Pevly

Category: Laser Engravers

  • Alfawise C10 Desktop CNC 3018 Engraving Machine

    Alfawise C10 Desktop CNC 3018 Engraving Machine

    Check Price on GearBest!

    So you have your first 3D printer and you think you have mastered it. Where do you go from there? Well, if you have a 3D printer in the first place, chances are you are a maker. One tool every maker should have is a computer numerical control (CNC). Like a 3D printer, a CNC creates 3 dimensional objects. Only it’s subtractive rather then additive, like the 3D printer. This means it starts with a block of material and removes bits until it forms the 3D object. Where as the 3D printer starts with nothing and creates objects using melted plastic layer by layer.

    >

    So why would you want a CNC if your 3D printer already makes 3D objects? Well, a 3D printer creates the objects layer by layer which creates problems with strength. The CNC can create objects from materials such as wood, plastic and even aluminum. Therefore your parts are much stronger.

    CNC compliments 3D printing because you can use the 3D prints where strength isn’t required. Tenn uses the CNC to create the parts that need to be strong.

    Say for instance you want to make a personal trophy. You could create the entire thing out of plastic with a 3D printer. But let’s face it, it would be very light and not feel like a real trophy. So if you print the top part with a printer then carve the base with a CNC it would feel more like a trophy. In fact, you can even engrave a little nameplate to attach to the base.

    CNC is so popular for the 3D printing community that they created an open source CNC called the MPCNC, which stands for Mostly Printed CNC. https://www.v1engineering.com/assembly/

    That lets you create a larger CNC but you need a workshop or lots of space in order to use it.

    But if you don’t have space for such a large CNC you can purchase a desktop CNC about the size of your 3D printer. This lets you create cool things as you see in the images below.

    So if you use your 3D printer for more than printing figurines, then a CNC would be a great asset to your toolset. I am building the larger MPCNC for my woodshop and will likely get a desktop one for the office where I keep my 3D printers. With the CNC you can also attach a laser for precise engraving. More on that later.

    Features Of the Alfawise Desktop CNC Engraving Machine

    Check Price on GearBest!

    Now that you know what a desktop CNC engraving machine is, it is time to take a look at what the Alfawise Desktop C10 CNC 3018 Engraving Machine can do. Here, we’ll take a look at some of the features of this high-quality engraving machine.

    Spindle and Laser Are Quickly Replaceable

    The first feature of this desktop CNC is that the spindle and laser are quickly replaceable. The laser is what traces the image that you’d like to engrave, while the spindle is what cuts through the material. It is nice that you can quickly replace the spindle and laser if they end up needing to be replaced.

    Lightweight

    This engraving machine is made of aluminum material, which makes this desktop CNC very lightweight and easy to carry. While some people don’t care if it is lightweight or not, it is still nice to have an engraving machine that you can easily carry. The size of this engraving machine is 33cm x 40cm x 24cm.

    Performance Of the Alfawise Desktop CNC Engraving Machine

    Check Price on GearBest!

    Now that we have taken a look at the features of this engraving machine, you may be interested in seeing how well this machine performs. Fortunately, this engraving machine performs well. As a DIY engraving machine kit, it may take a little while for you to assemble this desktop CNC. However, once all the parts are assembled, the Alfawise C10 CNC 3018 Engraving Machine works well. Let’s take a look at how this machine performs, as well as other advantages of buying it.

    Great Price

    It is not uncommon for engraving machines to cost thousands of dollars. That is why the price of this engraving machine is very affordable compared to other desktop CNC machines. But just because this desktop CNC is cheap doesn’t mean that the quality isn’t good. This high-quality machine performs well and is perfect for engraving wood, acrylic, plastics, and more. Keep in mind though that this product cannot cut hard metals or materials with a hard texture. So if you need a product that can engrave these materials, you may need to spend more money on a desktop CNC that can handle such materials.

    Arrives As A Kit

    This engraving machine is a kit, meaning that you must put the parts together yourself. Many people like the experience of assembling an engraving machine, while others prefer to have their desktop CNC to arrive assembled. If you don’t mind assembling your own engraving machine, this machine is a great product for you. Keep in mind that some customers mentioned that it can take a while to assemble this engraving machine. Therefore, don’t expect to have it assembled within half an hour.

