As someone who has experience with less powerful laser engravers, this machine wowed me straight out of the box. This machine is incredible!
Pros:
• Easy to assemble
The gantry comes fully assembled, so this machine takes less than fifteen minutes to set up, including unboxing and reading through the included literature. The laser module easily slides into the support, and the air asssist connects to a pre-assembled hose. This comes with multiple supports than can be adjusted based on the workspace, so this machine is easy to level. I've only ever used machines that must be assembled piece-by-piece, so this was a breeze in comparison.
• Safety features
My favorite thing about this machine is that it has plenty of built-in safety features. The laser module is mostly enclosed with a safety shield across the front. This comes with ANSI rated safety goggles as well. As someone with children and pets in the house, I especially like that this comes with a key to run this off and on as well as an emergency stop button. There is a pause button as well as the emergency stop. If someone comes into my workspace who isn't wearing proper eyewear, I can quickly pause my project. This has a flame detection sensor which will automatically turn off the machine if a material ignites. It also has a lens sensor that indicates when the lens must be cleaned as well as an air assist monitor that turns yellow when the airflow is low and red when it is off. In addition, the laser will stop if the machine detects a sudden change in orientation. If it gets bumped off a surface, the laser will automatically turn off, reducing the risk of the laser firing in an unintentional direction.
• Compatible with Lightburn software.
The other lasers I own are Lightburn compatible, so I can run projects I've previously created on this machine, saving design time. Lightburn is fairly inexpensive and is fairly powerful, though it isn't always the most intuitive. This laser operates with g-code, so theoretically, other software could potentially be used, though I haven't tried it.
• Full offline features
I don't always like to use my computer in my garage, so I really like that this laser is easy to operate offline. It has auto-homing and framing buttons as well as X-Y controls which allow me to easily align the laser with my project. The only issue I've had running projects offline is that the TF card doesn't always read the most recent file in the root directory, so I've made it a best practice to delete previous projects prior to loading new files onto the card.
• Powerful, precise and fast
With a twenty-two watt optical output and the ability to operate at up to twenty-five thousand millimeters per minute, this machine can efficiently engrave and cut through a variety of materials. It cuts three millimeter plywood like butter, leaving a crisp edge with no burnout whatsoever. I've successfully engraved stainless steel and was shocked at the depth of the engraving. Most diode lasers can mark steel, but this can remove metal and can color-engrave based on the power and speed set in lightburn. Not only is this powerful, it is also precise. I was able to engrave a coated paper to reveal the white inner layer and to cut the outer shape as well. This would work to create intricate
filigree paper cuttings. I successfully engraved and cut through cast black three millimeter acrylic in one pass. I didn't have a piece of fifteen millimeter basswood on hand, so I tested an eleven millimeter piece of plywood. The laser almost cut through in one pass, but I had to cut the back side of the project with a knife. I'll keep testing, but this likely requires additional passes to cut thicker materials. I'm still impressed. In comparison to my five and ten watt lasers, this can cut much more material in much less time. In addition to metal, wood, paper and acrylic, I've also used this on slate. I haven't yet tested leather or fabric, but expect great results based on my experience with other materials.
• Includes integrated air assist
I absolutely love the integrated air assist feature! My projects come out with no charring, so there's less cleanup and post-processing involved, saving me lots of time. The air assist seems to automatically adjust to the project, so my engravings come out with nice detail while my cuts are clean.
• Additional accessories available-
While this model doesn't come with a rotary module, they are available. I would love to expand this laser's capabilities to engrave on curved surfaces by purchasing the rotary module in the future.
Cons
• Lacking an enclosure and ventilation system-
This laser must be operated in a well-ventilated area such as an open garage. In the future, I would like to build an enclosure with a dedicated ventilation, since this generates smoke and other vapors as the laser sublimates the materials.
• Requires several small, easily-lost accessories-
This laser comes with a three-lev...