Desktop Laser Cutters - ???

Assuming this is the correct forum?

In my travels this morning I came upon a number of projects we can create using a Laser Engraver/Cutter. This listing of 750 projects which included a number of projects ranging from simple Crafts to more complicated projects such as Model Ships, Camera Gimbals, Robots and even Quad Copters, all CUT by laser ...

Ummmmm, Quads they say!?!
... Now intrigued and interested I then searched for 'home laser cutters' and found a Desktop 40W Laser Engraver/Cutter for $2,350.00 usd and another for near $4000 usd which offered a slightly larger working area and more POWER.

Now I'm wondering if anyone can offer up some more info,
... pros/cons, tutorials, Laser vs. 3D Printing vs. CNC, cheaper options or anything related to 'Laser Cutting' in general?

I would be interest in making parts mostly out of Plexiglass
... but given my limited knowledge at the moment I'll leave my options open?

Anyone, w/ experience or without? And thanks in advance ...
    [acronym=EYE See! To w00d's Photo Musings, my pages][shadow=grey,left][size=1em]w[/size][size=1.25em]00[/size][size=1em]d[/size][/shadow][/acronym]

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EDIT: Youtube - Desktop 40W Laser Engraver/Cutter

[youtube]4lBMT1851Kc[/youtube]

... More Videos ...

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As usual everyone will have a version of opinion w00d, but if I could only have ONE thing to use for making stuff, it would be a CNC rotary cutting machine. Something like this:

https://probotix.com/FireBall_v90_cnc_router_kit

Much less money than what you are looking at, and much more versatle. You could not make your camera mount like we did on a laser, but with this router you could easily make 3D plastic things. In the video they were cutting 1/8" Plexiglass, this router would love that stuff, would cut it all day long. Could cut Delrin, wood, plastic, and the softest of metals.

Thanks bud

The only reason I hadn't considered CNC was only because I thought they would be out of my price range.
... Obviously your input puts a rest to that thinking,

Yup I'm NOW looking to CNC

hehe, and machine cutting would certainly be less smelly as opposed to burning my cuts ...
... Therefor I wouldn't need to provide ventilation as I would with laser cutting my plastic.
... I've also learned that laser tubes have a low MTBF

One question about CNC: As ya might know I live in an apartment so high noise levels are a concern.
... How would you rate the noise level of CNC machine

  -w00d

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EDIT: I'm sold on a CNC Router only because I can do this, PcB Milling


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Yes, PCB routing can be done. Noise, well depends on spindle, but a lot of tiny CNC machines can use a Dremel for the tool, so think about that noise, also you can get one of those BIG foam beer/food ice coolers and set it upside down over the entire CNC and it would be nearly silent.

I use SHEETCAM for CAM, and used to use CAD X11 to make things work, very cheap and powerful combination. The new CNC controllers save you money because now you can use USB, never used to be able to use USB, but now it's so much easier than just 5 years ago.....

USB Thing:

http://www.probotix.com/index.php?view=product&product_id=145

"BIG foam beer/food ice coolers" 

Yup, I was thinking of sound dampening of some sort
... actually was thinking of automotive-sound proofing inside a plyw00d box w/ a plexy window to monitor the work

But a 'cooler' would be cheaper for sure
... although let's just call them 'BEER Coolers' being the MEN we are, eh LOL

Yup I would prefer to use USB over the parallel port

  -w00d 

I just had a BETTER idea ... ... Back in 20 minutes

haha, time for my BEER eMote: