The problem
Laser buyers are often asked to compare wattage before determining wavelength, machines before workflow, and sticker prices before total setup cost. Merchant comparisons are useful but inherently partial; community answers are candid but fragmented; broad buying guides rarely model an exact product line or workspace.
The product
BeamBasis connects a normalized machine database to material compatibility, workflow constraints, full-cost planning, transparent comparisons, and eventually standardized tests and owner reliability evidence.
The standard
We state who should buy, who should not, what evidence exists, what is uncertain, what the complete setup may require, and which non-purchase option deserves consideration.
What comes next
The alpha covers current CO₂, diode, fiber, MOPA, infrared, and UV choices across nine brands. Next work expands exact comparisons, validates the finder with experienced operators, and gathers structured owner evidence. Physical testing will be added only with a published protocol and explicit provenance.