Laser engraving

[skeets]

OK I know there are a ton of real smart guys and gals in here, and I am not one of them. So I ask about laser engravers, I know nothing and the more I read the more confused I get because everything I have found is written for people that already know about them, not dummies like me. Things like power, speed, power requirements, ventilation, what do I need other then the laser, can it do metal, wood, leather and so on. Expensive isn't all ways the best way to go nor is cheap. So if you have information that might be useful to someone that knows nothing about them, pass it along

 

[Sidekick]

I have been through many different diode and a couple Co2 machines. The most important part is having an enclosed one with really good ventilation. They vaporize the material and you don't want to breathe the resulting smoke. Simple cheap diode lasers are a good way to get started for things like cutting and engraving on wood, stone, and leather. Step up to a Co2 for things like plastics, glass, and marking some metals. Then a fiber laser will get fast precision marking on metals. A UV fiber machine will give amazing results with just about anything. I have about 60 videos about different machines on my youtube channel, let me know what you're looking to do and maybe I can give you some ideas of the type of machine that would work. Here's a couple of pics of my projects

 

[Sidekick]

 

[skeets]

Thank much,, give me a link and Ill go look around,, as to what I want to do, I use to do leather work but cutting the leather is getting harder every day, punching stitching holes harder too. So cutting that stuff would be nice. And maybe, I mean you know some metal etching like a slide or receiver. How much use would I get out of it, I dont know side gigs sound good but take up time, unless you really enjoy what your doing. So yeah send me a link and I ll look around and maybe learn a bit , at least to ask a question or 98687578987598.

 

[PHPaul]

I'd be interested in a link as well. It would be quite handy to be able to cut out my own pieces for wood structures in 1:64 for my diorama.

 

[Sidekick]

A lot is going to depend on your budget and the software you will use. For most lasers Lightburn is the best package to use. It's a little complicated to learn but very powerful and works with most machines if you buy the right package. On the other hand Xtool supplies free easy to learn and use software with their machines. It does send info to China and signing in to use though.
I think once of the easiest to use diode machines is the Xtool S1. It cuts wood great and is a very simple machines to learn with good material libraries available. A little more expensive then some but has a good ventilation system for fumes. There's many others available also but you will have to buy and learn lightburn https://lightburnsoftware.com/ This is a video cutting thin Baltic Birch plywood and this machine is good for about 3/8 inch with multiple passes.

For some plastics and clear materials a diode laser wavelength just passes through a Co2 machines is required. Higher power and faster then diode machines but the result is a wider beam that can result in lower quality engravings. Here's a popular gift I make with a Co2 machine.

For leather either will work but a co2 results in less cleanup of soot in the end I find. Here's a video of some glass engraving and leather at the end. Skip through the beginning if you're not interested in some of the setup required.

Best is to search youtube for lasering the materials you will use to find more info. The laser manufacturers use youtube for their advertising and give away many machines for creators to try and work firmware bugs out.

 

[Sidekick]

Here's some old photos of us a friend just did for me on ceramic tiles using a new UV fiber laser