If you're just getting started I think the Ortur is a great way to go. Learn the basics without overwhelming yourself, then once you're feeling comfortable you can branch out into some of the other tech! :P
The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system th-cam.com/users/postUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 and a lot cheaper to run. The machine was easy to set up. A small point but I thought they'd be a USB cable included to help with the set up but there was none. I've been using it now for a few weeks and it seems like a good product and superior to my previous printers which were all troublesome HP machines.
When it comes to software, it's also worth pointing out which ones rely on online services. I know you said "web based", but not everyone quite gets what that means. Having been screwed by a company going out of business, turning my 3d printer into a brick, I will never buy tools like these that require an online service (as opposed to web-based software served up from the tool, like most routers). For the price of something like the glowforge, I'd want to ensure I could use it for as long as I decide to. Proprietary software (that they eventually stop updating) is another no-no, but at least you can work around that by keeping a frozen PC around for the life of the tool. No way to work around a service requirement, though.
Also, Glowforge seem really greedy and they try to put stuff that should be freely available into their ridiculously expensive "pro" subscription. Do you want to mirror your design? Upgrade to pro, only $50/month!
@@mattiasfagerlund glowforge is anti consumer. They are overpriced and forcing users into monthly subscriptions. Any company that pushes you into a cloud service should be avoided. There are 0 benefits and they are always overpriced. A raspberry pi could run that software so why should you pay them more than the pi EVERY MONTH. PS. these companies tend to use a bunch of open source packages cobbled together which is even more greedy since they are price gouging off of others kindness. If the at least made their own product they could argue they are recovering dev costs but no.
@@derekwright2388 I'm using an old Cricut Expression USB model with "Sure Cuts a lot" $5 software on Etsy. I can cut anything I design. Make sure you look for the correct old version that talks to your model. Not tied to cloud or cartridges.
So helpful! Our Glowforge Pro died after minimal use; it’s not the laser. Ribbon and small circuit board replaced - no luck. We got it in early 2019. Hard to pay $6k and have this happen. This is a great review, and I’m glad I found your channel because we are considering a replacement, and it has been daunting.
Good info, thanks. I built my own laser cutter/engraver using a 15W (optical power) diode laser. The gantry is made using 3D printed parts and 2040 aluminum extrusions. Will need to install an air assist system to improve deep cuts. The only thing missed in this video is discussing how some sellers of diode lasers mislead buyers by specifying the power used by the diode rather than it's actual optical (cutting/engraving) power. As an example, I have another diode laser that is sold as a "15W" laser but actually puts out around 4.5 watts of cutting/engraving power. 15 watts is the amount of power it requires from a power supply.
@@pipedreamer9781 Not sure. I didn't keep track of how much I spent. The laser itself was US$260. I did 3D print all of the plastic parts myself and the engraving/cutting area is larger than the commercial offerings that I looked at. Actually, I could have made it any size I wanted since the only difference would be the length of the aluminum extrusions.
@@Waltkat I wonder why they updated the specs? Did they run out of the components to make the 15W module, or was it really only 10W all along? I emailed them on their website and they said 10W is their strongest laser
Such a great presentation from a great presenter: Comprehensive yet concise overviews, specs and comparisons with clear, easily accessible language and delivery.
Full Spectrum has horrible support. I ordered a new tube and it had a bad seal and filled with coolant, which shorted out my power supply. Took almost a year to get it up and running again (Mailing parts to them and using Google Wallet to pay really) and then it died again. I gave up and went with Rabbit on my second laser and am extremely happy. When I had a problem I was able to get a replacement part in a week. (Not 3 months) We now have 7 Rabbit laser and they all work well. You can have Rabbit come and set up the laser and make sure it work too.
At my local Makerspace we have 3 Thunders and an Epilog. They are quite nice machines. The big thunder we have has like a 3ft × 4.5ft cutting area which seems insane, but one thing we have noticed with it is that the laser's cutting power gets weaker as you move away from the source, so you can't really utilize the full cutting area as easily. That's probably just as issue with such a large laser, so keep that in mind. Still an awesome machine and I love being able to get my hands on that pro grade stuff
Hi Brandon, I have to say, you are the only person that I watch when it comes to laser talk. Though I know nothing of the machines and most of what you speak of is a foreign language to me, I enjoy watching them all the same. With that being said, I am seriously in need of suggestions because I have absolutely no idea what I need to purchase, especially since I have never laid eyes on a laser/engraver in my life. Whichever one I purchase will be going inside my craft room in my house. The room is 25 ft long X 13.5 wide so space is not an issue, however, the entrance to my house is only 34” wide, so it would have to be small enough to go through the entrance. In no particular order, these are the things that I would love to learn to create… Jewelry pieces (namely earrings) from wood, leather, and acrylic. I’d like to be able to cut out the wood to assemble jewelry boxes, shadow boxes, keepsake boxes, small-medium-sized desk organizers, and similar items. I would also like to be able to learn how to make round door signs (at least 15”), 3D layered designs and other wall decorative items. I would love to be able to learn how to engrave on leather and acrylic, books, personalize journals, wallets, and a few other items. I am not new to crafting, just new to laser cutting/engraving. I would greatly appreciate all suggestions that could help me make my final decision as well as any other equipment that could help make things run smoother and of course, the more budget-friendly it is, the better.
