China Blue / Red / Yellow / Green / Grey variants

[Patrick Hutton]

Hi folks, I am considering a China laser given an impending job change. From what I can tell the China Blue is quite an old model now, I see Russ has just gone Tangerine indeed. I am thinking about a China Yellow - https://www.aliexpress.com/item/3293496 ... 255axsn2me

Any clues as to what is the oldest / newest / best amongst the "colour" varieties (and I know colour isn't everything, I see some yellows that don't have the adapted stepper motor shown on this one.

Looks like for finer control and it looks to have good access from the sides. This model is available cheaper though this vendor has the Reci tube, CW3000 chiller and auto focus (not to bothered about that) and supposedly already taxed for EU (though I think that's probably only if they have it in their French warehouse which this model doesn't seem to be)

I am looking for something that cuts about a metre wide though a 6090 would probably do as I plan to work on quite large / panelled projects.

Thanks for any tips and I hope to share details when I do purchase.

[Gene Uselman]

This looks like a solidly built machine- much better than either of Russ' chicom machines judging from the brackets on the #2 mirror. The 3000w cooler will not keep up with the 100w tube for much cutting time- you really need a 5000w chiller which is actually a refrigeration unit instead of a radiator and cooling fan. I am skeptical of the exhaust fan being installed in the back door, you really need an actual exhaust fan but I think they commonly use the small fan for cooling for the electronics and that could be an issue. It looks like the bed is only the honeycomb and that there is not a blade bed underneath it- the honeycomb is good for some things and not so for other things. A lot depends upon what you will be doing with the machine... which normally does not become obvious till you work with it a while. I would also look at the Shenhui built machines- I bought one for my daughter and was very much impressed with it. Gene

The color of the machine means nothing [or less than nothing] as most of the cheaper machines are assembled from components sourced from whoever is convenient/cheap I believe. I don't think there have really been any big changes in the machine technology for years. Access to parts has really gotten much easier and there is more info available than a few years ago.

[Patrick Hutton]

Thanks Gene, will let people know how I get on.