I placed an order in my local dealer for a versalaser v300 50 watt laser. Paid for it and was told 4 to 5 weeks to arrive. They called me up today and told me they had a shipment coming in for the same 50 watt versalaser but with an accessory called HPDFO (high power density focusing optics). I was told they would give me the item (arrives in 2 weeks) if I paid for the extra HPDFO accessory.
While waiting I was doing research on metal marking and found out I would need a metal marking compound such as cermark. HPDFO from versalaser provides direct metal marking: http://www.versalaser.com/english/news_2.html
Does anyone have any experience with this accessory? Or any knowledge regarding this? What advantages do I get with using HPDFO instead of cermark for metal marking? Cost wise is it more efficient if I mark metals a lot? Is it an accessory that you attach on and off or it is permanent? Can I engrave metal with this or just mark? Please help! Thank you!
I don’t know about the laser per se, but sounds like a “bait and switch” game. 1. Find out if you really need and can afford the “extra”. Funny how they all order lasers only when a customer pays and now just get one in with that addition. I am sure this list will fill you in on that. 2. If you don’t need the extra stuff, tell them they can give you that laser but you won’t pay for the extra or that you can wait.
While I have not heard of the HPDFO before, it sounds really interesting. I don’t know how much metal marking you plan on doing to justify the expense of it so I don’t know if it would be worth it for you or not.
I am more concerned about your sales person not preparing you better for all of the info and equipment that you will need. I would call him up and make him spend some time with you. When we bought our laser, we knew (after spending many hours with our guy before we bought anything - he even had pizza delivered to his office for us we were there so long. We came 2 consecutive Saturdays like that, testing articles that we brought, etc.) exactly what we needed and why.
For the record, I’ve never heard of them coming from the factory with ‘extras’ either. I’d think seriously about that one… Good Luck!
While I have not heard of the HPDFO before, it sounds really interesting. I don’t know how much metal marking you plan on doing to justify the expense of it so I don’t know if it would be worth it for you or not.
It seems to reduce spot size and thus concentrate more power over a smaller area, IE higher power density.
It seems to reduce spot size and thus concentrate more power over a smaller area, IE higher power density. I’m not sure if it’s an add on or a permanent thing, the pic is at http://www.ulsinc.com/english/laser_systems/product_line/accessories/h pdf.html.
It claims to give greater cutting depth and I wonder how that is possible with a smaller spot size? The downside of smaller spot size is greater divergence of the beam either side of the focus point and thus loss of ability to do thicker materials or those not dead flat. It is an add on and I would wait till you know whether its suitable for you or your market. Cerdec is tried and tested and works fine. I would only get the essentials when you start up, we have various lenses and do a variety of engraving and the high definition lenses don’t get used a lot, neither do our long focal point ones.
Typical applications for our higher density optics are cutting papers or boards without discolouration, vaporising polyester vinyl masks on glass/stone/metal/ etc for either photo sandblasting or acid etching where halftoning is important and the finer the beam the better the halftones. We use it for spot soldering ics to ribbon cable, fast cutting of thin substrates for stencils and arch models (1mm acrylic, styrene, abs etc.)
Very fine engraving or ablating top layers from small button switches Making perspex masters for spin casting, engraving silicon hot foiling dies, fine markings on surgical instruments and scales and so forth, it too will scribe on some grades of stainless even though its only 30w, very slow speed in vector mode, it actually engraves the SS. If you plan to do wood photos, marble tiles, giftware, trophy plates, acrylic cutting and fabrication, I doubt it will be that important.
Most of our abovementioned applications could easily have been done without our smaller spot size optics, albeit at lesser quality. The most important accessory of ALL is your support and backup!!!!
I have a Universal Laser V-460 and have the HPDFO. It is not just for metal marking. Basically it is a collimator and lens which allows the beam to be more consistent in power across the full range of motion (normally a laser loses some power at the far range of the table). In addition, because of the more consistent and more focused beam, you are able to get more power at the point of focus which allows for marking of metal WITHOUT the cermark (cermark can be used without HPDFO on any laser).
It’s worth the extra money, you get a better laser for all marking purposes.