Hey Buddy, did you just see a real bright light - bright enough to vaporize wood?  There's now a source in my workshop firing all of my geek cylinders.

There are many facets to everyone's personality - some people favor more than others.  Personally, I'm fascinated with the nature of things and how they are made.  As an engineer, I love to solve problems and as a woodworker, the creative process of bringing ideas to fruition is always satisfying.  Adding an industrial laser to my workshop has been exciting on many levels!

Adding a laser has been a part of my business plan from the beginning.  I wanted a way to personalize items and create branded items for corporations and businesses.  I had been keeping an eye out for a good deal and the Craigslist stars recently aligned with a deal I couldn't pass up.  An FS Laser  Pro 24x16+ CO2 laser is now a part of my machinery collection.

The tube itself is rated at 90 watts.  While a smaller unit with a 40 watt tube would have been sufficient, the higher capacity allows me to engrave faster and cut through thicker material.  I don't suspect I'll be doing much cutting, so the tube should last longer since it will be operating at a relatively low duty cycle.

Like a CNC machine, the path of the laser is controlled by computer generated paths.  A graphics package is used to generate the artwork then the engraving paths are generated by a "print driver" provided by the manufacturer.  The beam doesn't "burn" the wood, it actually vaporizes it.  The brown stains you see in the image above are not from smoke - they are a sticky reside left over from the sugars in the wood fibers.  The higher the power, the more residue is left behind.

It's been a blast tinkering with my new toy and exploring new creative options.  The engraving software is actually quite straight forward.  The learning curve is in finding the right settings for all of the different materials to get the desired effect.  I've added custom trays for both  Cape Cod and for Newburyport to my product line as well as a Wedding Tray that I personalize for the couple.  If you're looking for a unique gift that nobody else can give and one that will make a lasting impression, you can't do better than one of these.