Oh my goodness I only just saw your new uploads! Welcome back 😁 I invested in a laser engraver and got about as far as the same experiments as you, but then decided I needed some proper fume extraction before I could carry on and it's been in the box ever since! Nothing quite prepares you for the amount of fumes and smell of burning! 🔥🚒
Do you know what! That's something I wasn't expecting, just how much the place fills up with smoke when it's working. My hoodie smelt like it had been in a bonfire! 🔥 Did watch and comment on your latest video the other week, is this a return for you?
Thanks for the info on the MDF cutting. That’s the size I was thinking of cutting even though the XTool site says they can do it. It obviously can’t. Thanks for the review on that!
As you mentioned, experimenting with the speed rates, power %, and passes is the key. I havent yet experimented on MDF, but it looks like it's going to be a bonfire, lol 😁
Yes it's a matter of getting the settings finely tuned in, and then I think I'd be able to make some great pieces with this. Tell you what, try some 24mm MDF and let me know what happens 🤣🤣
That is certainly one idea, but as far as I'm aware, if I stop the machine, and then restart it, it would start from the beginning again. I think a bit more speed on the laser movement may have helped
@@JamesManCave So there is no way of putting in a rest period between passes? Or if you have three holes to cut in three passes, can you make the machine go 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3 instead of 1-1-1-2-2-2-3-3-3 so the passes aren't directly after one another?
@@CrudeButEfficient yes you can to an extent. You could make it go 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3 but, I'm not sure if can set it to actually do that each time. Some of it is design dependent. You could program it to do one pass, and then just start the program again each time for more passes. I'm yet to look at the lightburn software, but from my understanding this offers far more options of design and programming, the xTool creative space is new, and being updated all the time
@@JamesManCave Cool. Sorry to drag you down this rabbit hole, was just a thought I had. 😅 A laser would be a fun toy, but I can't really justify that expense when there are other tools on the wish list that I have much more need for.
No problem, it's an interesting idea and I will look into it. Its definitely something I think is a very handy option to have, but do I need one? Only time will tell!
Great video man. I started with the 10W D1 Pro but eventually needed more bed space so i upgraded to the 20W with the extension kit. RE; Cable management - you mentioned you had a 3D printer, i've seen some people print drag chains for these and they look awesome, just something to consider maybe?
Great upload James. Thoroughly enjoyed both parts. I have a side hobby of building Ugears plywood model kits ( you’d probably love) which uses the same laser cutting system. Even Ugears kits which are a big volume commercial product still need trimming and sanding to do a final clean up of the components though. That machine you have looks great. Thanks for uploading. Cheers.
Those Ugears kits look fantastic, I've seen them around in the past. I saw a truck one once, it looked brilliant! Maybe one day, if I can hone my skills I can make some of my own designs on this laser 🤔👍
Interesting, nice to see the software side for a change 👍. I guess dialling back the laser power and having more passes would cause less scorching of the finished item? I noticed the plastic laser guard had melted on the left side 🥴😂.
Haha yes it has 🤣, it did that in the last video when I burnt through the wood then. Its a fine balancing act between laser speed and passes when it comes to the thicker stuff. 1mm/s is to slow and 5mm/s is to fast! I think if I had spent another month playing with it I could get everything to be pretty much perfect.
Would I be able to cut 8mm wood decently with this laser cutter? I want to build a guitar in layers of 8mm sheets of wood. I know it’d take All day but Im up for the challenge lol
My take away from this. Can it cut wood? yes but very very badly. Looks fine for simple repetitive cuts in plastics ( or would that melt/burn too?) The price is a bit eye watering too 🥺🥺 Good to see your pretty face again tho'
🤣🤣 thanks! I think once you get used to the settings, and dial them in better you can make some good clean cuts. But, yes it would be better for more craft type items. It would cut plastic, but not clear plastic, as the laser will just see straight through it and melt it.
Oh my goodness I only just saw your new uploads! Welcome back 😁 I invested in a laser engraver and got about as far as the same experiments as you, but then decided I needed some proper fume extraction before I could carry on and it's been in the box ever since! Nothing quite prepares you for the amount of fumes and smell of burning! 🔥🚒
Do you know what! That's something I wasn't expecting, just how much the place fills up with smoke when it's working. My hoodie smelt like it had been in a bonfire! 🔥
Did watch and comment on your latest video the other week, is this a return for you?
@@JamesManCave My new upload is just a one-off for now, I just dumped it and ran 🤣🤣
Thanks for the info on the MDF cutting. That’s the size I was thinking of cutting even though the XTool site says they can do it. It obviously can’t. Thanks for the review on that!
If you place the cable on the right side UNDER the rail instead of on the inside, it works better and looks uncluttered.
I'm going to have to try this. Mine runs onto the honeycomb, which will eventually fray the snakeskin sleeve.
As you mentioned, experimenting with the speed rates, power %, and passes is the key. I havent yet experimented on MDF, but it looks like it's going to be a bonfire, lol 😁
Yes it's a matter of getting the settings finely tuned in, and then I think I'd be able to make some great pieces with this. Tell you what, try some 24mm MDF and let me know what happens 🤣🤣
THANKS! Funny and informative!
