have the opportunity to talk about my
passion. Sharing my knowledge on the
subject of laser-cutting and getting
more people interested in laser-cut
gaming products is something I do
regularly when talking with customers.
There’s so much to talk about, so where should I even start? The process of laser-cutting is easier to understand than it may sound right away. I could tell you about how the laser works in great detail, how electrons are pushed out into a higher orbit by pumping the laser medium full of energy, and when the electron tries to go back to its lower orbit a photon is created. Those photons are then collected in a mirrored chamber and then reflected towards the intended material where they start cutting. The heat a laser produces is a by-product from the oxidation of the material as the photons start a chemical reaction with the material they are slamming into.Needless to say, that was a little technical. The number one thing to know about a laser is that it is a monochromatic stream of photons. All the photons are marching in step which is what gives the laser the ability to cut materials. The more wattage a laser has the thicker the material it can cut. At a previous job I worked with a 3,400 watt laser that could cut
one inch thick cold-rolled steel. By focusing and adjusting the laser to the correct frequency for the material being used it cut anything from the thinnest of rice paper to a quarter inch piece of wood. All without burning or causing the delicate project to go up in flames.
One belief that I often have to dispel as a laser operator is that people think of it as a heat-ray. Personally I blame television, books and movies that always seem to have an evil villain trying to destroy things with their laser. I’m not angry at the way lasers have been portrayed mind you, I love a good sci-fi movie or book from time to time. But it is kind of like when I watch a lawyer based television show and then run to my friend Jim who does legal work. When I ask him “is that possible?” he just shakes his head and reminds me the show is on the “good lawyer’s” side. For all you budding mad scientists however, don’t be disheartened. If you could focus a powerful enough laser onto the surface of the moon you could actually raster (engrave) your likeness on it!
There are a large number of people in the war gaming hobby who are allergic to cyanoacrylic glues (aka super glue). Laser-cutting allows for a variety of materials to be used, such as wood which can be assembled with PVA glue. This means even kids can get into the fun of assembling a model without worry, with the added bonus of easy glue clean-up. The versatility of laser-cutting also means that a single machine can process a number of materials.
An example of our laser-cut walls from the Office Building.
LASER-CUTTING, WAR GAMING AND YOU
For instance, at Demo’s Laser-Cut Designs we can process wood, Taskboard®, Matboard and backer
board using one machine.
There are many benefits to buying laser-cut
products. The first is in the precision of the cuts. The precision levels, and edge quality achieved, are far superior to traditional cutting methods because the laser beam will not wear during the cutting process. Laser-cutting technology also enables the cutting of complex shapes without the need for tooling, and at a similar or even faster speed than other cutting methods. Regardless of the shape, the cuts can be extremely precise.
For this reason, and when done right, laser-cut models practically put themselves together. For example, the kerf (the gap formed when the laser cuts through something) for our system at Demo’s Laser-Cut Designs is on average .005”, about the thickness of a piece of paper. This means when we produce pieces that share a cut edge, they will have a very nice secure fit that is effortless to put together.
Traditional plastic molds can take a great deal of money to produce. Plastic molds also need regular maintenance and will eventually wear out or break. The cutting head in a laser never wears out or gets dull. Ever. With regular maintenance, which is quite low-cost, a laser will work indefinitely. 24 hours a day. 7 days a week.
The other benefit laser-cut technology has over plastic molds is that laser-cutting templates are stored digitally, ready to be accessed at a moment’s notice. Yet another cost and space saving feature of the technology, especially compared to the plastic molds which can take up a lot of physical space. Another space and cost saving aspect of laser-cut
products is how easily manufactured they are. Sets do not have to be pre-cut and sit in a warehouse for days, weeks or even months waiting for purchase. As orders come in, manufacturers can easily and
quickly produce the components required. For instance, at Demo’s Laser-Cut Designs we only keep a small selection of items pre-cut. As orders come in we produce the required pieces, allowing us to save money on storage and materials. This allows us to
Nearly infinite storage! Tiny living space!
The front and side walls of the Factories are cut in one pass so the tabs and grooves fit snugly.
A dragon-themed egg-holder for Polish hand painted wood eggs.
Custom cutting is also a major benefit of laser- cutting technology. This facility allows customers to create shapes of their own design, of varying complexity and size. Perfect for bringing intricate and clean detail to a project at any quantity. Because designs go straight to the laser, the turn around time is quite fast. No molds or guides need to be manufactured, which also means prototyping a sample is quite quick.
On average, at Demo’s Laser-Cut Designs, we can usually have a sample created within 24-48 hours and shipped out the door. We can create custom orders that can range anywhere from the beginnings of a simple idea just sketched out on a piece of paper, to something intricately designed in a program such as CAD. There’s no such thing as a minimum order when customizing with a laser- cutting machine, so you can order one or 1000. The data for each laser-cut design is like a speck of sand on the beach. This allows us to hold onto a design template indefinitely, if ever the customer needs another manufactured down the road. You never have to worry again about your favourite item going out of production when buying from a laser- cutting company. Everything is available at your fingertips.
Laser-cutting has one last cost-saving characteristic. Though the machines are amazingly versatile, the laser-cutting process is quite energy-efficient. A 50- watt laser system can run all day for just pennies. Most people use more power just blow-drying their hair, making coffee, or turning on their television. You should now have a good idea why laser-cutting
is such a popular medium for those looking for new and interesting gaming products. There are many advantages for hobbyists of any level, thanks to the versatility of the laser and the low production costs. So why not put your new knowledge to use and incorporate laser-cutting into your next hobby
Steven ‘Demo’ Rohde is the owner and operator of Demo’s Laser-Cut Designs. The company offers a variety of laser-cut products for wargamers, dollhouse collectors and model railroaders as well as custom cutting and online assembly instructions.
http://demoslaser- cutdesigns.weebly.com
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