What I use for Laser Cutting

[@CM-ARM]

That is really cool. Thanks for sharing this with us.

[@canalboating]

Excellent thanks for sharing this, just waiting delivery of my first laser and this was excellent seeing how you set things up can't wait

[@mikewainwright4792]

Thank you for explaining your process for cutting the card with the laser. Very interesting

[@fredanderson2593]

Very informative use and setup of the Laser Cutter

[@simonsnow7771]

Thanks for this video I brought a creality Falcon2 22W Laser Engraver & Cutter in the black friday sale not had time to play with it but looking forward to using it for making stuff for my model railway build

[@roystudds1944]

Very interesting video Julian but not an avenue I will be going down. Great to see how it works though. Thanks for sharing. Roy.

[@jontaylor1652]

It's been a great year at Station Road. Thanks Julian and a happy new year to you and your family.

[@ajmatthews7700]

I've been intrigued by laser cutters since I first heard of them. They certainly are a game-changer for hobbyists. Thanks for sharing.

[@jt5081]

Wonderful model, very intriguing methods of construction. I thank you very much. Happy New and Prosperous Year to you and your family.

[@patoconnor1743]

Very informative, thank you and Happy New Year!

[@Knappist]

Very informative, I have never used one but this makes it look worth investing in. Many thanks for posting 👍

[@onnomulder9775]

Very interesting and instructive video Julian!!! Thanks again for sharing! Cheers Onno.

[@AntoekneeDE]

Don’t know how I missed this video, I got started with a low power atomstack A5 last august (nearly said summer which was very northern hemisphere centric of me 😳) and it’s been absolutely revolutionary to my modelling, maybe more so than my 3D printers in some ways, and many uses beyond modelling like furniture and guitar parts (and cutting templates), but unfortunately it had a ‘thermal incident’ when it got stuck and the laser head melted all of the plastics that were on it, so naturally took the opportunity to upgrade to an A5 pro which cut through things like butter that the old one couldn’t. For modelling the applications have been incredible, great for brick patterns walls, viaducts, bridges, buildings and so on. Really glad to see you’ve been able to get into it too. Also what a great idea on the grid from a vent. I used just a flat steel sheet to protect my worktop in the shed especially as the first A5 was gutless. Have you found the air assist makes much difference? Mine doesn’t have it at present.

[@MichaelHenfrey]

Thanks for showing this! Iv'e always been interested in laser cutters and what you can do with them. Im certainly impressed!

[@prpman99]

Thanks for the video. I purchased a laser last summer and have used it to make some really nice things for the layout. Created a goods shed, sidewalks, fence walls, etc. There is a lot that can be done with the laser. You can get some very fine detail where needed. But guess you know that already. Learned more from you. Hadn't thought of printing brick wall and then cut, have used the laser to burn texture into wood. Like your process and well gave that a try.

[@tonywincott8448]

Wow what a great video, I have been wanting a laser cutter/engraver for a long time now. Great too see the whole process, Thanks for the video, I can't wait to see your layout progress. Mine is stalled with me trying to learn 3d printing, with various results along the way. I am always in awe of you builds. Take care and have fun.

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

Thanks Tony. 3D printing is one area I haven't ventured into. I'm somewhat sitting on the fence as to whether I should head down the 3D printing route, but there's no rush making any decision.

[@PaulSmith-pl7fo]

Hi Julian. Happy New Year to you and yours.

[@richardallan2331]

Thanks for this video. I have been rather intrigued by your use of a laser cutter. I have loads of Scalescenes kit's I have downloaded or got free through Hornby magazine over the years. I have recently started one of their box file layouts & the thick card I have is really hard. It's almost like cutting concrete! It looks relatively straight forward to use once you have seen someone who knows what they are doing.

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

Thanks Richard. The biggest persuader for me to purchasing a laser cutter was the arduous hand-cutting required for Scalescenes kits. The first kit I made was the Northlight Engine Shed kit (x4) which resulted in multiple blisters.

[@richardallan2331]

Have just had a look at OTUR web site in Australia. Definitely worth considering for time saving alone not to mention accuracy & quality of cutting. Looking forward to seeing part 2 soon!

[@DavZell]

When you showed yourself selecting the power and speed, you seemed to pick based on some sort of gut feeling. The best method I know of is to use the lowest power/highest speed that will cut through. (I'm not referring to engraving.) Doing so will have the obvious benefit of decreasing your cutting time. But, it also reduces the amount of charring, which you commented on at the end. It may also prolong the life of the laser by not running it at full power, but I've been hearing lately that "100%" isn't really that - the manufacturers are setting them to never run fully.

[@arthurthorpe5445]

Very interesting and helpful thank you.

[@glenatkin4972]

Thanks for both videos interesting as ever . Been thinking of getting a laser cutter. Now you’ve confirmed how easy and useful they are . Definitely. Just have to work on the boss and convince her . 😂 Wishing you and your family and all viewers a very happy new year. Cheers Glen

[@iainmartin9102]

Really useful video. I've been considering getting a laser cutter for a while now and your video persuaded me to actually move everything out of 'Save for Later' and into the checkout basket. Walket now a few hundred pounds lighter, but hey, it's Christmas after all. If it doesn't work.... I'm blaming you 😄

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

Thanks Iain and no problem at all, happy to be at fault if need be🙂

[@PeteWSC]

Great video, thank you for taking the time to explain so much, it’s very helpful. Do you have any links for the free downloadable files you talked about please I can’t find any to get me going.

