Laser detailing
Working with lasers to leave your print on it.
How to Get Started With Laser Cutting? – Beginners Guide
Laser Cutters are great tools offering the possibility to create many different things. From simple boxes to engraving detailed graphics into wood or building complex three-dimensional objects. In this beginners guide, I will explain the basics of how a laser cutter works, show you some examples of things that can be made with a laser and how to create designs for laser cutting or engraving. You’ll also learn which material can be used and how to get access to a laser cutter.
What is a laser cutter?
A laser cutter is a computer controlled machine that uses a laser beam to precisely cut or engrave material. A laser is basically just highly focused, highly amplified light. The laser beam causes the material to locally burn, melt or vaporize. The kind of material that a laser can cut depends on the type of laser and the specific machine’s power.
The term “Laser” is an acronym for “Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation”. Laser technology was developed in the 1960s.
There are different types of laser cutters. This guide will focus on gas lasers and CO2 lasers in particular, as this type is most commonly used by hobbyists and small businesses. Other types are for example fiber or crystal lasers which are mostly used for industrial applications.
CO2 laser cutters are capable of cutting and engraving a wide range of non-metallic materials such as wood, paper, acrylic, textiles, and leather. For more materials and details look here.
How does a laser cutter work?
In a CO2 laser cutter machine, the laser beam is created in a tube filled with CO2 gas. Next, with the help of mirrors and lenses, the laser beam is directed to the laser head and focused on the material surface. Electronically controlled motors move the laser head to cut or engrave the desired shape into the material of the workpiece. The shape is defined by an input file which can be a vector or raster image.
When the laser hits the material, a very small area is heated in an extremely short period, causing the material to melt, burn or vaporize.
What can you do with a laser cutter?
In general, there are three tasks that a laser cutter can perform: Cutting, Engraving and Marking.
Cutting
When the laser beam goes all the way through the material of the workpiece it creates a cut. A laser cut is generally very precise and clean. The look of the cut edges depends on the material. For example, the edges of cut wood are typical of a darker brown than the original wood. The edges of acrylic do not change color and have a nice glossy finish after laser cutting.
The kerf of a laser cutter is very small. The term kerf refers to the width of the groove made while cutting. This varies from material to material and is also dependent on the specific settings of the laser. For many materials, the kerf will be somewhere between 0.05 mm (0.002 in) and 0.5 mm (0.02 in).
Engraving
It is called engraving when the laser beam removes parts of the top material but does not cut all the way through the material.
Marking
Marking is when the laser does not remove material but for example, changes the color of the material. With CO2 laser cutters marking is mostly used when working with metals. A marking solution (e.g. CerMark or Enduramark) is applied on the surface of the workpiece. After drying of the marking solution an engraving is performed. The heat from the laser bonds the solution to the metal, resulting in a permanent mark.
How to get started with laser cutting in 4 steps
So you want to laser cut your own design? Here’s a step-by-step overview of what you need to consider to make it happen.
1. Get access to a laser cutter 2. Choose a material to cut or engrave 3. Create your design 4. Cut or engrave it
1. Do I need to buy a laser cutter?
In many cases the answer will be no – you don’t need to buy a laser cutter. There are a lot of other options to get access to a laser cutter:
Makerspaces
If you are interested in getting some hands-on experience with a laser cutter, I recommend looking for a local makerspace. Makerspaces – sometimes also called maker lab or hackerspace – are collaborative work spaces for making and learning. They offer a variety of equipment like for example 3D printers, CNC machines, soldering irons and very often also laser cutters!
The big advantage of makerspaces is that the other people there are usually very helpful and they often also offer courses on how to operate their machines. There are many different types of makerspaces some are non-profit, others operate based on memberships or charge fee for the usage of equipment. Check out if there is a makerspace nearby. The site themakermap.com is a good place to start looking.
Schools, colleges and universities
Especially if you are a student, schools, colleges and universities are also a good place to look for a laser cutter.
Laser cutting services
The third option is using a laser cutter service. When working with a laser cutting service you just send them your files, choose a material and then the company will do the cutting and ship the finished parts to you. Below you can find some online laser cutting services or just look for a local laser cutting shop.