    Spindle Is Designed To Cut Through Wood, Plastic, PCB, Acrylic and Similar Materials

    So, what can the spindle of this engraving machine cut through? Well, it can cut through a variety of materials. It is recommended to use it mostly for engraving wood, PCB, acrylic, plastic, and materials similar to those. Note that this desktop CNC cannot cut through hard metal (such as brass, steel, iron, etc), jade, and other items with a very hard texture. Therefore, if you need an engraving machine that will cut through hard metal, this product isn’t for you.

    Things To Consider When Purchasing A Desktop CNC

    There are many considerations you need to keep in mind when shopping for a desktop CNC. These considerations will help you choose an engraving machine that will fit your needs. Let’s take a look at the top considerations to keep in mind when shopping for the best desktop CNC.

    What’s Your Budget?

    First, consider what your budget is. Can you afford to buy an expensive engraving machine? Or would you rather purchase an inexpensive machine that may not have as many features but will be much more affordable? If you are in the market for buying a cheap engraving machine, this Alfawise C10 CNC 3018 Engraving Machine is a great option. It is very inexpensive compared to other engraving machines and it performs well.

    What Do You Plan On Engraving?

    Next, consider what you need your engraving machine to cut through. Do you plan on engraving wood and plastics? Or do you plan on engraving hard metals? Unfortunately, if you plan on engraving hard metals or materials with a hard texture, this product won’t work well for you. The Alfawise Desktop CNC Engraving Machine can only be used for engraving wood, plastic, PCB, acrylic, and materials that don’t have a hard texture.

    Does the Desktop CNC Come With Replacement Parts?

    Unfortunately, it is common for parts of engraving machines to break. When they do break, it is important to consider if your engraving machine comes with replacement parts or not. The desktop CNC that I have reviewed today has a laser and spindle that can quickly be replaced. Because the laser and spindle do most of the work, it is common for these parts to break first. If and when they break, you can rest assured that you can easily replace them.

    How Much Space Do You Have For An Engraving Machine?

    Another consideration to keep in mind is how much space you have available for an engraving machine. What’s nice about this desktop CNC is that it can easily fit on a desktop. Therefore, if you don’t have a lot of space for an engraving machine, this product may work well for you. In addition to being lightweight, it is also lightweight, making it easy to move around.

    Final Thoughts On the Alfawise Desktop CNC Engraving Machine

    Check Price on GearBest!

    In conclusion, the Alfawise C10 Desktop CNC 3018 Engraving Machine is a great option if you are shopping for an inexpensive yet high-quality engraving machine. This desktop CNC is designed to be used on plastics, acrylic, wood, and other soft-textured materials. It is lightweight and compact, making it a great option for those who don’t have a lot of space for an engraving machine. Keep in mind that this product does not come assembled, so you will need to assemble it yourself once it arrives. It comes with all the parts you need, but it may take a little while to assemble. All in all, the Alfawise Desktop CNC Engraving Machine is a great option for you. I hope this article has helped you decide whether or not this product will fit your needs. Still not sure if this product will work for you? Check out our review of the EleksMaker A3 Pro 2500mW Laser Engraver.

  • Alfawise C10 Review

    Alfawise C10 Review

    C10 Laser Engraver

    A C10 CNC mill/engraver (Computer Numerical Control) is a great tool to compliment your 3D printer. A 3D printer takes plastic and builds an object from nothing. That is called additive manufacturing. A CNC mill builds and object by cutting away from a source material like a block or sheet of wood. That is called subtractive manufacturing. Most people think of big CNC milling machines that companies use in factories. They usually mill things from material like steel or aluminum.

    C10Mill
    Check Price on GearBest!

    Thanks to hobbyists, CNC milling can now be done from your home or garage. May build the larger 4X4 or 4X8 feet for their shops or garage called the mostly printed CNC (MPCNC). But now you can buy a small desktop one for your makerspace. The Alfawise C10 is a 300mm X 180mm X 40mm CNC. Do to the sawdust it creates you should build a box for it if you keep it in a room of your home. I built a box for mine, and because I have the laser engraving option it is also vented through my fireplace with a fan. It blows the smoke out of the box. Because I sealed it with silicone none of the smoke gets through into my makerspace.

