As a complete novice regarding engraving machines I want to thank you for pointing out the safety issues that need to be considered when purchasing such equipment, you may have just saved my sight.Thanks for the video and advice.

This is the first review of laser engravers I found useful, I almost bought this. So thank you!

I bought one and modified much of it to suit what I wanted. Main thing was to use drag chains for the cabling and also change the software to use LaserGRBL which is free and a thousand times better than what came with the machine. I do have an 80 watt CO2 laser that I used for doing jobs like name badges, engrave and cut, but I found that this diode laser actually does a better job and more easily too. I also added some changes to the laser output end by adding a 3D printed nozzle that carries a flow of air to the engraving area, this made the engraving far better and also cleared away the smoke generated. I ended up putting the whole machine inside a MDF case that has smoke extraction built in, red acrylic side panels for laser protection. In all, I would say that for the price it is a good start for building a cheap machine that is practical for many small jobs, but needs to be made safer. The laser coming on without warning is a worry, so the best way around that is to press the low laser button and leave it on while starting up the machine and also the computer. This button uses the laser in low level power for setting the focus and also for placing the work piece in position. When the software has been started and everything is ready for engraving, release the low level button and the laser will not start unexpectedly by itself then and only fire when the software instructs it to do so.

Thank you for a great review opened me up to what this is really like and convinced me to save a little more money and get something worth it.

Very educational video, and thanks for sharing. I imagine that we'll be seeing those steppers or parts of the structure in a future project video then!

I appreciate you putting this together. I have a CO2 and have considered one of these as a light engraver, as I've seen some great results in them. However, the points about plastic construction convince me that I should consider a better machine, as I don't mind constructing it once but high probability of the plastic stressing and breaking is something to consider if once is enough. Thanks again!

Thanks for this . Looking forward to a further discussion video on lasers.

I have the same engraver and I agree with every conclusion you came up with. I have more luck engraving in wood than anything else but most of the time I'm engraving text onto pieces that already have a finish applied. The finish makes it much easier to clean off the residue that is left behind. I think there was a firmware update that was suppose to correct the issue with the laser starting out on full power when you turn it on. I don't seem to have that issue now but I still make sure to keep my hands away when I power it on.

Thanks for the honest review!

Thanks for the honesty.

I have the same machine and I am very pleased with it. I have over 90 plus hours of engraving and no problems. I use T2 Laser program and it is the best ever. I always use compressed air to blow away the soot at the end. This machine paid for itself at least 5 times. CO2 laser are great but you have more work area with this machine than you have with a co2 laser. They are also expensive to maintain like changing mirrors and the gas. Great video though

Great review man thanks.

Nice video. I've been toying with the idea of adding a laser head to a machine but didn't know much about them. I guess now I know what to stay away from!

All valid points....but this machine can really work well: You can use something like LightBurn for the software..WAY better! To make your burns even, you can turn on overscan, and this will avoid the edges being darker, due to acceleration and deceleration. You can use an airgun to blow away any burn material, to avoid smudging. This machine, for the price, with a little tuning can work well! Just needs a bit of tuning, but not everyone is capable of that..in which case, solid advice: Go get a K40 400Lb machine.... :-). Thank you for taking the time to create this review and video!

great and onest video ty sir

I have one of these and have had it for a couple of years. I like it sort of, but it was a 2nd had one and the laser isn't the factory one that was supposed to have came with it. It still does fairly decent. When I engrave wood with it, I wash it off lightly with water, let it dry, then clear coat it.

Really interesting overview. Would love to see a more in depth comparison between this and an entry level co2 laser.

Thanks for your video and the information because I’ve got this model and a K40 that I haven’t even used simply because I’m old school hammer and nails guy and the technical area ( computer and software) is not my department and that’s the area I’ve got to get my head around. I got this model off a relative but I bought the K40 about 7mths ago. Anyway (again) thanks for your video as it’s certainly opened my eyes or SAVED THEM looking at the virtual zero safety features and I thought the K40 was bad in that area although it’s now in a safer condition than when I bought it, Liverpool 🇬🇧

My A3 laser is a 2.5 watt model and I got it to cut 3mm Baltic birch plywood with a VERY slow speed, 100% power, 2 passes and also a change in firmware so I can control it with LaserGRBL! It works just fine and I even laser cut a PrintrBot 3d printer...

Hello Robert, Thank you for informative video! Well done. Question: What operating system does this cutter use? Perhaps I missed that part of the video...? Thank in advance. ~Andrew

Laughed out loud when it came to the balloon shooting! Great video, horrible/scary machine! :)

You can actually get 20W fiber lasers with a galvanometer for engraving from Chinese manufacturers in the 10-15k usd range. We are strongly thinking about getting one for our company..