Interesting video, thanks for sharing your thoughts on lasers. I'm very surprised you picked Glowforge above all other desktop lasers. Having used both the Glowforge and others, the only benefit to Glowforge is ease of getting started. The native Glowforge software is a bit easier to use, but it is also feature poor. They also hobble the software unless you pay a monthly subscription fee. Other drawbacks include - cleaning the Glowforge is more difficult, and the laser is underpowered for the price. Most importantly, and most hidden from the customer, - their support is weak at best; they are slow to respond to issues, if they ever do; and they don't really sell key replacement parts for wear and tear, instead they want you to ship your machine back and purchase a refurbished device for all but the smallest issues. Oh, and you have to upload your designs to their cloud based service, meaning you can't print if your internet is offline and they can monitor what you print on your machine.
I custom built ours for our small business, but I also have an engineering background and several years experience with 3d printers and motion systems including modifying firmware.. It is a 7W diode that I will be upgrading to 10W soon on a approximately 5 ft x 5 ft frame (about 1400mm squared actual work space). My other half and sister in law do a lot of sewn products for people, and being able to laser cut when you need 50 of the same pattern cut at a time is a huge timesaver. It cost me around $1000 in parts to build plus a lot of time, but even a diode unit that large would be a few thousand dollars minimum. I could have dropped that price by 3d printing more parts instead of using aluminum for 99% of the machine. I recognize that is not a good option for most people though.
Nice video, but your description of co2 vs fiber is completely wrong. You described a galvo vs xy laser. Both co2 and fiber support galvo and xy, depending on its use case.
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this video! I the noobiest noob and I want to begin a creative career using one of these machines. I appreciate the time you took to build your spreadsheet as that was a bullet point on my to-do list. I'd welcome any advice from you and all other makers regarding anything laser and business. (I'm an apartment dweller and would be venting my machine out a window.)
The Ortur Laser Master 2 (both "regular" and Pro) have cases available. 12V Fan incl psu, Vent and flexible exhaust pipe included. Cheapest option I could find that is apartment compatible.
I've used Epilog and Trotec lasers and prefer the Trotec. They are just more... industrial for a lack of a better word. For my home shop I'm thinking of getting a 100w Omtech. Omtech looks to be a great value. I'd really recommend staying away from the devices that lock you into their software; especially if web based (wtf!). Sure they make things easier initially out of the box, but serviceability will be a hassle down the road. Better to tackle that learning curve head on and have more control over your production machines.
I received my first laser a few days ago, the NEJE Master 2s plus. It seems like a solid machine for the money, but still a steep learning curve. So far I rigged up my own pen engraving jig (video coming soon) and had a few successful burns... and a few more not so successful, what I call lessons. You pack a lot of excellent info here. I'll have to watch a couple more times. :)
Hi, I am new to laser cutting. I wanted to get your opinion on which model is best for cutting through 6mm plywood on one pass. Have in mind that the production speed is essential. Also workspace must be big enough for more production.
Good and informative review. Thank you! Just one question.. With CO2-lasers the air assist near or on the nossle is for clearing the smoke and fumes, so the beam is unobstructed for a sharper, better result and the focusing lens gets less wear due to particles sticking to it and burning in. In the video you mention air assist, or lack thereof, on diode lasers, but as a lacking safety feature for putting out fires.. Is the use of air assis that different in the two types? In my experience the air assist can promote the opposite, as it fans any fire, adding more oxygen.
i been looking at laser/engraving machines , for a entry level. but still something that's decent for around $500.00 that can make custom rubber stamps for crafting. i would be very thankful for any information that you can give me. keep up on the great videos.
You can engrave stamp rubber with basically any of the cheap diode laser, but even with the higher powered ones (5 - 7.5W) it will take many, many passes. But if you're ok with e.g. a 50x30mm stamp taking 6-8 hours, get something like the Ortur or NEJE mini with a 20 or 30 W laser (that's electrical power, laser power for those is about 5W). And get Lightburn, its stamp features are rudimentary, but still better than the "none" the included software has.
Everyone seems to think we all run Macs or Windows. It would be nice to specify when you speak about a product that it will run on these different OSs. I retired out of the computer industry and have never used a package like Lightburn. So intuitive and easy to use. The forum there also has a lot of great people, including the developers. RDWorks which comes with the Ruida controllers is Windows based and useless for a Linux user. Lightburn covers the main three, Linux, Windows and Mac, no monthly or yearly fee. Being a Linux user, proprietary software is not even considered. Thanks for the video. First laser was a ss laser for my little cnc machine. Got me hooked, now have one of the 50 watt (lol) China Blue machines since last mid June. Great machine.
I am starting a small laser business and have a 5k budget for a co2 laser. Need recommendations on what model is best. I want to use light burn and need decent speed and rotary capability. Found your content and love the information. I don’t want to purchase something and have to upgrade several months later.
We have a $30k retail trotec and a similar epilog at our maker space and I would rather have my $3k 60w omtech (rebranded shenhui) laser any day, even without considering price. I have used several laser brands at various maker spaces throughout my career and so far the omtech lasers have come out far ahead. I hope this helps someone make an informed decision. Thank you for high quality, informative video.
