Are you interested in laser engraving and would like to choose a CO2 laser table for your projects? Whether you have already used other types of machines or technologies, or you are new to laser engraving and cutting, this guide will help you make the right choice and ensure a profitable investment.
Step 1: Determine Your Needs
The first question is: what do you need the laser table for? Applications typically fall into three categories:
- Personalization of objects: Pens, mugs, key rings, medals, trophy labels -- you will need engraving in series or by the unit.
- Informational and industrial signage: Door signs, cut-out letters, warning and prevention signs, identification labels, industrial tokens -- you will need engraving and cutting.
- Creative projects: Decorations, models, artistic work -- you will need mainly die-cutting, with some engraving features.
Step 2: Evaluate the Size and Number of Parts
For engraving individual small parts, a small A3 laser table will suffice. For series engraving and large parts, you will need a larger laser table. It all depends on the size of the part to be engraved and the number of engravings per day.
Choosing the Right Machine Format
- A multiservice engraver who produces around 50 small plates per day -- a small machine will be sufficient.
- Engravers specializing in signage who produce more than 100 plates per day and need to engrave and cut large plates -- a larger machine with higher productivity is required.
- For professionals in object personalization, each engraving is unique, so a small laser machine is more than sufficient.
- For companies specializing in object creation with large engravings (over 80 mm wide), an intermediate-sized laser table is needed.
A small and a large machine will perform a similar task in roughly the same time. However, if the part size is not limiting, a large machine will enable more parts to be produced at once, optimizing operator time.
Step 3: Choose the Right Laser Table Power
Now that you have a clearer idea of the laser table you need based on application and production volume, it is time to consider a decisive element: the thickness of the material to be processed.
If you need to engrave or cut organic materials, having a more powerful source has no impact on engraving -- it will not be done any faster. However, if you need to cut thick organic materials or plastics (greater than 6 mm), you will need a fairly powerful CO2 laser table. For example:
- A 30W laser table will be limited to cutting a thickness of about 10 mm (0.40 inches).
- An 80W laser table will cut up to 20 mm (0.79 inches) deep, and will cut 10 mm material twice as fast.
Important note: Laser tables should be considered as engravers. Cutting organic or plastic materials (except glass) is perfectly feasible, but metal or materials composed partly of metal (e.g., Dibond) cannot be cut with a CO2 laser table.
How Much Should You Invest? Three Criteria to Consider
Machine Purchase Cost
"Top-of-the-range" laser tables are equipped with a high-quality, air-cooled metal laser source with a lifespan of up to 10 years. They are productive, safe (Class 1 or 2), and controlled via dedicated software. Prices range from $10,000 to $40,000 depending on table size. "Low-cost" laser tables are open (without protective housing) and Class 4. They are not very productive, can be dangerous, may not comply with safety standards, and may not include graphic composition software. Prices are generally under $6,000.
Machine Operating Costs
A laser table generally has very low operating and maintenance costs -- mainly electricity and the purchase of protective eyewear for low-cost tables. Regular cleaning of the machine interior and optical elements (lenses and mirrors) is necessary. An annual maintenance contract is recommended for the long life of your machine.
Machine Reliability and Service Life
The lifespan of a laser table depends on the quality of its components and maintenance:
- Low-cost tables: Source change every 2 years ($300 to $1,000). Subject to regular malfunctions requiring technician intervention. No guarantee of spare parts availability after product shutdown. Class 4 hazardous laser. No dedicated after-sales service.
- Top-of-the-range tables: Laser source lifespan up to 10 years. Low maintenance costs. Class 2 safe -- no PPE required. All spare parts available through after-sales service. Guaranteed parts availability for 6 years after model discontinuation. Local phone line and mobile technician teams.
How to Make the Most of Your Laser Table
Diversify and Expand Your Business
Because it is not tied to a specific application, the laser table is a great way to diversify your business. The possibilities are extremely varied:
- Name signage: Door plaques, trophy plaques, letterbox plaques, house and room numbers, cutting of large letters and signs -- both indoor and outdoor signage.
- Industrial identification: Fireproof equipment identification plates, piping or electrical circuit identification plates, weather-resistant labels (UV-resistant).
- Customization: Key rings, pens, ink pads -- personalize a wide range of objects for both private and professional customers.
- Product design: Create product ranges in wood, acrylic, or paper -- small series of objects that make your laser table profitable.
Profitability Examples
A nameplate for a letterbox costs around $1.80 to produce (material plus running cost) and sells for between $8 and $15. A dog tag in anodized aluminum costs around $1 to buy and $0.70 for less than a minute's use of the machine, selling for between $8 and $15. In general, the potential margin is multiplied by 10 on the purchase cost of personalization, and by 5 on the purchase cost of small signs.
Gravotech Software
Gravotech offers its own control software, Gravostyle. It includes features specific to laser technology but is not mandatory to operate the machine -- a laser table can also be driven by other graphics software such as Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw.
Conclusion
You now have everything you need to assess your potential profitability with a CO2 laser table. Our advice: opt for top-of-the-range lasers for greater productivity and peace of mind. Gravotech experts are here to help you identify the machine that is right for you -- from identifying your needs to choosing the right machine, right through to deploying the laser table on your premises. Contact SOFRAY EMS to get started.