Laser vs Wood Engraving Machine
- Started
- Last post
- 7 Responses
- Gkatz
Hey all, i'm looking into producing some vector based artwork with simplistic shapes based on a puzzel piece execution which would be cut out of different types of woods. Does anyone know any vendors they recommend either in NYC or the rest of the country? If peeps had any experience working in this medium i would greatly appreciate any technical issues they came across. Thanks so much!
- detritus0
two questions - what depth are you cutting to, and what level of complexity?
I get a lot of calls from people who know about laser cutting but are wholly unaware of general old school CNC machines, so basically end up over-speccing.
If you're just making 'puzzle pieces', you can probably do without laser cutting, imh, meaning you can flick through yellow pages (etc) and choose from a far-more numerate and likely far cheaper professional woodworking shops.
- detritus0
Hold on - you want engraving of a design, or cutting of puzzle pieces?
- Gkatz0
detritus, thanks for the quick reply!
To answer your question about depth, probably around 1 1/4" deep.
As for complexity, i'm thinking the final result will be around 13x19" with simple geometrical shapes.
- Gkatz0
Cutting of puzzle pieces.
- detritus0
So approx 30mm deep? imho - definitely CNC, then,
Not really my domain as I'm more at the flop-wristed, subtle detail, designer end of the market, but I imagine any laser powerful enough to cut through that much wood would have charred the living shit out of the top half first = bad edge finish.
I, for instance, prefer not to cut wood beyond 10mm in depth for this exact reason. Plastics maybe, yes - but not wood.
If you want to check (as I could be completely wrong), try and focus on the industrial end of laser cutting services when you're searching for companies.
but imho, you'll get the finish you're looking for with CNC.
