K40/Chinese CO2 laser cutter/engraver buyer’s guide
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 10 มิ.ย. 2024
- I just got myself a CO2 laser cutter and it was daunting knowing which one to buy. After many hours of research, I present to you this buyer’s guide with a breakdown of what features and specifications to look for when shopping. In this video I am definitely standing on the shoulders of giants, so please check out the links to these wonderful sites below.
One thing I didn’t mention is it makes no difference what colour the outside of the laser is! This is completely arbitrary and tells you nothing about whether a particular machine is good or not.
These machines are definitely for tinkerers and the risks to safety are quite high, so please only consider one of these machines if you are suitably knowledgeable, confident and experienced.
Ray from Cohesion3D was another great resource in preparing this video. He was honest and patient in answering my beginner questions right at the beginning. The Cohesion3D laser board is already fitted and working very well with Lightburn. I look forward to showcasing it with a guide in a future video.
Three of the best sites I found for resources:
K40laser.se: www.k40laser.se
Laser Gods: www.lasergods.com
Don’s Things: donsthings.blogspot.com/
Specific pages referred to in this video:
Control board identification: lasergods.com/controller-dsp-...
Laser tube size guide: www.laserwd.com/article_how-to...
My 80W 1040 machine I ended up with: www.china-cncrouter.com/produ...
RECI W2 laser tube in my machine: www.recilaser.com/en/index.php...
Digital vs analogue panels: lasergods.com/k40-control-pan...
Laser power supply identification: donsthings.blogspot.com/2017/...
Adding Z table to K40: lasergods.com/how-to-mount-yo...
Water cooling recipe: lasergods.com/laser-water-coo...
CW-3000 info: k40laser.se/watercooling/cw30...
Counterfeit chiller guide: lasergods.com/identifying-cou...
K40 Whisperer: www.scorchworks.com/K40whispe...
Air assist before and after: • adding AIR ASSIST to a...
PVC safety warning: lasergods.com/can-i-cut-vinyl...
Ammeter wiring guide: donsthings.blogspot.com/2017/...
LPSU identification: donsthings.blogspot.com/2017/...
Precision potentiometer guide: k40laser.se/diy-how-to/upgrad...
Mirror alignment written guide: k40laser.se/lens-mirrors/mirr...
Mirror alignment video: • Ep6: Laser Beam Mirror...
Buy quality and affordable filament from X3D. Buy 3, get 1 free and a free sample pack with every order: www.x3d.com.au
Take a look around and if you like what you see, please subscribe.
Support me on Patreon: / teachingtech
Also thank you for all of the safety information you included in this video. I know similar to your mains voltage heated bed video it can be time-consuming and tedious to do. But the fact that you do it really says volumes about your concern for the community and your viewers. Great work is always, keep up the good work.
Must say im glad to see you expanding content past just 3d printers, your guides and information is very well researched and effective. I always enjoy them even when I end up going customized installation route 90% of the time.
I've had a lot of fun working with Ray over the years. He's a great guy very passionate and very understanding about answering questions for people. He's been doing it for years and I really don't know how he keeps up with supporting his product on so many different platforms. He's exactly what a maker trying to learn something new needs and is an amazing resource for the community.
I agree he's been very knowledgeable, helpful and patient with me so far. So far his board is great and i'm happy to showcase it.
You consistently put videos up that genuinely save me time, frustration and money. I feel I'm getting way more than the Patreon donations back in savings :)
Very interesting, thank you for posting this. I have just started exploring the world of laser cutters and I greatly appreciate the work you've done and the resources you've posted.
I had no idea I needed a laser cutter until I seen this, keep up the great work Michael you're an inspiration to all us novice makers.
Happy Laser Cutting:)
I heavily appreciate you posting this. Felt very overwhelmed when taking a look at laser cutting.
Great video Michael, I have wanted a laser cutter for a few years now for cutting EVA foam for my cosplay hobby ... that's why I got an Ender 3 in the first place and found your channel. Huge help and it is much less daunting now.
Thanks a ton for this guide, been researching getting one or building my own for a couple months and this info is timely for sure!
