CNC/Laser Engraver advice

[ManTheVan]

Does anyone here have one of these machines? I’ve not used one before but would like to experiment with a CNC-type machine that has a laser engraving head, for burning text and/or images into wood and metal.

I have Macs, not Windows, but could retrieve a Dell notebook PC that I’ve lent to a relative, if necessary.

I’d really appreciate advice as to a suitable machine to buy (preferably not uber pricy but capable) so I can learn a bit more about the processes involved.

Also, any guidance on which software to use?

Many thanks!

 

[Outdoors Dad]

I use a CNC wood router machine at work to make bespoke stuff. We also have a laser engraver to make smaller wood stuff. These are two separate machines and I'm not aware of a machine that combines two different technologies. Example below.

 

[Outdoors Dad]

We have this make not sure if it's same model, however it's the same bed size. It's all Chinese stuff that's branded slightly different for different UK suppliers.

 

[ManTheVan]

Thank you. Will the laser engraver do metal?

 

[Outdoors Dad]

the room sign was done on router on a nice piece of ash. The team crest was done on the laser cutter.

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[Outdoors Dad]

Yes depends on metal alloys are better I've never tried on stainless

 

[Mzracer]

Does anyone here have one of these machines? I’ve not used one before but would like to experiment with a CNC-type machine that has a laser engraving head, for burning text and/or images into wood and metal.

I have Macs, not Windows, but could retrieve a Dell notebook PC that I’ve lent to a relative, if necessary.

I’d really appreciate advice as to a suitable machine to buy (preferably not uber pricy but capable) so I can learn a bit more about the processes involved.

Also, any guidance on which software to use?

Many thanks!

Generally speaking a CNC router has to be of much heavier construction than a Laser cutter. There is very little load on a laser cutter head, really just acceleration and deacceleration forces, where as the CNC router has to take the cutting forces of what ever is being worked.

Neither machine can totally cover the other machines capability.

The learning curve in using a CNC router is some what higher than a laser cutter.

Most hobby level laser cutters are Co2 machines and they do not cut metal, however they will engrave and etch metal when using a spray solution, it kind of gets burnt into the surface of the metal and can look truly superb, the C on the plate in the photo was laser etched. The rest of the plate was cut and engraved on a CNC milling machine.

Laser etching works great on wood and the laser cutters are very good at also cutting wood like 6 to 8 mm plywood.

I started off with a Chinese 40w laser cuuter, it got us going but then my son in law set it on fire !! We then bought an English made 80w machine called CTR (they were forced out out of business during covid) and this works great.

Download a piece of software called Lightburn, it is control software for laser cutting and it is simply the best software for this work.

What are you intending to make/engrave?