@@brodybestluck CO2 lasers can't cut metal because the wavelength of IR light that they use is reflected by metal. A desktop fiber laser should be able to cut sheet metal a couple mm thick
@@brodybestluck depends on the metal. Industrial CO2 with O2 assist can do 25mm carbon steel, but going to N2 or air assist or switching to stainless or aluminum will drop that same machine it to 8-12mm. Brass and copper can be downright dangerous to those machines (heck the mirrors are copper, so no wonder). The power levels are so different, not sure where these hobby machines would be.
@@tomv1295Actually, you might be right, it looks Germanic. Try googling "firebrand etymology". The "brand" part comes from the meaning: "a piece of burning or smouldering wood." It seemed fitting to me. Here in Luxembourg we have a habit of mixing French and German words (just like the English language does). Every spring we have a pagan festival called the Buergbrennen (or "village burning" festival) where we burn wooden crosses or castles. This is translated into the French "fête des brandons". Try googling it and you will see in the images tab what I mean.
@@tomv1295 Mr Larousse est d'accord avec moi... brandon nom masculin (francique *brant, tison) 1. Espèce de torche, faite avec de la paille tortillée. 2. Débris enflammé de matière quelconque. 3. Artifice incendiaire spécial, capable de brûler même au contact de l'eau, et employé autrefois dans la marine.
@@ecoworrier Brandon isn't a used French word anymore, if you look it up, the point 4 says it is "Désuet" / "Vieilli" (which literally means obsolete). Although I am Québécois, I am pretty sure it isn't a word even used in Europe either. At best, I would say it may be an "adaptation" just like we have "chevals" and "chevaux" now, while for years "chevals" was denied a French word and was classified purely as slang.
Great video. Thanks for posting it. This might be a silly question, but why is that diode laser don’t have enclosures like the other kinds? Do they not need ventilation too? Thanks again.
Wish I could say I'm a fan of Full Spectrum. Bought a Muse Titan clearly no QA process at Full Spectrum prior to shipping....gantry was even missing several screws and customer service after the sale....good luck! Such a shame for the price they charge right now it's a very expensive and very large paper weight.
This is a great video for "name brands". Don't sell the K40 short. If you don't have $2,500 for a laser cutter just get a K40, Glow forge is way over priced! Inkscape and Whisper is all the software you need(both safe free downloads) to run a K40 laser.
Your videos are the best. Thanks for all your time and effort on them. Question: what parts of a laser (let’s say a diode tier) will need to be replaced on an ongoing basis?
Hmm. I'm thinking of building a larger format laser engraver/cutter but don't need industrial quality for $10k plus. I'll start with a cheap Diode laser source until I get everything dialed in but build it with the intention of upgrading to a CO2 source. should be fun.
You know, when talking about ”Pro” level cutting, we've had good luck with getting used machines through Mitsubishi. 5'x10' cut area, and 4kw will cut up to 1" carbon steel (O2 assist).
I’m exploring the laser and cnc machines and what they can do. I’m a newbie with no knowledge of what they do, what I can do with them or how I can make income to justify the cost. I want to go with my third machine first. I don’t want to buy one only to realize I need a bigger one etc. I also don’t want to buy industrial only to get bored with producing products. I don’t mind spending 20-25K setting up shop with tools that I will need to do the work correctly. I do have a bunch of carpenter tools for rough work but nothing really for finish work. So I will continue my research in what tools I will need to enter into this field. Now having said that, I am impressed so far with the Glowforge Pro Laser Cutter. Will that be my first purchase? I don’t know. I want to check out your other reviews as well as other folks reviews on the different brands. I will also be looking if someone did a video on complete tools to setup a shop needed. This machine sounds pretty simple and that’s good for an old guy like me. If you have any suggestions or links I will check them out. Thank you.
Researching the different brands and models will help you refine what you find valuable in your shop. The size of pieces that you want to work on is a primary driver for the size of the machine itself, as well as the type of materials you wish to alter/change. If you have lots of time, you can cut through fairly lightweight materials with multiple passes. A Glowforge has its drawbacks...for example, the cost of the machine vs what it can do. It must be connected to the internet in order to do any work on it. This is a major drawback in an age of relatively unreliable platforms like Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS. You will notice many services/businesses (that run their businesses via web-based hosting) unable to do anything when these large hosting platforms are down. Will you be happy with a Glowforge? I doubt it. There are countless reviews that talk about how overpriced and underpowered it is. I personally have made the mistake of buying things only to find that they are not utilized and take up valuable room. Choose carefully and watch videos from people that are actually using them and producing products with them, (not merely hawking them to get a commission). With that in mind, here are some roads I have gone down: The Onefinity Journeyman X-50 (haven't got yet) CNC is a great subtractive method for your shop. The Creality (my 1st choice) and Prusa lines of 3D printers are standards ( you can get a lot of free TH-cam training upon, also many service businesses use them). Laser? I'm leaning toward creating my own CO2 because of the size of materials I want to etch as well as cut. Thermoformer? Also going the diy route. I want to make products, not small arts and crafts.
