Full Version: Too Much Laser Power
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#10]
15 Jun 2006
To: Ken D. (KDEVORY) [#9] 15 Jun 2006
The increase from a 4% setting to a 5% setting is 25% increase, no matter the power of the laser. The same for a 10% to 11% setting change always being a 10% increase in power, no matter what the wattage of the laser.
But your point is a good one. Not looking at it as percentage of increase, but in the size of the steps in absolute power you do get smaller steps with the lower power laser. Where a 100 watt laser gives 1 watt steps and a 50 watt laser gives 1/2 watt steps, or a 25 watt gives 1/4 watt steps.
On the other hand, the higher wattage laser can often do the job faster, or cut thicker materials in a single pass.
Of course table size is also something to think long and hard about. I went with a 24" wide table because I knew that some things I wanted to do would be more than the 18" of the smaller models. But I just came across a project that requires a 36" table. If I had a bit more confidence in the project panning out long term I might consider buying my second laser after only 2 months. :O
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#11]
15 Jun 2006
To: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#10] 15 Jun 2006
In an unofficial survey a friend of mine took, while visiting shops in the San Diego, CA area, he found that it was extremely common to find multiple laser machines, in those businesses, who used lasers.