Using the Thunder Laser Nova 24 in Your Business

If you catch me often on Facebook Live, you know that I had been waiting for my Thunder Laser Nova 24 for quite some time now. I was so excited for it to arrive and, when it did, I was not disappointed. There was a bit of a learning curve as it is much different than my Glowforge but I’m so excited to start using this laser machine. Today, I’m going to discuss the Thunder Laser and its great features. It would be a great laser machine for a growing business.

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Specifications of the Thunder Laser Nova 24

The Thunder Laser features a 60W laser tube with a 5-7 PSI air pump. One of the great things about the Thunder Laser is its sizable working area. It features an engraving/working area of 23.6” x 15.7” x 6.1” and a passthrough window that allows larger cuts. This means you could cut a door hanger up to 20” very quickly.

Weighing in right at 500 pounds, and the machine itself measuring 57.1″ x 31.9″ x 26″, the Thunder Laser Nova 24 requires a little more space than the average craft room allows. I have mine tucked away in the corner of my garage for the time being.

The software for the Thunder Laser Nova 24 is called LightBurn. With the purchase of a laser, the software is included for two computers. You can easily import any graphics file that you would get from our shop. The software is compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux. In addition to the one hour remote setup training that is included, there’s also an optional four hour training available. This will teach you how to use your new machine and its software.

What I Love About this Laser Machine for a Growing Business

There are several things that make the Thunder Laser Nova 24 a great laser machine for a growing business. With a much faster engraving and cutting time than my Glowforge Pro, you are able to cut items out more quickly if you often find yourself cutting in bulk. The Air Assist that is included also makes for clean laser marks with almost zero scorching. The Thunder Laser machine itself is a very durable machine with high quality parts.

The LightBurn software is very robust. It does take a little bit of time to learn due to its complexity but it makes the tasks you are able to complete endless. If you’re having issues with the software or need some training, customer service has always been great. I’ve had them even help me when I initially got my Thunder Laser and I can’t say enough great things about them!

Important Things to Consider About this Laser Machine

I know that the decision to purchase a laser machine for your business is a very important financial one. I wouldn’t want to mislead you in anyway. That’s why I also want to briefly discuss some of the cons of this laser cutting machine. The larger machine requires a larger workspace. As I mentioned earlier, my Thunder Laser Nova 24 is placed in my garage for the time being. It isn’t something I could just add to the craft room in my home.

While the cutting is much faster on this laser machine, you still have to use the passthrough slot to cut a 20”x20” door hanger which takes some extra steps. There is an optional camera system that you can purchase for the laser machine that will show the cutting bed in your software. This helps to be sure that the design is lined up on the material you are cutting. This camera system is an additional $400 if you choose to purchase it. This is something to consider when seeing if this laser machine fits your needs and your budget.

Is Your Business Growing and You Need a Laser Cutter to Keep Up with Demand?

If your business is quickly growing and you find yourself cutting many pieces a day, then the Thunder Laser Nova 24 sounds like it might be a great investment machine for you! Before you decide to make that plunge, I would encourage you to ask yourself if you are an individual who can learn new things or has a desire to as there is a learning curve. If you say yes to that, and you have a large enough workspace to house your machine I think it’s a great option!

If you’re looking for a machine that allows you to do even more, then Thunder Laser has a Nova 35 ($9100; engraving area 35.4” x 23.6”). That engraving area would allow someone to cut a full size door hanger in one cut without using a pass through window. You could even possibly cut two door hangers at one time if they were 17” x 20” each.

It’s so exciting to see your business grow and new materials needed to meet the increasing demand. I hope that this brief overview is beneficial to you when you decide to purchase a great laser machine for your growing business.  If you’re ready to purchase a laser machine, but aren’t quite ready for the Thunder Laser I encourage you to check out my blog. I have a post on the Glowforge Pro, another laser cutting machine that is less complex but still powerful.