The 40w isn’t rf tube, I think?
Oops my bad it is.
Interesting option but 80w (the p3) is the killer feature.
7 Likes
As with most things, it depends on the use – an 80W glass tube will have the edge on cutting thickness per dollar, but a 60W RF tube has a tiny spot size (0.07-0.1mm vs. 0.2-0.3mm), so it’ll win on engraving and kerf. Meanwhile, the 80W glass will push more power than the RF, but conversely the RF is massively more stable at low power (can go down to 1% and remain stable). Lifespan for glass, 3K-8K hours, lifespan for RF 20K-45K hours.
…all of which is to say I still don’t know what my post-GF laser is going to be, haha. Alas, I cannot just say “all of them!” because dang some of the MOPA lasers look appealing for their own specific use cases…
7 Likes
more importantly, for me, the P3 has a 36" x 18" (915 mm x 458 mm) bed. the 400x600 bed is borderline too small. that 36x18 will let me engrave a neck thru guitar. 15x23 will let me get most guitar bodies in, but not with neck on. the machine itself is huge compared to that bed size (built like a universal) and i have to carry it up a flight of steep, narrow attic stairs.
if i was going to go RF, i’d get the Aeon Mira 9. 36x18, 75w RF tube, significantly smaller than the haotian. and, honestly, i’ve never even heard of haotian before.
not that i don’t appreciate the heads up. an RF tube is a good thing. i use a universal p6 at work and the RF tubes are great.
7 Likes
Have you considered putting in a reservation on any of the Mira X (6X, 9X, X) machines? I find the four-way passthrough pretty compelling but I can’t quite bring myself to commit, even though it’s only a few bucks.
6 Likes
not quite ready to invest in a new machine yet. otherwise i’d be more serious about narrowing it down and picking one.
6 Likes
They were in Star Trek TOS season 8 episode 16 
5 Likes
well… then they’re obviously far more advanced than we are…
3 Likes