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System Price Comparison:
The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine range from entry level at $35K to high-volume production systems at $150K.
Starting prices for 5-Axis vertical milling centers range from $155K to $190K.
(Source: Haas).
Winner: Fiber Laser 
Quality of Workmanship:
CNC vertical milling machines show visible trochoidal marks and significant roughness. The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine in contrast show no visible marks with smooth, vertical cliff walls requiring no post-processing. There is no direct contact between the laser and the material reducing the chance of contamination or accidental marking. Fiber lasers also create a smaller heat-affected zone, which lowers the risk of material warping or defamation at the engraving site. Laser deep engraving is a more streamlined process than its mechanical alternative which often requires post-machining treatments. (Source: ThomasNet )
Winner: Fiber Laser
Processing Speeds:
An aluminum application was deep-engraved down to a minimum depth of 0.01” requiring both a logo and rows of text. The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine completed the operation in 2 minutes, 23 seconds.
The CNC vertical milling machine completed the same operation in 4 minutes, 37 seconds.
Winner: Fiber Laser
Maintenance Cost:
The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine is 100% maintenance-free. CNC vertical milling machines must be rigorously maintained. (Source: Carnegie Mellon )
Winner: Fiber Laser
Consumables:
The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine requires no consumables.
CNC milling machines require extensive and costly consumables including spindles, milling cutters, mill bits, drawbars, collets, belts, anti-seizer compounds, and other lubricants including hydraulic oil, lubricant, grease, coolants, and cutting fluids.
Winner: Fiber Laser
Environmental Impact:
The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine poises no environmental health risks to both the workplace and environment. Fumes are captured by a fume extractor and metal debris is capture via a vacuum table.
Mechanical milling machines are subject to a number of environmental concerns. Spent cutting fluids and metal chips are the two major sources considered hazardous waste. Workers in machining operations are continually exposed to cutting fluids with dermatitis and respiratory problems cited the most frequent health concerns.
(Source: Royal Institute of Technology )
Winner: Fiber Laser
Dependability:
The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine has a MTBF rating of more than 50,000 hours designed to operate under continuous hi-vibration, shock, and dust conditions.
CNC vertical milling machines are subject to both hard and soft crashes. Hard crashes occur in such a way that is harmful to the machine, tools, or parts being machined sometimes resulting in bending or breakage of cutting tools, accessory clamps, vises, fixtures, or causing damage to the machine itself by bending guide rails, breaking drive screws, or causing structural components to crack or deform under stress. A soft crash may not damage the machine or tools, but may damage the part being machined so that is must be scrapped. (Source: Wikipedia)
Winner: Fiber Laser
Return On Investment (ROI): The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine cost is less expensive, engraves at almost 2X the processing speed, requires no consumables and is 100% maintenance-free. There is no workplace or environmental hazards with a superior quality of workmanship when compared to vertical milling machines.
Winner: Fiber Laser
Fiber laser deep-engraving is an art form in and of itself. The Canyon 3D Laser Engraving Machine incorporates proprietary laser processing IP setting the industry standard for quality of workmanship and processing speed. There is no other laser-based system that produces 3D Laser Engraving images which compares to the quality of the 3D Canyon Laser Engraving Machine.
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