    I have years of experience on 3D printers and a printer is basically a CNC that builds up instead of down. They both use G-Code as instructions for the firmware to interpret.  With 3D printing there are 3 main steps:

    1. CAD (Computer Aided Design) or download a 3D object often of .stl file type.
    2. Slice using software that builds the G-Code to lay down the plastic layer by layer.
    3. You print the object you want from the G-Code on the printers controller or streamed through USB

    CNC milling also uses 3 steps.

    1. CAD or download objects.
    2. CAM (computer-aided manufacturing) which creates the G-Code only different from slicing software.
    3. You run the G-Code from software on a PC or controller.

    So What can you do with the Alfawise C10 CNC/Laser Engraver?  Let’s find out!

    Alfawise C10 CNC/Laser Engraver Technical Specifications

    Brand:

    Alfawise

    Model:

    C10

    Frame material:

    aluminum

    Laser module:

    2500mW

    Working area:

    30cm x 18cm x 4cm

    Machine size:

    33cm x 40cm x 24cm

    Control software:

    Benbox / GRBL

    Support OS:

    Windows XP / Win 7 / Win 8 / Win10 / Linux

    Power supply:

    DC 24V 5.6A

    C10 Unboxing

    Unboxing is uneventful as always. This is a Kit that comes completely unassembled except the Z axis. The parts come in three layers of parts with the bed on the very bottom. This engraver is what is known as the 3018 which is a reference to it’s X (30) and Y(18) size in centimeters.  Unpacking is easy just keep a vacuum or garbage can close by. When they cut the aluminum extrusions and bed it leaves lots of shards that cling to the plastic wrap that protects from scratches. Probably not good if you have a carpet.

    Check Price on GearBest!
    unboxing_1
    unboxing_2
    unboxing_3
    unboxing_4

    C10 Assembly

    This kit brings me back to the start of the 3D printer kit days when you have to assemble all of it. I like to assemble kits like this except the instructions are lacking. Being mostly in Chinese, I don’t understand why someone in China doesn’t create a translation service because what little is in English doesn’t translate well. But what is important is the measurements in the instructions which are clear so you can get through it. Important points I learned from building 3D printers is that you can’t just use the measurements and be done with it. Any slightest bend or misalignment can bind an axis. So what I do is before you install the belts (or lead screw in this case) you keep the screws loose on the smooth rods and move the bed all the way forward then tighten the front screws. Then move the bed all the way back and tighten the screws. Then slide the bed to ensure you get a smooth motion. Then you can install the leadscrew. You can do it with the leadscrew installed but it is cumbersome. The same should be done for the X and Z axis. Also be careful where you plug in the spindle and the laser. I didn’t get the laser in the images on the site and the instructions has entirely different controller board. The laser is the middle 3 pin one and the spindle is the one beside it.

    assembly_1
    assembly_2
    assembly_3
    assembly_4
    assembly_5
    assembly_6
    assembly_7

    C10 Software

    This is where I really struggled. This machine comes with a mini CD that contains the instructions, the software and a copy of the firmware (which is outdated). There are no  real instructions for the software but with the internet it’s not hard to find videos to watch. So why did I struggle? Well no matter what I tried I couldn’t get the included software to work. So I was on the hunt to find out why or software that works. So I tried updating the firmware but it didn’t want to update. I tried a few different ways and was finally able to update it without errors.

    The CD comes with an older version of GRBL Controller which now called Candle. I gave it a try and couldn’t get the spindle to turn. After updating to the newest version I had issues with it returning to home. Not sure if it was the config of the firmware but I eventually added physical endstops.