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11:20 "Your new laser cutter might attempt to kill you in a number of ways"... I don't know why but I loved that line.
Wow this is BIG!.. You are THE one that can promote laser cutting.. and here you are doing just that! Fantastic!! !! The last few years the maker cult embraced 3D printing as a means to create.. and now finally the perfect addition to the additive fabrication of complex 3d shapes, the subtractive (laser)cutting of planair sheets of plastics with high performance properties (that are not necessarily thermoplastics) is here and has become affordable for most of us... A laser cutter will boost your creativity enormously!!! Thanks for including laser cutting in your videos!!!
Glad I found this channel great videos with just the right amount of info and detail. I got a K40 about 4 months ago, was from an ebay seller that shipped from California. I was very lucky my unit worked perfectly out of the box, I did tighten every cable nut bolt etc etc. 4 things I want to tell people.
1. My exhaust goes into a bathroom vent I installed in my garage, its right behind the unit so vent length is only like 2 feet, I sealed the fan and K40 tightly so air can only come in thru the vents in the front cover and exhaust out the back. If you seal the unit and have a short exhaust run air assist isn't needed. When I print the air flows so quickly over the piece I am working on and out the exhaust the smoke is instantly pulled 90 degrees away from the laser output. Smoke has never gotten close to my mirrors.
2. Cooling. The included pump and bucket idea is horrible, my laser is in the a garage in Nebraska so printing in a garage that in the summer can be 35C will not work, sure you can do the ice cube thing but thats a pain. Perfect solution is a Chili Cube from Chilipad, this company has a chilled mattress pad for you bed that uses Peltier cooling. You can get just the Chili cube on ebay for $75-100 usually. This simply works perfectly for the K40, I insulated the hoses and both ends on the laser tube as best as I could and the results are amazing, plus it look nice and clean. On a hot summer day say 29C in the garage turn on the unit in about 10 mins the K40 is chilled to about 17C and it hold's that temp while printing. Very happy with the results. I do have some RV antifreeze in the water to keep it from freezing in the winter and that works fine also.
3. Check your ground connections and clean them, they clamp the cables to a painted surface, sand to the bare metal and tighten.
4. For now my control board is fine it does everything I ask it to do, I may update to a Cohesion3D LaserBoard but for now I have no reason to.
hope someone finds this info useful
Hi Tim, what do you use to connect to the output of the chili cube? Do you use their drain plugs? It's unclear what fits there, and the company only sells some "drain plugs" for $5 or so. I'm very interested but wonder how to make some hose connection to the cube. thanks
The more watch you channel, the more I love it.
THANK YOU VERYYYY MUCH for sharing your work and your knowledge ;)
Nice, by the looks you found some space to put it :D really looking forward to this series. Bout a k40 a year ago and moded the hell out of it. But as there is always something to learn I'm quite excited for your videos ;)
Yeah! Im in the process off buying or potentially making a laser cutter. I have followed Further fabrication`s videos off his diy laser cutter and i am keen on making one like his. But as he says he is not that good with electronics, so i am so happy that you are also making videos on this subject! This is awesome!
Professional production. Your videos are always a great resource.
Amazingly good and comprehensive buyers guide. Thank you.
The Cohesion 3D board and Lightburn software is absolutely the way to go. The board is an easy swap and the software is so powerful and easy to use. I reached the same conclusion when I bought my K40 last year.
I don't think I'll buy the Cohesion 3D board. It costs 200 USD and I can buy the AWC 780Plus controller for the same cost which is like the Ruida controller directly from Taobao. It will work with lightburn software as well.
I've been interested in wanting to get myself a laser cutter. Having no experience with it, I went down the rabbit hole and watched this video. I think I just got an aneurism. Lol. Wow. I genuinely thought the idea of it all was a more plug and play style. Very in-depth. I'm still interested but now I know I have a hell of a lot more research to do. Thanks Michael. 🙂
Your video helped me a lot, thank you!
There are so many considerations I had no idea I should keep in mind.
