Use of Laser in Cuemaking??

[cuesmith]

I have a good buddy who's kind of a techno-geek! He's been telling me that I need to set up a Laser for engraving and inlay work. I haven't been paying too much attention to the idea, first because of the cost of a Laser, second, because I really don't know of ANY other cuemakers using one. I figure it's just too costly to experiment around with and find out it's not really feasable. Well my buddy threw me a curve the other day. He thinks he can hook me up with one "for a song", surplus, through where he works. He told me it's been just sitting for about 5 years and is no longer used in their lab. He fired it up the other day, just to make sure it still worked OK, and he say's it's as good as new. I gave him a vareity of materials, that I currently use in cuemaking, to experiment with, and see how cut.
I'm a little concerned about it leaving a dark line, like a bad glue line, around inlays, where it burns through, both in the part making and pocketing. I'm sure that the settings would have to be adjusted according to the material it's cutting so there will be something of a learning curve involved in using it, but the idea of cutting without using endmills, is certainly interesting, especially considering the fact that it will cut a very sharp point. The beam, he tells me will cut a .004 thick cut, considerably thinner than any end mills practically used in cuemaking. Anyone have any experience along these lines or know of any cuemakers using a Laser in cuemaking?

Sherm

 

[merylane]

no good for inlays for the resons you said. but for engraving could be very nice,very thin and also a unique look in ivory.
a water jet actually cuts materials much cleaner even wood imagine that.
but the wood parts might not fit after being exposed to water.

 

[WilleeCue]

I'm a little concerned about it leaving a dark line, like a bad glue line, around inlays, where it burns through, both in the part making and pocketing. Sherm

Sherm, a penmakers use them for ingraving names in wood pens.
Some have made inlays with them but you are right. It leaves a noticable dark line around the inlay. I have attached a photo of a pen sent to me by a penmaker that uses a laser to inlay. You can see the dark edges on the lighter colored wood. Also notice how sharp the laser can cut a point.

 

[macguy]

Sherm, a penmakers use them for ingraving names in wood pens.
Some have made inlays with them but you are right. It leaves a noticable dark line around the inlay. I have attached a photo of a pen sent to me by a penmaker that uses a laser to inlay. You can see the dark edges on the lighter colored wood. Also notice how sharp the laser can cut a point.

That looks absolute awful, does he try to sell them or was that an experiment gone wrong?

 

[Jon]

Willee,

I really like that laser cut made to look like a crack in the wood... .

Thanks,

Jon J/K

 

[bandido]

Not sure if I recall right but didn't McDermott use them back when they came out with the EM series?

 

[Jack Madden]

I have a good buddy telling me that I need to set up a Laser for engraving and inlay work -it leaving a dark line, like a bad glue line, around inlays, where it burns through, both in the part making and pocketing. I'm sure that the settings would have to be adjusted according to the material it's cutting so there will be something of a learning curve involved in using it, but the idea of cutting without using endmills, is certainly interesting Anyone have any experience along these lines or know of any cuemakers using a Laser in cuemaking?

Sherm

Sherm - just saw this thread - this is my experience -
I checked it out with an international company (they should know, right?) several years ago. Their tech could not get around the the burns in the pockets-still have the wood samples I supplied them - black charred wood that will break down. I was approached this summer by a sales/research & development person from a laser equipment company(spouse bought and plays with one of my cues). Company wanted me to build several cues for them to experiment with and help with research so they could sell lasers for cue building. Their goal - to be showing in Vegas BCA in 2005 (I think they will be). They didn't understand much about the business or even how a cue was constructed. Anyway, I referred them to Prather for their cue parts.
I think laser is a good idea but unless the burn problem is resolved with an affordable machine it will just remain an idea.
John Madden
www.johnmaddencues.com