November 16, 2016 - 3D Fab Light, San Francisco, is launching a new product line of laser cutters called FabLight. These machines combine an XY gantry for cutting sheets with a rotary device for cutting square, round, and rectangular tubes. They are designed to maximize performance and flexibility in a compact footprint. The base model starts at an affordable price of $59,900.
“Our plan is to make high performance metal laser cutting available to a much broader audience,” CEO Matthew Bye said. As the founder and former CEO of Beam Dynamics, Bye has over 20 years experience bringing laser machines to market. “Our goal is to design for lower cost without compromising performance,” Bye added.
The FabLight comes in three power levels of 1500W, 3000W, or 4500W pulsed. No installation is required — the machine uses only a standard 110V, 20A outlet, and clean, dry shop air. No chiller is required since the lasers are air cooled, and no outside venting is required since exhaust goes through a HEPA filter.
“We made it fully enclosed, Class I, to fit into any fabrication environment,” Vice President Joel Rosenberg said. It needs no consumables or maintenance, and costs less than $0.25 an hour to run.
To keep the footprint small, the FabLight uses a drawer for loading sheets and tubes. The bed fits cut-down versions of standard sized stock. For sheets, the bed can handle up to 25 in. by 50 in. (635 x 1270mm). It fits tubes between 0.5 in. and 2 in. diameter (13mm to 51mm). The fiber laser cuts steel, stainless, aluminum, copper, brass, bronze, and titanium.
Software is also a key part of the company’s strategy. “We’re creating software that makes the idea-to-part workflow painless,” Bye said. The design software is included, with unlimited seats that can be distributed widely, including to customers. Software upgrades are also free. “As a Bay Area startup, it makes sense for us to be both a hardware and software company,” Rosenberg said.
The machine debuts at FABTECH 2016 in Las Vegas, November 16-18, booth N6222. Shipping begins in early 2017.
