Inside corners is definitely a big one, I have to do a lot of trickery on the CNC router - dogbone fillets, curved miter lock joints, etc., all to avoid the inside corner problem.<div><br></div><div>Good point on the "L-word" thing, however I still get plenty of interest when I call the CNC a "self-replicating robotic death saw". ;)</div>
<div><br></div><div>-Sam<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Mon, Feb 7, 2011 at 9:27 PM, Nate Bezanson <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:myself@telcodata.us">myself@telcodata.us</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div class="im">> While we're talking about laser cutters--<br>
> what can you do with a laser that you can't do with a CNC router?<br>
<br>
</div>Inside corners. It's like having a 1/64"-dia cutter that never goes dull.<br>
Look at the notches on Makerbot parts for an example.<br>
<br>
You can also cut stuff like fabric and paper that just wouldn't be<br>
possible with a mechanical mill. Intricate papercraft just got a lot less<br>
tedious, as long as you don't mind mild charring around the edges. :)<br>
<div class="im"><br>
> Obviously, the laser is better for thin materials, and the router is<br>
> better for thick materials. But there's a lot of overlap there.<br>
<br>
</div>And the mill cuts metal, which most CO2 lasers are loathe to do.<br>
<br>
Controlling depth on the router is a more deterministic thing; you're not<br>
gonna do PCB milling with a laser, for instance.<br>
<br>
The big thing though, is the L-word. Classes draw more of the general<br>
public when you say "laser" than when you say "CNC router", and for many<br>
spaces, that's a boon by itself.<br>
<font color="#888888"><br>
-Nate-<br>
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