Cool video and that's a big laser. Try isopropyl alcohol to wipe the soot off your wood, it works pretty well. And when it dries you never know it was on there.
Not worth repairing the older laser. Probably broke down again in two months. I would just purchase a new laser like you did. Works out more economically better with larger bed (more efficient)
$ 12,000.00 ÷ 1500 boxes = $ 8.00 cost per box, is that correct? Ouch! I guess we can't say that machine doesn't owe you any money. I hope the new machine is of much better quality and not just bigger piece of #!%@! Got to give you credit though, your not afraid to bring us the good, bad and the ugly. Keep on keeping on.