    When you power the machine it sets your home point as the current location. So what you need to do is move the tip of your tool to the bottom left corner of your work area. Then set your home position to that spot in the software.

    home buttons
    Set home

    My first couple attempts with the included software simply gouged the wood and also printed much larger than expected. I’m sure it was something I was doing wrong.

    dig_1
    dig_2

    So I loaded the iPhone cnc sample file that came with the CD. It carved out very tiny word iphone. That and I used a bit from my dremel which didn’t help. I then set the steps per mm in the firmware.

    iphone

    I managed to create a usable g-code file of superman. I first tried it with the 3mm bit that I used on the iphone. It didn’t look to well.

    superman_1

    So I ran it again with the V shaped bits that came with the Alfawise C10. This time it came out okay. Although engraving on this type of wood chipped away in the fine detail of the superman logo. I’m okay with it. I still need to clean out grooves where sawdust seemed to get stuck in there. Running it twice didn’t seem to help.

    superman_2

    I then went to the Dollar store and picked up some pieces of craft plywood. I used Inkscape to trace out a nice image of a lion to try with the V bit. If you ask me it looks ok but again to much detail.

    lion

    So now let’s talk more about the software. After giving up on Candle (GRBL Controller) I turned to Google and Facebook groups. I found inscape is the goto to software to turn your images into vector graphics (.svg files). You use the trace tools in the Path menu. I’m not going to make this a tutorial, just point you in the right direction.

    Inscape Tips

    The next step (and this is engraving only) is to import them into a cam program. The one I found to work is called Easel from inventables.com. It’s easy to use and free. There is a pro version but the free one seems to be ok. You bring in an svg files or use the shapes in the app to make images. All the items  in the project can be set to cut at different depths. Easel was made for Carvey brand machines and can connect and run on them directly I think. But you can also export the g-code and run it from other controller software.

    And that brings me to the last bit of software the controller for the C10. I found a program called Universal G-Code Sender. It’s what worked for me and is also free to use. There is too much to get into how it works. It’s open source and there are other applications like estlcam you can try.

    Here are a couple of pics from my Easel carvings.

    easle_1
    easle_2
    easle_3
    easle_4
    easelapp

    C10 Modifications

    The small CNC mills benefits from a few modifications. First being a firmware upgrade. It’s best to update the GRBL and learn to configure it. It’s not to hard.

    Next I added endstops so the machine won’t crash into the ends of each axis. You will need to enable them in the firmware.

    I greased the lead screws to cut down on noise. Which allow my family is happy 🙂

    Then if you plan to cut your stock all the way through you need to add a waste board. So it’s not cutting into the aluminum bed. Make it as thin as you can to save more of your Z work area. Mines too thick but I will change it soon.

    Check Price on GearBest!
    waste board

    Another great modification and one I made for my laser, is a box to vent the fumes but it works to keep the dust in on the CNC mill.

    box

    I created a little holder for the bits and uploaded it to thingiverse to share.

    https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:3552039

    tool_holder_1
    tool_holder_2
    tool_holder_3
    tool_holder_4

    PROS

    • Value priced
    • Solid Frame
    • Very Moddable
    • Motor feels well torqued
    • Optimal Laser attachment
    • Small enough for hobbyist

    CONS

    • Noisy
    • Not for matching metal
    • A lot to learn
    • Small work area

    C10 Conclusion

    If you like to make things from wood, plastic, plexiglass and other softer materials then this can save you time. Not only will you get much nicer cuts but you can work on other stuff while the CNC mill does the work. Do you like to make personal gifts to friends and family? This makes very nice engraving and outline cutting. With the laser attachment which I will be doing a write up on soon, you can mix cutting, cnc engraving and laser engraving in the same pieces. Below are some of the cool items you can make with this tool. You can even mix 3D printing and CNC in your projects using wood when you need strength. Or use 3D printing to make parts to complicated for the CNC.

    Cool projects

    For more articles around the C10 check this other recent article from Pevly.

    So should you get this tool? If you like to make crafts or if you like 3D printing and small hobby electronics, then you would probably like the added support of a CNC mill. I’m having so much fun my next tool is going to be a C02 Laser cutter. Then I will have everything I need to make cool projects. You could even make a bit of money making and selling things like custom keychains and other type of trinkets.

    Check out this very cool weather station that uses CNC and 3D printing. 

    If you Google CNC project art images then you will see the many cool things you can do with a CNC.

