I’m mostly looking for the sweet spot for lasers on Amazon.ca. There seem to be a lot of options in the $100-200 CAD range and I’m wondering if anyone has experience with them?
Most of the ads don’t have all the information I want like control voltage, max running time, clearly state the output wattage, etc so if somebody else has ‘guessed and hoped’ that would be very helpful.
I will probably be mostly laser engraving on wood, but would love to be able to cut thin sheet goods, even if it is with many passes just to say I can
Initially switching with the router on my MPCNC, but eventually will build a dedicated machine. I’ve been salvaging parts for ages and have lots of parts including lots of stepper motors and even 3 lasers, but they are all huge, low powered, and undocumented … also possibly not functional. I had thought of building a fixed laser and mirror setup that I could later upgrade to a CO2 laser, but would like to keep it simple for now.
I have been reading posts here for a long time and most of the popular laser suggestions like JTech, the Leo Laser, $100 laser, etc are a lot more expensive once you get them to Canada.
Is the sweet spot still around 2.8 watts with more powerful lasers just having a larger spot so the energy/area isn’t more? It’s hard not to go for the 5-7 watt lasers when they are only a little more expensive.
Here are a couple I have looked at recently (I have edited the list down to two choices):
5.5watt $120 CAD This one is both literaly and figuratively at the top of my list.
I’m following along on this one. I have no idea about specific laser answers for you.
The one I can give is for etching 2.8W is still pretty high and you would have much better color range with lower, for cutting go a little bigger but I have a feeling at about 3-5W you will not see much above that. So just decide etching or cutting.
Thanks Ryan,
I actually tried ordering a 3.5 watt one, but the delivery times were crazy and I was nervous about ordering directly from China so I went with the 5.5 watt one above. Even on Amazon, things that normally take a couple days are being estimated at about a month. I’m hoping the 5.5 watt version is a good compromise between power and spot size. I will try to do a review when I get it … or ask for help getting it going
James
I am very interested in your results and how you connect/control it. (What board are you using for your MPCNC?) I am looking at the same/similar 5.5w lasers for cutting up to 1/4 inch materials like birch, plywood, and chipboard and I am curious to know if this laser is reasonably capable of that.
I have this laser https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B07TZVTKMW/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza on a 3018 desktop CNC. It can nearly cut through 1/8" MDF in ~15 passes @ 150mm/min. When I say “nearly” I mean, some spots cut through and straight cuts break off cleanly.
On my current set up I cannot change the Z with each pass, if I could I have a feeling it could actually cut through.
The reviews of that say that there is pretty much no documentation or support.
I am all thumbs when it comes to electronic engineering. I assume that the controller is attached on top of it, and that its red (+) and black (-) for power, and its blue (+) and white (-) for the TTL?
Do you have any issues with TTL not working? One of the reviewers had issues with his.
Yup thats right. Not an officially supported laser that Genmitsu sells alongside this unit sometimes. I forget the exact wiring jumper I plugged it into on the 3018. But I believe I used just the red/black pair. Ill check tomorrow and provide a picture.
It’s pretty impressive getting through 6mm with a 2.3w laser.
I have no interest in engraving, just cutting, and I am hoping that the 5.5w or 6w lasers mentioned in this topic will be easily capable of 3mm cutting (and it would be a huge bonus to be able to cut 6mm).
The capabilities and wattage of these lasers is a bit confusing. I read that a 5.5/6w laser is barely capable of 3 mm with 15+ passes, but you have a 2.3w that can cut 6mm. Is there some other factor that I am missing with these?
Yeah, . Like I said no questions. I started printing shortly after version 1 released. Shelved it a few times over the years. Redid the corners a couple weeks ago when I decided to build it. Finally got the electronics this week. Really excited to print the new Z and rollers tho
. Like I said no questions. I started printing shortly after version 1 released. Shelved it a few times over the years. Redid the corners a couple weeks ago when I decided to build it. Finally got the electronics this week. Really excited to print the new Z and rollers tho 