis of the speedmarker which needed an employee (or me in the beginning) to man it at all times.

When we first got the 400, we were running both machines, and as time went on, our clients just preferred the detail, therefore the Speedmarker got used less and less and now it is just taking up space. It's a shame as it's the machine that set-up our business and is in full working order. But I guess that's progression. Granted things take longer on the 400 but if people are willing to pay the price-tag, which they are, then why not. That is why the GS peaked our interest as it can be fitted with a conveyor system, has vision etc, so can be unmanned for the most part and can process things 4 or 5 times faster than the 400. Havn't been up to test the machine to see what level of detail it can produce, but I was told it is almost comparable. Considering it was around £60k ($90k), it is a big leap. We know the machine will pay itself in a year or two, but just havn't had the time to check it out.

So Scott if you need a 30w Speedmarker, let me know and I can ship it to you for a "small" admin fee

[Keith Winter]

The Speedmarker looks awesome! I understand the reason why it requires a smaller working surface area, but for what it does, it looks like a phenomenal piece of hardware! Any idea what one runs?

Hi Jacob,
The speedmarkers are fairly rare machines in the US, a lot of that stemming from price. Since the tech is newer and they have less competition on these, you pay a premium for it. The machines I suspect have a lot more margin in them than co2 lasers. They cost a lot more, and have a lot less parts... How much you pay is largely due to your negotiating skills and if you are able to catch a "show special" or other offer at the time of your purchase.

[Jiten Patel]

No Keith, I have a 400 co2. The Speedmarker CL is a co2. The Speedmarker FL is the fibre unit.

[Keith Winter]

Thanks for clarifying, that makes sense then 400 would be able to process a lot more as you said.

[Jacob John]

These threads always make me want to pull the trigger on a Trotec Speedy 300, but the price is always hard for me to justify, at least right now in my businesses infancy. I love my Epilog, and it has served me well so far, especially for the price, but it's a small laser and definitely has some limitations that are starting to make me realize we need something bigger.

[Dan Hintz]

Unfortunately, I don't think the math works for that. You'd have to have a monster grind on a lens to make that happen. It's flattening the focal point out across the entire area, from a fixed point. You can't go but so far without the beam getting bigger, I don't think. I'm sure I'm messed up the reason, but that's what works in my head

If I told you I've been spec'ing a system that would cover a LOT of area and keep a reasonable spot size, would you consider a group buy?

[Dave Sheldrake]

Unfortunately, I don't think the math works for that. You'd have to have a monster grind on a lens to make that happen. It's flattening the focal point out across the entire area, from a fixed point. You can't go but so far without the beam getting bigger, I don't think. I'm sure I'm messed up the reason, but that's what works in my head

I had a 1,600mm x 1,600mm Fibre Galvo Scotty, it used a bed that moved to get the extra cutting area but it was expensive (VERY) I'm pretty sure somebody in China will be making them soon enough though.

[Scott Shepherd]

Moving bed is cheating I suspect anything is possible for the right money. Right now, small spot size and large working area, and affordable seem to be elusive.

[Bert Kemp]

Do we have to fly to Virgina to use it

If I told you I've been spec'ing a system that would cover a LOT of area and keep a reasonable spot size, would you consider a group buy?