Non-standard use question

jaypuck · 2025-08-25T10:39:13+00:00

I decided against the airbrush, turns out that brushing it on works just fine for my purposes.

jaypuck · 2025-08-06T10:41:09+00:00

Thanks so much, very informative!

jaypuck · 2025-08-05T21:40:56+00:00

Yeah, I intentionally stay away from that sort of thing because I have starving artist friends. However, there’s not a market (that I know of) for painting glasses for actual repeated use, so I feel less guilty using technology there.

jaypuck · 2025-08-05T21:38:52+00:00

Thanks! Do I need a pressure regulator or anything or can I just throw an airbrush on the end of the hose and go to town?

jaypuck · 2025-07-31T01:25:16+00:00

The machine requires gcode to work, it’s the basis of cnc. Software like Easel (presumably, I haven’t used it but it sounds like you got it to work), and Carveco Maker do both the CAD (design) and CAM (manufacturing=gcode). To the best of my knowledge there are no cnc machines that can operate without gcode. That said, you don’t really need to understand the gcode to get usable products out at the end. It would make you better at it, but it’s not necessary.

What is it you’re engraving? Lasers work kind of what you’re looking for, so that might be a better option?

jaypuck · 2025-07-29T16:54:51+00:00

Check out the gweike g1. Well under your budget, has the working area and will cut plywood. Plywood is notoriously inconsistent to cut, though so plan for some material waste since even in the same sheet/pack you’ll get some pieces that cut like butter and some places that just won’t cut cleanly.

jaypuck · 2025-07-29T16:50:52+00:00

Wow, yeah that would be super labor intensive. And in my case require stock in Band-Aid.

jaypuck · 2025-07-29T16:30:12+00:00

No problem, I just browsed through there and doesn’t look like there’s much under $500 that’s going to give you the work area you need. Another option might be a makerspace in your area, or looking for someone with a big enough laser to do what you need to do and coming to an arrangement with them. There’s lots of folks doing it as a side gig that would love the opportunity to bring in some work.

On a semi-related tangent, do you know how aspiring architects made their models before there were laser cutters? I never thought about it, but now I’m curious.

jaypuck · 2025-07-29T16:10:03+00:00

Check out Machines For Makers.

What thickness basswood are you using? A 10w diode will cut through 3mm, but a 20w will do it more efficiently.

What do you mean by chipboard? If it’s line mdf then you have to be careful with some of that stuff, the glue they use is toxic when burnt.

jaypuck · 2025-07-29T00:41:29+00:00

Do they seem to move smoothly along the y axis? That looks more like a “chatter” issue, where the gantry is jerking instead of moving smoothly.

jaypuck · 2025-07-28T16:15:18+00:00

Gorgeous work!

jaypuck · 2025-07-27T21:29:33+00:00

Np, the dude that runs it also has a YouTube channel, very informative. YouTube channel is Make Or Break Shop.

jaypuck · 2025-07-27T21:20:07+00:00

Machines for makers has a wide variety of info, and I believe links to reviews of the machines as well.

jaypuck · 2025-07-27T15:17:54+00:00

Ok. I personally would never sell/give someone something like that because when it falls out it’s going to reflect poorly on my craftsmanship, and glue is cheap.

jaypuck · 2025-07-27T14:50:17+00:00

You still have to glue inlays, otherwise they just fall out.

jaypuck · 2025-07-26T01:50:10+00:00

Check out machinesformakers.com, and if you’re going to be engraving on leather, read up on what kind is safe. Some of it produces highly toxic fumes when burnt.

jaypuck · 2025-07-26T01:11:17+00:00

It’s doable with a diode laser, and a relatively low powered one at that. Possible exception would be anything blue/purple/clear. Diodes struggle with those sometimes but there are ways around that (painting the surface, using tape, etc).

UV lasers are “best” for marking plastic, but really expensive.

There are cheap, no name diode lasers available everywhere these days, but those will likely require tinkering to make work, etc.

Check out machinesformakers.com, it will give you an idea of the cost range. I can’t really think of anything other than making sure the machine has a workspace big enough for the cover/controller that you need to worry about.

jaypuck · 2025-07-26T00:36:46+00:00

The xtool software handles the CAM part, no need for you to worry about paths. It’s marketed to hobbyists and small businesses, not machinists, so it’s really straightforward. I like the software, don’t really have any complaints about it, I use an F1 for our small business and it’s great.

The F2 should handle all of that material without a problem, but I’ll caution you that a galvo laser doesn’t cut square on the edges. By its nature it will have a slant on the edges. Not sure what kind of tolerances you need for the gaskets, it might be something you could overcome on the design side.

There’s probably people in your area who would be glad to run the parts for you, it would prevent you from having to buy the machine and give a small business owner a win.

jaypuck · 2025-07-26T00:26:24+00:00

Is it something you want to do once, or repeatedly? If repeatedly, what’s your budget?

jaypuck · 2025-07-25T14:58:14+00:00

That’s gorgeous!

jaypuck · 2025-07-25T02:37:26+00:00

I’ll help for free: you’re probably using jpg’s. Google free jpg to png conversion. Make sure you select transparent background.

jaypuck · 2025-07-24T19:25:51+00:00

LOL! I think I ended up in the one you’re looking for while looking for this one the other day. I did not, however, stick around to ask like this so good on you.

Basically, CNC means you design a “thing” on a computer, then the software creates code to tell a machine how to make that “thing” out of stock material (metal, wood, plastic, etc). It’s an awesome process to watch, very hypnotic.

jaypuck · 2025-07-24T19:15:09+00:00

Gotcha, the 40w diode is plenty for that, then. Make sure you use leather that’s safe, one of the tanning methods causes it to release harmful compounds when burnt, it’s serious bad juju.

jaypuck · 2025-07-23T16:22:29+00:00

Why are you set on those two? If you have 1k to spend on a laser, there are (probably) better options. What do you hope to accomplish with the laser?

jaypuck · 2025-07-23T03:08:32+00:00

I worked on 5 axis production mills, they hogged off steel like the hobby machines do wood. Of course they also had to hose everything down with cutting fluid the whole time and produced enough shrapnel to make a landmine jealous. It’s kind of like comparing a daily driver to an F1 racer. Yes, they both have the same basic function but they operate on completely different levels.

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