A valuable addition to the home workshop? - Engraving metal with the EM Smart basic 1 Fibre Laser
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 มิ.ย. 2024
- In this video I take a look at the EM Smart Basic 1 Fibre Laser and answer the question 'Can a fibre laser engraver really be a useful addition to the home workshop?'
We look at how to use the machine, what it is useful for and we engrave a number of metals including brass, steel and aluminium. We engrave a logo into metal and also make a metric and imperial scale.
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Timestamps
0:00 Introduction
0:44 The EM Smart Basic 1
1:54 How a Galvo laser works
2:28 Lightburn settings matrix
4:05 Engraving text into metal
5:32 Engraving gear wheels
6:29 Engraving tool holders
8:14 Engraving a logo into metal
10:27 Engraving scales into metal
14:39 Engraving metal business cards
15:15 Laser safety
15:31 EM Smart fume extractor
15:54 Fibre laser enclosure
16:20 Conclusion
Tricks like the cleaning pass I would've never imagined 👍
+1 on a rotary test ASAP. Also, details on how you might make a vernier scale scal on the V-block would be great.
I’ll see what I can do
Hello Nick. Wow! That machine is like something out of the future, but available now. I am amazed that the quality is so outstanding. Thank you for sharing. 👏👏👍😀
Thanks, much appreciated!
@11:43 I was scared the laser was ignoring the “1/4” mark. So glad it didn’t, that was very satisfying for my ocd.
Haha! Indeed!
This is sick! I know it's generally implied while working with lasers, but I just want to mention it here. With fiber lasers it's extra important to wear safety glasses. Reflection from CO2 and other lasers tends to damage the cornea when not wearing safety glasses, which is fixable (to a point) . The frequency of fiber lasers however doesn't interact with the cornea and damage your retina, which is not fixable.
I did show the safety glasses in the video but I should have made more of a point of it. Thanks for the feedback
Does anyone think like me? It's outta my budget and I won't need it, but here comes all the list of project I can use it for and trying to resist the urge :D
Ha! Very true.
Of all the laser I think co2 is the most versatile and can get the most projects out of one machine.... But they are still out of my budget 😅
Cool piece of kit!
Great results Jonesey! Really like that brass rule!
Thanks Tom, much appreciated!
I’m really impressed
Thanks Matty! High praise coming from you mate, I really like your work.
Love to see the rotary gizmo.
I'll see what I can do.
Fantastic results! Would love to see you engrave round dials, for machinery!!
Thanks, will do.
Good to have if one can afford it. Given the trajectory of the aussie $ it won't be on my shopping list for a while unfortunately 😢
Hello Nick, this presentation is very timely. I have several projects needing drum-shaped dials (who doesn’t?) and would therefore like to see what can be done using a rotary attachment, if you can arrange that. Your results on flat material are indeed impressive! 👍
Thanks, I'll see what I can do!
Many thanks for posting this. Now I can feel really bad about my own feeble attempts to engrave some basic things around the shop. Seriously, timing is good and I’m one who would be very interested in your findings regarding the rotary component that’s sold for EM lasers.
Great, thanks for the feedback
Muito legal essa máquina
Obrigada!
An interesting machine, & a good demo. Would love to see your take on the rotary dial for your lathe. Mine has something like 0.04mm/line. So inconvenient.
Thanks, I'll see what I can do!
A feature that I have always wanted was rust removal ability for small items. the big $10,000 + laser welder/cleaners are too big for that purpose. so what i can gather from the video, engraving on bare metal is basically the laser heating up and oxidizing the top layer. you are essentially blueing the surface. Also The cleaning pass in this case is then vaporizing and dislodging the oxide layer. interesting.
Yes those rust removal lasers look awesome
@@joneseymakes I suspect your engraver should be able the remove rust (or even mill scale) at a small scale, i.e. a coin, a knife, a screw, small steel plate etc. the galvo laser has enough height to allow the smoke to escape without touching the lens. one engrave power level rectangluar sweep then a lower power cleaning pass sweep should do it, i think. Ah the painted base of your unit is something i dont like if your off target then you would engrave on the base plate. will need a scarificial plate on the base for experimetation. anyway have fun
@@asjahan7748 I'll do some testing. Would be interesting to see if it works. Yes, I often put a sacrificial plate under the work piece just in case.
If this can make rotary dials that would be epic! ⭐🙂👍
For that you need the rotary attachment which does work very well.
Perfect synth for Dubstep. Does it come with a sequencer and a piano keyboard?
Haha, yeah. I should put a track together!
This was all good info I have been looking at this type of laser for a few years and you are correct they have definitely brought the price down. I noticed on there website that if you get there EM Smart basic without the rotary it isn't upgradable to have one. You have to buy it with the rotary to start with.🍻
Yes I just realised that as I went to buy the rotary attachment. Very disappointing. Apparently they don't fit the controller card for the rotary attachment if you buy the basic model.
Woah you could use oxides to color stuff too!
Yes indeed
Absolutely brilliant video as always, Nick. I must say, having bought a 22w diode laser engraver a few months back, I'm now having a mild case of buyer's remorse seeing this 😅 Granted, different tools for different jobs, but his looks like a fine machine that will no doubt eventually burn(or perhaps engrave?) a hole in my wallet at some near point in the future.
Thanks! Yes it's a great tool.
thanks for this review, I was wondering if there are any samples of the test on silver anywhere?
Sorry no, this is something I’ll probably do in a future video.
Thank you.
@@joneseymakes
Is that the actual sound when it engraves? Or is there some EM stuff happening because of the plasma creation that interferes with the mic? It sounds so cool.
No it really does make that sound!
So can you do all the same things with an 20w optical power diode laser? I'm confused.
No a fibre laser can engrave metals. A diode laser is more suited to cutting and engraving wood.
This might be a dumb question but does anyone know if you continuously traced out your pattern with this laser, could you cut out really precise pieces in metal?
Wondering if you could use this laser like a wire EDM machine for thin metals?
I’ve not tried this but believe it would be possible. I watched a video by another creator the other day doing exactly this with a very similar laser.
I want one
2 grand and it doesn't include the most rudimentary of laser safety covers is absolute madness
good to see this tech start to come down in price though.
Yeah, I think the enclosure is pretty pricey if I'm honest
.......Wow, is the USB port on the back seriously old-school USB-B?! The laser as a whole seems cool, but that's positively archaic for a reasonably new product.
Yeah, a whole cool laser machine and you think the usb port is important?
First!
Cool laser and works impressively well. BUT the problems it is solving in a home shop are on an extreme end of first world problems. A couple of grand laser to make a ruler, one can buy for a dollar...
The ruler was just a proof of concept. Now I know that I can engrave accurate scales I can undertake more ambitious and complex projects was the point I was trying to make.