Laser Module for Next Wave Automation CNC Machines

Okay, to be fair, I got this as a add-on promo when I bought my SB120 CNC shark. I really wanted to like it, but that did not happen. First, it is really under powered... 2 watt seems to work on Basswood, at full power/full speed, but on Cherry, I had to slow the speed down to 25% to get good results. Second, it does not seem to be properly centered. If you let the cord drag around during use, the center will change. I ended up fasting the cord to the router so the center would not change. Also because the center is not at the true center of the router, if you are making something like coasters, the design will not be in the center of the coaster. I have to make a tool path just to mark the laser center, tape a piece of veneer over my work piece, burn a center on the veneer using the laser, and then use that to center my mill bit tool path to cut the circle around it. I also had the same type issues using the laser to mark a grid on my spoil board. I hope the 7 watt one has fixed these issues, and hopefully they are giving away the 2 watt one as a promo, to get it out of stock. Think long and hard before purchasing this unit. spend the extra money and get the more powerful one... at least that should solve the under powered issue.

I had the original laser Next Wave provided with their machine, however due to a poor design (the cable is meant for a desktop size machine and they sell it to be used with their largest machine) the cheap molex harness pulled out. I had to add a 50$ micro molex extension cable with coupler (both reinforced and overmolded) which I'll admit, may be causing the overheating due to voltage drop, however if the extension is not added, the machine cannot be reasonably ran from the control unit and the harness will fail again over time. To make this work will require added cooling. Great for light hobby work, as I am using this for a small business, this will be the last Next Wave Product I purchase.March 12th Update, purchased Jan 9th: the fan on the laser head is shorting out, the wires connected to the side of the aluminum head are loose. I know this is a manufacturing defect because I made sure there was plenty of slack, this being my 2nd laser from Next Wave.