My friend's business uses a small 20W CO2 for engraving. The warning sticker on the front reads "DO NOT LOOK INTO LASER WITH REMAINING EYE" and, for convenience, it's also in Braille.

Maker's Muse posted 2 videos about these kind of laser cutters/engravers not that long ago. He talked about what you need to look out for when engraving different matterials and also some concerns about the safety of them. I would highly recommend you watch them to be on the save side. And Nate did a great job building an enclosure for it.

Thank you for highlighting the safety aspects too many creators gloss over or ignore safety precautions especially with lasers and resin

You are correct, bamboo just always does that. Even with a CO2 laser, that's the results. Also, a CO2 wavelength keeps it from marking bare metal. The best thing to use for metal is a fiber laser. Another way to clean the soot off of wood is with denatured alcohol. If it's a large piece, sometimes, we clean it first then hit is with a little sanding. Look into photos. A diode laser is slow, but it gives extrememly good results with photo engraving!

In our experience (with co2 laser engraver ) they emphasize using a ventilation system because the laser creates particles that are so fine they are inhalable . we deal with plastic so I am not sure if that makes a difference, but I suggest finishing your exhaust system sooner rather than later. Great video!

Electrical tape is made of PVC, when you ablate PVC with a laser, it will create chlorine gas, so electrical tape isn't the best option. I highly doubt that little amount is anything to worry about, but just a comment for the future :-)

building an enclosure is always a smart first step with these open gantry machines. I agree with other commenters that it's probably a good idea to get a better set of goggles certified for the wavelength. Interesting to see how well it did on the stainless without surface coatings.

Finally! someone who addresses the glaring safety issues of these lasers. I'd have gotten one already except for my fear of having a 5W+ laser sitting around my house.

Love watching you testing this out! Can't wait to see what you make with! A possible upgrade to the enclosure would be an interior switch that kills the laser if the lid is open (more for safety of others who might see or be around and don't know all about it) Not sure if the new laser has a way of adding that, but could probably add an input to computer running lightburn, or just make it kill power to the laser. Idk, if you decide to add one, I'm sure you'll come up with something even more clever than above.

Nate - spend some money on some goggles certified to block the wavelength that laser diode emits. Your vision is worth more than some cheap amber goggles.

Congrats on the new toy! I just got the xTool D1 (almost the same machine, functionally), and I've been using it to make leather armor! Super awesome!

I friggin love that you're building again

"I got a new tool. The first thing I'm going to do is build a box/enclosure for it." -Pretty much every maker Great video.

glad to see everyone here referencing makers muse's video

That looks freaking awesome Nate, great laser, need a chain on the lid of the box to hold for you 👍🏼👍🏼🇦🇺🇦🇺🦘🦘Cheers from Melbourne Australia

finally a video with a 10w diode laser actually trying some metal. Wish I could find painted tin etching. I want to laser our logo onto the lids of some candle tins

Laser some lunch meat lol. Just as a quick sanitized look into what would happen if a hand went in, kinda like waterjet channel did with hotdogs

For another, in-depth perspective on this type of machine, I recommend the video from Maker’s Muse: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/Y5-YfLuFnaqxhYk.html Short summary: If it doesn’t have an enclosure with proper venting and shielding, you’re going to be breathing fumes from whatever you’re cutting (probably a health hazard), and could incur eye damage from a laser reflection or even set the room on fire.

I love lasers but I also don't wanna loose my eyesight. Those laser goggles don't look very convincing, I would side with StyroPyro and suggest getting laser glasses from a reputable brand specifically for the wavelength of your laser. Remember kids: safety first and never skimp on PPE

Angus at @makersmuse would be proud of your safety precautions!

i think co2 lasers cant cut metal because its infrared light, and metal is pretty damn good at reflecting that. thinking about a rescue blanket here, that stuff gets vapor deposited metal on it wich is ridiculously thin, yet perfectly able to reflect most of the IR radiation from a person

Nate got me wanting something I never would have thought I wanted 😆

Some metals work, some metals don't. I have made attempts at metal and it just comes right off by shop towel. Copper/brass/aluminum don't work well because heat goes away to quickly. Air assist, is more used for the cutting side over engraving, but can still be used. For the bamboo color variations, its does the same for different types of wood, even same type of wood but different tree. The settings you have set for the engrave side can actually be turned up- faster speed/higher power to get faster results. Lightburn is the preferred program by many laser users. In lightburn there is a material test that you can figure out the best setting for each material. Darkest spot, fastest speed, lowest power- usually gives best results. The box you made for it, I would have recommended putting the white side towards the laser. Dark colors are easier to engrave/damage.

