Desktop Co2 laser

[Britman]

I currently have a Diode laser and it's been a great little tool but I am finding it a little limiting now, mainly because it won't cut Acrylic.
So I'm now on the hunt for a smallish Co2 laser, I don't want something big (space issues) maybe something with a bed size of a A3 bit of paper.
Budget is around 500-700.
Any recommendations?

Cheers.

 

[Jarno]

I guess it depends on the laser power, you should be able to cut acrylic with a diode laser, or is it actually polycarbonate you are trying to cut?
Have been looking at the chinese K40 laser, but that is a JOURNEY. You really need to tweak it, there are a lot of people who did all sorts of mods to it. I wanted something usable out of the box, so I went with the Sculpfun S30 Pro Max when they came out. Would like more power, but having a really large surface area is great.

 

[Jester129]

Britman, whereabouts in the UK are you, it might help to know?

 

[paulrbarnard]

I guess it depends on the laser power, you should be able to cut acrylic with a diode laser, or is it actually polycarbonate you are trying to cut?
Have been looking at the chinese K40 laser, but that is a JOURNEY. You really need to tweak it, there are a lot of people who did all sorts of mods to it. I wanted something usable out of the box, so I went with the Sculpfun S30 Pro Max when they came out. Would like more power, but having a really large surface area is great.

I cut acrylic with a diode laser. I did have a problem at first as I didn’t remove the protective film. The laser wouldn’t cut it!!