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	TechSoft LaserCAM


			Download/Print Product Guide pages (pdf format)

High Specification Laser cutters and Engravers

Why buy a Laser Cutter? Laser cutters have been getting a lot of people pretty excited in the last few years, including us at TechSoft. They are really great tools for some jobs. They will cut a wide range of plastics very accurately leaving a smooth finish. They will also cut wood, MDF, paper, card, cloth, etc. They will engrave or mark all these materials and others such as glass, slate, ceramics, etc. In addition, specialist materials such as laser engraving laminates are available. Above all they are easy to set up (no work holding or clamping is required) and they can be very fast. The large bed sizes available also mean that either large components or whole class sets of work can be cut in one easy operation. No wonder people are getting excited! Is a Laser Cutter the only machine that I will need? That depends on the outcomes that you want. Lasers cannot produce true 3D work (although limited 3D engraving is possible). They also cannot accurately cut 2.5D (eg., for blind slots and holes, grooves, etc.). Lasers should not be used for PVC (due to dangerous by-products), so signwriting vinyl, for example, is a no no. Lasers leave a burnt edge on many materials such as wood and card. This may be used for decorative effect, but is sometimes a nuisance - in particular it may be a problem for decorative card packaging. For most schools a laser should be one part of a suite of complementary systems, eg., Roland STIKA, CAMM 1, RotoCAMM and/or MODELA.

What should I look out for when buying a Laser?
Most people want a laser so that they can cut lots of material quickly, for example so that they can cut whole class sets of work in one operation. The more powerful the laser, the faster you can cut (eg., with a 50W laser you can cut at twice the speed of a 25W machine). LaserCAMs have two standard power ranges, 30 and 55 Watts, as these give the best price performance ratios.

Of course, the larger the cutting area the more work (or bigger pieces) you can cut at once. LaserCAMs come in two bed sizes to suit all likely school requirements.

The speed of the machine as the head moves about is only really significant for engraving. In general, the faster the machine, the quicker the engraving. (Unfortunately it is not always easy to make a direct comparison between machines, as the processing speed and software settings will also affect engraving times.) We are confident that the LaserCAM is no slouch in this department.

As well as the power and the size, features such as auto-focus, red beam pointer, air assist compressor, honeycomb table, rotary attachment, are all things to look out for. The quality of fume extraction is also vital as this is an important health and safety issue.


Laser Ply CD rack

Laser Engraving Laminate Ruler (Brushed Aluminium on Black)

What are the running costs of a Laser Cutter?

With any laser system there are ongoing costs which you need to budget for, after your initial purchase.

The extraction system supplied with a laser will need replacement filters, and although estimates of life expectancy can be given, filter life very much depends on what type of materials are cut and obviously how often the system is run.

The laser tube itself is a consumable part which will not last forever. The laser tubes used on all LaserCAM machines are manufactured in the USA by one of the world’s largest laser tube manufacturers. The tube is supplied with an 18 month warranty, but the warranty can be extended and prices are available on request.

Laser Engraved / Cut Denim

Why buy a Laser Cutter from TechSoft?
TechSoft are the UK distributors for LaserCAM machines. Because we deal with servicing and maintenance ourselves, you only have one point of contact should you have any problems. TechSoft’s 2D Design software, is used in over 5000 UK schools, and is by far the best educational design software available for laser design work. As we write the software, you can be sure that compatibility and full control of rotary axis layout is not an issue.

Finally, because we import ourselves, we can pass on cost savings directly to schools.



Plasma Bowl and Bag	Colorflute Box	Laser Cut Veneer Plaque (Mounted on MDF)

Extraction Systems
Lasers can produce a lot of smoke and noxious fumes. The extraction unit sucks the fumes out of the cabinet and filters them. The filters remove particulates and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The particulate filtering should be to HEPA standards (the extraction system that TechSoft supplies is HEPA rated). VOCs are filtered using an activated charcoal filter, but when this becomes saturated the harmful VOCs can pass through. TechSoft LaserCAM extraction systems have a VOC monitor which warns the user if harmful VOCs are detected and hence tells them when a replacement filter is needed. The high specification TechSoft LaserCAM extraction system links directly with the laser. The unit not only acts as extraction but also incorporates the air assist compressor. The unit can be controlled manually or automatically. When in automatic mode the extraction and air assist start when the laser starts the job, and then stop 1 minute after the laser has finished outputting (to allow fumes to clear). The extraction unit also has motor speed control to allow the setting of optimum extraction rates, and a blocked filter indicator. It has a large capacity with large filters, which give longer use and are more economical on costs.

	TechSoft LaserCAM A3

The LaserCAM A3 is our baby of the range - smaller maybe but still perfectly formed. Whilst it is true for lasers that bigger is usually better, sometimes space is a real issue. In some departments the larger machines will just not physically fit in the space available. So while the LaserCAM A3 may not quite have the technical specs of its big brother, ultimately it will still do everything that it will, just on a slightly smaller scale.

FEATURES

Laser Power 30 or 55 Watts
Axis travel 410 x 295 x 130mm
Head speed up to 1000mm/sec
Resolution up to 1000dpi
Red beam pointer
Parallel and USB interfaces
Dimensions 620(W) x 770(D) x 580(H)mm
Weight 70Kg
2 year limited warranty (18 months on laser tube).
UK Mainland: On-Site
Elsewhere: Return and Collect
TechSoft Education Inset Pack - Inset Course Booklet, CD, Accessories and Materials

	TechSoft LaserCAM A2

The LaserCAM A2 is our “standard” school machine. It has a large cutting area and a very high specification, parceled up in a very attractive case. This machine has proved very popular, with many installations already in schools, and is an excellent choice for most.

FEATURES
Laser Power 30 or 55 Watts Axis travel 609 x 457 x 210mm Head speed up to 1524mm/sec Resolution up to 1000dpi Autofocus Red beam pointer Parallel and USB interfaces Dimensions 960(W) x 890(D) x 1020(H)mm Weight 100Kg 2 year limited warranty (18 months on laser tube). UK Mainland: On-Site Elsewhere: Return and Collect TechSoft Education Inset Pack - Inset Course Booklet, CD, Accessories and Materials

(All prices shown are in pounds sterling and exclude VAT)

TechSoft LaserCAM A3 30W (includes TechSoft Inset Pack) (View Video)	*10995.00	Buy
TechSoft LaserCAM A3 55W (includes TechSoft Inset Pack) (View Video)	*14995.00	Buy
TechSoft LaserCAM A2 30W (includes TechSoft Inset Pack) (View Video)	*12995.00	Buy
TechSoft LaserCAM A2 55W (includes TechSoft Inset Pack) (View Video)	*16995.00	Buy

*Price includes:

Rotary attachment.
Honeycomb table.
Fume extraction unit with air assist compressor.
FREE Delivery (UK Mainland Only).
FREE Training (UK Mainland Only).