lazer/engraver to make stencils?

https://www.amazon.com/Engraver-Engraving-Machine-300x180x45mm-Controller/dp/B08FMHZM5G/ref=mp_s_a_1_11crid=3IFLW824ZN2Y7&keywords=3018+laser&qid=1642643758&sprefix=3018%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-11

here's a link to a similar laser I bought. Mine is only a 3watt laser though. A few issues to note:

1. Upon arrival the laser was dead. I worked with the seller to troubleshoot it and they sent me a new one.

2. I had dreams of using the cnc to carve handle scales. To date I have never used the cnc except to test it. You can save money just getting a laser unit

3. The wiring gets a lot of interference. It doesn't cause an issue but if you are having issues reroute the wires so they aren't touching

4. If you can, order a unit with an aux controller. This is a little box that allows you to control the laser. If you don't home the laser before shutting it down the next time you start laser grbl it thinks the laser is in the 0,0 position. I have to use the controller to get it to move to zero.

I have been very happy with my laser. It has been working great. I charge $30 for a custom etching and it has paid for itself very quickly
 
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I'm on the market for a 50W JPT fiber laser, best option I found so far is from Mactron (alibaba/aliexpress) and a good resource of information is this YouTube channel and its Discord chat: https://www.youtube.com/c/LaserEverything
Shipped for less than 5K (maybe a bit more due to tariffs involved)

With 50w you can deep engrave steel without any paste in a surface big enough for most knife blades. If you only plan to do small engravings such as maker marks and personalization then a 30w is enough, but the price difference makes the 50w more tempting.

In that channel there is a video with a nice showdown of the most popular fiber laser manufacturers and what you can and can't do.

Pablo
 
update
here is a sample after etching
the trees are on the blade but so faintly they cant be photographed
but the others samples turned out ok
www.amazon.ca

etch 1.jpg

www.amazon.ca
 
That etch looks pretty good to me. Looks like you've got a laser that will do what you wish for etching.
 
yep a little refining the process and good to go for etching, still have lots of more uses for it i think , putting my plunge lines on drawing the knife outline, and a lot of the leather stuff as well
 
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