u/bluemelon1

Let's take, for example, a 300W, 15mJ pulse laser with a variable frequency between 20 kHz and 200 kHz.

The 300W is the maximum average power of the machine.

The power equation:

Power = pulse energy * frequency

To find the frequency of a laser working at 300W, 15mJ, the modified equation is:

Frequency = Power/Pulse Energy

Frequency = 300/0.015 = 20 000 Hz = 20kHz, so on the bottom end of the spectrum.

Many people here and in various FB groups say (or have said in posts a year old and older) that pulse energy can't be adjusted, so you have to buy the proper laser for the job. However, if the frequency is adjustable, and 300W at 15mJ is the bottom end, by increasing the frequency all the way to 200kHz, I get down to 1.5 mJ (else the power would have to go up to 3kW), thus having a fully adjustable 1.5mJ to 15mJ machine?

What am I missing? By "pulse energy can't be adjusted," do they mean it can't be dialed down directly, and therefore must be adjusted indirectly by changing said frequency, or am I completely misunderstanding the principle of these machines?

Hey, I'm currently in the process of getting my LSO and insurance, then buying a 300/500W pulse laser. Reading the knowledge that people like IndLaserCleaning share here has already given me a lot, but it brought up even more questions.

Given that this will, for now, be a side gig to my day job, I can not afford the European machines. Thus, I'm looking at Chinese lasers. Both through Alibaba and direct quotes, I found 300W 15mJ Gaussian air-cooled lasers with JPT MOPA source for a little under $5000 and equivalent 500W top-hat machines (also JPT MOPA) for around $9000 from companies with solid Alibaba reviews. They have a valid CE certification.

My area is industry-heavy (tons of automotive, foundries, injection moulding companies) and also cemetery-heavy (lol). My idea is to start with things like marble/polished headstones with gilding that would get destroyed by pressure washers. Later, hopefully expanding into industrial cases.

My questions:

1. Given that JPT MOPA seems to be one of the better quality sources, it seems odd to me that, for example, SFX lasers (also Chinese) often debated here cost two times what the lasers I found cost (they're from Jiangpin Technology/JPTech), despite the spec sheet being seemingly identical. What gives?

2. Are both of these areas realistic with a single machine (either the 300 or the 500W mentioned above), or will I have to get something beefier once I start hitting up companies?

3. Does anyone with B2B experience know how viable I'd be for factories with me doing it as a weekend/after-work gig? Most of the factories here run 24/7, I'd assume nights/weekends would be preferable due to the lower output during these hours.

4. As I understood it, a laser capable of higher pulse energy should be better, since you can always dial it down when needed for more delicate work. Why is this not the case?

5. As I understand it, for metals, top-hat is superior for cleaning polished surfaces (injection moulds and such) while Gaussian will bust rust better. Both types are able to achieve both goals, just at different efficiencies. Is this generally true for non-metals as well? Obviously not rust, but varnishes, deep-settled grease and such.

6. How frequent and DIY-able is Top-Hat <-> Gaussian conversion?

7. My idea of a mobile setup is: The pulse cleaning laser, a generator, a fume extractor, safety curtains (somehow I don't see those much on this sub?) and PPE - glasses, gloves, respirator (ideally full-face).

8. Anything else completely obvious that I'm missing out on and making a fool out of myself on?

Thanks.

As income increased, anti-lifestyle-creep precautions led me to develop a strict discipline of investing/saving about 70% of my income. Effectively, I immediately become "broke" on payday, as I put it all into a no-touch savings account or VWCE to build a nice life for my 40's+. The unfortunate side-effect of that mindset is that I don't want to spend money on anything with no practical use. Hell, I mull over 30€ expenditures because "I could instead put it into savings".

Excessive spending isn't healthy, but neither is this. I basically turned into Scrooge McDuck, seeing joy in the net worth calculator, not as a tool to bring joy.

I'm sure some of you are/have been in the same spot. What helped? I'm thinking of allocating, say, 100€ per month that must go towards impractical expenses.

Edit: Forgot to mention - 23M. That makes me both want to save more so the compounding snowballs as much as possible, but also to spend more to enjoy my youth.