@@innovator777 That makes lots of sense. I want the flexibility to do a wide range of stuff. I have a disabled son in his 30’s who is a computer wizard. He writes programs on a note pad. I got him in the computer world when he was 3. He has an interest in creating things with whatever I set up. I’m not too concerned with how much I need to spend providing I can see money coming in to justify the cost. Something reliable that’s a notch or two above what a hobbyist would use prolly closer to a small business setup. So yes, I will spend a couple of months watching all kinds of videos before dropping cash. Do you have a channel or links that would be to my benefit? Thanks in advance.
Thank you for all of the great information! This video helped me out quite a bit. Please review the Ortur 3! I’m not purchasing it until you review it…just kidding, but it sure would be nice to get your opinion. Thanks again for making these videos!
At 9:19, a screw fell out. That got an eyebrow raise out of me. I was wondering if the whole thing was about to come loose and shoot the laser at the camera.
although i gave a laser (xtool d1)and fdm printer(prusa mini) i still want a cnc, drill press and small lathe to fully complete my shop, and the cnc is in the works😍, looking at the makerdream evo one pro
I want to by a 15w laser cutter for cutting 2mm paper. Do you mean sir it,s enough power to cut ✂️. And the machine should cut 1000 paper per hour. Can I achieve this number per hour. It will be nice sir if you answer me. Thank you 😊
Co2 lasers are even used in plastic surgery to resurface the face, yes they laser the face which regenerates collagen so your skin looks younger, it’s crazy some brilliant person thought of using it on skin.
Hi! Thank you for all these info! But at the end I’m not sure what is the best for me. I need to cut small 2mm Bakelite pieces and also 0.5 mm metal sheets. Can you recommend the best cost/features model, please?
What about cutting or engraving on curved surfaces? Your video showed cutting on a pumpkin. How does the machine keep focus on something that is curved?
which one has a very high resolution? i want to engrave small text on a the case of a chip. speed is not relevant. cheap would be great. thanks for your work!
Loved the review Brandon… what do you recommend as a best desktop Engraver / cutter for Scale Model … it would include cutting plastic sheets (Acrylic/ Styrene) and vinyl stickers/ masking?
Hi I wanted to ask I want to cut acrylic mostly just round the edges of a acrylic sheet and some rectangle cutouts which one of those would do the 17-7/8 in. x 12-7/8 in. x 6-1/8
Which laser is your top pick for 2021?
If you're just getting started I think the Ortur is a great way to go. Learn the basics without overwhelming yourself, then once you're feeling comfortable you can branch out into some of the other tech! :P
Bought a refurbished 50w omtech for 1500. The only regret I have was that my credit card didn't like it
Anything with an open universe, I don't trust closed environments any more. So outur for diode and omtech for co2 for me
Ortur!! This is me first time trying a laser machine, I just love it so much! I made so many great crafts.
Awesome what are you making
The ink tank system appears to be much better than the cartridge system th-cam.com/users/postUgkxciSwynMJ7PnUvvx11rewiu-yFBkZTl53 and a lot cheaper to run. The machine was easy to set up. A small point but I thought they'd be a USB cable included to help with the set up but there was none. I've been using it now for a few weeks and it seems like a good product and superior to my previous printers which were all troublesome HP machines.
When it comes to software, it's also worth pointing out which ones rely on online services. I know you said "web based", but not everyone quite gets what that means. Having been screwed by a company going out of business, turning my 3d printer into a brick, I will never buy tools like these that require an online service (as opposed to web-based software served up from the tool, like most routers). For the price of something like the glowforge, I'd want to ensure I could use it for as long as I decide to.
Proprietary software (that they eventually stop updating) is another no-no, but at least you can work around that by keeping a frozen PC around for the life of the tool. No way to work around a service requirement, though.
Good point
I had this with a cricut mini, they killed off the universe it used and tough luck to anyone who had one
Also, Glowforge seem really greedy and they try to put stuff that should be freely available into their ridiculously expensive "pro" subscription. Do you want to mirror your design? Upgrade to pro, only $50/month!
@@mattiasfagerlund glowforge is anti consumer. They are overpriced and forcing users into monthly subscriptions. Any company that pushes you into a cloud service should be avoided. There are 0 benefits and they are always overpriced. A raspberry pi could run that software so why should you pay them more than the pi EVERY MONTH. PS. these companies tend to use a bunch of open source packages cobbled together which is even more greedy since they are price gouging off of others kindness. If the at least made their own product they could argue they are recovering dev costs but no.
@@derekwright2388 I'm using an old Cricut Expression USB model with "Sure Cuts a lot" $5 software on Etsy. I can cut anything I design. Make sure you look for the correct old version that talks to your model. Not tied to cloud or cartridges.
So helpful! Our Glowforge Pro died after minimal use; it’s not the laser. Ribbon and small circuit board replaced - no luck. We got it in early 2019. Hard to pay $6k and have this happen. This is a great review, and I’m glad I found your channel because we are considering a replacement, and it has been daunting.
Good info, thanks. I built my own laser cutter/engraver using a 15W (optical power) diode laser. The gantry is made using 3D printed parts and 2040 aluminum extrusions. Will need to install an air assist system to improve deep cuts. The only thing missed in this video is discussing how some sellers of diode lasers mislead buyers by specifying the power used by the diode rather than it's actual optical (cutting/engraving) power. As an example, I have another diode laser that is sold as a "15W" laser but actually puts out around 4.5 watts of cutting/engraving power. 15 watts is the amount of power it requires from a power supply.
