A Bewildered Novice

[Cedric Sherwood]

00I I am the proud?? owner of a laser cutter (Vevor Laser Engraver 80w) and have been for a little over 4 months. I have installed the machine (known lovingly in the household as The Beast) and that is as far as I have got. I cannot decide whether I am frozen with fear (perhaps when I switch on Bury St Edmunds will be vaporised!) or am so much aware of my ignorance on how to proceed that I do not want to have to face my wife to tell her that the machine has self-destructed and the garage along with the family car are lost for ever!!

Although I have a working knowledge of desk top computers and have successfully programmed them for a variety of purposes I seem unable to persuade myself to just get on with it.

Is there anyone out there within reasonable travelling distance who would be prepared to show me how to use the machine by actually using it.

Assuming the lifting of restrictions re Covid actually happens on or about 19th July I would be more than happy to provide lunch (my wife is an excellent caterer) and as much tea/coffee as you wish. I would also be happy to meet your travel expenses (sorry other parts of the World but can only refund costs relating to travel in UK.)

If you indicate by a response to this posting by this forum I can provide you with a telephone number so that we can chat about the best way to proceed.

Cedric Sherwood.

[Gene Uselman]

Welcome Cedric, this hobby can be a bit overwhelming at first but it gets easier as you go. If you have not already you will want to look at a very nice gent named Russ on your island who has done a couple hundred very nice videos about his buying a laser years ago and documenting his adventures with getting the upper hand on it. This video is from 5 years ago and it and the following is a good intro to Chinese lasers. Good luck and persevere. Gene

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvrMeUUzaBo&t=592s

[Pete Cyr]

viewtopic.php?f=97&t=3438

Russ has a couple hundred YouTube videos - some are more useful than other depending on your point of view.
However, at the link above you will find an Index and a short explanation of what he discusses in each video to help you narrow your search on information you are interested in.

[Ian Bell]

Hi Cedric,

I can understand your apprehension, but having a pc knowledge will get you off to a good start. I was in a similar position a good while back, although I do have a good manufacturing and engineering background.

Tell us a little more to help us understand your position.

Have you run the laser at all, is the water cooling connected and running, airflow etc. Have you actually powered on the machine, fired the laser.

Have you connected the laser to a network, assigned an IP address, can you ping it from your pc. or are you planning to use it via usb file transfer

A few questions to at least give us an understanding where you are at ...

BTW Northern Ireland is part of UK so travel costs would be within your catchment area

There are plenty folk on here that will help, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

[sebastien laforet]

Although I have a working knowledge of desk top computers and have successfully programmed them for a variety of purposes I seem unable to persuade myself to just get on with it.

Is there anyone out there within reasonable travelling distance who would be prepared to show me how to use the machine by actually using it.

if you can not just do it by yourself, you could probably go to a fablab with a laser cutter. most machines do work in the same way, so their explanations would be ok for you own machine.

i would never have bought a laser if i had not first tested in a fablab how they work and what is possible with such a machine

[Cedric Sherwood]

Many thanks to all those that have replied. I have been guided towards 'youtube' material that seems a good place to start .

I will keep people posted on the progress that I make over the coming weeks.