    Check out more cool projects done using the C10 Engraver

    Thanks for reading I hope you enjoyed my take on the Alfawise C10 CNC machine!

    CNCArt
    Insert Image
  • EleksMaker A3 Pro 2500mW Laser Engraver Review

    EleksMaker A3 Pro 2500mW Laser Engraver Review

    I have been wanting a laser engraver for quite some time now. The only thing stopping me was the Health Canada rules. I wasn’t sure what they were and I didn’t want to spend the money just to have it turned away at the border. When it arrived I wasn’t even expecting it. I was very surprised and eager to try it out. However, I had the Tevo Tornado to build and review, so I put this laser engraving review on the back burner for a few days.

    EleksMaker A3 Pro Laser Engraver Technical Specifications

    The A3 Pro laser engraver is a Diode Laser, aka semiconductor laser. A diode laser is the most common laser manufactured. It is used in many devices such as laser printers, CD/DVD/Blu-ray players, barcode readers, etc. The other common laser is a gas laser which is used to cut hard materials. Diode lasers are used more for engraving which is why the A3 Pro uses a 2.5W laser. It has a nice engraving area of 37cm x 38cm (14.5 in x 14.9 in). It uses Extruded Aluminum and stepper motors similar to 3D printers and other CNC machines, which are also on my list to build and review. While fun and exciting, lasers are dangerous and can hurt you in a flash. They can also cause irreparable damage to your eyes. So, it is imperative to use caution with these.

    [go_pricing id=”anet_a8_5a_5a823e74439e2″]

    [taq_review]

    Unboxing The EleksMaker A3 Pro Laser Engraver

    The box comes packed in the standard packing foam to keep the parts from knocking around. It includes the extruded frame, acrylics, control board, the laser module, motors, power supply and a pair of laser safety glasses. The nuts and bolts come in a handy little sorting box. The little box the laser module comes in has the wattage and a warning printed on it.

     

    Laser Engraver Assembly

    Assembling this laser engraver machine was pretty straight forward—that was once I found the proper information. The EleksMaker website is incomplete as are many of these companies’ websites. The website is nice and flashy, but without the proper content what good is it? The store is okay and the forum is useful if you have time to wait for responses. The video list, however, has no videos. It appears that there is a video, but they are 0 seconds in length. It’s the same for every product.

    http://www.eleksmaker.com/videos/videos.html

    So, the last place is the Wiki. The wiki has detailed instructions and is easy to follow, until you get to places like the feet. They seem to be different than mine, but easy enough to figure out.

    http://wiki.eleksmaker.com/doku.php?id=elekslaser_a3_pro

    I spent about an hour building this laser. It’s basically the same as a printer without the Z axis so I had plenty of experience. It’s easy to do and anyone should be able to build it with few problems. One thing I didn’t like was how the belts clamp down to the frame. It uses a small piece of acrylic with a screw in it to hold the belt down. From my experience acrylic breaks easily and I was afraid to put the necessary tension on it.

    Using T-nuts is straight forward, just make sure that you don’t miss any or you will need to remove parts to get them on. For instance, I forgot to add the two that holds the control board before putting the corners together.

    Laser Engraving Software

    The Software they link to on their site is called EleksCAM and, like their site, it is pretty buggy. It will not run on my AMD 8 laptop which has no problem running all the big 3D CAD software like Fusion 360 and Sketchup. It does, however, run on my desktop computer but that has an Intel I7 with 9 Gigs of Ram and a 1GB video card.  The software works but I get a lot of unhanded errors. It allows me to continue so I’m not sure what it is missing, if anything.

    In the software you have 4 options. The first is Pic carve. This lets you open an image in BMP, JPG and SVG formats. This will burn a gray scale image into the object you are engraving. It is pretty time consuming but works very well. The second option is the TextCarve. TextCarve opens a text dialog box where you can enter the text you want to engrave onto the object. You select the font style and the size of the area to put the text in. You also select a mode, such as point text, which creates the text with tiny dots. Then there is Outline text which is when the laser engraver prints an outline of each letter. Single text is text with a single line. The last option is real text which types as you would see in a text editor. For example: Comic Sans MS.