[@mattsmith4605]

I really fancy a laser cutter, but found the descriptions from the sellers a bit overwhelming. Now I have a better idea of what to look for. Thanks for an informative video.

[@andrewbrucesc3013]

Thank you so very much for this video. I purchased a laser cutter a little while ago but I have been a little intimidated about using it. This (1) reinforces the correctness of my decision to acquire the cutter and (2) provides some real assistance (and de-mystification) about using it. One further small detail about using the system would help: how to transfer either a design made by me or from, say, Scalescenes designs. (I love Scalescenes.) Your models are brilliant and this demonstrates how with the utter precision of the laser cutter you can produce wonderful card-based structures.

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

Thanks Andrew. I do plan on producing a Part 2 episode where I look more specifically at the Lightburn software and how to import designs from the likes of Scalescenes kits.

[@davedrury1284]

Very interesting video

[@ronalynausan791]

Hi, have you tried engraving the brick work onto the base material instead of paper brick glued to the vase material? Thanks andrew

[@earlfreeman93]

Thank you for showing us how you cut out patterns on laser cutter; I have for some time wanted to get me a laser cutter but I haven't had the money yet. Maybe you could elaborate on what software you use to design your projects that you laser cut; walk us through a project from design to cutting it out on the laser cutter someday soon please.

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

Thanks Earl. There's a few videos where I provide a walk-thru from design to build, and in particular the curved warehouse. This video also has a link to another build that was the St Michaels Station. kzbin.info/www/bejne/iJTbY6Kbos-UapI

[@eugeniomarins2936]

Dear Sir, I just imported from the UK a "Maun Safety Rule" (it wasn't cheap, with custom taxes and the price of the Pound) and also bought a box of discardable scalpel blades (i'm fussy with me #11's), so i am not, in any way, envious of your equipment. Cheers from XIX century modelling Brazil! 😄

[@paullancaster297]

Ooooooo you're in trouble, the boss is not so keen on another toy entering the Man Cave, especially a one that spits out fire. Really informative video, too late for this years Santa wish list but you never know ...........

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

I think one of the first items I laser cut was my wife's name out of MDF which demonstrated it's benefits other that train stuff🙂

[@paulcharters5933]

Hey there. I was wondering how you have found sourcing 3mm ply for laser cutting? I'm in Dunedin and finding it quite difficult

[@ronalynausan791]

One other thing, you are using light burn to import file and burn from, what do you use to to draft shape in the first place...

[@andrewstephenson3594]

Thanks for the video. Yup a laser cutter is the thing to have. Unfortunately for me, The space needed, the noise produced and the fume extraction needed mean that it won't be going in the spare bedroom or shed. : > (. I'll just have to find someone who has one already set up.

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

Yes, finding a home for a laser cutter can be a barrier. It's definitely a piece of equipment that needs good ventilation/extraction if the only space is in the house, not as much if it's in a garage or shed.

[@roygrafton6322]

is it possible to program the software to leave small tabs along the cut edge so the parts don't move around. then just use a sharp blade to release the parts afterwards.

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

Yes, sprues can definitely be added into the design-stage of the shapes be cut. It would simply be breaks in the cut-lines which can then be cut with a craft knife afterwards. I'm not sure if there's a function in the Lightburn software that can automatically add small breaks in the cut-lines, I might investigate.

[@DrTrader]

HiJulian, great video. So why did you buy Critcut machine? Or maybe I'm thinking of someone else:)

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

I use the Cricut machine for cutting window frames from self-adhesive vinyl which is then applied to clear acetate. It's just a Cricut Joy, not the larger machines that can cut card/plastic etc.

[@Knappist]

Will this later cut plasticard ?

[@StationRoadModelRailway]

I did give plasticard a go at one point and it wasn't very successful. It melted the plastic and gave off horrible fumes and black smoke, I wouldn't recommend a laser cutter for plasticard or any type of styrene plastic. I understand the larger Cricut cutting machines are capable of cutting plasticard sheet.

[@Knappist]

@@StationRoadModelRailway thanks for the info, and a happy new year 👍

[@johnland7318]

Before I retired, I ran the laser cutters in a high school. Yes they were more powerful and enclosed in safety enclosures. Styrene sheet, polycarbonate and pvc were all banned from the machines. Styrene just melts, polycarbonate burns and melts, and the PVC releases chlorine gas. The best plastic was acrylic/perspex which at 3mm cut cleanly but with a very slightly angled cut from the focused lightbeam. MDF definitely took more energy to burn thru, and as your grid shows lots of sticky resins blown away by the air blast. The computer program used by the school pupils automatically cut the internal window shapes out of the components, it was almost as easy as pressing print on a paper printer, choose material and thickness and the cut height was auto set and away it cut. The two newer Chinese machines had full control of the speed, power and cut height by the operator. My preferred material for my own projects was aeroply, birch plywood for plane models available 1/32 to 1/8 inch thick, cut by laser like card, glued with wood glue and could be stacked and laminated into strong complex items. Used it to laser cut and build a ply body for a scratch build electric loco for my HO/OO layout, and components for a bridge build.