Which laser engravers are best?
Customization of items has long been the easiest way to showcase one’s personality and style, much superior to using an item identically to millions of others who bought the same thing. Laser engraving is one of the simplest ways to customize and can also make you a pretty penny as a side hustle.
What to know before you buy a laser engraver
Laser types
There are two types of lasers used in laser engravers, CO2 and fiber.
- CO2: CO2 lasers are a weaker laser type, useful for smaller jobs and most commonly employed in noncommercial laser engravers. CO2 lasers are generated by a carbon dioxide (CO2) filled chamber that is pumped with electricity.
- Fiber: Fiber lasers are strong enough to cut into metals, high-quality and expensive lasers, used mostly in commercial-grade laser engravers. Their high cost and quality thankfully mean they’re much easier to maintain and less prone to breaking down.
Movement
Laser engravers must somehow move around in order to engrave into items, but that movement depends on the particular laser engraver. The most common style uses a moving laser with a stationary working space, which holds the item to be engraved. Less commonly found are laser engravers with a stationary laser and a workplace that secures but also moves the object to be engraved.
What to look for in a quality laser engraver
Power
There are two aspects of power to consider: strength and supply.
- Strength: The strength of a laser’s power is given in watts. Basic laser engravers barely even use a full watt, coming in between .5 and 1.5 watts. An average laser engraver will typically use between 10 and 15 watts, while a borderline but not quite professional-grade laser engraver can use as many as 45 watts.
- Supply: The higher the wattage, the more power your laser engraver will require. Low-level laser engravers can usually get by with a few batteries, while average wattage laser engravers might be usable with the charger you use for a phone or could require a direct power supply.
Software
Nearly every laser engraver has a different means of taking the image you want to engrave into its system. Some are able to read basic files like JPEGS, while others use a scanner and some even have software to use that’s unique to that laser engraver. Check how your prospective laser engraver intakes images before purchasing, or you might get one that’s incompatible with what you have available.
How much you can expect to spend on a laser engraver
Laser engravers have a wide price range, from as low as $100 to as high as $15,000 or more. Most basic laser engravers cost between $100 and $200, with some of the better, noncommercial options costing up to $600. Commercial laser engravers typically start around $1,500.
Laser engraver FAQ
Are safety glasses required when using a laser engraver?
A. Well, no, they aren’t required depending on the power of your laser engraver. If it’s under 40 watts, you should be OK, but even then, it’s strongly recommended to protect your eyes. Considering many laser engravers include safety glasses and that purchasing them separately shouldn’t exceed $40, you don’t have much excuse not to wear them.
What’s the difference between a laser marking and a laser engraving?
A. Laser marking changes the look of a surface by affecting its chemical composition until a color change occurs. Laser engraving actually cuts into the surface of the object, making the image much longer lasting. Be careful with laser engraving, though; high-powered lasers can cut all the way through an object.
What are the best laser engravers to buy?
Top laser engraver
What you need to know: This comprehensive laser engraver is fast and powerful, cutting through thick plywood and up to 1.1 inches of black acrylic easily with a 10-watt laser module.
What you’ll love: It weighs less than 1 pound and comes with seven forms of protection, including a safety lock, sloping position protections and an emergency stop switch. It also has one of the largest engraving surface areas of all our picks, measuring 15.57 inches.
What you should consider: It’s not suitable for cylindrical objects.
Top laser engraver for the money
What you need to know: This small, yet capable engraver, with its efficient 3-watt laser head module, is perfect for anyone who doesn’t have a lot of space.
What you’ll love: It has built-in eye protection and cooling fans. It has four modes: black and white, grayscale, outline and sketch.
What you should consider: The laser module is of relatively low strength, and the engraving area is small.
Worth checking out
What you need to know: This professional-level laser cutter uses 16-megapixel cameras to provide precise engraving on both straight and curved surfaces.
What you’ll love: It has a powerful, 55-watt laser tube that can cut through almost anything, including glass, wood, metal and more. The automatic conveyor feeder makes working with extra-large materials easy. The enclosed structure helps with cleanliness and safety.
What you should consider: The software isn’t very user friendly.
Prices listed reflect time and date of publication and are subject to change.
Check out our Daily Deals for the best products at the best prices and sign up here to receive the BestReviews weekly newsletter full of shopping inspo and sales.
BestReviews spends thousands of hours researching, analyzing and testing products to recommend the best picks for most consumers. BestReviews and its newspaper partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links.
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
Originally Published:
