CNC vs Laser. Which Should You Get First?

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[makeorbreakshop]

"Science is magic that works". Ha love it and thanks for the shoutout!

[c.f.g.]

I own both a Boss 100 watt laser and a Camaster Stinger cnc machine. You have really nailed the pros and cons very well. I bought the laser machine first and it was both easy to learn and fun. after 2 years I bought the cnc machine. Well that is very different all together. It will do more than the laser will but the learning curve ( bits to use, wood to use, depths etc.) is 1000 times more difficult unless all you want to make are personalized cutting boards:) I can make a lot on it now but it is overwhelming in the first year.

[Horchata]

“Fillet of fish” is my favorite commentary in this one 😊

[gamithaa]

tks, very helpful to understand, its change my mind to go for CNC. tks a lot

[majora]

I learned a bunch watching this, I haven't really looked into lasers so I didn't know what differences there were other than it uses a laser to cut

[robthewaywardwoodworker]

The most informative AND entertaining video I have watched in a VERY long time! Thank you, David!

[rianwhitby]

David, you were extremely funny in this, both the overt jesting, and the Easter eggs many would have missed.

[toganick]

Fallopian Tube replacement is SUPER expensive. Thanks for the vid.

[drumunl]

The fallopian tube line got me... David this video was so dang funny!

[bobtorrence]

I highly recommend anyone using a CNC router to begin using Fusion 360. That software not only handles the design and guide, but includes a nice customizable library feature of bits that would solve your problem as well

[rayj]

Awesome presentation. You have a natural gift to draw the attention to the topic throughout the whole presentation. And it answered plenty of my questions. Thanks heaps, Ray from 🇦🇺

[robertwolinski]

crotch smells, WWII landmines, this video is full of nuggets of amazing knowledge

[nolanstevenson]

Sitch is short but explaining it is not …. wasting time😉 great video

[sparkyprojects]

An organisation i used to be a member of had one of the common 60W chinese laser, they were able to just get the tube and replace it themselves, and there's some recalibration, yours may be different but worth researching.

[RattledPan]

This is the first of your videos I have caught. I was following another guy that really struggled with talking about specific things to look out for, but rather used the "you learn by breaking stuff" as a bandaid for what he didn't know. Yeah. I don't need to watch a 45 minute vid to know that. 😶😒
That said, I'm leaning into starting with the laser. My thinking is that being able to work with glittery materials, or whatever really catches an eye, might be my start, but the CNC really would need to go in second and not with much delay. I am going to start begging for my money from the government. There is good support through our Social Security office (I'm a 65 yo with a disability), which is kean to get those 65 and healthy back into the workforce, thus not having to pay out monthly benefits. I'm also interested in developing retail avenues for different types of demographics, if I can get all of that together plus import some selected items, I could have a well-rounded assortment of items. But that is so getting the cart before the horse!
All of that will take hard numbers, presentation of my products, cost vs. net retail, and all of the support systems to make this fly. There's a thousand "ifs, no-s and maybes" to all of this, but I also have experience going back decades about product selection, marketing products in compelling ways.
It is such a grind running someone else's business, especially retailers that blunder. I spent years thinking that I didn't know what I was doing, not why I have had to run from a job to cash my last paycheck before they went under. As any entrepreneur will tell you, "if my business goes under, it was under my helm."

[Imms]

Thank you for a very honest overview. As someone nervous about jumping into the deep end of this pool, I love your perspective. Great humor as well, kept my attention throughout.

[aaronthomas]

The short answer to "should I get the CNC Router or CNC Laser Cutter?" is both... allow me to explain. The Stepcraft M-1000 pictured at 0:23 can do both... you can have a nice 2 x 4 desktop CNC with an ATC and awesome gantry clearance AAAND Stepcraft also sells the Laser module, the 3D printer module, the tangential knife module, the drawing/pen module... etc for the same machine.

[CNCHobbyistGregory]

Great video. I have a Shapeoko, and my next step is to upgrade my Shapeoko with a laser. However, safety comes first with proper air circulation since there will be a lot of smoke

[oglaucio]

I've been looking at this topic lately and this is great timing! Cheers!

[GarrettCrosgrove]

I have a small desktop CNC Router and I wish I had a Laser instead for rapid prototyping.