Michael - Pro tip on removing paper backing on just about anything. Use your heat gun or even a hair dryer. Just need to get that glue warmed up and it peels off easy. Once you get it started use the heat and slowly peel it off. I went decades without knowing this trick and now I can remove just about any sticker off anything without much trouble. Give it a go!
Oh, and awesome video I've been eyeing one of these for a while now and your video will be super helpful in my purchase!
I wish our car mechanic knew to warm up the adhesive before he ripped of the tape I used to hold the wing mirror on after it was hit in a carpark. He took the paint off the door as he ripped the tape.
Nicely done had someone ask me about my thoughts on my k40, gave my opinion but also recommended your vid.
Outstanding Michael, thanks for this.
I had one of these off eBay, probably just the cheapest I could find.
It took a lot of tinkering to get the settings right but it was worth it.
It's really satisfying to cut things so precisely.
Another excellent video, thank you Michael.
About to buy a 1060 and this will be some amazing information soon, thank you!
I had the privilege to work with a large epiloglaser laser engraver in my old job, was incredible. One of my work mates gave himself a Laser tattoo, hint, not a good idea lol
K40 Whisperer has been a godsend for me & my K40.
Thanks so much for presenting some caveats that I had no idea about.
Nice info fella well executed & extremely helpful for the people who are looking for a new machine brilliantly delivered thanks 🙏 for sharing your knowledge.
Great video with lots of useful information, thank you!
@ roughly 40 inches x 15 inches thats a nice amount of working space. Very interesting. Thanks for posting this!
Great Video, already want a part 2 and presuming part 3
Outstanding effort, great information. Looking forward go the upgrades.
Thanks for posting this. I have been to that point...bombarded with tons of different ones from different places. Thanks to your vid, I will hold off a while longer, get a cheap offline one for what I want to do and .....wait👍
I bought a K40 laser off an local auction and appeared new. It test fired but I haven't gone any further yet. I'll be watching your videos as a reference for when I get into using it.
I'd highly recommend adding the ammeter if you haven't already. Too many stories about people unknowingly running them too high and killing the tube prematurely.
Great video thanks Michael, I am looking at getting a K40 but I want to be able to use lightburn. A lot of information to research!
Ok, you convinced me, I'm making my own.
Hahaha, exactly!
Thanks for the video. Can we get a price breakdown? The sellers website isn't much help.
I was feeling anxious about working with my new OMTECH laser. But, after watching your video, I am actually scared to get started. Lol! Great video. Excellent warnings and caveats.
There are lots of dodgy eye protection glasses on the net, purchase from a reputable dealer and remember you can't put a price on your eyes
Yep agree. One of the k40 laser guys I saw vids on had a great warning label on his cutter. "Do not look into laser beam with your remaining good eye"
i run lasers for a living, as long as your protective screens are made of plexi ( not acrylic) you will be safe. our main machine we run is a trumpf l7040 - 4000w of power and 5axis
for better ventilation move vent motor to the end outside and let it suck it out, it will work better.
@@dygonproductions7062 Plexiglass is acrylic. Maybe you mean Polycarbonate? What is clear, to us, is not to certain optical wavelengths. Which you certainly know, but I figure the rest might like the info. But the glasses need to be rated for the wavelengths too. UV could blast through a IR rated set. Vice versa. Know your energies.
So plexi glass is the trade name for cast acrylic. I run lasers as well for a living, and also worked a plastics fabrication company for several years. Just an FYI.
Awesome advice and guidance Michael
Had my K40 for 5 years, cost £280 plus i spent another £120 on it for minor upgrades. Still going strong :)
Are you able to cut quarter inch acrylic with yours? Will it cut clear cast acrylic? Thank you!
@@justinmurphy2227 You can cut that thick but it will take multiple passes and won't be a true flat cut, since the laser has a focus point then tapers off again. I do 5mm acrylics (fifth of an inch) at 5mm per second.
The above is with two passes.
Hi
This video was very helpful. There is a company that sells Chinese lasers, it is more expensive, but it assembles and verifies it with 2 years warranty. So I will buy from here in Romania.