Thanks for watching
Neat! Would giving the wood time to cool down between passes reduce the the fire hazard when cutting thicker stock?
That is certainly one idea, but as far as I'm aware, if I stop the machine, and then restart it, it would start from the beginning again. I think a bit more speed on the laser movement may have helped
@@JamesManCave So there is no way of putting in a rest period between passes? Or if you have three holes to cut in three passes, can you make the machine go 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3 instead of 1-1-1-2-2-2-3-3-3 so the passes aren't directly after one another?
@@CrudeButEfficient yes you can to an extent. You could make it go 1-2-3-1-2-3-1-2-3 but, I'm not sure if can set it to actually do that each time. Some of it is design dependent. You could program it to do one pass, and then just start the program again each time for more passes. I'm yet to look at the lightburn software, but from my understanding this offers far more options of design and programming, the xTool creative space is new, and being updated all the time
@@JamesManCave Cool. Sorry to drag you down this rabbit hole, was just a thought I had. 😅
A laser would be a fun toy, but I can't really justify that expense when there are other tools on the wish list that I have much more need for.
No problem, it's an interesting idea and I will look into it. Its definitely something I think is a very handy option to have, but do I need one? Only time will tell!
was your air turned on during these tests?
I believe it was, because at the time of testing this laser I wasn't sure what I was doing, so air was on.
Great video man. I started with the 10W D1 Pro but eventually needed more bed space so i upgraded to the 20W with the extension kit. RE; Cable management - you mentioned you had a 3D printer, i've seen some people print drag chains for these and they look awesome, just something to consider maybe?
Thanks soooo much
Where are your settings??? MDF is fine but you don't show power for each. Might be to high and to slow moving!
How do you know what laser settings to use?
I have a video coming out very soon, which I'll cover this
👍👍👍 Wishing a happy healthy and prosperous New Year to you and your family.
Thanks Pete, the same to you 👍👍
James, do you have a link for the box you made? I want to make one for my shop. Thanks mate!
apologies I have only just seen this. I don't have plans, but i did show my rough sizes on screen
no worries at all. I was just thinking maybe you saved the file and you’re able to put it on a website or email it to me.
Sorry no, that was back when I was still trying the machine out and I just made everything without saving stuff 😔
Great upload James. Thoroughly enjoyed both parts.
I have a side hobby of building Ugears plywood model kits ( you’d probably love) which uses the same laser cutting system. Even Ugears kits which are a big volume commercial product still need trimming and sanding to do a final clean up of the components though.
That machine you have looks great.
Thanks for uploading. Cheers.
Those Ugears kits look fantastic, I've seen them around in the past. I saw a truck one once, it looked brilliant!
Maybe one day, if I can hone my skills I can make some of my own designs on this laser 🤔👍
I have had other pieces of equipment that used fancier clips than cable ties. FWIW, the cable ties, or zip ties, worked best and lasted longer.
Newbie here. Where can I get the file to cut the test pieces? Thanks.
Hi, I made the file my self using the xTool creative software. But if you look on Etsy, there are people selling them
Interesting, nice to see the software side for a change 👍. I guess dialling back the laser power and having more passes would cause less scorching of the finished item? I noticed the plastic laser guard had melted on the left side 🥴😂.
Haha yes it has 🤣, it did that in the last video when I burnt through the wood then. Its a fine balancing act between laser speed and passes when it comes to the thicker stuff. 1mm/s is to slow and 5mm/s is to fast! I think if I had spent another month playing with it I could get everything to be pretty much perfect.
I like your videos and is helpful thanks mate
Thanks 👍
🔥🔥🔥 and there it is lad lol, you’ll enjoy this machine I reckons mate & im loving CNC every time I jump on mine 👍👍👍🍺🍺🍺
I didn't know you had a CN!, that would be a fantastic thing to have, but unfortunately no room for to buy one! ☹️ 🍻🍻🍻
Would I be able to cut 8mm wood decently with this laser cutter? I want to build a guitar in layers of 8mm sheets of wood. I know it’d take
All day but Im up for the challenge lol
Yea it would. Since I made this video, I've had a lot more practice with it, slow speeds and a few passes and it will cut fine
Two in a week! On fire... like the MDF :P
Its a abstract work of art! I'm gonna make loads of them and stick on an 8 X 4 sheet of MDF and sell it as a 1 off piece 😉
short answer is no.
consumer grade will never be able to cut the likes of Oak, Maple, Purpleheart.
Well I think it could with a bit more fettling of the speeds. But, I would say it would only make clean cuts up to around 15mm and no more.
My take away from this. Can it cut wood? yes but very very badly. Looks fine for simple repetitive cuts in plastics ( or would that melt/burn too?) The price is a bit eye watering too 🥺🥺
Good to see your pretty face again tho'
🤣🤣 thanks!
I think once you get used to the settings, and dial them in better you can make some good clean cuts. But, yes it would be better for more craft type items.
It would cut plastic, but not clear plastic, as the laser will just see straight through it and melt it.
😀👍