Things You Must Know Before Buying a Laser Cutter

Have you been looking for a laser engraver but don't know where to start? You've probably seen a lot of different information and opinions that vary widely, so it's very understandable if you get confused. Before buying, you need to consider several key factors. In this article, HTPOW will outline these factors so that you can make an informed decision when purchasing a laser engraver that suits your needs.

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Laser Cutter: How Will You Use It?
The first thing you need to do is figure out what you want to do with your laser cutter and engraver. You probably already have an idea of ​​what you want to do with your laser cutter or a specific workflow that would benefit from it, but there are a few things you should know and consider first.

Look at your workflow and consider all the possibilities of your laser cutter, examine those possibilities, and go beyond your initial thoughts to see how you can expand with lasers. For example, let's say you want to engrave small plaques and objects, so you decide that the 100x2000 workspace of the Ortur Laser Mater 3 laser cut engraver or the LaserPecker 2 laser machine might be just right for you. However, in the future, you may develop into larger projects such as special engravings on furniture or signs. These probably won't fit into one of the units mentioned above, so you're better off starting with something like an Ortur laser engraver.

Laser Cutter: What Material Will You be Using?
You need to consider all the materials you will use inside your laser cutter. Some materials are suitable for one type of laser cutter, but may not be suitable for other types of laser cutters. So gather a list of all the materials you want to use so you can be sure that the laser cutter you get will work with them.

CO2 lasers are ideal for engraving and cutting organic materials such as wood, paper, and leather, as well as plastics. This is the most common type of laser because the materials are readily available and they work well with most paints and glues. Power options for high-quality benchtop CO2 lasers typically start at 40 watts (W) and go up to 150W or more. Knowing the materials you will be working with will help you determine how much power your laser needs and how much workspace you need. PLEASE NOTE: If you want to use metals in your laser, then CO2 may not be the best choice and you should use a fiber optic or UV laser system instead.

Fiber laser will be the best choice for a metal laser cutting machines. These are more specialized machines, so you'll be more limited in what you can do. These lasers will not engrave or cut what a CO2 laser can cut, just like a CO2 laser will not cut or engrave on metal. If you want to carve metal, then a 20W or 50W galvo fiber will do just fine. The power you need will depend on how deep you want to engrave.

If you're looking for an industrial-grade laser cutter for metal, you can get something like a kilowatt flat-panel fiber optic that cuts through metal like butter. These lasers are about the size of a large truck and do cost more, but they can provide a solid return on investment.

Another popular technique is ultraviolet lasers. These lasers won't actually cut any material (exceptions like MDF), but they can mark pretty much anything you have. At first glance, they look like Fiber Galvo, but they are much faster and capable of marking very fine details. UV lasers are ideal for marking, but keep in mind that they cannot cut most materials or make deeper engravings.

Laser Cutters: What Size?
You need to examine exactly what you want to do with your laser cutter and know the dimensions you need to accommodate it and consider the space you have available to mount your laser system. Allows you to engrave longer materials. So if your stuff is long, but not too tall, you can still use the Ortur Laser Master 3.

If you use a Muse Fiber or UV galvo laser, the working area will be much smaller and depends on the lens you use. The work area will be between 4"x4" and 12"x12". These machines are specialized desktops, so you'll need a desk or counter space to set them up.

If none of these options work for you, and you need something larger and more industrial, then you might want to take a look at the MC Series flat panel lasers. You can get these with a CO2 laser tube or a fiber optic source, and they start in sizes starting at 4ft x 8ft. Because these machines are so large, they require a lot of warehouse space or a garage to install them. Just make sure the space is well-ventilated as these units are usually not enclosed.

Laser Cutters: Putting It All Together
This list contains all the basic information you need to know before deciding which laser cutter to buy. With one of the widest ranges of lasers in the industry, including the xTool D1 Pro series, if you're still not sure what to buy, you can contact HTPOW to make sure you're getting exactly what you need.