So you posted this almost a year ago. I'm thinking about getting into this hobby and wondered what your thoughts were about this engraver after having owned it a while now. This would be my first engraver. Thanks in advance.
Hi great video. I would just like to know if the basic LightBurn Software - GCode License Key is enough for the Mecpow X3 pro or do I need buy the more expensive version? Thanks
Thanks! I bought the gcode license key because of the type of laser the mecpow is. I think they have different versions on the lightburn website depending on the type of technology the laser is , like diode versus fiber laser. The gcode version has done everything I have needed. If you bought a mecpow I’m sure you will get along fine with the gcode brand of sw. Good luck! Pete
Is it still holding up pretty well? Just ordered one a few minutes ago. Also I think you said you used the software that you have to pay for, did you try the free one first if so what did u think of it?
Hi! It is holding up well. I did have to clean out the air nozzle and gently clean the laser. Just a bit of smoke debris on the lens. I did try a free one, Lasergrbl, I had an issue with it poorly engraving curves and resetting in the middle of the cut. I tried to use it on a customer project and it failed too many times. I couldn’t trust it. I switched over to lightburn after that. It’s a great product that pros use, lots of TH-cam tutorials on it, I recommend it. I’m happy for you, sure it will work out great for you. Thanks for watching!
Hi Linda, I have! It was a bit of a learning experience for me. I made a triangular picture frame and wanted to see if I could quickly cut out the shape on the laser cutter rather than on my table saw. Well, I learned that I needed to use the acrylic sheets that have a covering paper or colored plastic covering. For me I kept getting burning and overly melting edges if I used general acrylic sheets with clear plastic protection on it. The ones with the brown paper covering and the light blue plastic sheet seemed to work well for me. It took me three tries to dial it in, I cut a 4mm thick sheet at 30% power with speed of 30-40mm/sec, seemed to work for me. Hope this works for you. Thanks for watching! Pete
Hi, I had to look up coroplast, it’s the material yard signs are made out of right? I would imagine this laser cutter could cut it, might take a bit to dial in the power and speed to get a good edge without too much burning/ charing. I did cut foam with it, that foam that came with it and it really smelled bad. I started at 10% power at 1200mm/sec and bumped up the power to 20% and it cut ok. The problem was when it hit a glued patch. If I need to cut foam I’ll get a nice sheet from Michael’s. Good luck! Pete
So you posted this almost a year ago. I'm thinking about getting into this hobby and wondered what your thoughts were about this engraver after having owned it a while now. This would be my first engraver. Thanks in advance.
Great video once again Pete! I've been considering a laser engraver myself... your info was helpful. Take care.🙂
Thanks Mr. Heinonen!
Good video bud. Just bought one and getting ready to set it up and start cutting balsa wood. thanks.
Glad the video was useful. Should cut through balsa real clean with minimal discoloration.
Enjoy!
Pete
Hi great video. I would just like to know if the basic LightBurn Software - GCode License Key is enough for the Mecpow X3 pro or do I need buy the more expensive version? Thanks
Thanks!
I bought the gcode license key because of the type of laser the mecpow is. I think they have different versions on the lightburn website depending on the type of technology the laser is , like diode versus fiber laser. The gcode version has done everything I have needed. If you bought a mecpow I’m sure you will get along fine with the gcode brand of sw.
Good luck!
Pete
How you get this machine?
I live in west Africa, Liberia to be precise.
Hi!
I bought mine from Amazon, there is a link to it in the video description.
Good luck!
Pete
Is it still holding up pretty well? Just ordered one a few minutes ago. Also I think you said you used the software that you have to pay for, did you try the free one first if so what did u think of it?
Hi!
It is holding up well. I did have to clean out the air nozzle and gently clean the laser. Just a bit of smoke debris on the lens.
I did try a free one, Lasergrbl, I had an issue with it poorly engraving curves and resetting in the middle of the cut. I tried to use it on a customer project and it failed too many times. I couldn’t trust it. I switched over to lightburn after that. It’s a great product that pros use, lots of TH-cam tutorials on it, I recommend it.
I’m happy for you, sure it will work out great for you.
Thanks for watching!
Have you cut acyclic yet
Hi Linda,
I have! It was a bit of a learning experience for me. I made a triangular picture frame and wanted to see if I could quickly cut out the shape on the laser cutter rather than on my table saw. Well, I learned that I needed to use the acrylic sheets that have a covering paper or colored plastic covering. For me I kept getting burning and overly melting edges if I used general acrylic sheets with clear plastic protection on it. The ones with the brown paper covering and the light blue plastic sheet seemed to work well for me.
It took me three tries to dial it in, I cut a 4mm thick sheet at 30% power with speed of 30-40mm/sec, seemed to work for me.
Hope this works for you. Thanks for watching!
Pete
The instruction pictures were sooooo smallll
Hi! Is this cutting foam or coroplast? Thanks !
Hi,
I had to look up coroplast, it’s the material yard signs are made out of right? I would imagine this laser cutter could cut it, might take a bit to dial in the power and speed to get a good edge without too much burning/ charing.
I did cut foam with it, that foam that came with it and it really smelled bad. I started at 10% power at 1200mm/sec and bumped up the power to 20% and it cut ok. The problem was when it hit a glued patch. If I need to cut foam I’ll get a nice sheet from Michael’s.
Good luck!
Pete
Thanks, i`m gona bye machine.
I’m glad you liked the video. Enjoy the engraver!
Pete