Laser Etching

I have read about a few guys on here into or getting in to laser etching, I did a quick google search and couldnt find to much related to MR. Can laser etching be used to make your own engines and cars? what costs are the costs? Do you need your own machine/software or can you send everything out? Any other info would be great as well.
Thanks,
Mike

 

Laser cutters/etchers can basically cut or etch anything you can cut with a knife. More expensive ones can cut metal. There are service bureaus that will do the cutting--there's one just down the street from me, for example. The cutters are well under $10,000, and coming down. The local minimum is $125. I think then there's an hourly charge.

In terms of building an engine shell, you might want to use a 3D printer, rather than a cutter. These build up a solid model, usually with a material similar to dental acrylics. For model stuff, the smallest printer available would be sufficient. Last I saw, these were under $20,000, but could produce parts like a circular saw housing--a prototype. These are also coming down in price, and there are service bureaus. Don't know what the bureaus would charge.

There was a small firm--Make Your Models?--that was offering 3D printing from your own files. I haven't followed what happened there.

 

Alright thanks Pete, that gives me an idea of costs and where to look in to about etching, sadly i dont think I will be creating anything on my own any time soon....and I thought HO was an expensive hobby....lol

 

In a few years--which I see you've got:teeth:--the price will come down dramatically.

I think the problem right now is that few "amateurs" know how to construct a solid model with something like SolidWorks or even Sketch-It. I certainly don't, and I've been in that industry for >20 years.

You can have something that looks good, but that a printing machine can't possibly produce. So there's a set-up charge, and a translation charge, where an expert takes your file and makes it producible. That can cost bucks way beyond the standard set-up charge.

There are no real standards here--a big problem! In my experience, the service bureas are looking for BIG jobs, not taking a simple model railroad job and producing a model or two.

 

For those of you who have your own lasers or play around with them....

which laser would you recommend getting or watching out for as the technology improves?

A 2D cutter might be kinda nice in the shop...