How much was your build compared to an equivalent pre built purchase?
Which 15 watt module did you use?
@@thebucketmouse I used an NEJE A40640. They've updated their specs and now rate the laser at 10W optical power.
@@pipedreamer9781 Not sure. I didn't keep track of how much I spent. The laser itself was US$260. I did 3D print all of the plastic parts myself and the engraving/cutting area is larger than the commercial offerings that I looked at. Actually, I could have made it any size I wanted since the only difference would be the length of the aluminum extrusions.
@@Waltkat I wonder why they updated the specs? Did they run out of the components to make the 15W module, or was it really only 10W all along? I emailed them on their website and they said 10W is their strongest laser
I've never seen an individual so passionate about lasers. I was helpless to subscribe.
Such a great presentation from a great presenter: Comprehensive yet concise overviews, specs and comparisons with clear, easily accessible language and delivery.
Wonderful video for newbies like myself who are looking to dip their toe into laser cutting.
I am a cnc laser machine setter and this video is very informative well done 👍👍
Amazing breakdown of the categories and thanks for including the most important specs, price, functionality and putting them in categories.
Another amazing episode! You know your stuff Brandon, thanks for sharing. You're a rockstar dude!
Ha, maybe more of the general stuff but not all the crazy experiments you do!
Lets Go Brandon!!😂😂😂
Full Spectrum has horrible support. I ordered a new tube and it had a bad seal and filled with coolant, which shorted out my power supply. Took almost a year to get it up and running again (Mailing parts to them and using Google Wallet to pay really) and then it died again. I gave up and went with Rabbit on my second laser and am extremely happy. When I had a problem I was able to get a replacement part in a week. (Not 3 months) We now have 7 Rabbit laser and they all work well. You can have Rabbit come and set up the laser and make sure it work too.
The video is a great reference. Some aspects of the presentation are absolutely professional.
At my local Makerspace we have 3 Thunders and an Epilog. They are quite nice machines. The big thunder we have has like a 3ft × 4.5ft cutting area which seems insane, but one thing we have noticed with it is that the laser's cutting power gets weaker as you move away from the source, so you can't really utilize the full cutting area as easily. That's probably just as issue with such a large laser, so keep that in mind. Still an awesome machine and I love being able to get my hands on that pro grade stuff
probably needs mirror alignment and/or squaring the x/y axis.
Hi Brandon, I have to say, you are the only person that I watch when it comes to laser talk. Though I know nothing of the machines and most of what you speak of is a foreign language to me, I enjoy watching them all the same. With that being said, I am seriously in need of suggestions because I have absolutely no idea what I need to purchase, especially since I have never laid eyes on a laser/engraver in my life.
Whichever one I purchase will be going inside my craft room in my house. The room is 25 ft long X 13.5 wide so space is not an issue, however, the entrance to my house is only 34” wide, so it would have to be small enough to go through the entrance.
In no particular order, these are the things that I would love to learn to create… Jewelry pieces (namely earrings) from wood, leather, and acrylic. I’d like to be able to cut out the wood to assemble jewelry boxes, shadow boxes, keepsake boxes, small-medium-sized desk organizers, and similar items. I would also like to be able to learn how to make round door signs (at least 15”), 3D layered designs and other wall decorative items.
I would love to be able to learn how to engrave on leather and acrylic, books, personalize journals, wallets, and a few other items. I am not new to crafting, just new to laser cutting/engraving.
I would greatly appreciate all suggestions that could help me make my final decision as well as any other equipment that could help make things run smoother and of course, the more budget-friendly it is, the better.
Interesting video, thanks for sharing your thoughts on lasers. I'm very surprised you picked Glowforge above all other desktop lasers.
Having used both the Glowforge and others, the only benefit to Glowforge is ease of getting started. The native Glowforge software is a bit easier to use, but it is also feature poor. They also hobble the software unless you pay a monthly subscription fee.
Other drawbacks include - cleaning the Glowforge is more difficult, and the laser is underpowered for the price. Most importantly, and most hidden from the customer, - their support is weak at best; they are slow to respond to issues, if they ever do; and they don't really sell key replacement parts for wear and tear, instead they want you to ship your machine back and purchase a refurbished device for all but the smallest issues.
Oh, and you have to upload your designs to their cloud based service, meaning you can't print if your internet is offline and they can monitor what you print on your machine.
I custom built ours for our small business, but I also have an engineering background and several years experience with 3d printers and motion systems including modifying firmware.. It is a 7W diode that I will be upgrading to 10W soon on a approximately 5 ft x 5 ft frame (about 1400mm squared actual work space). My other half and sister in law do a lot of sewn products for people, and being able to laser cut when you need 50 of the same pattern cut at a time is a huge timesaver. It cost me around $1000 in parts to build plus a lot of time, but even a diode unit that large would be a few thousand dollars minimum. I could have dropped that price by 3d printing more parts instead of using aluminum for 99% of the machine.
I recognize that is not a good option for most people though.
Nice video, but your description of co2 vs fiber is completely wrong. You described a galvo vs xy laser. Both co2 and fiber support galvo and xy, depending on its use case.
True, I didn’t want to get into galvo vs gantry to add more confusion vs a general overview. But that will be a good point to call out in the future
Did the unit at 9:20 chuck a screw on the workpiece? What is that?
