Affordable (ish) desktop laser
- Thread starter Giles
- Start date
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
Very nice.
How long did it take to cut with the multiple passes?
Do you alter focus between passes?
Something I will look at to see if multiple passes can improve small details such as your steps.
On my setup I have an Engraving option that can be set to cut similar details to a higher fidelity than just cutting through but it takes much much longer.
How long did it take to cut with the multiple passes?
Do you alter focus between passes?
Something I will look at to see if multiple passes can improve small details such as your steps.
On my setup I have an Engraving option that can be set to cut similar details to a higher fidelity than just cutting through but it takes much much longer.
Giles
Western Thunderer
Hi Phil,
The focus is now set up once and for all, and doesn't get changed. The rails took about forty minutes total in three passes, at 7mm per second. The alternative would be a single pass at 2mm/sec, but this chars more, so the multiple pass does give a cleaner cut (but you're dependent on keeping your registration!).
There's no getting round it, this machine does this sort of job slowly, but it does do it well.
The focus is now set up once and for all, and doesn't get changed. The rails took about forty minutes total in three passes, at 7mm per second. The alternative would be a single pass at 2mm/sec, but this chars more, so the multiple pass does give a cleaner cut (but you're dependent on keeping your registration!).
There's no getting round it, this machine does this sort of job slowly, but it does do it well.
Giles
Western Thunderer
Here's where you'll find all the info - available in A4 size and A3 (I bought an A4)
Emblaser - Darkly Labs
Emblaser - Darkly Labs
Giles
Western Thunderer
All the laser work of the Denton Brook building is finished and assembled. Windows fitted, the cills were cut in situ, and pulled forward. Some bricks were cut out (probably too many), the building still awaits weathering - together with roof (corrugated) gutters etc.....
The main building shell is 2mm MDF, (the thickness of which suits interlocking brickwork at the corners) and the windows are 0.8mm laser grade ply.
The main building shell is 2mm MDF, (the thickness of which suits interlocking brickwork at the corners) and the windows are 0.8mm laser grade ply.
adrian
Flying Squad
Very impressive the corner joints are virtually invisible in the photos which at normal viewing distance I think would be invisible - are the sides done in panels? It looks a little large to be done in one piece on an A4 cutter.
I have been seriously tempted with getting one after seeing your work here. My better half does quite a bit of craft stuff, and is often buying laser cut decorations from ebay so I could easily swing it past the domestic authorities. My only slight reservation with the Darkly LED laser cutters is they say it won't cut acrylic - is this something I'd have to look at a CO2 cutter for or do you know of an equivalent plastic that the LED laser will cut?
I have been seriously tempted with getting one after seeing your work here. My better half does quite a bit of craft stuff, and is often buying laser cut decorations from ebay so I could easily swing it past the domestic authorities. My only slight reservation with the Darkly LED laser cutters is they say it won't cut acrylic - is this something I'd have to look at a CO2 cutter for or do you know of an equivalent plastic that the LED laser will cut?
Giles
Western Thunderer
Bless you both....
All the walls were done in one piece - the longest wall is 295mm, but splicing them would have been straightforward enough had it been necessary. Di using the Emblazer for cutting leather, for making masks etc..., so it's extremely useful!
I'm not sure about the acrylic issue - we'll see. I can certainly manage without it if that's it's only limitation.
All the walls were done in one piece - the longest wall is 295mm, but splicing them would have been straightforward enough had it been necessary. Di using the Emblazer for cutting leather, for making masks etc..., so it's extremely useful!
I'm not sure about the acrylic issue - we'll see. I can certainly manage without it if that's it's only limitation.
BrushType4
Western Thunderer
That looks super. 
Giles
Western Thunderer
......... However.... In my search for the correct plasticard substitute, I came across a material that allows me to do this in 0.8mm. It's fairly bendy, so doesn't break when you're glueing them on (i haven't broken any at all...) - but it needs superglueing, as MEK etc won't do the biz....
That's fine, as in this application I was fitting then onto a ply board (lasered with locating slots) in any case.
The gutter was a 3mm u rib from an old umbrella, and the board was lasered with the slots giving a slight 'fall' to the gutter. The brackets are amazingly resilient. I could probably fold one in half before inflicting damage on it. The thickness of the support is about 0.35mm
That's fine, as in this application I was fitting then onto a ply board (lasered with locating slots) in any case.
The gutter was a 3mm u rib from an old umbrella, and the board was lasered with the slots giving a slight 'fall' to the gutter. The brackets are amazingly resilient. I could probably fold one in half before inflicting damage on it. The thickness of the support is about 0.35mm
Giles
Western Thunderer
Finally I've got this building just about done (there's always a couple more jobs to do.....). I find buildings difficult and labour-intensive, although this one has been much easier by using the laser cutter. I feel I'm now reasonably fluent, so if I want a part, I can just cut it, so to speak.
I should have been struggling to do the fire escape any other way, in any event (other than etching it in brass, of course).
The stone wall at the bottom is a piece of 18mm ply, covered in fire cement, embossed and carved - it took a surprising amount of time to do!
I'm not particularly happy with any of the painting - but that is very much my weak point (I don't count polishing locos!)
I should have been struggling to do the fire escape any other way, in any event (other than etching it in brass, of course).
The stone wall at the bottom is a piece of 18mm ply, covered in fire cement, embossed and carved - it took a surprising amount of time to do!
I'm not particularly happy with any of the painting - but that is very much my weak point (I don't count polishing locos!)
Rob Pulham
Western Thunderer
A like doesn't seem to be enough credit for this Giles
mickoo
Western Thunderer
I'm sorry, but I cannot subscribe to that at all
, set in the context of a layout with surrounding scenery then it will look very good indeed.I assume this is some sort of loader / bunker type building, with a single track running underneath and set into a sloping hill side?
Mick D
Giles
Western Thunderer
Mick, you're kinder than I deserve. This is the context - a small factory complex, with one of the buildings spanning the tracks (and incidentally acting as a view blocker!)
Chris, I get the MDF from Hobarts laser supplies - it works out about 85p per A4 sheet plus postage. The Emblazer itself comes out at a little over £600, if I remember rightly, so yes - it's significantly more than a Cameo, but in my view, a much more useful machine (but I'm biased!). You don't get a raised edged to the cut either, which I see on so many Cameo cut bits.
There is a learning curve, as with all machines, but not an unreasonable one. I've had mine about a month now.
Chris, I get the MDF from Hobarts laser supplies - it works out about 85p per A4 sheet plus postage. The Emblazer itself comes out at a little over £600, if I remember rightly, so yes - it's significantly more than a Cameo, but in my view, a much more useful machine (but I'm biased!). You don't get a raised edged to the cut either, which I see on so many Cameo cut bits.
There is a learning curve, as with all machines, but not an unreasonable one. I've had mine about a month now.
mickoo
Western Thunderer
Mick, you're kinder than I deserve. This is the context - a small factory complex, with one of the buildings spanning the tracks (and incidentally acting as a view blocker!)
I rest my case, blends in perfectly
If your still unhappy then look at it this way, you haven't done anything horrendously wrong so what you have is a very good canvas to tweak to your satisfaction at a later date.
I really do like that Garratt, remind me again, is it a kit and by whom and I'm guessing it's standard gauge.
Mick D