I am afraid they won't work too. I might be able to cut them without burning but they are thick and very expensive. May be their price isn't an issue as I have seen some of them cheap in the Reject shops but they are still thick(>3mm I guess) It may be worth doing Carey masks from 2mm acrylic in this case.
Hi Mike
I'm an engraver based in the Barossa Valley SA. I have a 600mmx600mm Laser and cut all sorts. I don't know if this helps but Laser & Sign Technology www.lasetech.com.au sell Engraving stock manufactured by IPI in the US. They have a 1.6mm ABS with a high acrylic content that is designed to be engraved and cut by lasers. The downside is that it is matt black on the back, but the front surface has a colour overlaid. You could always use the coloured side as the back though, if all you are doing is cutting. It WILL buckle when cut, so to get past this, I use double sided tissue tape to hold it flat to the table. Once its cut, it will stay flat.
Thanks John. I will check with them for ABS plastic. I hope it won't be expensive. Both times I was trying to buy spare parts for my Universal laser from them they gave me almost 2 times more quote of what it really costs in US.
Mike,
I have always found them to be very comparable, price wise. Spare parts are a thorn in our sides though! I have a Gravograph Laser and spare parts are horrendously expensive. I too, buy most of mine from an Engraving supply firm in the US. Consumables are a different matter and are priced fairly well. A 1200mm x 600mm sheet is around $70.00. They (IPI) have just released a new product called Laser Tuff, this is even better than the normal stuff, and doesn't warp as much and is the same price as the old product. You will most likely need an account to purchase from them. If this is a problem, let me know and I can supply you. I can even send you a small piece to sample if you want too, before you buy a full sheet. if your interested, pm me.
They aren't expensive for parts, either. It is just that US sell directly from manufacturer stock at tiny margins, because they buy at very different prices to what the dealers have to buy for.
If you have tried to run a business (not a hobby) in Australia, you know that you can't sell parts at tiny mark up, not when you have to warehouse, stock etc., for 20 different models They might have a few hundred thousand dollars tied up in parts easily.
Also, people buy machines from other suppliers who now are not interested in dealing in lasers (like EMSS), and then want back up from the main supplier . . . ., who you don't want to spend $40 more on for a part - you just can't afford a 'spares' department if you can't afford the overheads because the parts are too cheap in the first place.
Gravograph might be a little different - they are factory owned in Oz.
I should have done this ages ago instead of mucking around trying to make my own out all sorts of materials and trying to cut the pattern out with a stanley knife
narayan
Do you make one for Canon DSLR lenses?? these might come in handy.
Hi Tony,
if you tell me all details(focal length, aperture and mask diameter) I will cut it out for you. I cut out two for guys from IIS but both times I was told all specs. One of those wasn't Bahtinov design though.
Finally got to try mine out. One for 5" Celestron XLT SCT and one for LX200 10". Used Bahtinov Grabber to remove any guesswork. Even on dim stars where you cannot see any lines extending out it tells you exactly where focus is. This makes it soooo easy!
Thank you Mike.
willow, please change settings for PMs. I cannot sent you my reply. It says that you don't want to be contacted :-) You can also email me directly ot ozstockman at gmail dot com
My mask arrived at the Queensland Astrofest on Friday morning and I was able to put it to use that night. Once again a quality product and prompt service. I will be in contact regarding a mask for Anne-Louise's 10 - 22 mm Canon lens.
