Thanks for the solution Robert, but that's too much money for me, just for a printer. Although I've look carefully into the 5500 from new Zealand web site. but I find this passage weird. (.....One of the Alps Supplies partners is resident in Japan, and speaks Japanese fluently. .....) For his sake I really hope he is fluent in Japanese, my god... He lives there!!! LOL. Ben
Hi Ben Not really...... My partner is Korean. When I was living in Germany, I knew plenty of expat Brits and Americans who could only speak very, very basic German, if any at all. I was one of those expat Brits! Anyway, I am the Frank of Alps Supplies (If you hadn't already guessed), and there really is no need to spend $2000 on ink, it will be available for a long time to come. Also, the cost of a printer, including shipping to the US, is somewhere around the US$882.00 mark (NZ$1126.47)
Welcome to Trainboard Frank. It nice to know that they are available for a while. Z scale depends on Alps for then any other scale, because decal manufacturer thinks that z scale decals are just too small or there isnt enought of us z scalers.
Robert, Love the tank cars--do you have the "Gramps" ones? On a side note--you should laser out a Z scale GN X1-X30 series slant-cupola caboose!
Yes, I still have the drawings, and it's on the list, as I want to do a couple, the GN and the BN repaint. I have a new laser machine on order that is being released next month. It has some new features, and one of them is called "Trueimage" which will let me etch engrave without banding. Look at this WP Woodchip car, and notice the carsides: Those horizontal lines are called banding, and the new C180 laser with Trueimage should be able to do a smooth carside without banding.
Robert- Would you post a larger picture so we can see the banding detail that you describe? Thanks. How many laser will you have after your new one comes in?
I wish I could post another pic of that car, but I traded it off a year ago, so I want to make another for myself. As for the new laser? That will make 3, but I will probably sell the small one. Still undecided. If the new laser amounts to all that, I will sell both of the Venus systems, and get another C180, so I have 2 on hand to meet demand!
On my workbench at the moment. A new laser building is on the way. Still some details to work out on my second attempt at a building from scratch. More to come later on when I'm nearly finished.
Now that near everyone has lasers, can you guys start rastering parts so we can get the 3D capabilities that they are capable of ? Like Rob's Wood Chip car below? SOoooooo many things need texture detail: Bricks, stone walls. Metal panels with rivets distorted (damaged) metal hinges, latches, other hardware larger depth 3D like rounded passenger car or autorack roofs Box car roofs .
Rob, I would get a sample engraved before buying and trying it. Anyway a bigger badder and faster machine is long due for you... Kim
Laser newbie alert...... I've long been considering getting a laser, but don't really know too much about them. I wouldn't be looking at running it 24/7, but it would see a bit of use. Can anyone please give me recommendations? TIA Frank
Hi Frank, Last year I recommended the Epilog Mini 24, and it is a great machine, but the Laserpro Venus is about 30% faster. The Epilog Mini has 3 times the table size though, so you can do bigger projects at a time. The mini has been out a few years now, and the Venus is 6 years old now, so it's time to look at the new generation of machines. I just jumped on the new Laserpro C180, picking the 30W with a 1.5" lens. It has some great new software features, that do things like eliminate banding on rastering jobs, accurate PPI control going through corners for precise depth cuts, computer free centering by using a drag and point feature with the lens nozzle (great for cell phones and laptop 1 off engraving) and an LED Light Bar inside so you can see your work. It also has a 12" x 18" table with 6" depth, covered optics, and you can even select a different focus depth for each color, so if you need to cut really thick stuff using multiple passes, you just copy/paste your drawing, change color for that layer, and apply the focus offset then send the print job. It's really cool and advanced. Laserpro now has the most advanced drivers of all the laser engraver companies.
I suppose that it is possible to burn a portrait on a fresh toast ... Ebay would easily payback the price of the laser I think ?!? :lightbulb:
Hi Frank I highly recommend reading some thread about buying a new laser on this forum http://www.sawmillcreek.org/ and choose the Laser Engravers forum, there is a lot of topics that surely could help you there. I would say there is not much other forum about laser engraving that has so much info as this one. plus the laser forum had help me take some important decisions on my purchases, (purchase with an S, because there is other important stuff that you will need around the laser, ). Ben
Thanks for the info, everyone. I know nothing about laser engravers at all (But I am building a CNC router - I guess the principles are similar), so I've got a lot of reading to do.
