Episode 46 - Versalaser [Discussion]

[tylerhowarth]

Get an up close and personal view of the latest toy in our toolbox. Whether it's ceramic, wood or acrylic this thing can cut or etch near anything!

Watch And Download the Entire Episode Here (http://revision3.com/systm/versalaser2/)

[rebytr]

Just checked out the new episode. Well done. Definitely a really cool tool.

Although, I enjoyed seeing Randolph's long lost brother the best. :)

[recoil24]

looks good so far! I'm guessing this a complete and honest review. I do trust you revision 3 but they did let you borrow the machine for a bit :P Though this episode has got a little bit 'advertisey' for the Versalaser

[menikmati]

Liked the episode a lot, found it very informative and interesting.

[drandolph]

I just wanted to chime in just in case people were worried about it being to much of a commercial. Grace and I approached them to get one. Ever since I borrowed one for the afternoon to do the diggthedigg button I wanted to play with them more and more. I hope everyone enjoys shows where me and patrick show toys we like personally. However if universal laser wants to give me a personal one for my house I wouldn't object. ;)

[high6]

So do you guys get to keep the laser or do you have to return it soon?

[serafina]

We've got it for a few more months.

And dont forget to check out the Rev3 Gazette, episode 19, for a closer look at the havoc it caused in the office... ;)

http://revision3.com/rev3gazette/versalaser/

[high6]

Is it just me or just the flash player cutoff mid sentence at 28:31?

[serafina]

Is it just me or just the flash player cutoff mid sentence at 28:31?

Hmm... indeed... Are any other formats like this or is it just when viewed directly on the site?

[smeerkaas]

Great episode, and a cool 'toy' to get to play with for sure!

I didn't mind that it felt like an infomercial. If they give you an expensive piece of equipment to play around with, I think it is fair when they try to get their money's worth of promotion.

A few critical notes however on the production side of this episode. At one point a crewmember walks into frame, and at another point you can actually hear people talking behind camera on set. Now .. if this was the workshop, I wouldn't mind. But this is in a studio, and I'd have to say that raises my expectations when talking about professionality. Please try to avoid such 'mistakes' in the future.

So .. aside from those minor annoyances: good stuff, and keep up the good work.

[will_stutler]

i am having a problem downloading the video
infact the whole damn site is loading real slow

anyone else

Edit:.....it appears to be Large WMV that not working

[high6]

Hmm... indeed... Are any other formats like this or is it just when viewed directly on the site?

I would download the others and try but right now it would take over an hour.

http://revision3.com/forum/showthread.php?goto=newpost&t=17391

[smeerkaas]

When I downloaded the High-Def .mov a couple of hours ago the site was unbearably slow. And it still is right now. But the download itself went as fast as my connection would allow (8 mbit). Which is something I regularly see is not the case when downloading Rev3 shows. So whatever the problem is, it's probably limited to the servers/connection serving the site and/or forum, and not the bitgravity servers.

Pages take a minute to load. Takes me back to the good old days. Say .. 1993, lol.

[chuckles]

Hmm... indeed... Are any other formats like this or is it just when viewed directly on the site?

There was a problem with the flash encode. It is fixed now.

-chuckles-

[primeone]

I just want to call shenanigans on you guys. Really It was like watching an infomercial this last episode. What happen to showing people how to set up asterisk PBX systems? Or setting up MythBoxs? I mean you needed a whole episode just to talk about the shiny 15,000 dollar laser printer? Really? REALLY? Someone should have been wearing an ugly sweater on this episode because I smelled 1990's late night selling pitches all over this.

[thearchangel]

I liked parts of this show, but for a overall to me it was just not the greatest...to much of one thing. and it was about a product that most of us will never have I loved the Gazette but this just didn't do it for me (don't want everyone to say you don't have to watch it, If you don't like it. I love the show 90% of the time) can you guys start going over more than one thing in a episode?

[bani-banan]

I just want to call shenanigans on you guys. Really It was like watching an infomercial this last episode. What happen to showing people how to set up asterisk PBX systems? Or setting up MythBoxs? I mean you needed a whole episode just to talk about the shiny 15,000 dollar laser printer? Really? REALLY? Someone should have been wearing an ugly sweater on this episode because I smelled 1990's late night selling pitches all over this.

I kind of agree with more. I woudl've liked to see more etching...

MythBox on Systm? You gotta be kidding me.

Holy shit. This episode made me want a burger ;/

[stewpac]

I got to play with one of these last summer while I was doing undergrad research for my EE degree, I ended up making some specially etched coasters and signs for myself and my friends in my spare time. Of course I also used it for actual work in addition. We made our stuff in either autocad or Microsoft Word (when we wanted to make signs) Oh and I was etching into plastic (thick and really thin) and testing shapes with cutting on paper.