Formulor (Germany/Europe)
Cut Laser Cut (UK)
Buying a Laser Cutter
If you are just starting with laser cutting I recommend trying one of the options above before looking into buying a laser cutter to get some experience and find out which features are most important for you.
Even when looking only at CO2 lasers, there is a wide variety of different laser machines available and the selection is continuously growing. The price range is big, with entry-level Chinese imports starting at about 500 EUR/USD and professional grade machines costing several 10,000 EUR/USD. In this guide, I won’t go into more details, but I plan to write an overview of the different types available on the market and the most important features to consider when buying a laser cutter, in a future post.
2. What materials can be cut or engraved with a laser?
CO2 laser machines are capable of cutting and engraving a variety of materials. However, there are also materials which cannot be processed. This may be because the laser can not cut through the material, or because toxic gases would form. Also, very flammable materials cannot be used.
Depending on the power and other specifications of the machine you are using, the maximal material thickness that can be cut will vary. The power of laser cutters is measured in Watt. Typical power levels range between 30 Watt and 120 Watt. Lasers with higher power are mostly used in industrial applications only.
Material
Cut
Engrave
Comment
Wood
x
x
Plywood
x
x
Lasers can struggle to cut plywood sheets with exterior glue. Use plywood with interior glue.
MDF
x
x
Cork
x
x
Cardboard
x
x
Paper
x
x
Leather
x
x
Use vegetable-tanned for best results
Felt
x
x
Cotton
x
x
Acrylic (Plexiglas)
x
x
Delrin (POM, acetal)
x
x
High-density polyethylene (HDPE)
(x)
(x)
Edges melt badly. Watch closely – easily catches fire.
Polypropylene (PP)
x
x
Melts somewhat
Granite
x
Marble
x
Slate
x
Stone tiles
x
Ceramic, Porcelain
x
Glass
x
Stainless Steel
(x)
Can be marked
Aluminum
(x)
Can be marked
Materials that should not be cut or engraved with a laser
There are materials that should never be processed with a laser because this will lead to the creation of toxic gases or dust which can also damage the machine.
These materials include (but are not limited to):
Leather and artificial leather that contains chromium (VI)
Carbon fibers (Carbon)
Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
Polyvinyl butyrale (PVB)
Polytetrafluoroethylenes (PTFE /Teflon)
Beryllium oxide
Any material containing halogens (fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and astatine), epoxy or phenolic resins
3. How to create a design for laser cutting or engraving?
Most CO2 laser cutters work very much like your everyday inkjet printer. The laser cutter comes with specific drivers which convert an image from a computer into a format that the laser cutter can read.
When working with laser cutters it is important to know the difference between vector images and raster images. Both image file types can be processed but raster images can only be used for engraving and not for cutting.
A vector image stores all the lines and colors as mathematical formulas. Raster images are pixel based. Which means that the image is made up of many small squares. Vector images can be scaled up without any loss in quality whereas raster images will start to “pixelate” at a certain enlargement.
Vector file types: SVG, EPS, PDF, DXF, DWG, CDR (CorelDRAW), AI (Adobe Illustrator)
Raster file types: JPG, PNG, GIF
You can use the software of your choice as long as you export your file in a suitable format. Below are some examples of graphic design software.
2D Design:
3D Design:
Autodesk Fusion 360 (free for hobbyists and small businesses)
Blender (free, open-source)
FreeCAD (free open-source)
Tinkercad (free)
General settings
The first thing that should be considered is the size of your material / the maximal size that the laser bed can accommodate. This defines the maximum size of your design. In general, it is a good idea to set the work area to this size. The color mode should be set to RGB. Different colors are usually used to specify different processes. For example, red could be used for all the parts that will be cut and black will be used for engraving.
Creating a file for laser cutting
As explained before, during a cutting operation, the laser fires a continuous beam at the material to slice through it. To know where to cut the laser machine needs a vector path as the input file. Only vector graphics with the smallest possible line thickness (this depends on the software you are using) will be cut by the laser. All other graphics, like solid shapes or thicker lines, won’t be cut.
