BODOR lasers. BCL version Q's

[Forty One]

I'm currently looking over a BODOR laser 100w. and I have a couple of questions that the seller isn't able to tell me as he hasn't used it for signage purposes.

1. Can I upgrade the tube to a 130w if needed?
2. Can it be used to cut aluminium sheets? either 1.2 or 1.6 stock?
3. Does it have the capability of using a camera or at the least, the ability to use something to locate registration marks/crop marks?
4. Can the bed be chenaged or upgraded to a honeycomb (or finer mesh) bed?

 

[Gene@mpls]

You can change to a larger tube- they are longer and depending on the size of your cabinet you may have to make an extension to house it- most cabinets have provisions for an extension. This is a CO2 laser with a glass tube and will not cut metals. If you use Lightburn software [highly recommended] they can use cameras and have manual procedures for cutting from reg marks. I assume it has a blade bed which is usually used with higher power lasers- you can certainly buy a honeycomb to put on blade bed- I have several and rarely use them- if you do get one get a steel one so you can use magnets with it. I have a lot of experience- sign and laser- PM me and I will send my email if you are interested. Gene

 

[Dale D]

My concern would be, can the power supply handle a 130w bulb.

 

[Vassago]

All depends on what you're cutting.. A 130watt tube will be longer and might need a new psu - tbh you probably won't really get much more benefit over the 100w.

As others have said - will only cut organic (carbon based) materials - plastic, wood, cloth, etc. Not metal unless it's VERY thin (I did get my 100w boxford to cut very thin shim stock, but it struggled (only did it to see if it would do anything)) and you use oxygen. Wrong wavelength - a fiber laser is what you need for that.

Lightburn is great.. Compatible with the bodor controller - just add a fisheye USB camera and do some adjusting - I use a 8mp on my 1300x900 - some distortion at the very edges but pretty good considering the area and camera location.

As for the bed.. Keep the blades.. The honeycomb tends to be relatively fragile and get covered in whatever you're cutting. If you do get one - just get one the size you need - don't need the full bed size - or better still - make jigs.