[heavymetalme]

You guys had me till you named those prices. Wish I had more money to use this as a hobby.

[oss]

Another interesting episode ;)

[snaf00]

MythBox on Systm? You gotta be kidding me.

uhh yes, in the second episode (http://revision3.com/systm/mythtv) back in the pre-randolph days when system actually instructed you on how to do things.

[cedric-mackay]

Love this episode I want one of those lasers now.

Hey one thing you might try if you havn't all ready. It is kind of a throw back to one of your previous episodes but how about etching PCBs? I would think you could etch the circuit and even cut your holes for the components.

[thearchangel]

I know this is a total noob question but what exactly is a mythbox

[computoman]

uhh yes, in the second episode (http://revision3.com/systm/mythtv) back in the pre-randolph days when system actually instructed you on how to do things.


but now there is mythbuntu, lunuxmce, and xbmc on linux. A comparison might be interesting/.

[heavymetalme]

Love this episode I want one of those lasers now.

Hey one thing you might try if you havn't all ready. It is kind of a throw back to one of your previous episodes but how about etching PCBs? I would think you could etch the circuit and even cut your holes for the components.

You'd think so after they talked about scribing the backs of iPods, where an actual chemical is burned (I think that is what it was doing) onto the surface.

Great question- I'd like to know this answer. I'm still a PCB noob, and I'd prefer an easier solution.

[kevthedude]

Just so you guys know, you're missing the Large WMV format of this show.

http://bitcast-a.bitgravity.com/revision3/web/systm/0046/systm--0046--versalaser2--large.wmv

[theoneandonly]

Love this episode I want one of those lasers now.

Hey one thing you might try if you havn't all ready. It is kind of a throw back to one of your previous episodes but how about etching PCBs? I would think you could etch the circuit and even cut your holes for the components.

Yes and No, The method I use is to cover the PCB with a acrylic spray after prepping the board with steal wool. Then laser the inverse of the PCB layout so the acrylic preserves the lines you want to keep. You then etch it like any other board and use steal wool again to remove the acrylic spray.

Another way without using chemicals is to use sheet vinyl to cover the PCB then etch with the laser to cut the design out. You then remove the cutout parts and sand blast the copper that is exposed. This is a much more tedious process but can deliver more consistent results.

As for the NO part you can't cut out the board to shape do to you can't cut the copper, you can the fiberglass board. Attached is a link to a video of the lasers we have at the shop.

http://www.youtube.com/v/WSckZWNFNXo

[alloneword]

I hope you guys got paid a lot for that episode. One giant ad with a sales guy and David. Not the best episode.

[computoman]

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[onyx1607]

I hope you guys got paid a lot for that episode. One giant ad with a sales guy and David. Not the best episode.

It felt like that for me too. I scrolled forward in the vid hoping for the next segment, but it never came...

Lazer etching/scribing/burning whatever held no interest for me whatsoever; and this was one of the most disappointing episodes of Systm IMHO.

Seriously, how many System viewers would after watching that ep go out to buy whatever expensive machine thing that was?! Who was the target audience of this episode? Certainly not electronics enthusiasts or regular consumers...

[procras]

like many others, i thought that this episode felt too much like an advertisement. i'm not a rev3 gazette viewer, so i almost missed the reference to that episode, which actually had more demonstration footage. it's probably too late, but everyone should watch it instead.

[pb12in]

I agree with a lot of the others. This episode felt like an infomercial, the only real difference is that it had ads in it.

Got to admit though, I love the Machine and I am glad to hear that it has found a home in the office. I presume that this episode (and ongoing use) was the deal for getting it?

[drandolph]

There seems to be some fear about this being to much of a commercial for a product. I just wanted to chime in and give everyone a full disclosure about the entire deal with Universal Laser. Back in the day Grace (Our office mom as I refer to her) ask us if there is any products we would like to get in for review. I raised my hand and said I really, really want a versalaser! Seeing it in the past and playing with one like it on the diggthediggbutton I wanted one to do some projects around the office. So after a long discussion with the company here were the full terms. "Let us borrow the versalaser and if we like it we will do a show on the tool"

I personally thought it would make for a good show because if the viewers are anything like me they can't afford a system like this but are still interested in how it works and what it does. If they sell one of these systems to a viewer please let me know because i would be surprised. Hell if your reading this forum post and bought one after you saw this episode send me a PM and I'll see what i can do about coming over to set it up for you.

As for me if i had an extra 20k sitting around burning a hole in my pocket i would buy one for my house just for fun. I don't think that will happen anytime soon though.

[md2389]

Ok, I gotta ask....wheres the pictures of Prager's arm? ;)