When cutting out text or other complex shapes you to consider that unconnected middle parts – like the inside of an “O” – will fall out. Depending on your desired design you may want to prevent this. For text you could, for instance, use a stencil font where all the inside parts of the letters are connected to the outside parts.
Creating a file for laser engraving
When engraving with a laser one can distinguish between vector engraving and raster engraving. Vector engraving is basically the same as cutting with the only difference that for the engraving the power is lower so that the laser just removes parts of the material and does not cut through.
For raster engraving, the input file can either be a vector file or a raster image. During raster engraving, the image is engraved by the laser line by line, pixel by pixel. The process is similar to the way in which an inkjet printer applies ink, but instead of ink being applied, material is removed by the laser beam.
Engraving works for simple shapes as well as for complex images. Photos need to be turned into grayscale images to be engraved.
4. How to use a laser cutter?
Once you have your design ready, it is time for the final step – the cutting on the laser. Laser cutters are very powerful machines. You can create great things with them but they are also potentially dangerous, so first a word of warning. Before using a laser cutter always first make sure you read and understand all the safety instructions that come with it. In addition be aware that that wavelength of a CO2 laser is in the Infra-Red part of the light spectrum, so it is invisible to the human eye ye. The red dot you see with many machines on the material surface is only a positioning aid and not the laser beam that actually doing the cutting.
Preparation
First of all, check that your material fits inside the work area of the laser cutter and cut it to size if necessary. Also, be prepared to make some test cuts or engravings and bring some spare material with you.
You don’t necessarily need any extra tools when working with a laser cutter but in my experience, the following tool might come in handy:
Utility Knife: For cutting material that wasn’t cut all the way through by the laser cutter or to cut paper and cardboard to size.
Painter’s Tape/Masking Tape: Use it for masking the surface of your material to prevent burn stains and to tape down light materials.
Measurement Tape/Calipers: For measuring dimensions and making sure your final objects have the right size.
Settings
The four most important settings of a laser cutter are power, speed, frequency and for focus distance.
Power: Defines the output power of the laser. Typically can be set from 0 to 100% (maximum power). High power is used for cutting thick materials and lower power is used for engraving and cutting of thin materials such as paper.
Speed: Determines the movement speed of the laser head. For engraving and cutting of thin material, the speed is usually set (close) to the maximum.
Frequency (Hz, PPI): The frequency parameter specifies the number of laser pulses per second. Frequency depends completely on the material used. For example wood cuts best at around 500 to 1000 Hz and for acrylic 5000 to 20000Hz are recommended to achieve a smooth edge.
Focus: As previously explained, there is a focusing lens inside the laser head. The focus point (where the laser beam is thinnest) should be on the material surface or slightly below, for most applications. To ensure this the material needs to be a certain distance away from the lens. The exact distance depends on the type of focusing lens that is used. Many laser machines have a motorized bed which can be moved up and down to set the focus distance. Alternatively the position of the material surface a has to be manually adjusted.
So now that you have a basic understanding of the available settings you might ask yourself how to find the right settings for your projects? A good starting point is the laser cutter manual. Often you will find suggested settings for many materials. If you are working on a shared laser in a makerspace there are usually lists with recommended settings available.
Why not invest in a laser cutter and engraving machine?
Technology has reached a point where everyday individuals can purchase an entry-level laser cutter for an affordable price.
If you’re a business and want to take it to the next level, there are upgrade options as well.
However, if you’re new to the idea of laser cutting and engraving you may not know what to look for.
That’s where we come in.
We have a list of the very best laser cutter and engraving machines on the market today, for all possible price points. So whether you want to spend a few hundred bucks or several thousand, we’re here for you.
These are our favourite laser cutter and engraving machines.
Things to Consider
Even if you work in the printing and manufacturing industry, laser cutting and engraving is an entirely different beast. Here you’re often working with everything from hard metals to extremely soft material that might break if not engraved correctly.
With so many new unknowns you may have no real clue what to go with, how much to spend, and what is right for your business.
Regardless of if you want an engraving machine for your personal or professional use, here is what you need to consider.