Thank you, I wish you all the best.
Useful info. A summary of the necessary upgrades and costs thereof would complete the story.
Hey michael nice to see you getting into lasers, You should need nowhere need 20+ma to cut! When i first started i thought i needed it aswell but that means something is out of focus or your lens is dirty.
I now cut through 3mm plywood at 10ma sometimes even 5ma if i go slow enough. The lower you keep your laser power the longer it will last you. Rule of thumb is pretty much never need to go over 10ma.
good luck with your upgrades! :)
I think for a k40 10ma is very reasonable but for my 80 (90?) Watt tube it's barely scratching the potential. I agree on the life but I'm already running it 3ma under the safe level from the manufacturer.
Your videos quality is exaggerated. That is why I love your channel
Thank you very much for this video!
great bit of info, thanks Michael.
I am really looking forward to the future videos about this. I really would like to get myself a laser too but I am worried about the safety a lot.
Thanks for the video. I am considering getting a laser cutter. This video helps me understand this will take a good amount of research. Lots of options, a big spectrum of vendors. Lots of potential need for tinkering. As you said, similar to my Creality CR10S which has had its share of upgrades.
Dave.
Hi, this is Sophia from JINAN,China. We are manufacturer of cnc routers with high quality and good price.
whatsapp:+ 86 13539465576
Web:www.sequoyatec.com
Thanks a lot for this video. This is what I needed to see. The amount of work needed to balance out the shoddy workmanship, along with the very real safety concerns makes this a bridge too far for me. I thought I'd be able to buy a cheap laser cutter for my classroom instead of investing in a Glowforge, but it's definitely worth waiting to get that safety and reliability.
I hear that Dremel is worth checking into👍
Great guide Michael. Thanks for covering all the details, especially safety. Maybe worth mentioning a little about safety considerations when cutting certain materials, and what materials not to cut.
In time I'd like to return to this topic once I have more experience.
@@TeachingTech So.... it could be said you're going to do some cutting edge research? 😎 All the best.
Great video. I'm doing diode lasering. I want a k40 style but the market is a bit overwhelming. This helps.
Excellent video, thank you!
This has been most informative to me...and kinda squashed my dreams of ever being able to laser mark my guns with custom designs :(
Man this stuff just looks like a minefield of problems! No "plug & play". This was very helpful as I have been looking at getting in to laser engraving. Having looked at MANY other sources the only thing I can bring to this party is that the USB cables provided with laser engravers often have to be replaced. ? All that tech and it bombs because they over cheaped on a cable. Thanks for the info which at least helped to focus on the important specs of these machines
Interesting printer
Thanks for sharing👍😀
Greetings from across the ditch...Excellent video...I am going to buy a machine soon, however the choices are mind boggling...I found your video very informative and have downloaded it so ai can watch it again and again...You have a new Subscriber...Thank you for an informative video without all the glitz and glamour of some of the American videos...Brrr, I hate them, they have good information on some of them but are very hard to listen to...Thanks Michael, great effort, I will watch some more of yours...
I would love a walkthrough for a full alignment for this laser, I have this one, and i've gotten pretty close to where it needs to be but still having issues with it being slightly off in different spots. Or even better, mirror mount upgrades would be great!
Great stuff Michael, I'm toying with the idea of getting a laser but not for a while. Lots of good info here and I'll check back when I get closer. Cheers, JAYTEE
Every time I do something new (like buy a chinese laser cutter recently) you've already got my back with informative vids, thanks!
Is there more explanation of what you did to the door safety switch wiring to make it only turn off the laser, not the controller?
With so many mods and fixs, its almost like a kit. Very nice video with so many references and resources. By the way how much was the final cost of this system?
Hay, I just saw my K40 on your video. You know, The dodgy one you showed. I ended up purchasing a 305x305 mm "Certified" WIN-002 CO2 10,600nm laser safety window plus a pair of EP17 laser glasses. I was unsure if my K40 was a clone or not, thus having an inferior viewing port, ( among other things ). The glasses also help protect my eyes when using my Diode cutters.
