I see a lot of messages on the Gweike cloud laser and most seem to be issues with this device. (I haven’t seen a bunch on the new RF machine.) On the other hand, I see less complaints about the Thunder Bolt laser. It could be more folks have purchased the Gweike due to being cheaper so the odds of seeing more input are at play. If there is discussion already about comparing the two, where would I find it? I’m looking to get into this with an RF laser for cutting thin pieces of wood and everyday engraving. All I have now is a 7W diode on my CNC as an accessory. The small detailed cut dimensions I want to do simply aren’t practical on the CNC (7w doesn’t cut anything). I also like the fact I could cut acrylic and engrave glass.
it’s always nice to have links to prospective machines so we can actually look at them, read the specifications and be sure the information is the best we can do.
There is some videos, here’s one, on the difference between the Gweike cloud and the OMTech polar.
If you notice, both machines are pretty closely matched as far as overall configuration. Both use the Ruida controller… However, the connection to the polar can be over Ethernet, not just via usb and there are a few articles about why the Gweike doesn’t work over Ethernet.
The Gweike seems to have specialized firmware in the Ruida, causing more questions about what it’s doing that is out of control of the user.
I could easily say that there are more Thunder machines out there which operate as specified and therefore have little problems. So unless you have actual data, I don’t think it’s a viable comparison.
The Thunder is more of a commercial machine and has a machine control panel, missing with the Gweike and the polar, however the polar can be modified to use a control panel. I have yet to see a Gweike that has a Ruida control panel on it. Without a machine console, many things, such as error messages are replaced by a red ring led that only tells you it failed, not why. It also restricts the operation to absolute coordinates and doesn’t allow using user origin or current position for start locations. You can’t change the machines IP address without a console.
Both the Gweike and the polar have a reservoir to hold coolant. Once it heats up, you have to stop using the machine and let the coolant cool back down. One of these just stops working when the temperature gets above about 40C. There is no refrigeration in either the Gweike or the polar.
I would never get either one of the two if the Thunder Bolt were an option and it’s air cooled, so no external chiller and a greater Z adjustment and generally more parts are standardized.
But now I realized I also forgot to add OneLaser XRF to the mix. It supposedly uses a large percentage of parts from Thunder Laser. And I’m only looking at RF, not glass tube. Anyone using the OneLaser XRF?