1. Price Yes, above everything else, know how much you can pay (and afford). The laser cutters and engraving machines we’re covering here range from just under $200 to nearly $10,000. So as you can see, there is a substantial price difference.
Now, even if you’re looking for professional equipment doesn’t mean you need to drop 10 grand. In fact, you may find the best option for your company’s needs costs just a few hundred. In general, it’s a good idea to at least have a general idea with what you’re comfortable spending.
2. Software Compatibility With a laser cutter and engraver, you’ll have one of two options. The first is to force all of your work into software that comes specifically with the engraver. The second option is an engraver that will work with your software. This way, if you create something in CAD or an Adobe property you can transfer it over to the engraver.
Typically, the included software is going to cost less but it may reduce your ability to fully realise your creative side, as you’ll be forced to stay within certain fonts and designs.
3. Material Options What kind of materials do you want to personalise? Some of these laser cutters and engraving machines will only work on softer materials, such as leather or glossy applications you can place on mugs. Others will work with metal. This will play a very big role in what the right engraving machine is for you. If you want to engrave on metal there are very specific machines you need to consider. If you want to print only on leather or software materials there are other options out there.
This is where you need to know exactly what your plans are ahead of time, otherwise, you might end up with a laser cutter and engraving machine that doesn’t do what you need.
4. Connection Options How does the engraving machine connect to your computer? This may not be as important for some while for others it is extremely important. With most, you’ll find there is a USB connection. However, others might connect via Bluetooth or a 2.4GHz wireless interface. If you don’t mind a wired connection you shouldn’t have a problem. Other times, if you want to free up your workspace, you should consider a device that uses wireless technology.
5. Size How much space do you have to work with? Do you need something that will fit on your desk, or are you alright with a stand-alone device that is about the size of a desk on its own? As you increase the price point and boost the features you’ll also find many of these devices are substantially larger (and heavier) than what you find on the less expensive side of the spectrum.
The size of the engraving machine isn’t always obvious by the pictures, so make sure to look into the product specs. You don’t need to have UPS at your door, only to find the package is as big as the actual front door. Always know the specs prior to ordering.
The Best Laser Cutter Engraving Machines for 2021
Model
Engraving Area
Laser Power
Price
Orion Motor Tech 80W
20 x 28 in
80w
BIBO 3D Printer
8.4 x 7.3 in
100w
Dremel LC40-01
18.4 x 12 in
40w
Orion Motor Tech 40W
12 x 8 in
40w
FoxAlien LE-4040
15.7 x 15.7 in
5w
Editor’s Pick: Orion Motor Tech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter
There’s no shortage to engraving and cutting options. And with such an expansive price point it’s tricky to pick one over others. After all, you can get some impressive devices at the top of the price point. But not everyone is willing (or able) to drop around $10,000 for a top-of-the-line device.
There’s no shortage of engraving and cutting machines on the market. And with such an expansive price point it’s tricky to pick one over others. After all, you can get some impressive devices at the top of the price point. But not everyone is willing (or able) to drop around $10,000 for a top-of-the-line device.
That’s why we decided to go with the Orion Motor Tech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter. In terms of cost, it’s near the bottom of the list. It also only really works on wood. However, the wood engraving and cutting with the Orion Motor Tech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter is truly remarkable. For the price, you can’t beat the definition of the engraving. The fact that it can alter the depth of its cuts is one of the main reasons why it’s our choice.
Some of the other features on the Orion Motor Tech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter we like include:
Up to 500 mm per second engraving speed, and up to 80 mm per second cutting speed
Compatible with LightBurn, Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD and CorelDRAW
20 by 28-inch work area
Best Laser Cutter and Engraving Machine Under $500
Orion Motor Tech 40W CO2 Laser Engraving Cutting Machine is an excellent workstation and one that directly competes with every other Orion laser cutter on this list. That is because outside of the design, it has some intuitive features for those who want to start laser engraving.
The Orion Motor Tech 40W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter weighs 50 pounds and a control panel with adjustable knobs. The 4 detachable wheels enable you to move it around easily. The model works with most 3rd party vector graphic software programs, such as CorelLaser & LaserDraw. It also works with printers, scanning machines, and with documents in TIF, BMP, JPG, JPEG, WMF, EMF, and PLT formats. Unfortunately, it isn’t compatible with Mac OS systems.