Thank you. I was thinking about getting this but now after watching this video there is no way I would get this device. Thank you

If you buy bottom of the line 40W laser you'll face the same problems. Resolution is low because it's actually burning. Yes, the dot is small, but the wood/paper is burning around the dot too. The more power (or to be more precise energy - power for specific time ) you put in, the bigger the burned hole will be - deeper and wider. And if you actually burn wood you have to slightly overpower it because wood has grain - some spots are lighter, some are darker. The darker burn easier. So $250 or $25 000 you'll face the same problems. Except that the bigger laser will actually have some safety built in and might have better software

Thank you good info Looking for the k40 you mentioned, but can’t find it anywhere

Perfect review. I have been trying to understand the difference in laser engravers and this certainly saved me from wasting $200 on something that I wouldn't use in the long run.

Thanks Robert, First video I have seen a negative review for, appreciate the honesty. Is the depthness something you can change under a laser setting? It might make it take much longer though

Thanks very informative. I’m researching for something I can attach to my cnc router. It’s a heavy duty home make toy. Cuts 48” x 60”. Ive made a plasma pan and attached my Lincoln Procut 55 Plasma cutter. Now i want to add the Laser. Any suggestions would be great.

Cool death ray

Hi....this style laser machine is widely on ebay etc....what i find odd is that there is no consistent pattern of assembling the x gantry /laser...some have the belt mounted on top some on bottom....some have the stepper motor mounted with power connection pointing up some pointed down......any input on why?

Awesome video. Can you recomend a product with a CO2 laser - 35-40W and maybe A3 big? I would love to cut multiple papers in one session, instead of plotting one paper after another. Would be awesome if you have a product recomendation for me! Thanks a lot!

Thank you for not pimping an affiliate link as so many KZfaqrs do now.

Thank you so much. Indeed i am a new subscriber here and i found your video so useful. I am also a beginner to laser and i would like to know if this kind is good for me as i already have ordered one. Thank you in advance if you guide me. I will also appreciate all the comments from other subscribers.

Hello, does it cut 1mm cardboard? 2mm? Great video

Hey that was a great video and good explanation. I was wondering if you could recommend me To get a laser Device to crave mirrors or glass and a good decent price . That will cause under a $1000

I recently got one of these engravers, but the laser unit has become very weak after only a few weeks and not much use. The light is not just very faint and now no longer engraves, have you experience any similar problems?

Print some 3d printer belt tensioners and use them. You can find them in thiniverse

Can you mark metal with it? I dont need to cut it just mark letters in it... Thank you

what would you recommend for around $200 or $300 laser that can do portraits?

Im looking for a laser cutter that can cut dollar store foam board and 1/8 in plywood the dimmensions of the foam board are 20in x 30in what laser cutter would u recommend while spending the least amount of money possible?

Interested in just exactly what you would recommend? I am looking at buying a laser and I would like to be able to do as large a surface as possible.

Please tell me what I do for only stencil cutting for air brush please tell

how thick is the plexiglas from which the pieces are made?

Just put this thing together for my girlfriends mom. After watching this video she doesn't even want it anymore lol and I'm kinda hesitant on firing this thing up. Thanks for the warnings and telling it straight

Hi Robert, I am looking for a little brass engraver, nothing fancy, just want to be able to mark keys. Any that you would recommend? Thanks!

Very interested in the follow up video idea mentioned. Particularly thoughts on the K40 style laser cutters which seem like a good alternative for not a huge amount more money. What has put me off those was they all seem to require a dedicated staked ground connection and it's not completely clear how to do properly safe setup in terms of grounding and ventilation.

Having worked with industrial lasers for my whole career (30 years now), these cheap machines scare the bejesus out of me. The thought of people using them on their kitchen tables with kids nearby is terrifying. 2.5W is a significant eye safety hazard and a machine like that would be illegal in Europe (and I guess the USA) without adequate guarding and interlocks. Having said that, with the right safety procedures in place they are a great introduction to lasers and incredibly cheap. With a few simple modifications, I am sure it could be a useful tool.

Do you think it cuts paper/card stock?

I have been looking for an engraver/cutter for a while now but everything is in the thousands. Is there anything that you would know of/recommend for around the 500 mark?

Robert, is it possible that the open design is so you could engrave a large design by breaking it up into sections, and then moving the laser around to engrave each section? Seems you obviously couldn't do that with an enclosed machine. Please excuse rookie question, I'm just starting to shop around for my first machine. Thanks!

How do I clear a "still work in process" error??

