Laser engraver

[merlin]

Morning/afternoon/evening all, I have just purchased an cheap laser engraver.

I got it for engraving my details on my larger items, has any one else got a  laser engraver.

Will not be cutting with it, it's only 500...... well have a look Here.

I'm having a wee bit of trouble getting it to work, It came in flat pack form, took about 4 hours to put together,...No instructions....(Chinese) 

It's more the software, and how do you get images to laser with are they like our patterns for the scroll saw,.......So much to learn so little time.

Any help will be much appreciated..................... 

 

Cheers and thanks Merlin.................

Edited October 24, 2017 by merlin
Spelling

[Lucky2]

Merlin, good luck with this new toy, you'll figure it out in no time.

Len

[WayneMahler]

Sort of funny. Just had this conversation with some close friends. The learning curve is the computer end of things and not the actual work. Keep us posted on how it all works out. 

[Rob]

Hi Merlin,

On the link you provided, it says that you can burn JPG or BMP images  directly.  There is another link to a wiki page http://wiki.eleksmaker.com/doku.php?id=elekslaser_a3_pro

That shows you how to build the machine and also how to use the software to select a photo to burn.   It looks straightforward enough. good luck and let's see some pictures in due course!

Rob

[blights69]

As said above looks simple enough basically download the driver needed for it http://wiki.eleksmaker.com/doku.php?id=elekscam Then it is a simple plug and play through the micro usb not my kind of tool too much relying on techno than braino for me but will be interesting to see how you get on with it, what are you actually going to use it for engraving what details, the pictures on the site show it doing multiple things be sure to add any photos be good to see this gadget up and running all you will need next is a drone to bring you the materials job done  With your name you may well be the Wizard of gadgets on here lol 

[lawson56]

Wish I could help ya Merlin.Sorry.

[merlin]

Thanks Rob and Frank....Some of the software never worked and had reinstall a couple of times.

But I'll get there even if it's after christmas.

Frank I wanted a way to engrave the name Foxton on some of my wooden turned pens, there's no where in this neck of the woods that can do that at a fair price, so the only way I could come up with was a Laser Engraver.

And at the same time maybe engrave name/dog tags and coasters and such...

Cheers Merlin

[tonylumps]

Go to IAP.There is all kinds of Info. .Some good and some you might not want to here.I have been looking for one but these China units are a little to frustrating to me If any of my customers want engraving I send them to a Jeweler of there choosing .

Edited October 24, 2017 by tonylumps

[kmmcrafts]

I am planning on getting one of these before Christmas.. 

Steve Good has one of these.. he may be able to answer some questions you may have..  

I'd be interested in your experience with the machine.. I've been wanting to ask some questions on here as well but many people frown upon these and this is a message board for scroll work.. You was mighty brave to ask, LOL Just last night I joined up with a couple laser groups on Facebook.. and was looking to see if there was any forums like this one out there.. 

No worries.. not planning on doing anything with wood with it..   I know many people in the woodworking business sort of frown upon those that use them to do the scroll sawing type stuff with them... I am sure that goes the same for the wood burners too.. 

BTW.. It sure can cut wood even though it's only a 5000W .. but only thin 1/8" stuff and it will take a few passes to do it  

I'm looking to do glass and plastic etching with an occasional wood burning a name etc into my current items I sell.. ( always getting asked to personalize my stuff with a name etc ) I do the personalizing now with a wood burner.. but I have to admit I'm not very good at it..   

[Kragax]

Merlin I have a bigger laser, 40 watt co2, this is water cooled. I used it for my pens before things went all sideways here. If time isn't an issue I might be able to burn some pens for you. I'm in Western NY State.

[kmmcrafts]

Oh, I didn't even look at what you had.. that is a smaller one.. I thought I had the 500W Co2 one.. LOL Nope that won't cut wood.. 

[JOE_M]

As the others pointed out, their wikipage has instructions on a lot of things to include assembly and software.

http://wiki.eleksmaker.com/doku.php?id=elekslaser_a3_pro

They show links to two types of free CAM software that will work - Inkscape with the g-code plugin and artcam. If you want to spend money there are plenty more, you might try googling for a forum devoted strictly to these little toys and see what the favorite software is. I have the g-code plugin on inkscape but found it to be a bit lacking. If you're going to learn new software, you might as well try one dedicated just to cad/cam like artcam, rather than trying to learn an image program like inkscape with all its quirks, and then its g-code plugin, but that's just my opinion.

edit: I looked at the page again before closing and it seems they have their own software you can use too - elekscam, with installation and use instructions.

