Oh yeah that’s a pretty solid benefit right there. I swear the oddest things will block them from cutting. I didn’t even consider the smoke diffusing the beam.

Like the most powerful laser I’ve used won’t cut through a paper sticker or even the residue but it’ll cut through .75" steel like it’s nothing.

The optics is a big deal too. On the big ones everything is pretty reasonably sized and they’re still a pain to clean. I can’t imagine what it’s like with those tiny ones. Also, those larger lasers lenses are really commonly coated in thorium and a speck gets on there it’s going to superheat and vaporize a lot of the lense. Pretty damn dangerous to be around lol!

CNC laser operator here.

I don’t know about these lower power lasers so I may be wrong. With the lasers I’ve used (200-2000W), the air/oxygen is used to create a superheated jacket of gas around the laser which allows it to cut a nice smooth edge. It also has the added benefit of blowing away the slag/dross that’s created.

When we cut more temperature sensitive materials like aluminum and stainless we use nitrogen, which cools the material. This creates a pretty jagged deal with the dross that you gotta sand off but it prevents blowouts and really creates a nice edge if you get the pressure dialed in just right.

Z.

Your name isn’t Santa…

WHAT?! If Santa isn’t real then how do those presents get there?? And the cookies! Where do they go??

I took would like to know. I’m currently DAW shopping and this is the first I’ve ever heard of Ardour

Oooh I gotta try that then!

I always used India?

My tiny flashlight will light up my whole yard and then some like it’s day. I do admit that’s a little bit excessive but it’s great for when I hear something out there at night. I don’t exactly live in the best neighborhood… Makes clearing the property a hell of a lot easier and when that things pointed right at you, you can’t see shit.

Even on the lower settings though it’s far better and faster than using your phone. Also I guess it’s a little bit more specific to my needs because I am a machinist, it’s a lot easier for me to just pull out a flashlight than to strain my eyes trying to see something.

A tiny keychain tape measure. It’s one of those things you have no idea how much you’ll use until you have one on you all the time.

Looking at something online? How big exactly is it? It says 16.5" but can you picture that in your head somewhat accurately? It’s just easier to pull out your tape measure and see.

I’ve also started carrying around a small flashlight everywhere I go. I have an Imalent LD70 Mini. It’s small enough to fit in my change pocket and it’ll put out a blinding ~4000 lumens on turbo (for about a minute before it gets too hot). I do admit that it’s not the best flashlight ever. It has a ridiculous magnetic proprietary charger that will short on whatever if you leave it plugged in but it does what I need it to do.

What about mentors? How many mentors should I have?

The Life and Times of Tim and No Man’s Sky… I think it could work maybe…