Sometimes the $2,000 laser that just barely works is the better deal.
Explicit ![[LS177] Kickstarter Beasts and the Monport Reno](https://podcast.makearmy.io/media/podcasts/LaserSource/cover_medium.webp)
S04:E27
The guys dive into one of the wildest “why does this even exist?” releases yet — a massive 4×8-foot hybrid diode/CNC machine from ER that’s equal parts intriguing and absurd. They break down why multi-purpose machines rarely excel at any one task, how scale turns convenience into chaos, and what kind of maker could actually use something that big. That leads into a grounded comparison with the new Monport Reno 65 W CO₂ laser Alex just uncrated - a reminder that sometimes “simple and fixable” beats “feature-stuffed and fragile.” Along the way: real-world CO₂ vs diode fire safety, frame rigidity, Kickstarter red flags, and a few laughs about girthy gear, winches, and cabinet engraving no one asked for.
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![[LS177] Kickstarter Beasts and the Monport Reno](https://podcast.makearmy.io/media/podcasts/LaserSource/cover_thumbnail.webp)