RickLaser

I am self-taught. At 14 years old, I saved up the spare change my father gave me to buy used physics books. I conducted physics, chemistry, and electronics experiments in my garage. I entered university to study physics in 1982. In 1983, I stopped attending classes and stayed in the university's laser lab, where I began studying CO² and Nd:YAG lasers. In 1983, I designed, manufactured the components, and assembled my first functional CO² laser. I spent 8 years in the university's laser lab, and I don't regret not having a degree at all; quite the opposite. I opened a small laser lab company where I designed and assembled small laser systems for industry. In 2000, I started designing CO² laser cutting and engraving machines and Nd:YAG lasers for engraving, and the machines were assembled in China according to my specifications and sold. Today, at 67 years old and retired, I have a small business providing laser engraving and cutting services from my home, using two fiber laser engraving and cutting machines and one CO² laser machine that I assembled myself.