It has an integrated exhaust fan to improve ventilation performance when working. Once it you turn it on, the red dot guidance will indicate the machine’s path. It has a 12 by 8 inch (300 x 200mm) engraving surface which is enough for all your engraving projects.
With this model, you can engrave or cut wood, bamboo, acrylic, mylar, pressboard, rubber, fabric, glass, ceramic, paper, fiberglass, leather, marble, melamine, anodized Aluminum, tile, cork, and more NON-metal materials.
Some of the features on the Orion Motor Tech 40W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter to consider include:
Able to engrave into dozens of materials except for metals
Comes with a water pump, ventilation tube, exhaust tube, USB key
50-pound weight
12 by 8 inch engraving surface
FoxAlien LE-4040 Desktop Laser Engraver is the perfect device for home use. The model is an excellent tool if you need to cut wood, MDF, acrylic, cardboard, vinyl, leather, even pleated and powder-coated metal while on maximum speed (although it won’t cut it as nicely as wood).
It has an engraving area of 15.75 by 15.74 inches (40 x 40 mm), a maximum engraving speed of 3000 mm per second, and an accuracy of 0.1 mm. The cutter supports Windows XP, Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 10, and Mac OS.
This laser engraver doesn’t have a fan and it won’t extract fumes and smoke, so you need to keep it in a ventilated area when working. You can connect it to your computer via a USB port from where you can manage it. Moreover, it is compatible with any kind of GRBL software LaserGRBL, Candle, or Lightburn.
The strong and precise laser cutter and engraving machine comes with one 5000mW module, power supply, three hex wrench, one USB cable, one U Disk one goggles, a user manual and with a pack of screws. It is extremely lightweight so you can use it on the table in your workshop.
The main components of this machine come pre-assembled, but you’ll need around 10 minutes to assemble the engraver. This one might be on the cheap side but it’s not a laser cutter for beginners since it hasn’t got any safety features and needs a little adjustment before you start engraving.
Features of FoxAlien LE4040 Desktop Laser Engraver
Works on macOS and Windows
25.2 by 22.83 by 9.06 inches
Cuts and engraves multiple materials
Weighs only 10.68 pounds
Pre-assembled
Comes with a pair of goggles
Best Laser Cutter and Engraving Machine Under $1000
BIBO 3D Printer and Laser Engraver is a 3D printer that doubles as an engraving machine. So, for those who need to 3D print and engrave different materials, this is your go-to machine. Here, we will focus on the engraving aspect of it. The Bibo can cut through wood, double-color planks, leather, crystal, organic plastic, fabrics but it is also suitable for seal engraving, garments, or toys.
It has a printing/engraving area of 214 x 186 mm (8.4 x 7.3 inches). The engraving cutting precision of 3D Printer and Laser Engraver positioning accuracy is 0.01 mm (0.0004 inches.)
The printing layer resolution is 0.05-0.3mm, which is impressive for such a device. It’s compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux OS and with STL, OBJ, DAE, AMF, BMP, JPG, JPEG, PNG, and GCODE file formats.
It is one of the cheaper laser cutters and engravers, but it is equipped with a superior laser head and has effective heat dissipation with two cooling fans.
Some of the features of BIBO 3D Printer and Laser Engraver:
3D printer and an engraving machine
Works on Windows, Mac, and Linux OS
21.34 by 19.92 by 17.09 inches
Engraves multiple materials
Two cooling fans
Best Laser Cutter and Engraving Machine Under $1000
The Ten-HIGH 3020 is the upgraded variation of the previous covered Ten-High engraver. It gives you far more workspace, so if you need to work on a larger scale you can. With this engraver, you can work on a 12 inch by 8-inch surface area.
The Ten-HIGH 3020 is an extremely accurate engraver, with accuracy reaching 0.01mm. Additionally, at top speed, the Ten-HIGH 3020 can engrave at up to 600mm per second.
