Are you in the market for a laser engraving marking machine, but feeling overwhelmed by the options available? Look no further! This comprehensive guide will walk you through everything you need to know to choose the perfect machine for your business needs. Laser marking and engraving machines have become increasingly popular in a wide range of industries, from manufacturing to jewelry making. With their ability to create precise and permanent marks on various materials, these machines offer incredible versatility and efficiency. In this guide, we will cover the different types of laser marki ..read more

A return to normal service this week, as we take a look at how to laser cut cardboard with some tips and tricks along the way.  There are a large number of applications that cardboard can be used for; from presentation boxes to gaming landscapes and prototypes. So it’s a useful material to learn how to process properly.  As its been a while since we looked at day to day running , so we thought it might be useful to revisit machine set up and how to select laser parameters as well as cutting orders in RDworks. Our tame superuser, will talk you through this in the intro to todays vide ..read more

Welcome back to the Thinklaser Lightblade blog, I apologise its been a few weeks since we last posted. Lets kick back off with a more detailed look into the science behind the beam.   Before we crack on – this post is going to be a more detailed look at the beam, it’s an interesting subject to cover in more detail, we will revert to more tips and tricks for day to day production next week.   We have already covered in great detail the importance of beam alignment and optics cleanliness, if you need a refresher, please take a look at our earlier blogs. We have also taken a look at ho ..read more

In this week’s blog, we take a look at how to monitor the efficiency of your Lightblades mirrors, and demonstrate the importance of doing so.   We have mentioned in the past about the effect of dirt on the optics and the detriment to performance – but what does that actually look like and how much does it really affect the cutting or engraving output?   There is a big benefit to cleaning the mirrors – beyond the obvious, as it will actually help you to save money.   We have seen customers convinced that their tube is exhausted and needs to be replaced. Symptoms are typically i ..read more

Imagine this – you spend hours creating a beautiful design for a customer or event. It’s a masterpiece. You then set the machine up. Correct lens: Check. Correct power and speed settings in RDWorks: Check. You load your expensive, lovely material, and use ball bearings or bolts to space the material off the honeycomb and avoid any flashback: Check. You then hit autofocus and the machine whirrs into life and sets the correct focal distance. Check. This is looking good! You hit start, and the machine begins to cut the outside profile first, and……. plonk. That’s the sound of your part dropping o ..read more

When laser cutting, the focal point is critical in ensuring that the maximum amount of available energy produced by the tube reaches the work piece. If you are “out of focus” then the machine will not cut as effectively, as you are lessening the effect of the beam on the part. A good way to think of the focal point is to draw an imaginary triangle from the nozzle to the work surface ..read more

How does a laser work? More importantly – how is a laser beam generated and what should you do to maximise the life of your laser tube?   In a glass tube CO2 laser’s the most expensive consumable item is the laser tube, these typically range from around £220.00 for a reputable 60W tube all the way up to £1,500.00 for a 150W tube from Reci or EFR.   Laser tubes manufactured by reputable suppliers, such as the EFR or RECI tubes used on the Lightblade, typically have a minimum life of 18 months.   Across our customer base we normally see 18-36 months of tube life (by tube life, w ..read more

Cheap; a word often synonymous with nasty – probably not what you had in mind when looking for a new laser cutting and engraving system. In part two of our laser buying basics guide, we take a closer look at what makes up a laser system and why a low cost laser needn’t mean nasty. There are several key components that will affect the functionality, performance and reliability of your machine, below, we highlight some easy things to check and areas to be aware of. Chassis: This is the outer metal case the machine is made of. Key things to check are the paintwork, low cost steel can rust terrib ..read more

There are a huge number of flatbed laser cutting systems available to users on the market now, but how do you separate the potential headaches and minefields from laser cutting nirvana? What laser source should I select, what power, what materials can I cut? So many questions, so many choices; in this simple guide we seek to shed some light on laser cutters, give you an idea of what to look out for and hopefully help you to avoid any issues. Here are our basic 5 tips to buying a laser: Make sure you have the space for the machine… sounds obvious, but often laser machine dimensions refer to th ..read more

OneLife iD specialise in providing innovative, personal ID products that carry your choice of emergency, medical or contact information.  Wearing or carrying a OneLife iD ICE (in case of emergency) product ensures immediate identification, medical alert, quick communication with your next-of-kin and peace of mind. Our multi-function emergency, sports and medical ID product range includes ID Wristbands, Dog Tags, Key Rings, Stickers and ID Cards. This allows you to: Select the personal ID product that carries the information you need and suits your lifestyle Personalise the ID with your emerg ..read more