60w from Automation Technologies

[Brett Winston]

Hello everyone. I’ve been reading your posts and enjoying this wealth of knowledge. Thanks for sharing! I’ve been dying to jump in with questions and hopefully some insight soon but it took about a week to get signed up so I could post. That is finally sorted out and I’m happy to be here.

I don’t want to start another “which laser should I buy” thread but I do have a few remaining questions about lasers on my short list that I’m hoping someone can help with. Links for both are posted below, they are the 60watt units from Automation Technologies (Automation Technology?).

The primary use out of the gate and the deal maker/breaker is the size and quality of 1mm to 2mm text that can be engraved on wood. I’m informed that I have to pay for a sample and I’d rather not do that if I’m going to lose $100 if I don’t like what I see. Specific questions that could not readily be answered from the owner follow. I’d love to hear from anyone who owns one of these and any extra info you’d like to share is greatly appreciated.

1) Most important question - How legible is text, sized in the 1mm-2mm range, engraved on wood? Wood to be used will vary and would include curly maple, figured walnut, figured oak, and probably stabilized burl (could be a new can of worms there).

2) The larger, higher priced laser below appears to include the following that is not listed with the lower priced unit.

a. DSP control system

b. Water Chiller 3000w

c. Larger cutting/engraving area

d. Faster operation (?)

The question here is, what does the DSP controller get me? All I could find was that it enables vector cutting and raster(bitmap) engraving in the same project. Could that not be achieved with the Laserwork(s) software that is included or does the software only support that feature if the hardware is present?

3) I want a seamless “print driver” type capability which will allow me to print directly from Corel Draw and it seems that the Corel plug-in for Laserwork will allow this. Can anyone confirm? Is this similar (in functionality) to FSL’s RetinaEngrave?

Here are the links to the two units:

• CO2 Laser Cutter and Engraver With Auto Focus, 60W, 20 X 12 inch: http://www.automationtechnologiesinc...ng-machine-60w

• 60W CO2 Laser Engraving Machine, auto focus 24 X 16 inch: http://www.automationtechnologiesinc...-laser-machine

I’ve not found a comprehensive review of either of these, perhaps because they go by other names. I will be happy to post a review if I end up with one as it appears there is definitely a need.

Thanks again,
Brett

[Jerome Stanek]

When I was looking for mine I went to Automation and they did a test cut for me for free. Call and see if John will test for free. I have one of their 60watt units and like it. If you tell me what kind of wood I would run you a test.

[Gary Hair]

1) Most important question - How legible is text, sized in the 1mm-2mm range, engraved on wood? Wood to be used will vary and would include curly maple, figured walnut, figured oak, and probably stabilized burl (could be a new can of worms there).

Wood being what it is, you are not likely to get acceptable lettering in that size from any laser, especially on any figured wood or any wood with open grain like walnut and oak. I have a $30K++ Trotec that will out-engrave virtually any Chinese laser but lettering that size would be mediocre at best unless you are using very clear maple or mdf or something similar.

[Brett Winston]

Wood being what it is, you are not likely to get acceptable lettering in that size from any laser, especially on any figured wood or any wood with open grain like walnut and oak. I have a $30K++ Trotec that will out-engrave virtually any Chinese laser but lettering that size would be mediocre at best unless you are using very clear maple or mdf or something similar.

I got this (see attached) from a Trotec and consider it acceptable. Lower case letters are 1.75mm tall. Wood is figured English Walnut.

IMG_6515.JPG

[Brett Winston]

When I was looking for mine I went to Automation and they did a test cut for me for free. Call and see if John will test for free. I have one of their 60watt units and like it. If you tell me what kind of wood I would run you a test.

I spoke with John yesterday and he wanted $100 for a sample and said he'd refund if I purchased the laser. If it's not good enough, I'm out $100.

[Brett Winston]

When I was looking for mine I went to Automation and they did a test cut for me for free. Call and see if John will test for free. I have one of their 60watt units and like it. If you tell me what kind of wood I would run you a test.

Thanks, I greatly appreciate that! Any light colored hardwood you have handy is fine. I posted a sample pic in response to another post. That is figured English Walnut. Any relatively figured, open-pored wood would be a good test as it's sort of worst case scenario.

[Matt McCoy]

I spoke with John yesterday and he wanted $100 for a sample and said he'd refund if I purchased the laser. If it's not good enough, I'm out $100.

That is what you would call a "Don't Bother Me" fee. How much did it cost to talk to him on the phone?

[Dave Sheldrake]

the 20 x 12 is a Shenhui SH350D. That's an $800 laser

1mm text on wood using a 50.8mm focal length lens is going to be dreadful when produced using a DC tube (a cheap tube that is used in those machines anyways)

Neither of those machines are good value and are roughly 3x what it costs to import the same machines direct from Shenhui

[Bill George]

The machines they have for the most part are still in a box, the ones they have on the Showroom floor I would assume are for display only. I purchased one from them a couple years ago and sold when I purchased my ULS and it worked fine. I have autofocus on the one I have now, never used. John can be a little surly at times, especially when you have a problem.

[Jerome Stanek]

I tried 1 and 2 mm on some poplar and the 1 mm you can not see and the 2 mm is barely readable due to its size. If I use a magnifier I can read both

[Doug Fisher]

As an aside, just this week Automated Technologies started advertising on Craigslist selling units that appear to be the same as ones being sold on ebay for a significant upcharge. If Bill is correct and one is just getting a machine still in the box that hasn't been taken out and tested, that is quite a premium to pay.

[Kev Williams]

I'm not afraid to do something for nothing

From my Triumph just now--

Wood is a piece of 1/4" maple sitting under the machine-
Font is plain Arial
Speed=400mm/s, power on the light was 12% which just grazed it- I had to go over the bottom 3 lines a second time-- deeper cut done at 25% power
gap/res setting: .05mm (equates to 508 lines per inch)
Just used my 2" lens, could've maybe gotten a bit better with the 1.5"...

My poor old Sony F707 just doesn't like to focus like it used to

trimaple3.jpgtrimaple1.jpgtrimaple2.jpg

[Keith Winter]

Wood being what it is, you are not likely to get acceptable lettering in that size from any laser, especially on any figured wood or any wood with open grain like walnut and oak. I have a $30K++ Trotec that will out-engrave virtually any Chinese laser but lettering that size would be mediocre at best unless you are using very clear maple or mdf or something similar.

Gary nailed it! On wood 1mm will be near impossible to read clearly.

[Keith Winter]

I am continually impressed with your triumph Kev! Looks really good at 2mm. Question I have is how much would you charge to come tune in my Thunder machine like that

I'm not afraid to do something for nothing

From my Triumph just now--

Wood is a piece of 1/4" maple sitting under the machine-
Font is plain Arial
Speed=400mm/s, power on the light was 12% which just grazed it- I had to go over the bottom 3 lines a second time-- deeper cut done at 25% power
gap/res setting: .05mm (equates to 508 lines per inch)
Just used my 2" lens, could've maybe gotten a bit better with the 1.5"...

My poor old Sony F707 just doesn't like to focus like it used to

trimaple3.jpgtrimaple1.jpgtrimaple2.jpg

[Brett Winston]

I tried 1 and 2 mm on some poplar and the 1 mm you can not see and the 2 mm is barely readable due to its size. If I use a magnifier I can read both

Thanks Jerome! To clarify, the 2mm is barely readable due to size but not due to lack of detail? Did the letters look fairly clean (like on this photo)...

IMG_6515.JPG