What comes standard that everyone else charges for?
The most complete family of laser systems on the market at the most affordable price. Standard and/or Unique features include (model independent): Full Pass Through, Illuminated Substrate, Position Confirmation Test Mode, Red diode pointer, Air Assist, Water Cooling, Intelligent Rubber Stamp Engraving, Multiple or single job selection, Linear Motion DC servo Control System or stepper motion system, Slat Table, User Replaceable Laser Tubes and more. NOTE: These are features that the others MAY HAVE but at a price, ours is included at no charge!

Does the CheckMate Lasers use proprietary software?
Yes & No. For our smaller Desktop systems, i.e., the Pawn, Knight & Bishop we utilize our proprietary application called NewlyDraw. A software program written specifically for laser systems; imagine if you will CorelDRAW with the laser driver built in, this is essentially what NewlyDraw is. Our larger, higher end laser systems utilize our own XM8 Lasers software but may output directly from CorelDRAW or AutoCAD. Your computer will not know the difference between your ink-jet printer, laser printer or CheckMate Laser system. As far as your computer is concerned you are simply printing your graphic image/document. Your computer has no idea it is powering a state of the art, highly technologically advanced laser engraver.

What software can be used with the CheckMate Laser system?
The small systems utilize NewlyDraw, while the larger systems are compatible with CorelDRAW & AutoCAD. Since the laser industry in general has standardized on CorelDRAW as the graphics application of choice we have as well. We highly recommend an application that is vector based to take full advantage of CheckMate Lasers and all the features it offers but use XM8 Lasers software as the final output applications. Using CorelDRAW allows CheckMate Lasers to provide full support, utilizing one of the many alternative vector drawing applications, such as, Adobe Illustrator, Macromedia Freehand, Deneba Canvas, Micrografx Designer will not allow CheckMate Lasers to provide the level of support our customers are accustomed to and expect. Of course you can also utilize AutoCAD as well for the high end CAD design but once again CheckMate Lasers only supports CorelDRAW.

What is the maximum engraving speed of CheckMate Laser systems?
All CO2 laser tubes on the market currently cannot fire fast than an optics system operating faster than 80 inches per second (ips). With that said, CheckMate Lasers utilizes CO2 glass laser tubes that cannot fire faster than an 80ips as well, so our motion system has been capped at that speed to allow for the best quality at the fastest rate of motion that the laser tube can sustain. It simply makes no sense to speed up a machine's motion system when the tube cannot fire fast enough to keep up therefore sacrificing quality. CheckMate Laser systems can all are adjusted in 1% increments to the full 100% speed capability.

What is the life cycle of the CheckMate Laser system laser source?
1,500-3000 hours. Our Class I, small format, low wattage laser systems have laser tubes that have a lifespan of approximately 1 year, while our Class IV, open, large format, high wattage laser systems have laser tubes that have a lifespan of approximately 2 years. CheckMate Lasers all use sealed CO2 glass laser tubes that allow us to keep our price point extremely low. The only exception is our 100w & 140w GSI water-cooled laser tube and the 200w, 300w, 400w and 600w laser systems which use Synrad or Rofin water-cooled laser tubes that are VERY expensive compared to our other systems, but in relative terms compared to the "competition" we are thousands of dollars less expensive. Read our Glass vs. Metal article for an honest, non marketing hyped comparison.

Can the laser tube be refilled/recharged?
NO. The beauty of our low cost glass laser tubes, is that they are considered a consumable, averaging about 1-2 year life span. Once depleted a purchase of a new tube and replacement is all that is required. Rest assured the replacement tubes are very affordable, costing from $150+$800 dependent upon the wattage (40 watt - 120 watt), our large format laser tubes are cost slightly more (exception: GSI, Synrad & Rofin laser tubes) but still very inexpensive and affordable. Please inquire with your CheckMate Lasers sales representative.

Is the motion system linear controlled?
YES The CheckMate Lasers line of laser systems uses a highly rigid linear motion system that provides unparalleled strength and durability, with outstanding letter quality, and best of all... very little maintenance. A software comparison would be AutoCAD (linear) vs CorelDRAW (steps) in creating a "True" circle or "Simulated" circle.

• AutoCad creates a true circle ("True" via circular & linear interpolation)
• CorelDRAW creates many tiny lines to simulate a circle ("Simulated" via steps)

What other components are required to operate a CheckMate Laser system?
Although not much is needed to operate the laser the following three components & two software applications are a necessity. You may already have the necessary components in place.

1. Exhaust Blower ... One with sufficient CFM, at least 500 or more. The more CFM the better. This is what exhausts the vaporized material and fumes outdoors that the laser beam creates as it laser engraves and/or cuts.
2. Compressor ... Such as air-brush type to attach to the standard air assist on the CheckMate Lasers line of systems.
3. 32-Bit Windows-based Computer ... Any computer system built in the previous 4-5 years is more than sufficient to operate CheckMate Laser systems. We only recommend to install as much RAM memory that your computer will support.
4. 32-Bit Windows Operating System ... Necessary to run your vector based application in order to send jobs to the laser system. We highly recommend Windows XP or 7, and DISCOURAGE Vista!
5. CorelDRAW! v11 thru vX5 ... CorelDRAW is very easy to learn, an industry standard and fully supported by CheckMate Lasers.

What is the max. acrylic thickness than can be cut through?
Depending on model up to 1" With multiple engineers we have developed a most efficient control of the lens assembly in our CheckMate Laser systems. Following are examples of what our various wattage lasers can cut through in a single pass successfully.

• 40 watts ... 1/4" (quarter inch) thick acrylic
• 50-60 watts ... 1/2" (half inch) thick acrylic
• 80 watts ... 3/4" (three quarter inch) thick acrylic
• 100-120 watts ... 1" (one inch) thick acrylic

Can CheckMate Laser systems engrave or cut unprocessed (non-anodized) metal?
NO. Unfortunately without HIGH wattage units (400+ watts) no CO₂ laser will engrave or cut into raw metals. CO₂ lasers use a wave frequency that allows the lasering of virtually any material (see below) with the exception of raw metals. Only anodized aluminum or coated metals can be engraved by CO₂ lasers. Two third party solutions on the market; Cerdec and Thermark, when used properly generates a chemical reaction crystallizes their "paste" which creates solid black image on uncoated metals. This procedure when done correctly is extremely durable and under testing has withstood military testing, outer space application, lubricants, salt water spray, high heat and abrasion tests.

To date marks have been made on: Aluminum Brass Chromed Steel Copper Lead-coated Steel Stainless Steel Tin Titanium Tungsten Carbide

The solution is also expected to work on: Carbide Gold Niobium Palladium Pewter Platinum Silver Tantalum

What materials can be processed by CO₂ laser?
Virtually any materials except unprocessed metals (see above) and substances that are too heat sensitive, such as foam. Other than that the materials the CheckMate Laser systems can etch into and/or vector cut are nearly limitless. Definitely this list is not all inclusive but here is a brief list of materials that have been proven to work well (you may come up with more).

Acrylic Anodized Aluminum Carbide Ceramic Substrates Cloth Coated Metals Composites Delrin Fabrics Fiberglass Foam

Glass Kevlar Laminated Plastics Leather Marble Masonite Matte Board Melamine Mylar Nylon Paper

Painted Metals Plastics Polycarbonate Polyester Pressboard Rubber Silicon Stone Styrene Veneer Wood