Common questions.
Tips, answers and the things people ask us most.
How loud is a laser cutter?
The laser itself is nearly silent. You'll hear the motors moving and the exhaust fan, which sounds similar to a household vacuum.
What file formats does the software support?
Most standard vector formats (DXF, AI, PLT and more) and bitmap formats (BMP, JPG, GIF, PNG and more).
Are laser cutters and engravers hazardous?
They are low-risk machines when used correctly. Keep the door closed, wear the right safety glasses and ventilate the fumes. Never cut PVC or materials that release toxic gases.
How hard is it to learn to operate a laser?
Most people are running jobs after a short training session. We train every customer and are available for questions afterward.
What is SparkWarranty?
SparkWarranty is our own warranty. It covers every aspect of your machine for a set period, in parallel with the manufacturer's warranty, and can be extended.
How does a laser cutter work?
A laser source, such as a sealed CO₂ tube or a fiber laser, generates a beam that is steered to a lens and focused to a tiny spot. That concentrated energy melts or vaporizes the material to cut, engrave or mark it.
Do you build custom machines?
Yes. Custom automation is our main business: laser cutting, welding, micro-machining and marking cells, maglev handling, vision and precision motion, designed and built in Richmond, BC.
Are your machines certified?
Our custom machines are built for UL and cUL certification, with CSA available on request.
Do you use AI in your machines?
Yes, where it pays off. We integrate AI-based vision systems that learn good and bad parts from a few dozen images, AI-assisted robot picking, and inspection that flags defects inline.
Do you build robotic laser welding cells?
Yes. We integrate collaborative and industrial robots with fiber laser welding heads, vision for seam finding and inline inspection, and work with partners across the robotic welding and inspection world.
Have a process that needs a machine that doesn't exist yet?
Tell us what you're making. We'll set up a free 30-minute call with an engineer.
Book a discovery call