I'm so glad I stumbled upon this video! I the noobiest noob and I want to begin a creative career using one of these machines. I appreciate the time you took to build your spreadsheet as that was a bullet point on my to-do list.
I'd welcome any advice from you and all other makers regarding anything laser and business. (I'm an apartment dweller and would be venting my machine out a window.)
Glad it helps! If your starting out I would go with a budget diode laser and work your way up with what you need from there.
The Ortur Laser Master 2 (both "regular" and Pro) have cases available. 12V Fan incl psu, Vent and flexible exhaust pipe included.
Cheapest option I could find that is apartment compatible.
Hey Brother, Great video. Appreciate the time you take to make these videos. Incredibly helpful!
I've used Epilog and Trotec lasers and prefer the Trotec. They are just more... industrial for a lack of a better word. For my home shop I'm thinking of getting a 100w Omtech. Omtech looks to be a great value.
I'd really recommend staying away from the devices that lock you into their software; especially if web based (wtf!). Sure they make things easier initially out of the box, but serviceability will be a hassle down the road. Better to tackle that learning curve head on and have more control over your production machines.
100% this. Sealed gantry alone makes for a far longer lasting machine, and the software is significantly better.
I received my first laser a few days ago, the NEJE Master 2s plus. It seems like a solid machine for the money, but still a steep learning curve. So far I rigged up my own pen engraving jig (video coming soon) and had a few successful burns... and a few more not so successful, what I call lessons. You pack a lot of excellent info here. I'll have to watch a couple more times. :)
First time viewer and immediately subscribed. I learned a lot - thank you 👍😎👍
Great introduction to laser brands and systems.
Comprehensive. Great video. Answered a lot of questions.
Hi, I am new to laser cutting. I wanted to get your opinion on which model is best for cutting through 6mm plywood on one pass. Have in mind that the production speed is essential. Also workspace must be big enough for more production.
Good and informative review. Thank you! Just one question.. With CO2-lasers the air assist near or on the nossle is for clearing the smoke and fumes, so the beam is unobstructed for a sharper, better result and the focusing lens gets less wear due to particles sticking to it and burning in. In the video you mention air assist, or lack thereof, on diode lasers, but as a lacking safety feature for putting out fires.. Is the use of air assis that different in the two types? In my experience the air assist can promote the opposite, as it fans any fire, adding more oxygen.
i been looking at laser/engraving machines , for a entry level. but still something that's decent for around $500.00 that can make custom rubber stamps for crafting. i would be very thankful for any information that you can give me. keep up on the great videos.
You can engrave stamp rubber with basically any of the cheap diode laser, but even with the higher powered ones (5 - 7.5W) it will take many, many passes. But if you're ok with e.g. a 50x30mm stamp taking 6-8 hours, get something like the Ortur or NEJE mini with a 20 or 30 W laser (that's electrical power, laser power for those is about 5W). And get Lightburn, its stamp features are rudimentary, but still better than the "none" the included software has.
So much info, great video. Thank you for taking the time to create this amazing summary.
Thank you for your video and your research on several of the lasers
Is there a budget laser that's best for polymer and plastics. Like magazines for guns and grips for guns
Everyone seems to think we all run Macs or Windows. It would be nice to specify when you speak about a product that it will run on these different OSs. I retired out of the computer industry and have never used a package like Lightburn. So intuitive and easy to use. The forum there also has a lot of great people, including the developers. RDWorks which comes with the Ruida controllers is Windows based and useless for a Linux user. Lightburn covers the main three, Linux, Windows and Mac, no monthly or yearly fee. Being a Linux user, proprietary software is not even considered. Thanks for the video. First laser was a ss laser for my little cnc machine. Got me hooked, now have one of the 50 watt (lol) China Blue machines since last mid June. Great machine.
Great video. Gave me all the information I needed to start my research on what I want or what I need for what I want to do. haha
Very cool. Thanks for a great introductory video. It's appreciated.
I am starting a small laser business and have a 5k budget for a co2 laser. Need recommendations on what model is best. I want to use light burn and need decent speed and rotary capability. Found your content and love the information. I don’t want to purchase something and have to upgrade several months later.
Brilliant episode, many thanks for this invaluable information.
Great Video!! All I want to do is engrave plastic light switches. Your recommendation Please.
Great video as always. Quick question.... What is the least expensive model that will actually etch metal?
We have a $30k retail trotec and a similar epilog at our maker space and I would rather have my $3k 60w omtech (rebranded shenhui) laser any day, even without considering price. I have used several laser brands at various maker spaces throughout my career and so far the omtech lasers have come out far ahead. I hope this helps someone make an informed decision. Thank you for high quality, informative video.
Hello what would you recommend for cutting 2-3mm metal with laser? Can a 60w omitech tech do that?
@@brodybestluck CO2 lasers can't cut metal because the wavelength of IR light that they use is reflected by metal. A desktop fiber laser should be able to cut sheet metal a couple mm thick
@@brodybestluck depends on the metal. Industrial CO2 with O2 assist can do 25mm carbon steel, but going to N2 or air assist or switching to stainless or aluminum will drop that same machine it to 8-12mm. Brass and copper can be downright dangerous to those machines (heck the mirrors are copper, so no wonder). The power levels are so different, not sure where these hobby machines would be.
