I'm in the market for a laser than can cut 1/4" steel cleanly and quickly. I have a waterjet that currently does steel profiling work for me, but it is slow relative to a laser and we are about beyond capacity on it.
I've been looking at lasers like an Amada LC-1212 for a couple of years now. 2000 watt machines can be had for $30k or so. Such a machine would be all we need for now and take a lot of pressure off our other machines. Is it worth it though? Some used machines turn out to be more of a liability than anything. I am always careful with capital expenditures. I know once delivered and installed we are looking at more like $40k, but I want to make sure I wouldn't get into something where a tiny little do-dad crucial to the operation breaks and costs $3000 to replace. A used waterjet is kind of like that....
Thoughts?
I've been looking at lasers like an Amada LC-1212 for a couple of years now. 2000 watt machines can be had for $30k or so. Such a machine would be all we need for now and take a lot of pressure off our other machines. Is it worth it though? Some used machines turn out to be more of a liability than anything. I am always careful with capital expenditures. I know once delivered and installed we are looking at more like $40k, but I want to make sure I wouldn't get into something where a tiny little do-dad crucial to the operation breaks and costs $3000 to replace. A used waterjet is kind of like that....
Thoughts?