Instead of making a Masonite blank, and tracing your metal off of that, now, you can make your blank, check its feel, and then put the metal in and run the exact same pattern, and you've already got your trace.

Love the Ortur products but for knife engraving you should definitely go the Fiber laser route. Way faster and basically it is made for it.

Nate, just an idea... I've seen your passion for knife making and if you had a knife making business I'd buy one from you and I'm sure you could make a ton of money doing something you love.

Can it fake a Damascus pattern? How does it do cutting clear acrylic, or other clear plastic?

wow very cool

Amazing I love it. 😎👍 Do my Umbrella Corp. Logo next, please. 🙏

That's bad ass.

Is that amber acrylic designed to block certain frequencies of light or is it just amber?

How does it do with aluminum? Maybe in a future video? Thank you.

That seems like a lot less cost than I thought it would be. $800 for the higher end model.

Great, a new video! Thx.

If I sent you a design that I have been told cannot be cut and like to see how that would cut it out in the metal does it do metal as far as cutting out is concerned. What’s the depth?

Hey nice vid. I was ordering a muffler and they were going to laser engrave it for me with my logo. I was wanting a more bronze look instead of very black like what yours did. Is this dependent on the source material I provide or the machine and the way they do it? Was wondering if I need to provide them a brown color logo vs my standard black one or does it matter?

For personal use the diode is good for metal but for mass production the fiber is 👌🏽 but the cost is wayyy up there. Great video.

I have seen from ILTMS Bob that if you place a layer of blue painters tape, it will stop the shadow engraving getting rid of the need to sand it away

How is this going to change how you do the iron man suit?

Maybe a silly question, but couldn't you etch an outline of your knife design on a block of metal?

Do you think that laser could do a makers mark. ( if you had the patience to do something like that.)

Awesome! Another thing my wife will tell me no to.

lmao can see in the reflection of the 'amber plastic' that you're not wearing the safety goggles half the time while its running.

is there a way that you can measure the depth of burn on the knife? i would be curious to know two passes go how deep?

Hello Nate, great video.... I need some help I'm a bigginer and I can't connect to the (laser explorer app) to my ortur laser master 3. Any suggestions? And I'd also like to know when selecting the kinda material to use how many material database dose the app has? Appart from wood

I know this is an old video but I was wondering what Stainless you used and was it hardened and tempered? Thanks

How about heat and smock it not be a problem with this box you made ?

Nate - where did you get the range Plexiglass panels you used on the enclosure?

Laser company: This thing has two layers of protection! Nate: Have you met me? I'm gunna build a whole nother layer. You're amazingly capable and terrifyingly clumsy. A fun combination from a safe distance!

Hello, we bought "ortur master 3", we completed the installation, but when we start the machine, the yellow light flashes and gives a signal. The computer does not recognize what should we do?

I'm looking for a laser engraver to engrave 24inch X 24inch stainless steel. What do you recommend?

Can you use this to make a faux Damascus knife?

Cool capability. I would try using technique of burning not only the logo but the actual knife template straight to the steel. Clear permanent precise lines? The wood template good for test/fine tuning the shape but...Put the template straight to the metal instead of wood template traced to metal?

I'd like to etch or engrave pure silver. Can this machine handle that?

ok ask for only steel since he stated that is 3x more time than he can do. oh no my handle doesnt 'feel' good. what if I have no idea how my hand feels :( so if I order the knife type without a handle; do I get more than a 30% discount or?

why wood and not metal for the panels?

Hi! Are those speeds in mm/minute? Because mm/meter makes no sense to me

Does the software come with the laser? I'm new to this. Thanks!!