To help prevent the build-up of vapors given off while engraving plastics and other materials, there are double exhaust fans built into the Ten-HIGH 3020. It also connects to your Windows computer system via a USB interface.
As is the case with the other Ten-HIGH release, the Ten-HIGH 3020 is compatible with CorelDraw (not included), yet can only be used on a Windows computer.
Some features on the Ten-HIGH 3020 to consider include:
Dual exhaust fans
Engraving space of 12 inches by 8 inches
Windows compatible
Works with CorelDraw
Extremely accurate at 0.01mm
Engraving speed up to 600mm per second
The previous Bobs laser cutters are designed almost specifically for wood cutting. If you’re not looking for a wood cutter and want something capable of engraving an assortment of other materials the TEN-HIGH CO2 Engrave Machine is one option to consider.
It does work with a wide number of materials, including wood, leather, glass, cloth, bamboo, paper, and just about everything short of metal.
With the purchase of the TEN-HIGH CO2 Engrave Machine, you do receiver a specially designed software called LaserDraw. It is also compatible with CorelDraw, although CorelDraw is not included with the product.
The TEN-HIGH CO2 Engrave Machine software is compatible with all Windows operating systems, although it will not work with macOS computers.
The TEN-HIGH CO2 Engrave Machine will connect to a computer via a USB interface. It is not wireless, so you will need to have a nearby system.
Some of the features on the TEN-HIGH CO2 Engrave Machine to consider include:
Capable of engraving a wide range of materials, including leather, wood, bamboo, paper, glass, and dozens of other options
Total weight is 115 pounds
Product dimensions are 34.5 inches by 25.7 inches by 20.5 inches
Engraving area is 400mm by 300mm
Compatible with CorelDraw (not included)
Works on Windows 7, 8, and 10
USB connection
VEVOR Laser Engraver 50W CO2 Laser Cutter is the laser cutter and engraver on the higher price tag, but the powerful performance entirely justifies it. Although it isn’t suitable to cut and engrave metals, this machine is perfect for suitable wood, textile, industrial architectural modeling, specialty advertising, plastics, rubber stamps, picture framing and so on.
It is powered by 50W and has a working area of 20 by 12 inches (304 mm x 508 mm) with a maximum engraving speed of 15.7 inch per second and cutting speed of 23.6 inches per second. This laser engraving machine has a sealed laser tube, with a lifetime of up to 2000-4000 hours, and a 50W laser head.
VEVOR Laser Engraver can remove heat and combustible gases with the ventilation tube, ventilation fan and a blowing nozzle, as well as the water-cooling system. That way it saves your product from burning during engraving working. Its resolution is up to 4500 dpi.
The formats that are is supported on this machine are the ones that work in CorelDraw, Photoshop, and AutoCAD. It’s compatible with Windows and MacOS if you use LightBurn software, which isn’t included in the package. The Vevor measures 40.15 x 25.5 x 24.8 inches and it weighs 165 pounds.
The intuitive control panel with an LCD display enables you to easily adjust the laser. Vevor 50W is a little stronger than the one we mentioned earlier, and it will suit all your company’s cutting and engraving needs.
Here are the features you would like to see in an efficient laser cutter and engraver:
Works on Windows and MacOS (with LightBurn software)
40.15 inches by 25.5 inches by 24.8 inches
Cuts and engraves multiple materials
Weighs 165 pounds
Has a water-cooling system
In case you’re not really into the big and bulky laser engraving machines, or if you simply don’t have the space in your workshop for it, then the beamo 30W Desktop Laser Cutter & Engraver would be your best bet.
This little laser cutter and engraver weighs less than 50 pounds and works via your smartphone with the native Smart Trace software. The software can read JPG, PNG, SVG, and DXF file formats. You can work with either Adobe Illustrator, Autocad, Inkscape, CorelDraw, Silhouette Studio or even Microsoft Word or Powerpoint to get the design you need for engraving and cutting.
The Beamo has 0.05mm layer spacing, like some bulkier laser engravers. But the feature that will amaze you is the 1000-dpi resolution. While working, the ventilation fan prevents the smoke and fume exhaustion, so you’re safe there.
