Weike Laser Thoughts/Info Requested

[Kev Williams]

This is some text I lasered last night on some operator panels- I made some adjustments and ran this on my 3 different machines, "E"xplorer, "L"S900 and "T"riumph...

Note the ARRET line, on the LS900 I used Arial regular with a .5 point outline. For the other 2 machines I used Swiss Medium BT with no outlining. "REARMEMENT" is also Arial plus .5 point on the LS900, but is Arial with NO outline on the other 2 machines. All machines engraved EMERGENCY STOP / RESET using non-outlined Arial...the reason for text change is because the beam-spot of the LS900 is far and away MUCH narrower than my other 2 machines. This is very evident with the Emergency Stop/Reset text. FWIW, the Triumph could use a backlash tweak, and I'm also needing a new belt for the Explorer and I've been adjusting the tension and backlash settings on it lately, so, it could do better. The LS900 is going on 11 years old, and except for the mirror above the lens and the power supply, virtually everything else is original equipment. Bearings, belts, steppers, everything.

Of the 3, the LS900 is the best quality (it should be), the Explorer second, and the Triumph a very close 3rd. The Triumph results are the brightest white of the 3, and since the RESET text is only .060 tall, for a 1300 x 900 cutting machine, the engraving results are quite good IMO.

[Bill George]

--Now I don't know if this is a Triumph thing or what, but my 80 watt (as advertised) Triumph has a 110w tube 'as tested' by Reci at 32mA. My meter hits 28mA at just about 75% power per the software, and assuming 100% would be near 32mA, 75% of 110 watts is 82.5 watts 'safe' running max. And I figure it must be close, because the Triumph will engrave the same piece of wood nearly 3x deeper at full power and the exact same running speed as my 40w LS900.

But that's my Chinese machine, your results may vary

j

I would say you got a good mfg in Triumph. That would be one I would purchase, a honest 100% rated machine.

[Rich Harman]

Bear in mind that a 60 watt water cooled CO2 Chinese laser will not output a full 100% power, most are limited to 80 or 90% or even less.

A Chinese water cooled glass tube certainly will output full power. Full power means max recommended power which is governed by regulating the current going through the tube (that's why having an ammeter is important). The number value you punch into the program could be 80, 90 or just about anything - it depends upon how the power supply is adjusted. If it is 80, then that is the number that makes full power. That does not mean it is only making 80% of full power, it only means that that is the number you need to make full power. If you enter a higher number then you will be over driving the tube and significantly shortening its life.

[Ed Bath]

Hi Adam,

I have two G. Weike lasers. One is a two year old 60 watt 16" by 30" that I bought from a U.S. distributor. The other is a one year old 130 watt 24" x 36" that I imported myself directly from the Chinese factory.

I use both of these lasers in my business for engraving logos and text on wood. Each one runs from 15 to 20 hours per week.

Here is my feedback to your questions:

1. If you have a Weike laser, when you received it, did you get everything as ordered? (ie. was anything missing or was there anything that was a different item to what you'd requested)

I received everything as ordered from both the U.S. distributor and from G. Weike.

2. If you have any means of comparing, how did the Weike machine compare to other Chinese machines? (quality, control, etc)

These are the only lasers that I have ever operated.

3. Is the Weike control panel ok (relatively easy to use)?

Yes , it's easy to operate.

4. What software comes with and/or can you print directly from CorelDraw or, conversely, is it easy to simply import and Illustrator *.ai file into their software and print that way?

Both lasers have Lasercut 5.3. I use CorelDraw to do my artwork and export to .dxf files then send to Lasercut.

Lasercut is slow to import files and is a pretty crude software program, but it works without crashing. The user interface and manuals are lacking.

5. I will be ordering the Honeycomb tray, air assist, 5000W chiller, red point, autofocus and a spare laser tube. Is there anything else I should be adding?

For my uses, I would eliminate the honeycomb, autofocus, and spare tube. I do not need the honeycomb, the autofocus gets in the way of engraving in tight spaces, and the tubes last long enough that a spare one would deteriorate while sitting on the shelf.

6. Anything you can add re the quality and speed of Weike machines in general, (and ideally the 6040)?

I'm satisfied with the quality and speed of both of my machines, but I don't have much else to compare to.


Note: Both of my machines paid for themselves within the first six months of use (versus outsourcing the engraving). I bought the first one from a U.S. based distributor to help me overcome the learning curve and I'm glad that I paid the premium for their support. I imported the second one directly from G. Weike and saved a significant amount of money.

I hope this helps.

Ed

[Jerome Stanek]

When I checked with Weike some of the items you have listed they would include free just have to deal with them a little

[Larry Robinson]

I have had my Weike for 5-1/2 years. 24 x 36 with an 80 watt tube. I upgraded it to 130 watts about 2 years ago. I cut mostly 1/4 BB. I got everything I ordered. The only problem with the laser was that the On/Off switch went. Replaced it from Mcmastercarr.com. I got the 5000 series chiller and it has worked fine. The only thing I bought that I regret is the smoke filter, did not do a very good job.

I got the cutting table and wished I had gotten the honeycomb table instead. Reason: one of the cut pieces fell down at an angle and caught the laser. Started a small fire. I would not pay for Autofocus again either.

I would certainly not hesitate to by another Weike laser.

[Zach Browning]

I think the new ones come with both the knife table and honeycomb bed. Mine's got the knife table bolted on, and the honeycomb sits on the knives. It also has a little drawer that catches any small bits that fall through, which from what I can tell is a newer addition.