Question, it works on wood, plastic, I am assuming metal but does it work on glass? And what is the depth?

i struggled getting anything like that, im using 24w diode and done your settings as different settings and nothing as like that

That is likely the 10watt version. They have a 20 watt one now that will engrave stainless steel in hundreds of colours believe it or not. It is all done by setting the power levels and the differing amount of heat gives differing colours on stainless steel. I can’t wait to try it when mine arrives.

Lightburn is nice once you figured it out

7:33 little overkill for a business card :)

I know you did the stainless. What about a blade of 1095 or O1 tool steel? Try the annealed and one after being heat-treated. Those are the alloys that most of the knife makers i know use and have some difficulty marking. I know a true (deep) etch will require a fiber laser. Just curious as to what affect it will have on these materials.

How does this one comparison to the Genmitsu Jinsoku LC-40 Laser Engraver you reviewed not too long ago

A honeycomb bed helps when cutting.

can you adjust height with this one ? Say if i have a product, a box, a mug, does it still get the job done on the unflat surface?

You should try making a hammer

I would love to know if it could cut through half inch cardboard and do an awesome design in the cardboard?

You’re not supposed to use manufactured woods with laser cutters. The glues are made of chemicals like formaldehyde that get vaporized into the air.

Any chance your on line ? I'm trying to engrave tumbler with ortur and I've gone through 8 cups. Ant chance I can ask u some questions?

Well now I just have to bite the bullet and order one of these, I've been hand engraving/etching my co workers and my own butcher knives over at work for like 15 years now. Want something to have higher detail as the intricate things I do are getting to be VERY annoying..... Thank you for the review.

You literally vaporise the material and you can adjust the spacing and angle of attack to get a prismatic effect.

What type of laser is this?

I'd love to see if it can etch into 925 or 999 silver!

I would like to see testing with cutting through various thicknesses of materials. What is realistic.

I would love to see if this laser engraver/cutter could cut and leave an image in leather??

Hey man cool video. I’m a blade maker my self , I have a bunch of knives of finished with handles, how will this laser go putting a logo on a finished knife? Meaning the blade will no longer lay flat… will I need to prop the knife up to make it level some how or will it work out its own level… or etch it anyway?

Nice video Nate. If you like lasers, you might enjoy a few of our videos! :)

I can to engraving in Silver or gold with this láser, thanks You.

Could someone please post me a photo of the USB that fits into the laser. I need to find a replacement

*In our next video, StyroPyro stops by to upgrade our laser engraver with a diode that's 100 times more powerful.*

Is this on Amazon. If not. Please let the company know to bring it on amazon

Does it or can it work with a mobile app. Take pictures photos and send it directly to the machine. Instead of being behind a computer. Editoring. Just doing my work while pooping instead of stoping on the pc software to use the bathroom. Like the laserpecker app. Does it have a app for this. Mobile editing engraving is best. U don't be stuck in one spot whole day. Move around your house. Set up machine and be u. If any problems with machine. It will show up on your phone. U can head back to fix it. Thats what I would like

Stick some blue painters tape on wood surface before engraving.

Remember to wear a respirator when using it. Ya don't want the vaporized material getting into your lungs.

I thought this was a video on how to set up and use the tool

You have got to try cutting fruit with that...

Cool laser, but does it also blacken chicken?

How many passes did you set for the "Dog Tags"?

Dont use lazer engravers without A) very good ventilation B) the proper lazer saftey eyewear (no, the cheap pairs sent with most lazers are _not_ good enough)

without that air pump soot will get on the lens and fry them!

Hey Nate, you've got me wanting one of these! I make knives too, mostly with good old-fashioned forging. Want to trade blades?

Glass

Can do direct to metal designs instead of cutting out a template nice

custom leather knife sheeths

Price??

also when you come to it please purify the air that's blown away, and having smoke and possibly toxic gases in the air is not fun. and like what Azrael said watch the videos by maker's muse, but good job for making an enclosure!

Try a fake Damascus pattern on a blank...

That is not engraving. That is marking a steel. Engraving does involve depth cutting, at least >17 microns. Has the manufacturer tested depth it can cut in few materials, wood, polymers and metals?