    The third toolbar option is to load a Gcode file. So, if you want to load a file created on a different machine or software you can. The final option doesn’t have a toolbar button, but it is used to open the built in clip art that Eleks provides in the software. You just select the clipart from the bottom tab on the side.

    Doing some research, I found two other applications to use. One is called Benbox and the other LaserGRBL. I wasn’t able to get Benbox to connect to this laser so I won’t go into that one.

    GRBL connects but it only loads raster image and gcode files. You can edit text into an image and load it that way. That being said, it is just easier to use the buggy EleksMaker.

    Features

    This laser engraver uses a micro arduino on a control bar with two stepper driver boards. One for X and the other is for Y. The board also has a switch for power and a micro USB port to connect to the PC. The laser module has a soft beam switch that you use to focus the laser. If you leave the focus switch on when you start the engraving in the software then it will not burn. You also need to leave the power off when you plug the USB into the PC or open the software application. The reason is because the laser fires for 2-3 seconds. If you have good materiel under the laser then it will be ruined. In fact, it’s good practice to keep a piece of scrap wood or something there until you are ready to start. Always wear your safety glasses and keep it unplugged while not in use. Also, it’s important not to leave it unattended when in use.

    MDF Wood Laser Engraving

    After assembly and learning the software, I was excited to get started. I should have read up more though. I had a big piece of MDF wood sitting in my office beside my desk. As I said, the software wouldn’t work on my laptop so I connected it to the desktop and started burning. The first thing I tried was the TextCarve with the EleksCAM which is the default text in the software. It looked okay but the top of the E and part of the l are missing. Then I gave the clip art Iron Man a shot with a slower speed. It didn’t go so well. It burned pretty bad so I stopped it. I captured a small video of it.

    Video Here

    I’m guessing they didn’t get permission to use these copyright images. I put the speed back to default and gave Pikachu a shot. It came out perfect. I started engraving a picture of our dog who passed before Christmas, and my daughter. It didn’t look like the image so I stopped it. But after looking more closely I noticed it was actually going okay—very smoky, but okay.

    Burning pictures was too smoky so I put that on the backburner until I came up with a solution. My problem is that it’s winter here and using the laser engraver outside at minus 18 degrees Celsius isn’t an option. So, I kept the wood engraving to shorter burns. Being a massive Superman fan boy, I had to try his crest. The first try was light and missing at spots. The next try was too dark and as it burned I was seeing flames coming from the wood. Since it was only a scrap piece of wood I stopped it at about 80% through.

    [go_pricing id=”anet_a8_5a_5a8240f81d81e”]

    Plywood Laser Engraving

    I have a huge pile of wood from my woodshop, so I grabbed some scrap plywood and pine. The pine I put back because it had a varnish finish and I didn’t know if burning the varnish would be toxic.

    I started with the TextCarve and engraved “NORM RULES!!!” You know, because I do! This time I slowed it down and chose the Real Text mode. It came out dark but I’m okay with it. A light sanding will clean the burnt edges.

    With the clip art option, I engraved a wolf and the Incredible Hulk. I’m a comic fan so I love the big names in DC and Marvel Comics. Superman above all. They both came out perfectly so I then imported a picture of my bike, 2013 Ninja 650, and it looked good. I’m a person with many interests such as Riding, RC, Comics and even wood work. I’m disabled, so I can only do so much at a time. In the winter it is indoor things like 3D printing and reading that I enjoy.

    This laser engraving machine comes with a couple pieces of plywood and some cardboard tags, but you can get small art supply pieces at any dollar store. I engraved an outline image of a “My Little Pony” from a Google image search. To get images that will work well you can use the key word “clipart” or “outline” in your search. My daughter loves “My Little Pony” so that was for her.

    This time I wanted to test cutting through the plywood. So, I created a star in Microsoft Paint to fit on the little square piece that came with the laser. I ran the laser around the image 2 times and it almost cut through. So, I did the same with a comic bubble for the rectangular piece that came with it also. This piece was a bit thicker than the square one so I ran it 5 times. This one didn’t make it through at all. I don’t know why, but I’m thinking it may be due to harder wood and there not being a Z axis to lower the lasers focal point each pass. Being big into 3D printing I have all the things I need to add a Z axis which will involve replacing the board with a 3D printer board and adding a fourth motor and linear guide for the axis.