The model shapes, cuts, and engraves on wood, acrylic, fabric, leather, cardboard, stainless steel, cement, anodized metal, glass, and much more. The hybrid laser module (purchased separately) enables you to even cut metal. The working area of 11.81 by 7.68 inches (300mm x 210mm) is not suitable for big projects, but it is enough if your products have smaller dimensions.
Some of the beamo 30W Desktop Laser Cutter & Engraver include:
Works via smartphones
24 inches by 20 inches by 10 inches
Cuts and engraves multiple materials
Weighs 49 pounds
Has a water-cooling system
Best Laser Cutter and Engraving Machine Under $3,000
When looking at Orion Motor Tech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter, you’d think you were looking at a combination toolbox and generator. The red and black design does give it this kind of a look. However, it is a strong engraving machine that can work with several materials.
Beyond what the other engraving machines can function on, the 80W Laser Engraving Machine is also able to engrave into the tile, marble, mylar, ceramics, plus the previously mentioned materials like plastic, vinyl, rubber, leather, and other non-metal materials, except for coated metal.
One of the main benefits of the Orion Motor Tech 80W Laser Engraving Machine is its large work area. In fact, up until this point, it has the largest work area available of 20 inches by 28 inches. The engraving speed is up to 500 mm per second, and the cutting speed is up to 80 mm per second.
Like other brands, the Orion Motor Tech 80W Laser Engraving Machine is compatible with different software, including LightBurn, Adobe Illustrator, AutoCAD and CorelDRAW. It comes with the native RDWorks/Corellaser software to use with the PC. However, you can also upload directly from a USB stick or a hard drive.
When working with materials that produce toxins and vapors when engraved in, you’ll want a continual movement of air. With the Orion Motor Tech 80W Laser Engraving Machine, there is a built-in air compressor that directs a continuous stream of air to remove all heat and combustible gases. This is an added safety feature that’s extremely beneficial to keep you away from dangerous fumes.
The Orion Motor Tech 80W Laser Engraving Machine is designed for an industrial site, or at the very least, somewhere you can safely house it. This is because the device has 330 pounds, so it’s not something you can toss onto the computer desk.
Some of the features you’ll find on the Orion Motor Tech 80W Laser Engraving Machine include:
Works on Windows and MacOS (with LightBurn software)
40.15 inches by 25.5 inches by 24.8 inches
Cuts and engraves multiple materials
Weighs 330 pounds
Has air compressor to remove heat and gasses
Best Laser Cutter and Engraving Machine Under $4,000
When you want a laser cutter and engraver that will look right at home with your home office or place of business and doesn’t have the industrial feel as nearly all the other options on this list, the Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer is perfect for you. In fact, it looks like an oversized large format printer.
The beauty of the Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer is that not only is it an engraver but it is technically a printer as well.
While it doesn’t use the plastic mold design as other 3D printers, the laser design allows you to cut a complete 3D object. This way, you not only can engrave an object but you can completely build it from scratch.
The Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer works with most computer operating systems, including not only Windows and macOS but also iOS and Android. You can even control the printer/laser engraver using the provided Glowforge App
Some of the features on the Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer to consider include:
3D printing feature, allowing you to produce a product from scratch
Fits right at home with a stylish home office
Ditch the industrial look
Live camera feed allows you to watch the engraving or printing in real time
115 pounds
Production dimensions of 46 inches by 26 inches by 18 inches
Best Laser Cutter and Engraving Machine Under $5,000
The TEN-HIGH CO2 Upgraded Version Engrave Machine is a laser engraving machine with 60W of power. It can cut through acrylic, plywood, PVC, leather, glass, density board, solid wood, double color plate, silica gel, ox horn, felt, resin, and other non-metal materials.
It has an engraving area of 400 x 600 mm (15.7 x 23.6 inches), an engraving speed up to 30 mm per second and a cutting speed up to 500 mm per second. This one is extremely heavy and it’s meant for industrial purposes rather than your workshop table.
The engraving machine while the positioning accuracy is 0.15 mm. The visual operating panel is extremely easy to use. The industrial-grade precision metal-mold laser head can cut up to 6 mm into cork and similar materials.
