Need recommendation for purchasing a desktop cnc laser engraver

[Doug Hepler]

I desire to buy a desktop laser engraver for my blades... something I can hook up to my laptop. I plan to move away from stamping my logo and serial numbers. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good machine that will not break my bank, and will work on both 1095 and 440C?

 

[Taz]

I have an Anolex 3030 evo max for a desktop CNC. I use it to slot synthetic guard material, haven't used it for metal yet. You don't need a CNC to laser blades; a dedicated laser would be better.

To do makers mark and stuff on the blades themselves, I am running a 2 Watt Infrared Sculpfun IR2. It can be used on the Anolex with a mounting plate, but I got a Sculpfun laser setup so I don't have to re mount and square the router all of the time.

The steel and hrc info takes a couple minutes to do. Logo is just over a minute, 2 minutes of I slow it down and burn it in deep.

 

[Doug Hepler]

I have an Anolex 3030 evo max for a desktop CNC. I use it to slot synthetic guard material, haven't used it for metal yet. You don't need a CNC to laser blades; a dedicated laser would be better.

To do makers mark and stuff on the blades themselves, I am running a 2 Watt Infrared Sculpfun IR2. It can be used on the Anolex with a mounting plate, but I got a Sculpfun laser setup so I don't have to re mount and square the router all of the time.

The steel and hrc info takes a couple minutes to do. Logo is just over a minute, 2 minutes of I slow it down and burn it in deep.View attachment 2998473View attachment 2998474

Thanks so very much. My original message was lacking; I was going to hook the laser machine up to my laptop. Is this what you did?

 

[PEU]

I have a Mactron 50w JPT source since a couple of years, great machine, purchased many lenses for different focal lengths that fall within my laser column height.

Pablo

 

[Taz]

Yes, the laser gantry/control board connects to the computer and I use LightBurn software to control the laser.

 

[Taz]

Mine is big, I have a 24" x 24" work area. I can cut leather and wood on it with the 11 and 20w diodes and engrave metal with the 2w Infrared

 

[Ken H>]

Yes the laser will connect to your notebook just fine. Depending on if it's a Linux based or Windoz based as to which program to use. I've used a couple different programs for laser, but the 3rd (Lightburn)is by far the best. Cost $100 for the license for diode or IR type lasers (I think IR), but for fiber type it's a $200 license. This is a lifetime license with free upgrades for 1 yr.

I went the CNC route to engrave knife blades (before hardening), then to EletroEtching, then to a 10 watt diode, now finally to a 30 watt fiber. Fiber is the best metal etching, but the IR seems to do a great job also.

 

[Linus Knives]

I have an Xtool F1 laser that does a great job for marking knife blades with an IR laser. I've also cut leather with it.

 

[Ricky-O]

I second the xTool F1. It connects to your computer by either USB or wifi, and I can mark a logo on heat treated AEB-L pretty quickly. It also has a small footprint and is easy to move. I just use the software included with it, which has been fine for engraving knives.

 

[Ken H>]

I have an Xtool F1 laser that does a great job for marking knife blades with an IR laser. I've also cut leather with it.

Your F1 laser has a 2 watt IR for metal, and you use the 10 watt (20 watt?) diode for leather?

Did I read in a different thread the IR did good marks on leather?

 

[Taz]

I haven't tried my IR or Diodes on leather yet to cut or engrave. May get to it on my days off this week.

 

[Linus Knives]

Your F1 laser has a 2 watt IR for metal, and you use the 10 watt (20 watt?) diode for leather?

Did I read in a different thread the IR did good marks on leather?

Correct. I use the 2w IR laser for metal and it engraves well on dark PLA and the 10w diode for almost everything else. I've done some leather and it does a nice job with it! I've also cut some thinner leather for Timothy Lindblom with it no problem.

 

[Scaniaman]

Yes Xtool F1. Compact. Efficient. Versatile. I am 100% happy with it. For marking blades and kydex with logos I cannot see the need for anything else.

 

[Ken H>]

I use the 2w IR laser for metal and it engraves well on dark PLA and the 10w diode for almost everything else.

The IR engraves on dark PLA filament? Does it leave a light colored mark? I need to try my 10 watt diode on PLA & PETG to see what it does. The fiber doesn't do much on PLA, but does a nice black mark on ABS or PLA-F which is about 20% ABS with PLA mix.

 

[Linus Knives]

The IR engraves on dark PLA filament? Does it leave a light colored mark? I need to try my 10 watt diode on PLA & PETG to see what it does. The fiber doesn't do much on PLA, but does a nice black mark on ABS or PLA-F which is about 20% ABS with PLA mix.

Yes, I did some black PLA with it and it looked great- came out in like white. these are not very good examples but it's all I have pictures of.

 

[Ken H>]

That piano is neat - everybody needs one of those. I can see the yellow parts where printed separately then attached. Are the white keys handled the same way? The "Baldwin" text sure did turn out nice. I wonder what diode will do. I'll try that later today.

 

[Linus Knives]

That piano is neat - everybody needs one of those. I can see the yellow parts where printed separately then attached. Are the white keys handled the same way? The "Baldwin" text sure did turn out nice. I wonder what diode will do. I'll try that later today.

Yeah, it is pretty neat. All the different color parts were separate pieces. The IR laser does a nice job on dark PLA, I haven't tried any other materials or the Diode laser with it.

 

[Ken H>]

I just tried my 10 watt diode laser on black & a yellow PLA and it doesn't really mark, only melts the plastic. I used different power/speed settings from barely leave a mark, to melting plastic with no good mark showing.

 

[Linus Knives]

I just tried my 10 watt diode laser on black & a yellow PLA and it doesn't really mark, only melts the plastic. I used different power/speed settings from barely leave a mark, to melting plastic with no good mark showing.

Yeah, I think the Diode laser won't work on PLA

 

[Taz]

What is the laser marking Kydex? Got any pictures? I just had some ask about this!