Does anyone have any suggestions, here in the UK,

Lasers
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1

Does anyone have any suggestions, here in the UK, for a cheap alternative to the honeycomb cutting bed? Anyone tried mesh etc??

2

I use expanded steel mesh, got it at my local home improvement stor for $10, was large enough to make two grills for the K40

3

that’s arrive flat in a envelope, you just pull on it to unfold. make yurself a frame if you want.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/10mm-thick-cell-6-4mm-Honeycomb-aluminium-beds-Laser-machine-honey-comb-/141759884244?var=&hash=item21018c2bd4:m:mxp2yfJ1CTsxskQNXmPjXCQ

4

Or make yourself a nail bed - simple finishing nails driven into a piece of plywood or MDF. If you have an air or power nailer it’s 10 minutes work.

BTW, nail beds make for great standoffs for when you’re finishing a piece for staining or poly. I use pin nails (23ga) beds I’ve made from 1/4" ply and 1" pins. Pins are great for fastening wood laser material together - in the U.S. you can find a pin nailer for under $30 at the big box home centers or Amazon.

5

I use 10mm magnets and 65mm screws to hold up my 3mm mdfthat i mainly cut ,so far have only needed to make 10 of these to hold my http://work.it all depends on what you are cutting/engraving, if work is thin ie paper than a bed that surports it is needed.however as mdf is very dirty when cutting it a honeycomb bed would get very dirty/covered in the mdf cutting fumes /glue and would neeed cleaning often.i also have a tin removable tray incutting bed that needs cleaning inhot water weekly as sticy gunk builds up from cutting mdf.
The advantages of magnets/screw combos are that i can move them around to suitthe work and that i can quicky change height if i want by useing shorter screws.

6

@Phillip_Conroy The magnet/screw combination is a great idea. Thanks!