How spooked should I be about Ebay machines?

For more Gantry Laser Cutting Machine for Saleinformation, please contact us. We will provide professional answers.

Thanks! I don’t mind fiddling, but I do mind repairing. I want to be able to set it up and know that it will hold alignment, and will operate well as long as I keep it clean and treat it well. I’ve got a tech background in EE, and am hoping that my aging brain can wrap around this.

Do you mind sharing with me the model of your machine along with the mods / upgrades / fixes?
Was the assembly difficult in terms of getting it into place? I’m hoping to be able to assemble and move it in solo.

All words of wisdom gratefully received.

Thanks,

Frank

99% of eBay sellers are middlemen. They drop-ship from a manufacturer.

Why not buy direct?

Chinese factories are falling over themselves to sell machines. The importation isn’t difficult, but better to locate a broker to handle the port-to-site hassle - paperwork, fees, duty, etc.

As an indicator, I paid ~$1000 for all freight handling, delivery to my door and all taxes and fees on top of the $6000 I paid for the machine. The vendor would have done to-the-door delivery, but their price was significantly higher than the quotes I got from forwarders. (all NZ$ - about 30% higher than US$).

Buying direct means you get to spec the machine you want. It’s also significantly cheaper.

There are three companies I have bought off over the last ten years that have proven to be reliable and do proper QC. My last machine literally plugged in, filled the chiller, ran for a couple of minutes then fired up the machine. that was a year ago and there has been no need to do anything - no mirror adjustments, no electrical gremlins - nothing.

My favourite manufacturer is ShenHui (https://shenhuilaser.en.alibaba.com). I have owned and worked on over a dozen of their machines. They are nothing flashy, but their engineering is sound. They have a lot of cross-pollination with Beijing university (leader of laser tech in China), and are located close to the centre of the laser industry with RuiDa, SPT, Reci and co. and most of their staff seem to have decent engineering degrees, rather than being production-line workers.

As an example, the current machine I have at home weighs something like 450kg - 1000lbs. Most of that is in the chassis, in large square beams used to keep it square. The drivers are Leadshine, as are the hybrid steppers, the controller is from RuiDa, the power supplies are MeanWell. The electrical were earthed and terminated correctly, the solenoids more than capable of the power needs and the outlet wiring is safe and can carry the loads for chiller and extractor and air-assist.

Think of eBay sellers as you would someone selling meat out of the back of a van. They have no idea what it is or where it came from, how it was made or whether it is safe. All they care about is the sale and then they are off to whatever else makes them the most margin.

Where a laser manufacturer has a reputation to uphold, a staff to keep employed and every interest in you being a happy, return customer.

I can typically source any machine cheaper than the eBay and Amazon sellers, at a higher spec. Why would you want to chance a seller without pedigree?

My experience of eBay machines is poor. People rave about theirs, but that’s because that’s the only machine they have any experience of, other than a K40. After around 3 decades of laser servicing, I can categorically say eBay isn’t the place to shop, unless it’s convenience you’re after.

Areas that are compromised - rails. Often they are no different to the junk shower-screen nylon wheel transport used on many K40s. They should have a proper hywin-style rail system on the X-axis, at least. Preferably on X and Y. Tubular ‘rails’ used in a budget machine are guaranteed to give issues, and issues that require a big strip-down to remedy. A solid square-steel tube carrier with hywin rails is definitely the right way forward. Controllers - many budget machines use the same controllers as K40s, and are K40 in everything but the bed size. If it doesn’t have a Trocen (with ethernet) or Ruida, just say no. Tubes - the good machines come with SPT, EFR or Reci (or a couple of other decent up-and-comers that I only know third-hand) for a reason - reliability and longevity. I’ve seen budget machine non-name tubes go bad in less than 500 hours. And you have no idea of the spec. Steppers/power/drivers. Cheap drivers and steppers and crappy power supplies are only a few bucks less than name-brand top-of-the line items. Why save $10 on a stepper when you can have the latest Leadshine?

And lastly, when you order from a manufacturer, you can get anything you want in the way of spec. Custom at no extra cost, because basically everything they sell is custom. To take my current machine from basic to top-of-the-line was a difference of ~$250. Included in my NZ$6000 was a spare Reci tube, spare PSU, spare stepper and driver, ten spare lenses in each of 2", 3" and four spare 4" lenses, with three different spare lens tubes, a genuine S&A CW-5200 chiller, a decent air-assist and (LOUD) extractor, which is the only part I think I will change. I can repurpose the extractor to be a dust collector for my wood workshop.

You do not need to own a big company to grab your next laser cutter. In recent years, there are many affordable options available that will allow you to grab your next cutting solution without breaking your bank. But at the same time, it is essential that you become careful about the purchase as quality matters at the end of the day. Look for a precise, reliable machine with high-quality components, and make sure you get proper training and support. Consider your specific needs and budget when selecting an automatic cutting tool kit, and choose the one that best fits your requirements. With the right smart cutting system, you can achieve your production goals without overspending. In addition, with the continuous innovation and development of Industry 4.0 and artificial intelligence, laser cutting technology will be combined with industrial robots to achieve automated and digital cutting, improving cutting speed, thickness, accuracy and quality.

In case you are looking for a trusted manufacturer & brand to purchase your next laser cutting machine at an affordable price, STYLECNC can be an excellent place to rely your trust on.