Another fiber galvo thread...

[Jacob John]

As I delve further into my research for an enclosed galvo laser, I've found many brands that I like. Vytek, Trotec, and several other US based companies.

In my searching, I came across Han's Laser, and by all appearances, it looks like a Chinese made laser, but with US support? https://us.hanslaser.net/index.php?route=page/buy

Anyone have any experience with this one, or care to offer an opinion? I'm also open to US suggestions as well. I'm not trying to break the bank since I just bought my Trotec, but I also want quality. The Vytek I received a quote on its awesome, but it's a bit pricey.

My main work will be with small tools, some jewelry, gun stocks, and knives. I've had many requests for these items lately, so it's time to start looking. Anywhere in the 20-30 watt range is where I'm looking.

Forgot to add, I'd like it to be enclosed. I've searched the forum, and have found nothing on Han's Lasers, a few threads here and there about galvos, but nothing on enclosed ones.

[matthew knott]

We have one but we dont use it, the software 'WAS' not great, but this may have changed as im going back 5 years, the build quality of Hans i thought was pretty good, and that is a very good price for a 20watt machine with US support. Obviously its a Chinese machine through and through, but there is nothing wrong with that at all, they are pretty much on par with the USA and Europe made machines.
Be interesting to know the full spec on this as there is no much on the website

[Joe Hillmann]

The software and user interface on a galvo (at least the ones I've used) are nowhere near as user friendly as with a gantry type machine.

I think they are meant more to be used in a factory where they run the same part thousands of times rather than each job be custom. You can still use them for custom work it just is a bit more difficult then with a gantry type machine.

[Jacob John]

Thanks everyone for the comments. The other brands I'm considering are Vytek http://www.vy-tek.com/machines/Fiber.../compact3.html, Laserstar, Electrox http://www.electrox.com/, Halo http://www.halolasers.com/, ESS (http://www.engravingsys.com/high-speed-galvo-lasers/, and Laser Marking Technologies http://www.lasermarktech.com/ecobalt.html.

Do any of you have price points or any experiences with these brands?

[Ross Moshinsky]

I think you should call up Gary on this forum. He's has a Chinese galvo and I'm pretty sure he's really happy with them. I doubt he'd have any issue having a 20 minute phone conversation with you.

[Ernie Balch]

another US vendor of chinese galvo fiber lasers is Ray Scott of RabbitlaserUSA.

[Gary Hair]

I think you should call up Gary on this forum. He's has a Chinese galvo and I'm pretty sure he's really happy with them. I doubt he'd have any issue having a 20 minute phone conversation with you.

Just got my second one a week ago... I'm happy to share any info I have - all except for the color stainless settings anyway, they took me a long time to figure out!

[Chris Edens]

Gary

What is a good baseline setting to get these polymer mags this color? Mine always turn out a brown color. I have a 30w Trotec Speedmarker.

12565611_10207222692139064_3608722710933356001_n.jpg

[Gary Hair]

I wish I knew... I have Magpul phone cases down but I haven't figured out the mags yet.

[Nebojsa Trbojevic]

Just got my second one a week ago... I'm happy to share any info I have - all except for the color stainless settings anyway, they took me a long time to figure out!

I've got my first Chinese 20W galvo (Raycus laser, JCZ controller, fTheta optics), and struggling to learn EZCad so that I can configur and use it properly. I have a couple of Epilog machines, Zing and Mini, and my current business is based on CO2 lasers.
If you have Epilog, you know how easy it is to open any design program and send your job to Epilog printer driver. Well, in comparison, EZCad is a nightmare to learn. So if you have any info on how to do an initial calibration, it would help me a lot.
Otherwise, I would probably sell it and go for Epilog Fiber, at least I would be in the familiar territory.

[Gary Hair]

Design in Corel, export to an ai file then import into ezcad - problem solved.

[tommy suriady]

I have han's laser machines. cutting and marking. Han's is i think a very big laser integrator, if not the biggest in the world. it is the highest priced chinese machine, because of the support they are committed to give. iphones and ipads are cut and marked using their machines in foxcon. I know because i saw it. i think i am kinda of a regular in their factories in shenzhen. ~6 times in 2015 alone. they make machines to requirements. the parts they use depends on your choices. for example you can use IPG or SPI or Chinese fiber laser source. then match it to a galvo head from scanlab, cambridge etc. I have seen how they actually made their machines from start to finish. I can assure that I dont see any children around han's factory, so no child labor. Seems reasonably cheerful, no forced labor it seems. You can request your enclosure in any shape and colour you want, though their prefered color is blue gray. But I am not sure you need enclosure for 1064nm fiber laser. they give you very good googles to put on. you must have enclosure if you go for green laser and UV laser.

Get one. their support is excellent. if they give you trouble in the usa, tell me. I can pass the word to someone who will act on it. I think Han's USA is direct from China, not some middle trading company.

regarding their software, it has evolve the last 5 years. their machine come with very good english manual. very thick, so be patient. I have it on my work table. but i think starting last year, their manual is in a thumb drive that comes w the machine. you can write software according to your available system to integrate. they give you the required scripts in their manual. last section.

PM me if you want to know more about Han's. or you can ask me here. you dont find alot of information on them because the information is in chinese. they dont bother doing alot of marketing because they are like the defacto choice for industrial laser in china, at least. the last time i heard in dec 2015, they are not having an easy time delivering bookings from foxcon, bmw, huawei, etc.

just to clarify... i dont work for Han's laser. I have 3 han's machines in various states of payment. the assistant director for international market is a good friend of mine. I know alot of the people in their different factories in Shenzhen. I am in Indonesia. cheers!

