AP LAZER: 2D Engraving is Going Big -- Bigger than 3D Printing
LANSING, Mich., Sept. 4, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The first large format, mobile CO2 laser engraving/cutting machine – AP Lazer – is now gaining recognition as the next big thing, even bigger than 3D printing, from a wide range of industries.
The laser beams of traditional laser machines are contained in a box; and they can only engrave small, light, flat materials. Large format gantry style laser machines were invented 30 years ago but they are so heavy and expensive that marking on surfaces such as floors, walls, tables, and chairs is impractical.
With a convertible z-table, AP Lazer is the first laser machine capable of doing everything a traditional 'boxed-up' laser machine can do; then when the z-table is removed, it makes engraving large and heavy objects possible.
With a $50 billion dollars market already established by existing 'boxed-up' laser machines that engrave small items such as gifts, trophies and small signage. The ability to engrave large format, heavy objects will open up a wide range of new markets. AP Lazer's no weight and size limitation, open architecture design takes the laser power 'out of the box': enabling its user to engrave on almost any surface.
The top of the laser machine can also be removed and placed directly on a surface such as wood or stone flooring or a large tabletop.
Industries around the globe have already began taking advantage of AP Lazer's capabilities; 3000 lb. granite monuments are being engraved, woodworkers are able to engrave virtually every wood surface and in the auto industry manufacturers are marking, branding, and customizing engine covers and auto parts.
When placed over an existing conveyer system, parts no longer have to be manually moved off production lines or in and out of a box, AP Lazer has become a manufacturer's dream. One manufacturer even uses a robotic arm to take large plastic injected parts, placing it beneath the laser machine, cut it, then put it back into the production line—saving thousands, if not millions of dollars on a new injection mold.
According to a recent study, by 2018, the world wide 3D printing market will be only $13 billion dollars which includes the printer, end product and material/consumable sales. Besides the $50 billion dollars small product engraving market, exactly how big the market size is for engraving large, heavy objects is not known. The market is fresh and ready for exploration.
Even if 3D printers could print an entirely new world, there would be more new surfaces for AP Lazer to engrave, far exceeding the profitability of 3D printing.
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SOURCE AP Lazer
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