I've thrown a Mini "Gerbil" 2 Axis Controller which is made right here in Australia. So it gives me instant axis to Lightburn. Good vid
I have a question. How do you know the power level that you needed? I just bought a K40 and am basically setting it up following your guide instead of trying to chase the info down as to what is needed and how to operate it safely within specs.
BTW: That being said: I really appreciate your channel and all the work you put into it. Always informative and the information is trustworthy. I REALLY appreciate the printer calibration page you set up. I've set up 5 machines from scratch from various manufacturers and FWs and it just works every time. I've sent lots of newbies there instead of trying to explain how to set up a machine LOL It's GREAT to have all that info in one place
Perfect timing !
Thanks for the video man.
Where do you guys store them? In a garage?
I live in apartment and need laser at least 16x16 working area. Is it possible to find one?
outstanding job...
Great video thanks.
Make sure whatever you're using for coolant is anti-algae and non-corrosive. you don't want any growth nor do want your coolant eating away the metal pipes in your cooling system. If you live in a really cold place you'll also need anti-freeze or your tube will burst. if you live in a hot place you'll need refrigerated cooling. in this case units like the CW-3000 only blow air on a radiator. the CW-5000 refrigerates the coolant, but it's super expensive and not worth the price. I live in Australia and the summer heat can get as high as 47deg C or 116 deg F, the solution that worked for me was getting an aquarium chiller like the Heilea HC100A that can chill 100 litres of water, low noise and way cheaper than the CW-5000
thank you for this
Hey mate, I've read a lot about PSI vs l/min for air compressors for air assist. What model compressor worked best/quietest for you?
Hey Teaching Tech, very informative video! I was wondering if you may ever review the Tevo Tarantula Pro possibly against the Creality Ender 3/3 pro
If one comes my way it would be a natural comparison.
Thank you for the indepth laser info! Quick question: u don't want to use a tube extension for a 90w tube so if I were to just to run the tube along the back longest side and add an extra mirror..is there draw baCk to doing so? Thanks again
I think you should've asked the seller to replace this control board for you even though you'll use something else at some point.
Hi, thanks for the detailed review. I only want to engrave leather. Would this machine be overkill? Do you know what kind of output power is required just for leather? Thank you
Good video. I wish you would have come up with a way to mount the mirror system on to the MPCNC. I have the regular one, not the Lowrider. I want to work from home make model railroad buildings. The CNC machine can cut the pieces but the laser would be great too. If you figure it out while tinkering, please let me know. Hooray.
Oooooh, did you get a new lens Michael? the intro shot looks sharper with a more defined foreground and background.
I changed the focus more on the camera to hopefully stop the annoying focus fluctuations. Maybe a bit brighter lighting too since there were no large printers in the foreground.
lots of great info.
Bro you basically saved many lifes here now :D I don`t know if you realize that or no :D And thanks of course I am about to by 40w machine and I didnt have any idea of what I am going to buy..
Nice video from... Your voice sounds different than the footage voice.
Nice guy..
I bought a 7050 60 Watt (The red and black one you showed) about 4 months ago and have loved it! I use mine to etch in anodized aluminum and it is pretty flawless. Interested in the analog amp meter, think I will look at putting one in. LightBurn is AWESOME, I tried several other softwares before settling on it and have been very happy with it.
Can you cut metal with these machenes? 🤔
@@aurimasandrijauskas2172 No
I started with that little pump, and ended up getting a much, much bigger one, it does seem to be the more air assist the better, but a poor tubing setup can really affect the flow.
Great info thanks, are you still satisfied with your lazer?
I watched your mpcnc lowrider videos and they were really helpful in building mine thanx alot.
I was intending to use it as a laser cutter by combining two 20w laser with a cube lense but that seams to be unuseful idea.
So, do you think I can use a co2 laser with the mpcnc lowrider machine?
Thank you
Great video! I would love to get a laser cutter.