    Video Here

    Glass Laser Engraving

    Glass seems complicated and I’m hoping that adding the Z axis will help. My problem is getting the focal point on the top of the glass. The first one I tried was on a flat piece of MDF. It burned the glass as well as the wood. I believe the focal point was still at the wood level. Enlarge the image and you can see the path of the laser. It looks like the layer path of a 3D printed object.

    Next, I tried engraving my daughter’s name and an image of Superman. They both burned into the wood but not the glass. Although this time it left a sticky film on top of the glass. Looks like a smoke stain from a tobacco cigarette. It rubbed off with paper towel. The name and Superman did not etch onto the glass at all.

    Cardboard Laser Engraving

    Being cardboard, you would think it would not only engrave well but also cut through very easily. This was not the case. I used a simple comic strip bubble because they were the same shape and easy to do. One pass worked great but didn’t go through. I mean, it’s paper. So, I tried again with 2 passes. Same thing. The final time I tried 3 passes and it still didn’t cut through. Two passes went through the small plywood. Again, I think it comes down to the Z axis. The tip is hard to focus so it was likely that the focal point on the plywood was lower than the top of the wood. I’m going to get this working because I want to cut thin plywood for electronic projects like a raspberry pie case or ribs for remote control airplane wings and drone body parts.

    Mirror

    Another awesome use for a laser engraver is to put pictures into mirrors. I have seen them done by hand and I don’t like the look. Laser engraved on the other hand is very cool. Look at the Charizard Pokémon I put into the back of this mirror. The laser starts at the center of the image so I marked the center of the mirror with a marker to know where to put the beam.

    I was so impressed with the result that I set out to put my daughter’s face on a locker mirror for school. Going from an image is a bit more difficult. I used paint to save it to black and white but that didn’t work.

    So, I opened the black and white image in Photoshop and applied a colored pencil filter. This gave me a nice image to burn and makes it look like a person. And most of all Emily loves it and that is what is important.

    Laser Engraver Upgrades and Modifications

    The company sells a pen holder adapter that uses a servo to raise and lower the pen. I think the $15 price is great but I can make one with my printer.

    You should buy better safety glasses. The glasses that came with the engraver are the lowest level of protection. You can buy them for next to nothing.

    One other mod you should do is connect a tube to suck up the smoke or blow it away from the laser. The reason is because the smoke can damage the lens. I don’t have a link because I just got an air mattress pump from the dollar store.

    And the last mod may not be needed depending on where you plan to use it. Being indoors I built an enclosure for mine. I also created a filter from fish tank filter parts that I mounted to the outside of the box. I used a 12-volt PC fan to blow the smoke through the filter. I sealed it with calking from the hardware store. With a glass top and a set of LED lights it works great! Here are some images. I clamped it to the box with 3D printed clamps I made but you can use anything from the hardware store.

    Pros and Cons

    Pros

    • Lasers engravers are awesome!
    • Diode laser is cheap and affordable
    • Parts are well made
    • Easy to learn
    • Converts to Drawing plotter with a single Servo

    Cons

    • No enclosure
    • Protection is minimal
    • Diode power is 2.5 Watts and you won’t be cutting to much with it

    Laser Engraver Evaluation

    So, what do I think of this laser engraving machine? I Love it! My office smells like a camp fire but I don’t mind. I have to say this is NOT A TOY! It only takes a millisecond to burn your eye for good. Never leave it unsupervised. And most of all, have fun. I had lots of fun with this and plan to use it quite often. I’m going to add the Z axis so that I can lower the laser each pass to see if I can cut thicker materials. Speaking of materials, be careful. I burned many images into the MDF before I found out you’re not supposed to use MDF because it’s not good for your health. I’m also going to find something metal and Plexiglas to engrave. Hope my wife doesn’t mind me personalizing stuff around the house—haha.

    [taq_review]

    [go_pricing id=”anet_a8_5a_5a8240f81d81e”]