[Dave Sheldrake]

ummmmmmmm

But I am not sure you need enclosure for 1064nm fiber laser

Errrrr

they give you very good googles to put on.

At least my eyes will survive the laser setting me on fire then

[Jacob John]

I have han's laser machines. cutting and marking. Han's is i think a very big laser integrator, if not the biggest in the world. it is the highest priced chinese machine, because of the support they are committed to give. iphones and ipads are cut and marked using their machines in foxcon. I know because i saw it. i think i am kinda of a regular in their factories in shenzhen. ~6 times in 2015 alone. they make machines to requirements. the parts they use depends on your choices. for example you can use IPG or SPI or Chinese fiber laser source. then match it to a galvo head from scanlab, cambridge etc. I have seen how they actually made their machines from start to finish. I can assure that I dont see any children around han's factory, so no child labor. Seems reasonably cheerful, no forced labor it seems. You can request your enclosure in any shape and colour you want, though their prefered color is blue gray. But I am not sure you need enclosure for 1064nm fiber laser. they give you very good googles to put on. you must have enclosure if you go for green laser and UV laser.

Get one. their support is excellent. if they give you trouble in the usa, tell me. I can pass the word to someone who will act on it. I think Han's USA is direct from China, not some middle trading company.

regarding their software, it has evolve the last 5 years. their machine come with very good english manual. very thick, so be patient. I have it on my work table. but i think starting last year, their manual is in a thumb drive that comes w the machine. you can write software according to your available system to integrate. they give you the required scripts in their manual. last section.

PM me if you want to know more about Han's. or you can ask me here. you dont find alot of information on them because the information is in chinese. they dont bother doing alot of marketing because they are like the defacto choice for industrial laser in china, at least. the last time i heard in dec 2015, they are not having an easy time delivering bookings from foxcon, bmw, huawei, etc.

just to clarify... i dont work for Han's laser. I have 3 han's machines in various states of payment. the assistant director for international market is a good friend of mine. I know alot of the people in their different factories in Shenzhen. I am in Indonesia. cheers!

Thank you for the info, Tommy. I will certainly consider it. Wanting the enclosure is more of a peace of mind issue. My business is home based, and I have two very young children. I want the ability to lock things up, and to have that additional safety feature.

Just a quick thread update, while I'm still considering my options, including Hans, I spoke to a Tykma rep, and will have a demo of their 20 watt Minilase soon. Unfortunately, they don't offer the 30 watt anymore. Still, the machine is probably the best looking galvo in both aesthetics (which don't really matter), down to the software, which I find to be very user friendly. Still, it comes with a very hefty price tag. Anyone selling a used galvo (partly joking)?

[tommy suriady]

Haha... Ok, you may need enclosure. We mark all our products wearing special laser goggles (200usd) a pair. and we wear long sleeves uniforms, we wear gloves.
we have seen what 1064nm laser does to skin in focus and out of focus. it was demoed live by the technician. accidental exposure is quite harmless, but a prolonged exposure of a 2 seconds on the same spot hurts with permanen burn mark(not demoed). we were told that it is very unlikely for a laser to be on and a galvo to be still. but ofcourse accidents happens. especially on crappy machines.

We were told specifically not to expose ourselves to our 1000w cutting lasers. but as long as we are not in center alignment mode, there is no way we can fire laser into anybody. unless we set the security jumpers, ofcourse. We have not had any injury to direct laser exposure, but we have one or two people with burn injury because of contact with very hot metals during unloading. i think it is pretty save. but safety is relative. Hahaha...

We have more injury from material loading and unloading at our storage facility... but that is just saying. could have prevented them if they are using safety gears according to procedures.

We were demoed a machine with enclosure... When we are working with our fiber laser, most of the time, it takes less than 20 sec to mark. it takes anything form 3-50 seconds to load and unload. sometimes we have a rotational loader/unloader that needs manual loading/unloading to speed things up: load/unload while marking.
It wouldnt have been possible to do easily with an enclosed machine. takes sometimes for the machine to open and close too. they have a safety switch to prevent marking on door open. we can override it. so rather pointless in my own very personal opinion.

we mark cow eartags regularly. 1 order is about 50.000 pcs. each piece takes 7 seconds to mark. we put in 4 pieces at a time and quickly pull them out and replace with unmarked ones. so we have 28 seconds to replace one piece before the laser goes back to the same slot. takes us 1 week to mark those with one machine. 8 hours shift. imagine if every 4 pieces needs an open/close door + loading/unloading procedure...

we also do marking for tufco flooring equipments on stainless steel for export to USA that lasts 15 minutes a mark. that would have been nice with an enclosure, but not necessary.

But I know a CE certified markng machine requires enclosure. But children need to be kept away from marking machines. they cant resist the bright spark and that is the worst part in laser marking. avoid that at all cost.

It is very easy to identify if your eyes have been damaged by fiber laser. take a piece of paper, mark a red circle in the middle of it, the size of an m&m. get someone to move it around infront of you about 6-9 feet away infront of you. stare right ahead. if you notice sometimes that you cant see the dot, then that is i think some permanent loss. But of course, that is highly unlikely, unless u attempt LASIK with your marking machine.