20 watt laser vs 7 watt laser
Posted: Sat Nov 18, 2023 6:20 am
New owner of the HD520, still working on getting everything all set the way I want it. Once I do, I will add a laser to it, and I have a bunch of questions about them.
I've been playing with the milling, and am learning, learning, learning.
The 2 & 7 watt laser will chuck up in the spindle, but the 20 watt bolts on the front of the spindle bracket. 2-watt does not do raster images so it is 'out' for me.
Question 1 is, is the mounting of the 20 watt laser repeatable? I would have to take it off to use the dust collector for milling, then put it back on, will it go back on in "exactly" the same position each time?
Question 2 is, what is the offset of the 20 watt to the center of the spindle? Is this something I would have to monkey with to 'marry' it to something I milled every time I put it back on?
Question 3 is, Does the 7-watt laser do a good job of rastering images?
Question 4 is, how good does the 7 watt laser do cutting through material?
Question 5 is, how much room for 'error' is there on the standoff (height) of the laser from the work piece? If I have a curved work piece (or milled) will the laser etch at a range of heights above the work piece?
Specs show 12mm (1/2") single-pass cut through for the 20 watt laser, but say nothing about the 7-watt and how much it can cut through.
Thanks for any info all you good people can provide.
I've been playing with the milling, and am learning, learning, learning.
The 2 & 7 watt laser will chuck up in the spindle, but the 20 watt bolts on the front of the spindle bracket. 2-watt does not do raster images so it is 'out' for me.
Question 1 is, is the mounting of the 20 watt laser repeatable? I would have to take it off to use the dust collector for milling, then put it back on, will it go back on in "exactly" the same position each time?
Question 2 is, what is the offset of the 20 watt to the center of the spindle? Is this something I would have to monkey with to 'marry' it to something I milled every time I put it back on?
Question 3 is, Does the 7-watt laser do a good job of rastering images?
Question 4 is, how good does the 7 watt laser do cutting through material?
Question 5 is, how much room for 'error' is there on the standoff (height) of the laser from the work piece? If I have a curved work piece (or milled) will the laser etch at a range of heights above the work piece?
Specs show 12mm (1/2") single-pass cut through for the 20 watt laser, but say nothing about the 7-watt and how much it can cut through.
Thanks for any info all you good people can provide.