CamFIVE Laser Cutting Machines

[LarrySmxl]

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.

 

[MacGyverS2000]

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

 

[LarrySmxl]

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

 

[HenryRollins]

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

 

[MacGyverS2000]

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

 

[LarrySmxl]

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?

 

[MacGyverS2000]

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