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CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

(OP)
Anyone have any experience, good or bad, with CAMFive Laser cutting machines.  I am looking to purchase one for cutting of 0.060 inch thick polycarbonate sheet.  They have said the dual head, 80 watt per head machine will work:

http://www.camfive.com/usa/cma1200ht.html

Looking for any experience with reliability and functionality of this manufacturer.

RE: CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

No experience with that company's machines, but you should be okay with that power level... just keep in mind you're actually cutting with 40W out of each head.  Expect to use nitrogen air assist if you want to avoid a nasty char on the cut edge.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

(OP)
This unit has two 80-watt laser tubes, so I am hoping to avoid nitrogen Air assist

RE: CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

What were you planning on using as an assist gas if you don't want to use nitrogen?

RE: CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

The extra power doesn't remove the need for air assist, it's a requirement of the substrate being cut (assuming you want a clean edge).  PC doesn't melt with a clean edge, and if you do it with shop air you're going to get charring to boot.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

RE: CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

(OP)
This is my first dealing with laser cutting PC (and laser cutters period), so thank you for bringing it up. The CAMFive technician making the samples had not mentioned gas assist.

They said they have made samples which look good, but I have not recieved them yet. There is no mention of gas-assist in their literature/specs.  I will ask them about this.

Is gas assist something that I could easiliy add onto a machine like this, or does it need to be built into the laser head/bridge?

RE: CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

I see no mention of air assist in either the specs or the accessories section... it will have to be a retrofit by you, it looks like.  Assist will typically be coaxial with the output lens, so you'll need to figure out a flexible tubing system.  Unless you want to modify the carriage itself, you'll probably go with an off-axis assist and have an air tube close to the lens cone.

Dan - Owner
http://www.Hi-TecDesigns.com

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