Hello there , thanks for yr nice video , i got Eleks A3 pro 2500 W , i build it as it well belt tension is good but i have a problem with the software , when i load a pic the laser working and flashing but in same place dosen't move , the three motors got power i feel it by touch but they don't move at all , can u help me pls . thanks

Does anyone know if you can get a standard carving head for this machine ? The smaller units have both laser and cnc carving heads.

I know this probably isn’t up your ally but maybe it is, yesterday my Eleks servo motors were working just fine and then all of a sudden they quit after it made a cut I tired to move them with the back and forth buttons and nothing I looked on the Eleks forum and they talked about the Micro USB cable can go bad so I bought another one and its still not workin, the laser comes on when I change screen but no movement what do you think? the error im getting is Still in Running and it skips and its cutting

Love the review! What would you say the best all around affordable set up for a 40w-60w c02 lazer would be?

Brother, I need a mega help, I have an EleksLaser-A3 Pro 2500mW but I haven't been able to cut it yet. I would like to know if it has the power to cut a 3mm MDF sheet ... do I not know how to regulate the laser and speed or do I not have the power for that? Thanks in advance, great channel, one more writing !! sorry for the text, i'm brazilian.

I use the almost same laser 2.5 watt and it works really well the guy does a good review but doesnt know how to use what he has with a little patiance and willingness to learn these are nice beginer/intermeadiate lasers

Do you think this will work for wooden pens? I need to be able to go through the wood in order to inlay gold or silver dust. Also a light text

what is the minimum font size of engraved ????

I would love to learn more about laser cutters. I'm very interested in purchasing one, but it's very daunting.

Hey Robert! New subscriber here! Thanks a LOT fr this video, I was thinking on getting one of this engravers. So, do you have reviewed a good one you can recomend? I´m going to check your other videos. Cheers!

$350 for a k40 .....but whats the work area size?...tiny right?....

What sun drivers would you suggest using with what program for a begginer to use on a laser engraver like this 1 ?

how much cost of the over all project

Do you still have the k40 with the dsl laser controller? I would love to see some videos in the future on this topic if possible.

Is there enough belt material in the kit t accommodate a bigger frame should I decide to get some longer extrusions?

Hello anybody knows how i can adapt the dimensions as i want ? because the software change automatically

I liked your review of this laser a lot. I've been interested in getting into a laser but don't want to waste time and money on junk that won't do the job. (Did see a video that improves this one a lot for PCB board work) Clearly this laser isn't for me. I'm interested in a CO2 laser to engrave and cut with, but I'd like good quality between say $300 to $500. Any suggestions to a good brand to look into?

Is it possible to burn a logo directly into a table top or slab of wood larger than the unit while the unit is sitting on that slab? I have been looking at branding irons but do not like the limitation of having just one brand, or having to purchase over and over ...vs the flexibility of putting unique or custom designs onto cutting boards, coasters and tables I have made. Thanks in advance

if laser head is 10W can i engrave the metal ? if can how to setting it

Yeah, this is the big issue with buying kits from china. I've just built a super cheap CNC and had the same issues, the instructions were lacking (the ones I was provided were in Chinese) and pieces in my kit were different from what was shown. Now I'm struggling to get it cutting because all the software and setup instructions are in Chinese

Hello, can you please let me know how to zoom in an image in the software app?

Hello , i have Eleksmaker A3 pro ,do i need to calibrate the machine? I have installed the program, I choοse the COM and the machine. , what do button set home and home? I can move the laser manually, but when I select the photo while it shows to the computer that it reads the design it does not move the laser at all. Could you help me? Thank you

Hello what this software please.

I have the same system and use benbox software, stepper motors work great but the laser does not fire.....any ideas I am at my wits end

I dont find these little machine as bad as you tell in the end of the clip. I dont have it but i think, that - like already described by others - it is a solid beginner model for users, who want enter the world of engraving and explore first resultats without give tousands of money for a professional purpose. Even if it would be bought a profesdional in the future: This little is a fullfunction what also allows to demonstrate live a process how engraving works at all. Bigger and professional purposes - in the function they are the same - but have s lot more functions and accessoires. Yes, a co2 tube laser has much more power than a little beginners diode-laser in the 2.5 up to 5.5w sector and another appropriate wavelength for cutting i.e. acryllic glas and so on... You meant as an example for bigger powerful lasers the models i.e. k40 (if i understood rightly) instead of this... Hmmmmh if close my recommendation on a comparison between this or co2 tube versions of china-lasers - i would decide for this little!! Because every second thread about i.e. k40 "for only 100dollars/euro more to get a powerful" tells a story about little up to big desaster... If i see the manufactoring-quality of the k40 and its next version only, and look back onto this little fine engraver, i feel confirmed myself in all thoughts... My needs are morw cutting purposes (housings for devices i.e.) and therefore not the 5.5w, neighter the 2.5w version would help me out. And wouldnt help me this wavelength... But i would buy it almost alone only for watching it ;) :) One thing left - the testswitch. It is for testing: "does/can the laser work?" Yes it can be dangerous, because fullpowered the laser starts working without further warning... But also very expensive laser-controllers have a function "lase on startup" whats for the purpose on powerfailure while lasing and controllers place isnt operators in the moment. So if controller adjusted in this way, fullpower lasing is continued after power returns (or start the controller next time). In my synrad 48-2 laserhead (as oem without keyswitch) with above 30w measured by synrad "unwanted/expected" full-laser-power on switching on could lightly burn sth. down. Therefore - maybe i see the "laser-confirm-button" on the top here not as a so big danger as probably others do... Knowing and not forgetting. Snd everythime dont start the laser without a fireresistant plate under it. Respect a dangerous thing help not get injured by it. Fear does opposite!!