Hi, this is Sophia from JINAN,China. We are manufacturer of cnc routers with high quality and good price.
whatsapp:+ 86 13539465576
Web:www.sequoyatec.com
As for the safety advice, unplugging from the wall is something that I don’t advise as it separates the cutter from the ground. I made the unfortunate mistake while changing the laser tube in a k40 of unplugging the cutter from the wall, thinking it would enhance my safety. When I cut the red wire to the laser tube to replace it, it shocked me like I’d never been shocked before from the charge remaining in the power supply.
you have 2 things. keep the ground connected can help, but you need to check that the ground is still connected when the switch is off. Like with any power supply, what you need is to give it a chance to discharge its capacitors. 2 ways: let it be for a DAY or 2. (no guarantee, but pretty good), and/or use a "chicken stick". google "chicken stick discharge" as the keywords. Basically you want to go poke at any high voltage wire with a "stick" that has a path to ground. Force grounding the leftover voltage in the power supply.
@@TerryFrenchy Most of these lasers should have a disconnect plug. It looks like a giant plastic connector on the red wire. When changing tubes unplug that part before cutting the wire.
You can peel off protective backing more easily by using a strong piece of duct tape on the corner.
@3:30, You might rethink how your arrange slides like this in the future. You change the orientation of the related items and that could confuse someone.
hi,
i need to know if can cut glue trough of back glass 8 and other models of any of this machine ( cheapest way if possible) have you try that or can you try and advice
I think this has convinced me to buy my laser from a local business that specialises in such things. They do delivery, installation, set up training and maintenance (optional) and everything is included upto the coolerr etc. They will supply a filter but as an optional extra. The downside it the cost which is £2995 for a 300 x 500 mm max cut size,. They do sizes up to 900 x 1300 which is 6 K. They are more expensive than alternatives but their machines come with better controllers and free software.and is still cheaper than glowforge. Do you think this a good alternative for people who are not tinkerers?
I have to admit, I was not expecting the CNC focused seller's website to also sell stripper poles.
I wonder if it can be adapted to harden uv resins , to 3d print big flat objects?
Thanks so much for this! I got a solid state laser for my 3D printer and I've been having a blast but I already want to upgrade! I'm stuck between trying to build my own 5.5W solid state laser engraver or buying a CO2 laser cutter. I would build my own CO2 cutter but it seems very difficult to purchase a CO2 laser tube on its own.
I'm trying to do the same thing to my homemade 3d printer. I printed a mount and put a standard spindle that is just not powerful enough. I have a "20 w" laser engraver but its just not powerful enough. I wouldnt mind having that on my 24×24 " printer tho can you suggest a good place to buy a little more powerful laser than those Chinese 20w. And how are you making the file so the printer understands it is using a lazer and not 3d printing
Great video.
I see you linked the machine that you purchased. Is there an importer that you delt with in australia?
It was a guy importing them to sell on gumtree but when I got mine he told me he was stopping his business.
Are these strictly 220VAC or are 120VAC versions available? What is the thickest acrylic it can cut?
welcome to the club K40 :D
Hi Michael -- Like you, I have recently purchased a Chinese laser cutter, in my case it is a 600x400mm unit with motorized Z-axis. I got it from a dealer in California (name withheld) who is really nothing more than a middle-man -- they are useless for information or help.
The unit I got claims to be 100W, with the W2 Reci tube. After I added a ma meter I found that I needed to limit the power to 58% or less to keep it under the suggested 25ma value. It's unfortunate that these machines are designed to easily overdrive the tubes, and without an ammeter (not included) uninformed users will likely burn them out very quickly.
My unit has the Ruida controller, and I am using Lightburn (a great program). Through Lightburn it was easy to make settings in the machine's firmware to limit the power to 58%, no matter what the user requests.
I also designed my own rotary axis, and modified the machine's wiring to allow rapid plug-replacement of the Y-axis motor (with power off of course). BTW I put the rotary design up on Thingiverse, it's available open-source: www.thingiverse.com/thing:3906379.
Many thanks for a great video, and wishing you well -- Neil
Just got hold of a second hand K40. Any advice where to source a replacement laser tube in Melbourne?