GREAT REVIEW! THANKS FOR SHARING YOUR KNOWLEDGE!
I love the fact that Brandon means burning stuff in French. As in Firebrand or branding cattle. Cool association...😎
I had no clue!
Huuum nope not even close to a french word
@@tomv1295Actually, you might be right, it looks Germanic. Try googling "firebrand etymology". The "brand" part comes from the meaning: "a piece of burning or smouldering wood." It seemed fitting to me.
Here in Luxembourg we have a habit of mixing French and German words (just like the English language does). Every spring we have a pagan festival called the Buergbrennen (or "village burning" festival) where we burn wooden crosses or castles. This is translated into the French "fête des brandons". Try googling it and you will see in the images tab what I mean.
@@tomv1295 Mr Larousse est d'accord avec moi...
brandon
nom masculin
(francique *brant, tison)
1. Espèce de torche, faite avec de la paille tortillée.
2. Débris enflammé de matière quelconque.
3. Artifice incendiaire spécial, capable de brûler même au contact de l'eau, et employé autrefois dans la marine.
@@ecoworrier Brandon isn't a used French word anymore, if you look it up, the point 4 says it is "Désuet" / "Vieilli" (which literally means obsolete). Although I am Québécois, I am pretty sure it isn't a word even used in Europe either. At best, I would say it may be an "adaptation" just like we have "chevals" and "chevaux" now, while for years "chevals" was denied a French word and was classified purely as slang.
Great video. Thanks for posting it. This might be a silly question, but why is that diode laser don’t have enclosures like the other kinds? Do they not need ventilation too? Thanks again.
Fantastic video! Great breakdown of the top performers. Im looking to add to the arsenal and you got me thinking about a fiber laser haha. Nice work!
I have a K40 and I am very happy with it.
Wish I could say I'm a fan of Full Spectrum. Bought a Muse Titan clearly no QA process at Full Spectrum prior to shipping....gantry was even missing several screws and customer service after the sale....good luck! Such a shame for the price they charge right now it's a very expensive and very large paper weight.
This is a great video for "name brands". Don't sell the K40 short. If you don't have $2,500 for a laser cutter just get a K40, Glow forge is way over priced! Inkscape and Whisper is all the software you need(both safe free downloads) to run a K40 laser.
Your videos are the best. Thanks for all your time and effort on them.
Question: what parts of a laser (let’s say a diode tier) will need to be replaced on an ongoing basis?
WOW this is so helpful!! Thank you so much
0:25 [pauses video to look at the "parts" pictured, top-left] ...... That's a Settlers of Catan board! :D
Can you use a co2 laser on plastic or only wood?
where is that xtool d1 for $20??? i saw at 5:38
Very helpful video
I appreciate all your efforts
Thank you very much
where did the random cap screw come from that appears around 9:19 ?
Hmm.
I'm thinking of building a larger format laser engraver/cutter but don't need industrial quality for $10k plus.
I'll start with a cheap Diode laser source until I get everything dialed in but build it with the intention of upgrading to a CO2 source.
should be fun.
You know, when talking about ”Pro” level cutting, we've had good luck with getting used machines through Mitsubishi. 5'x10' cut area, and 4kw will cut up to 1" carbon steel (O2 assist).
Can we be friends? :)
Well, we are about to do some hiring. And employees can get free shop time after hours for small/personal projects, if you're into that kind of thing.
I’m exploring the laser and cnc machines and what they can do. I’m a newbie with no knowledge of what they do, what I can do with them or how I can make income to justify the cost. I want to go with my third machine first. I don’t want to buy one only to realize I need a bigger one etc. I also don’t want to buy industrial only to get bored with producing products. I don’t mind spending 20-25K setting up shop with tools that I will need to do the work correctly. I do have a bunch of carpenter tools for rough work but nothing really for finish work. So I will continue my research in what tools I will need to enter into this field. Now having said that, I am impressed so far with the Glowforge Pro Laser Cutter. Will that be my first purchase? I don’t know. I want to check out your other reviews as well as other folks reviews on the different brands. I will also be looking if someone did a video on complete tools to setup a shop needed. This machine sounds pretty simple and that’s good for an old guy like me. If you have any suggestions or links I will check them out. Thank you.
Researching the different brands and models will help you refine what you find valuable in your shop. The size of pieces that you want to work on is a primary driver for the size of the machine itself, as well as the type of materials you wish to alter/change. If you have lots of time, you can cut through fairly lightweight materials with multiple passes. A Glowforge has its drawbacks...for example, the cost of the machine vs what it can do. It must be connected to the internet in order to do any work on it. This is a major drawback in an age of relatively unreliable platforms like Microsoft Azure and Amazon AWS. You will notice many services/businesses (that run their businesses via web-based hosting) unable to do anything when these large hosting platforms are down. Will you be happy with a Glowforge? I doubt it. There are countless reviews that talk about how overpriced and underpowered it is.
I personally have made the mistake of buying things only to find that they are not utilized and take up valuable room. Choose carefully and watch videos from people that are actually using them and producing products with them, (not merely hawking them to get a commission).
With that in mind, here are some roads I have gone down:
The Onefinity Journeyman X-50 (haven't got yet) CNC is a great subtractive method for your shop.