hi sir. i have a 3 feet by 3feet cnc which i made by my self.i am an un citified engineer.. i just want to know that can i use this software on my cnc machine with same laser ?

also. the pluse seting is probably the step/mm isnt it. that would explain the bad resolution on the engraving since you scaled it over 3 times. also for cutting you could use easel without tool ofset

Guys, how do I find those aluminium "beams" you use for the structure? What are they called?

can you please tell me does this machine use for fabric cutting like polyester or cotton.

Thank you so much, I came so close to buying one of these build your own kits, I'm so glad I didn't ill definitely be shopping around for a co2 laser, main issue right now is that i can find an A3 co2 laser cutter at a reasonable price, really open to suggestions on this one

Belts run under the v groove wheels instead of idler for y axis/ that's weird.

Price and link where I can buy this

can I buy laser just ?

Oh meh gawsh. I became impressed with the product even thought the review seemed to under-rate it. The laser is as close to a gun as you can get; you shouldn't be around either. Was that you at the New England/Saint Louis playoff game?

i wonder if you could do a video exploring the mods required to make this a useable item? i for one would be interested, would it be possible to get it somewhere near to a 'real' laser engraver with a few simple mods or are we talking hundreds spent for no gain?

Try it vs anodized aluminum. I don't have this laser, but I am waiting on one. I ordered it because I have a 2.5w blue laser and i pointed it at anodized aluminum with good results. I tried red and black, and it stripped the color from both. While I am waiting, I it would be cool to see if it works well on the cnc lol.

Have you tested the goggles that came with it? I wouldnt trust some Chinese reseller to include a decent pair of laser goggles, or even some bad ones that are correct for the wavelength of the laser.

hello i whant machin engraved to silver and or thank you

will it cut white foamboard 5mm thick. Like the dollar tree foam board?

Hi just found your channel. I'm in the market for a laser, what brand of 40w laser do you suggest? Thank you

It's cheap and fun to learn a bit about Laser engraving, if you know nothing about the hobby (Or job) I have been a electronic Engineer for 50 years and now I am retired I decided to play around with a few cheap Chinese Electronic units due to their cheapness, We are not all Millionaires who can afford £1000. to £100,000 to buy the expensive units just to learn how they work or how to use them, I 100% agree on the safety Laser goggles, and due to the Low laser power you are not going to accidentally slice you head of with one of these if something goes wrong with the unit. I read a lot of comments on cheap Chinese Electronics, some are good and some are bad But I love them because when experimenting with them if you bust something it's not going to cost an arm and a leg to replace the part! Unless you buy the units from RS Components, or farnells electrical. Both very expensive compared to the Cheap Chinese stuff, but hay I have had over 100 cheap Chinese LED, LCD panel meters (All installed in units I have built over the years, and still working fine costing pennies. This is only my opinion. Good Video thought! If I had to buy all my Electronics from the main Electronic dealers, like I used to when working for the companies I used to work for, I would need to be far richer than I am now. If you want to see some of the items I made since retiring, type My electronic work shed.

Estes filmes de instruções não podem ser traduzidos para o português

So, what are your thoughts (or other people's thoughts) on whether I could use this for cutting out stencils for air brushing - bottom line it'd be paper or maybe manila folder type material.

hY, Is it only a Engraver CNC ? Do you know a similar model to Cut also ?

When i assembled mine per instructions....its all opposite in communication with benbox....when u try to move left in benbox the engraver moves right and same with up down..all opposite

hello I have a problem with a benbox that the laser no longer burns. what will be

Please tell me how to buy this product

Have you reviewed any newer models of laser engravers? Do you think I could engrave a logo and my name on the flat bottoms of my wood bowls?

would that laser head work on my machine...