It supports all formats from CorelDraw and it supports bmp, dib, jpg, jpeg, png, gif, wmf, emf, pcx, tif file formats. This model is equipped with a superior laser head and has effective heat and fume dissipation with the high-power axial fan and water cooling.
Moreover, it comes with the electric automatic lifting system, and a blowing flame-retardant system is to prevent burning when the machine is in operation. It comes with a native software, focal length card, an exhaust pipe, a power cord, a USB cable and key, adhesive tape, clamps, a limit switch, an air pump and a water pump.
TEN-HIGH as a few distinct features:
Works via smartphones
53.15 by 29.13 by 43.31 inches
Cuts and engraves multiple materials
Weighs 286 pounds
Has a water-cooling system
Best Laser Cutter and Engraving Machine Under $8,000
SFX 180W Reci W8 CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter Machine is a powerful engraving machine that takes advantage of an air-assisted engraving feature. It also works with programs like CorelDraw and AutoCAD and supports bmp, hpgl (plt.), jpeg, dxf, ai, dst, dwg and las file formats.
With the SFX machine, you still can’t engrave into metal. However, you can engrave into just about any other material out there, including bamboo, plexiglass, crystal, wood, glass, ABS, acrylic, and others.
Its engraving speed is up to 60000 mm per minute and it has a cutting speed of 5000 mm per minute. The positioning accuracy is 0.01 mm, which means it can engrave tiny details in your materials. The air pump and the exhaust fan ensure that there’s enough heat dissipation when the machine’s working.
The180W Reci W8 will connect to your computer system using a wired USB 2.0 cable connection. This model is heavy. There’s no other way to say it. It weighs in at 946 pounds, so you would need to have a designated place for it.
Some of the features on the SFX 180W Reci W8 CO2 consider include:
Capable of engraving into just about any material out there (besides metal)
Works on Windows and MacOS (with LightBurn software)
61 by 61 by 50 inches
Weighs 946 pounds
Has air pump and exhaust fan
The Dremel LC40-01 High Speed Laser Cutter is the most expensive on the list but it does the job the right way. This laser cutter cuts or engraves wood, glass, paper, leather, acrylic, cardboard, fabric, rubber and so on.
It can run continuously through all your projects and features 5 safety sensors, which ensure the proper work of all components. Moreover, the product comes with the 350-fume extraction and filtration system that will remove the fumes and the particles that can potentially harm you in the cutting or engraving process.
Plus, this machine has extremely user-friendly software. The engraving area on Dremel Laser Cutter is 18.4 x 12 inches (467 mm x 304.8 mm). The cutting area is a little bigger than on the previous engravers and it measures 20 x 12 inches (508 mm x 304.8 mm). Also, the maximum engraving height is 1.25 inches or 32 mm, while the maximum cutting height is ¼ of an inch for wood and acrylic (6 mm.)
It measures 38.98 x 26.38 x 14.96 inches and weighs only 90 pounds, which is much less than the previous models.
Some of the features on the Dremel LC40-01 consider include:
Capable of engraving into just about any material out there (besides metal)
Works with the native software
39 by 26 by 15 inches
Weighs 946 pounds
Has fume extraction and filtration system
Conclusion
There’s no limit to the kind of laser cutters and engraving machines out there. You can pick up an entry-level option for under $200 if you’re interested in basic engraving on leather and vinyl stickers, or you can move your way up into the world of wood and metal.
Realistically there is no one right or wrong engraving machine on the list. You may need something with serious cutting power while others might want something as a hobby device, or to help their up and coming Etsy store.
We decided to give our Editor’s Pick to the Orion Motor Tech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter. We were extremely impressed by the overall quality of the wood engraving. The fact that it altered the engraving depth was exceptional, especially for the price tag. It may not be much to look at, but there is a reason why it’s an Amazon’s Choice recipient.
While we love the wood engraving machine, what’s your favourite? If you were to pick something out, which one would you go with, or is there another laser cutter and engraving machine on the market you’d go with instead?
Disclosure: The product recommendations are not sponsored and are chosen by our editorial staff. We may earn an affiliate commission when you purchase an item through our links.
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