PiBurner of the week: Robert Kofoed

Stan Altshuller

Oct 6, 2022

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Let's celebrate our PiBurner of the week!

Robert Kofoed

Owner at

Computer Creations

YouTube Channel

It's truly an honor to welcome Robert Kofoed to our growing ranks of PiBurners!

📅 UPDATE 2/18/2023

Robert was chosen as a Beta Tester for the PiBurn in the fall of 2022. He has led the adoption of the new PiBurn Grip Chuck rotary for the Thunder laser community. Many Thunder laser owners followed his lead and the results have been exceptional!

Check out his tutorial on miniature bats using his Thunder and PiBurn Grip:

He is also working on a few other projects that he shared with our PiBurn community:

About Robert

Robert is a legend in the Thunder community and really needs no introduction. If you have a Thunder laser or watch YouTube videos about lasers, you likely know and follow Robert's channel, just like his more than 17,000 subscribers.

Robert is the Owner/Operator of Computer Creations, a company he established over 20 years ago in 2000. He lives in Fallon, Nevada with his beautiful bride of 42 years, Hope.

They have one daughter/son-in-law and 3 wonderful grandchildren.

He is no stranger to hustling hard, and knows how to build and grow a business. From a side hustle to a full-time retirement occupation, Robert kept a keen eye out for opportunity, didn't hesitate to pivot when needed, and kept looking for growth.

"I've owned and operated a business of some kind since 1981 (began as a side hustle). When Computer Creations was born back in 2000, we were running an on-site photography business.

In 2010 we pivoted into custom wood products and at the start of 2020 after I retired from a 40-year career with a local electric utility, I took my custom wood products full time and added lasers to be able to offer a much wider range of products."

Personal Background and Pursuits

Robert is an avid outdoorsman who loves to hunt, fish, and be outdoors with family -- an opportunity readily available in and around his hometown.

What else inspires him? Public speaking!

"Speaking to large crowds was one of my favorite things to do in my corporate job and I do miss it!"

But now, he reaches thousands of people through his content -- an audience much larger than even his old corporate job.

"Training others is one of my passions -- one reason I started my YouTube channel Computer Creationz."

"I love to have complete control of the creative process, from conception, design and production. That's what I love about the laser business! 90% of our business is custom. Working with clients to get that design just right is very rewarding to me."

Creating beautiful gifts for people is some of the most rewarding work our PiBurners talk about.

Laser Journey: Thunder Laser and PiBurn

Right after he retired, Robert ordered a 10 watt diode laser. We all have to start somewhere!

"Took me months to totally figure the diode laser out. At the time there was little content on YouTube to help. I started using Lightburn at the end of 2019. Once I got the diode figured out, I was hooked. It created beautiful stuff, but it was way too slow for any production work."

We hear this so often! Makers seem to outgrow the tools they start out with, but they always credit these tools for getting the journey started. You might call it the gateway laser!

"It was at that time that I had to have a conversation with my wife that I dreaded. We just spent $1,200 on a diode laser setup, and it wasn't going to work the way I wanted it to.

Keep in mind I just retired, and income numbers were up in the air. After many agonizing hours of worry we decided to order a Thunder Nova 24-60 watt CO2 laser (best decision we ever made). This by far was the biggest purchase we had made as a business."

"Fast forward to today, sold the Nova 24-60 watt laser and upgraded to a Thunder Nova 35-100 watt, purchased a 60 watt JPT Mopa fiber laser, business is better than it's ever been."

YouTube Channel "Computer Creationz"

Robert's YouTube channel is not to be missed. His love for teaching shines through in his content and the depth and breadth of topics are excellent.

"Since I love to train, I share YouTube videos on Lightburn, laser operations, and projects. I'm proud to say that since early 2020 my YouTube channel Computer Creationz has grown to 17,100 subscribers and averages well over 6,000 hours of watch time every month. My goal is to reach 20,000 subscribers by year end."

Here's an example from his channel that can help you reduce your engraving time by 50%:

Robert's Business Today

Robert's business thrives on custom orders from clients who discover his products online. He works across a wide range of items:

"Mostly custom orders for all different types of tumblers, growlers, glassware, dog bowls. Unique custom wood products from 100% solid hardwood to Baltic birch projects. Projects from my fiber laser such as leatherette engraving, leather work, slate memorials, custom coins, knife and axe engraving -- if it can be lasered by a CO2 or fiber laser I'm up for it!"

"Most unique custom project this year was a solid cherry horse measuring tool for measuring how high a horse stands. I had an example that the customer provided that was made in the early 1900's."

PiBurn Discovery

When we received an order from Robert, we already knew about him and his excellent reputation in the laser community. You can imagine how thrilled we were to build his first PiBurn.

"I ordered my PiBurn in March of 2022, I was looking for other rotary options. I love the ease of use of my PiBurn v4 and use it several times a week. The flexibility and the direction of LensDigital is very appealing to me. They have some very progressive additions coming up that will further the use of their rotary on many items that are difficult to manage in a roller style rotary."

What Inspires Robert

Taking a thought or idea and turning it into a product for a client.
Taking an idea from a client and delivering something greater than they expected.
Working with someone who is struggling with Lightburn or a project and giving them the knowledge and skills to grow their ability as a laser business owner.

There is nothing more rewarding than to see the reaction from someone when they realize that they can do this!

Favorite Projects

Robert loves engraving custom sports bottles for sports teams with his PiBurn, anything unique that nobody else is doing like custom coins, and teaching someone who's about to give up on their laser because they think it's too intimidating -- especially when you help them succeed!

Advice for People Starting Out

"Do what YOU want, not what everyone else is creating. Be patient -- growing a large client base doesn't happen overnight. Always under promise and over deliver. Always provide more than your customer is expecting. The only thing standing between you and every other laser owner is your uniqueness and being able to stand out to your customers by producing exceptional quality products and superior customer service."