The Creality (my 1st choice) and Prusa lines of 3D printers are standards ( you can get a lot of free TH-cam training upon, also many service businesses use them).
Laser? I'm leaning toward creating my own CO2 because of the size of materials I want to etch as well as cut.
Thermoformer? Also going the diy route.
I want to make products, not small arts and crafts.
@@innovator777 That makes lots of sense. I want the flexibility to do a wide range of stuff. I have a disabled son in his 30’s who is a computer wizard. He writes programs on a note pad. I got him in the computer world when he was 3. He has an interest in creating things with whatever I set up. I’m not too concerned with how much I need to spend providing I can see money coming in to justify the cost. Something reliable that’s a notch or two above what a hobbyist would use prolly closer to a small business setup. So yes, I will spend a couple of months watching all kinds of videos before dropping cash. Do you have a channel or links that would be to my benefit? Thanks in advance.
Thank you for all of the great information! This video helped me out quite a bit. Please review the Ortur 3! I’m not purchasing it until you review it…just kidding, but it sure would be nice to get your opinion. Thanks again for making these videos!
Thanks for the info, really looking into getting a laser cutter
Wow! What a video... most excellent, at least for my purposes. I saved, liked, and subscribed. Thanks.
Hi, any desktop laser cutters to cut up to 8mm acrylic plexiglass sheets? can you please guide me.
At 9:19, a screw fell out. That got an eyebrow raise out of me. I was wondering if the whole thing was about to come loose and shoot the laser at the camera.
Hi and thanks for this outstanding video! Which of this lasers is capable to cut the metal ?
although i gave a laser (xtool d1)and fdm printer(prusa mini) i still want a cnc, drill press and small lathe to fully complete my shop, and the cnc is in the works😍, looking at the makerdream evo one pro
Can a laser engraver cut paper? I looking for a cheap one that can cut A3 paper for stencils
Amazing and informative video! Thanks!
Hi..you might have a video of how to use EZcad for beginners....many thanks
Lasers are so awesome I want to learn to anodize titanium with them 🤟
Can you do a refresh on this video for 2023?
Thanx for the great video, wondering if you have any comments on the Monport Lasers?
what's with the red frame at 14:04
This looks like a promising video .. Let’s go!
Tube life. Service & support. Reliability. Minimum spot size. Tube switching speed.
I'm interested in using one for back glass removal on iphones. Lazer- pecker is another one I'd like to try:) thx for the video 👍
For a starter to make cutting boards, cake toppers, tumblers, what would you recommend? Which budget friendly? Thxs
Awesome video very informative. What would be the machine for cutting acyclic?
I want to by a 15w laser cutter for cutting 2mm paper. Do you mean sir it,s enough power to cut ✂️. And the machine should cut 1000 paper per hour. Can I achieve this number per hour. It will be nice sir if you answer me. Thank you 😊
Great video... thanks for some great information. LOL at 9:18 your laser is loosing a screw.....
Can you use fiber lasers to cut wood? Or is there a laser unit wherein you can adjust the laser wavelength and not have to buy two lasers.
Fibers really aren't optimized for wood
Co2 lasers are even used in plastic surgery to resurface the face, yes they laser the face which regenerates collagen so your skin looks younger, it’s crazy some brilliant person thought of using it on skin.
Thanks for your tutorial I would like to know can you cut stencil or make your own stencil with this machine
What about the sculpfun S9? Any thoughts on that one? I really want thick cut, rotary and a LARGE workspace! Thanks sooo much! Great videos!
was there a screw falling out @9:20 o_0
Hi! Thank you for all these info! But at the end I’m not sure what is the best for me. I need to cut small 2mm Bakelite pieces and also 0.5 mm metal sheets. Can you recommend the best cost/features model, please?
What’s the best one to cut brushed metal and plexiglass. Specifically profiles. Thanks!
Great detailed video, learned a bunch!
I would like to know if there is a machine that cuts through silver and gold plates.
Lightburn is really good. Well worth the not much money.
I suppose you cant do a video how to setup a ANYCUBIC Mega Pro with its laser that wont impact issues with the printer??
can i have the model number of the machine that appears at 15:46
What about cutting or engraving on curved surfaces? Your video showed cutting on a pumpkin. How does the machine keep focus on something that is curved?
Have you ever cut mylar stencils with any of those machines?
What would you recommend for engraving names and short messages into small objects like keyrings?
which one has a very high resolution? i want to engrave small text on a the case of a chip. speed is not relevant. cheap would be great.
thanks for your work!
I have a very important question. I can see that you love Star Wars, but is there also a special place in your heart for Star Trek?
Loved the review Brandon… what do you recommend as a best desktop Engraver / cutter for Scale Model … it would include cutting plastic sheets (Acrylic/ Styrene) and vinyl stickers/ masking?
Hi I wanted to ask I want to cut acrylic mostly just round the edges of a acrylic sheet and some rectangle cutouts which one of those would do the 17-7/8 in. x 12-7/8 in. x 6-1/8
Do you know what's the cheapest machine to be able to cut thin stainless steel gobos?
Hi. Really nice video.
Which machine can you recommend for engrave 100 dogs and cats tags per day?
I love your channel and im to buy a laser cutter and engraver next year. Could you please make a review of the Snapmaker 2.0 laser engraver? thanks