Laser Engraving on Metal help?

[Adpod]

Hi,

I run a small printing firm its mostly DTG printing. A friend has asked for my help which after running some figures it could be an extra service we provide but I need help.

I am looking to laser engrave stainless steel membership cards but I have no idea about laser engravers.

I am familiar with design software so I would be comfortable with that but its the laser machine side I am struggling with.

I dont want to spend thousands on a top of the range machine at this point.

Can anyone give me some suggestions on budget machines or point me in the right direction?

Thanks
AD

 

[MarkOnline]

Fibre Galvo Machine.

 

[Adpod]

Fibre Galvo Machine.

A quick google check of Fibre Galvo Machine and its bringing up price ranges of well over £20K. I am looking at something a lot cheaper to test the market on.

 

[MarkOnline]

A quick google check of Fibre Galvo Machine and its bringing up price ranges of well over £20K. I am looking at something a lot cheaper to test the market on.

You will find machines around £4000, look a bit harder. Even better, get them marked by someone who already has a suitable set up.

 

[fisicx]

Even better, get them marked by someone who already has a suitable set up.

Agree with this, offer the service but find someone else to do the work, then if it becomes popular invest in your own machine.

 

[pentel]

Even better, get them marked by someone who already has a suitable set up.

+1 for this, and once you have the volumes look to buy a machine.

 

[Adpod]

You will find machines around £4000, look a bit harder. Even better, get them marked by someone who already has a suitable set up.

Around the £4K mark is doable for us its just finding one. I checked the local area and no one offers laser engraving which is why my friend came to me plus I would like to spend time designing loads of different version of the cards and it would just push the cost up I would would still have to buy a machine after anyway.

He wants every member card to have their personal details engraved as well so I would imagine there would be setup costs for every single member if I paid someone else to do it.

 

[MarkOnline]

Around the £4K mark is doable for us its just finding one. I checked the local area and no one offers laser engraving which is why my friend came to me plus I would like to spend time designing loads of different version of the cards and it would just push the cost up I would would still have to buy a machine after anyway.

He wants every member card to have their personal details engraved as well so I would imagine there would be setup costs for every single member if I paid someone else to do it.

Go and read, join a couple of industry specific groups and ask questions. There are many engravers out there who would love the work. Sending the work in the right format means variable data is straight forward. You can go buy a machine and spend 6 months learning how to use it properly. Theres much more to running a galvo laser than running a printer.

 

[Lucan Unlordly]

He wants every member card to have their personal details engraved as well so I would imagine there would be setup costs for every single member if I paid someone else to do it.

You said you were familiar with design software so just make sure you produce the artwork in the format the engraver wants and you should be ok.

 

[Root 66 Woodshop]

https://www.brunelengraving.co.uk/p...I_7cdHuq_ioXtsU84cxbDJRURNSu3ZGxoCHUEQAvD_BwE