Got my April 2015 NMRA Magazine and inside the front cover on the first page is a new ad from Micromark offering the Microlux LaserKnife 2525. Comes with software, tech support, and an online parts library. Requires CorelDraw v. 11 or higher. Very neat stuff, if you have just under 2 grand to drop on it. I don’t right now, but it is something to aspire to and could certainly revolutionize how we think of kits. In the future, there may be software versions and it’s possible those will be the only form a kit may come in. But that’s progress and I personally look forward to it.
What do you think about this new machine?
Note: If you want to worry over the price, please take it over here:
When Apple introduced affordable desk top publishing in1985, the printer cost about $2,000 in 1985 dollars. The price dropped since.
$2K would be low for light industrial work if they are rugged enough. A small time laser-cut kit company might do things in house. It’s also cheap enough for big bugget hobbiests. My price point is $500, if it could be lined up to cut printed models to perfect form. Yes, it can be slow.
The Cricut Explore Air cutter is under $300 - MRH’s Trainmaster series (subscription like MR Video Plus) did something in November, and will be doing another installment next week on cutting structures out of styrene. Quite impressive!
One problem with this machine is that it has a fairly small cutting area–less than 10 inches per side.
I’ve seen people build DIY cutters using Blu-Ray lasers and parts from old scanners and printers. But I don’t think they’re capable of cutting much more than cardstock, although they could engrave patterns into thicker materials.
Here’s a Kickstarter campaign for a cutter kit. I’m not sure what their final price will be, but they’re offering early bird specials for as low as $550.
I figure the hard part is actually designing the structure or whatever it is you’re making for yourself, so if it turns out good…why not start running a few more and selling them? 'Tis but a musing.
I saw this and thought it would be a great ‘tool’ when the price comes down about 25% of what it is now (or more!). I use CorelDraw for making my sign and decal artwork and I can see why they would want this type of program; it is a vector based software, that is it uses solid lines rather than a bunch of dots as in a raster software like PhotoShop. I can see making my own laser kits or special parts for my HO layout. I am amazed at how fast technology has moved in the past 5 years, with 3-D printers and CNC routers for the home hobbiest, and now laser cutters. As with all of these ‘tools’, the operator needs to learn how to design parts on a computer and visualize how they will go together and what tolerances are needed for proper ‘fit and function’. I hope I live long enough to be able to afford and use some of these ‘toys’/‘tools’.
This is a technology I would definitely buy into. Some years ago I worked for an aerospace co that utilized…extensively, both yag and HeNe lasers on the industrial level to repair jet engine blades and vanes. They were used between 3 and 6 KW depending on the the material being used/worked on…mostly superalloys. I had so often imagined…at the time how lasers could be used in the hobby. Looks like I’ll be finding out.
In regard to Coreldraw. I’ve personally preferred it to Photoshop CS. Coreldraw in doing followup artwork in CGI is far easier…a little more intuative. Photoshop…especially if you are new to it…can be daunting to learn. I’m hoping the driving software will eventually be expanded to Gimp and Inkscape, which are even easier to learn.
I’m looking forward to any developments with this equipment and technology in our hobby.
Certainly interesting. Now, with laser cutting machines and 3D printers, nobody needs to develop any modeling skills what-so-ever! Hey, CNC eliminated good paying, highly skilled tool and die maker jobs! Stands to reason we must eliminate modeling skills, also!
And the MACHINE continues to arise! [BOW] All hail, MACHINE!!!
it seems to be a standard software package for a lot of these machines. A friend bought a large table top cutter and it has drivers for CorelDraw and AutoCAD. CorelDraw is much more affordable and does not have the vertical learning curve of AutoCAD.
Coreldraw, I thought, ended Mac support with version 10. That’s one of the reasons it seems odd. Plus it’s just after a vector format, correct? Makes no Illustrator support unusual in my eyes.
I suspect the choice of CorelDRAW balances several issues. Good functionality, a reasonably paced learning curve, technical aspects in conjunction with the hardware, and cost. The fact that it’s used by other for essentially the same purposes suggests they’re likely made a good choice, although I’m not familiar with Corel. And I doubt the hardware is abolutely wedded to the software. Using some different is likely well within the realm of possibility. But if you like hacking, then there’s no great concern. If not, then you’re just like the rest of us, we’ll work with what’s brung to the table.
I’m in HO, so I don’t have any real concerns about a 10" table capacity. Sure there are a few things that may need a bigget formar, but I’ll bet this cover most bases. And there’s always next year’s improved model, where adding higher capacity is low-hanging fruit to freshen the product. Patience here will likely be rewarded.
I really like the idea of designing, burning and offering kits. This could revolunize those model specific prototypes, historical group merchandise offerings, and many aspects of how we go about building stuff. Make no mistake. There will be skills developed and used with this laser. You don’t just push the button on the screen to make something with this. You acquire the skills to make it so. That’s good for the hobby.
I see no one asked how long the laser tube lasts. Usaully 1000 to 1500 before it needs replacement for a 40 watt unit. Then, does Micro Mark sell replacememnt tubes? How hard is it to replace the tube and realign it? All questions that should be answered before I’d buy one.
The software I don’t care for. What’s wrong with using a free cad program such as Drftsight? Why does it have to be CoarlDraw. DraftSight is a vector program. Send a DXF file out to a CAM program to get your G-codes and you’re all set.
I use mostly plastic for my models so a laser isn’t the right tool for me; I think lasers can’t (or shouldn’t) burn plastic. A small 5 axis mill would be a better choice for me, but that isn’t practical either (a good one is probably 10,000…used); tolerances in the 0.0002 range is needed to produce smooth curving surfaces. If we could produce rough ‘stock’ with a 3D Printer, then finish it off with a CNC Milling machine, I’d be for it…but then that could turn into a hobby (or job) all its own.
I’ve done ok with glue, files and an Xacto so far; I program CNC machines and can produce 3D models in several CAD programs for work…I build models for fun. It would be great to make exactly what I want, exactly when I want but anticipation and desire keep the hobby interesting. If I didn’t want an interesting and challenging hobby, I’d pay a layout maker to do all that ‘fun’ stuff for me (no offense to the layout makers or their clients).
Model Railroading is FUN! (even the hard or frustrating aspects)
