Jacco Visser of Shifting Peaks has extensive experience in set and interior design and the world of CNC milling. It was through a FabLab, a public workshop, that he first came into contact with laser technology. It was in Alkmaar, at the Kaasfabriek, that he first became acquainted with laser machines and what they can achieve. There, he started working on smaller items that are simply easier to cut with a laser than with CNC. This was a big difference from working with a milling cutter, which he was used to doing in the past. He immediately decided that, as soon as he had the budget, he would buy a laser machine himself. He chose a BRM laser machine because of its excellent value for money, and in terms of size, the BRM 90130 was the best fit for the objects he most frequently lasers within his industry.
Bought a brand new one!
Before he started using the new BRM machine, a colleague bought a second-hand machine that didn’t perform flawlessly. Jacco worked with it for a year and then decided to buy a brand new one. As far as he’s concerned, no one else should be allowed to use it. Of course, a new one is more expensive than a second-hand one. He values the warranty, but also the fact that it’s new and that he can use it as he sees fit. The new BRM 90130 is working brilliantly and he’s really enjoying using it.
Have it serviced thoroughly from time to time
As a result, there is actually no need for further contact with VROTECH. After an excellent demonstration and a very pleasant chat with Ton Vroon, it took over six months before he could purchase a machine. ‘I’ll just save up a bit,’ he thought, ‘then I can afford it myself and it won’t matter if it sits idle for a while when I’m away.’ He is now considering having a service carried out. Of course, he tries to keep it neat, tidy and clean himself. But there’s always a chance you’ll miss something, and if you keep forgetting, there’s a risk something will break. So it definitely seems worth having it properly serviced periodically, all in one go.
A perfect size for smaller items
When he was working with his colleague’s large open-bed laser, Jacco realised that this machine would be too big for him, as he produces almost exclusively smaller objects. Although longer items certainly fit through the BRM 90130 as well. You then have to mark everything carefully and ensure that the letters run smoothly along the correct line. Of course, with widths greater than 1.30 m, that no longer works with this format. All in all, it involves a lot of marking out and calculating. If he had larger jobs to do, he would sometimes hire a bigger laser machine.
“I actually use the laser machine on all sorts of materials.”
Inspiration from remarkable examples
Shifting Peaks has a Facebook page showcasing all the creations of Jacco Visser. He excels at engraving logos onto all manner of everyday objects. He also applies laser-sharp images to larger items such as mirrors and furniture in inventive ways. Velour on metre-high panels featuring a laser-cut logo is a prime example of this. Inlaying the PME logo with metal was a brilliant experiment. According to Jacco, it’s truly unique, as he’d never seen anything like it before. It was also a lot of work. Certain parts had to be redone three times before they worked out. The end result was beautiful and made all the hard work worthwhile. Making crazy experiments, samples and examples for yourself might seem a bit like a hobby at first. But as soon as people see these things near the laser machine and make the connection, it provides inspiration. It gives them ideas of their own, and a few months later you see a commission coming in from them. That, at least, is his idea behind it. Besides, it’s just really great to work with this machine!
