The Thunder 51/100 Laser Machine

I am going to be honest here. I was scared when our Thunder Laser 51/100 machine arrived,. Like really scared. I had no idea what to expect and had a ton of anxiety about the learning curve on this machine. It did not help that it was even bigger than I expected. Talk about inimidating! This thing is massive coming off the delivery truck! The crate it comes in is huge.

I remember asking my huband multiple times as the FedEx guy was preparing to get it off his truck…

“Oh my God . What have we done?!”

Seriously. I was so nervous we made a huge mistake because I felt so intimidated by the sheer size. As embarrassing as it is, I couldn’t help but think one false move, one press of the wrong button, one connection out of place, and I would make it spontaneously combust. However, once we got it out of the crate and installed safely in the garage I really couldn’t wait to fire it up. I was so excited to see what it could do.

Training

Don’t get me wrong, I still had a ton of anxiety, but got even more excited to see what it could do. We had already planned ahead and scheduled our FREE one hour training session because I knew I wouldn’t have the courage to fire it up and do anything on my own! Needless to say, all of that anxiety and fear literally melted away within that training and I was honestly up and running my first solo project that night.

I thought it would be a good idea to go over some of the basics of the Thunder Laser machine in hopes that prospective owners can get a feel for how everything is configured and what it looks like up close and personal. Please forgive how dirty my machine is. Since that first one hour training session back in April, this thing has been running almost daily! It is a pure workhorse.

Let’s get into it…

SIZE

Overall Machine: 74.8″ x 55.3″ x 40.9″

Laser Bed: 51.2″ x 35.4″ (1300 x 900 mm)

Display:

Pass Thru:

Access Panel:

Chiller:

Air Compressor:

One thing I have been pleasantly surprised with is realizing how many types of materials can be used in these Thunder laser machines. I knew it would cut and engrave wood, but the possibilities now seem endless. It is a makers dream to have so many different options for potential products!

Here is a list of materials that can be used, but I’ll list some as well below:

MATERIALS

• MDF
• foam
• acrylic
• cardboard
• leather
• rubber
• kraft paper
• vinyl
• glass
• marble
• aluminum

Just Imagine the possibilities!

We have had our Thunder 51/100 for almost 6 months now and it has been working daily since our training session. Some days it’s only running for a couple of hours, but for the most part it’s on for at least 4-5 hours a day. This thing is a pure workhorse. The learning curve was far better than anticipated and once we learned the basics in LightBurn, it has been smooth sailing.

I love everything about the Thunder line, but I especially love that it was “plug in and play”. We are in a lot of online laser forums and other makers complain about how difficult it is getting started with their machines. They have to buy items separately like the chiller and air compressor, but also had to align mirrors. They spend hours, if not days, just getting their lasers ready to work. Not the Thunder. Like I said, we were running our first project within an hour of having it turned on. No tinkering needed. Certainly this is a huge bonus for anyone lacking in “techinical” abilities.

Customer Support

Above all, another huge bonus for investing in a Thunder is their customer service. Hands down it is the BEST in the business. The first week we had the machine, we ran into a small computer issue (user error). My husband emailed Thunder and within 15 minutes we got a response (Brian is FANTASTIC). Then within 45 minutes we were troubleshooting on the phone. Issue was resolved within 47 minutes TOTAL. If that doesn’t impress you, I don’t know what will! I have never heard of that with any other laser company.

Lastly, we never expected this laser business to be a real source of income, yet here we are. Two months after my first sale and I left my job as a recipe developer to persue making full time. This was supposed to be a fun, new hobby for my husband and I to share. However it turned into a real life business that generates a real income.

I am living every maker’s dream!