LASERS

re: lasers
if you decide to experiment with a laser of any kind be extremely careful
of reflective surfaces! while setting up the system it was pulsed with the
safety enclosure open, and the beam was reflected out into the shop burning a
.250 hole through one of the roof supporting steel I-beams and on through the
roof! it could have easily been one of us!
this was fractional second pulse not a continuos beam, never fire a laser
without safety enclosure!
That said the first thing I recall about the laser machining I there are
no chips! LOL

i don't pretend to be an expert on lasers, but i have 30 years of
experience as tool die/prototype machining.
the one laser i have had contact with was purchased surplus from LLNL in
Livermore, ca. the laser itself is 4'x4' 30 'long, the beam is reflected into
the work cabinet 6'x6'x 12' high. the work table is 4' square, with a work
cube of 48"x48"x36" high.
the table doesn't move, all movement is with the cutting head and mirrors
(the mirrors reduce the cutting capacity) I/we repositioned the laser and
removed 2 mirrors and almost doubled the cutting power!
setups are almost nonexistent many times a sheet of material is just laid
on the table (sometimes with small weights laid out where the cut will miss
them), and start cutting parts.