Edited October 24, 2017 by JOE_M

[OCtoolguy]

Being as how this is a new area of expertise for me, I was just looking at what you purchased and it looks very nice. I was wondering if at some later point in time, if it is possible to increase the power unit and boost the output? The actual chassis would remain the same but I would think that the laser unit itself would be something that could be increased. 

 

Ray

 

[merlin]

Thanks every one for the input.

Ray that was my idea for a bigger unit get a  bigger laser and use the same chassis.

 

Merlin

[kmmcrafts]

3 hours ago, octoolguy said:

Being as how this is a new area of expertise for me, I was just looking at what you purchased and it looks very nice. I was wondering if at some later point in time, if it is possible to increase the power unit and boost the output? The actual chassis would remain the same but I would think that the laser unit itself would be something that could be increased. 

 

Ray

 

I don't know that you can get much more if any more power out of that style of laser.. I may be wrong.. I know the one I am looking to buy can be upgraded.. but I am looking at the 4K Co2 ones that you see on eBay or Amazon.. Believe the same one that Steve Good has.. There are lots of videos on the 4 and 5K ones on youtube.. They run around $350-500 ish depending where you buy... 

the machine I'd really like to get is a CNC piranha.. woodcraft has them but so does my local lumber store and they run the thing on the showroom floor for demonstration.. This machine can do both CNC router or laser buy just changing the head from router to laser.. pretty slick unit.. but also comes with a little price tag too.. Not horrible priced.. but more than I want to spend for a first CNC unit.. since I know very little about using one..    

Edited October 24, 2017 by kmmcrafts

[Lucky2]

Merlin, congrats on the purchase, but why did you buy one with such low power? I just checked out the site, it's very interesting. I noticed that for less then $60.00 more, you could have purchased one with five times the power. Do you plan to upgrade in the future, if this one pans out to do what you want? You have me thinking of buying one, I'm very interested in reading what you think of the one you buy. I'll wait until you give yours a good working out, then I'll make my final decision. If I buy one, I think that I'll buy the more powerful one. 

Len

[kmmcrafts]

This is what I am looking into buying here.. I like that it's enclosed.. and that it has a exhaust fan for the smoke etc..  

Laser

[Lucky2]

Kevin, that is a good looking unit, and I like the look of the cabinet. But, I think I would rather own an open system, with the open system you can cover a larger area. The one that your thinking of purchasing, can only handle material up to 8"x12". With the open type systems, you can engrave on any length you want. 

Len

[Kragax]

49 minutes ago, kmmcrafts said:

This is what I am looking into buying here.. I like that it's enclosed.. and that it has a exhaust fan for the smoke etc..  

Laser

I have that unit

[kmmcrafts]

3 minutes ago, Lucky2 said:

Kevin, that is a good looking unit, and I like the look of the cabinet. But, I think I would rather own an open system, with the open system you can cover a larger area. The one that your thinking of purchasing, can only handle material up to 8"x12". With the open type systems, you can engrave on any length you want. 

Lenl

You're right.. however what my plan for the machine would be small stuff anyhow.. and with bad allergies that I have and being sensitive to smells.. I like the enclosed machine with a exhaust fan blowing the smoke out a dryer type vent.. I know one could make a range type hood to suck out the fumes on the open one too though.. Plus no accidental cutting or blinding some curious kids .. I have a lot of kids and foot traffic running around my shop sometimes.. with kids and kids friends etc..LOL I just feel for my needs at this time.. this one is a safer bet..  

Also.. seems like it might be hard to move and reset up the work piece or machine to line it back up.. Guess it's just ones preferences..  

[kmmcrafts]

1 minute ago, Kragax said:

I have that unit

How do you like it? Seems like a decent machine for the money.. I've looked at many youtube videos on this machine and some just about like it.. I'm looking to engrave acrylic with it.. maybe some light woodwork but my main reason for wanting one is to engrave the acrylic.. I'm sure I will find all kinds of things to use it for, LOL 

[merlin]

Yeah Kevin that unit runs for 480-500 hundred $ in NZ dollars................

I looked at some cabinet ones now I have the open one I know I did right.

Len I toss back and forwards over the next size and though the smaller one to test/learn on and if I require a larger one down the line well I can upgrade to the laser unit  2500 to 5500mW.

 

Merlin

[merlin]

Craig.......Thanks for the offer of doing some pens ............but seeing as I am living at the bottom of the world I think the shipping wood spoil that idea...................

 

Merlin

[Kragax]

4 hours ago, merlin said:

Craig.......Thanks for the offer of doing some pens ............but seeing as I am living at the bottom of the world I think the shipping wood spoil that idea...................

 

Merlin

OK sorry Merlin, I didn't know where you were living.

[Kragax]

14 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

How do you like it? Seems like a decent machine for the money.. I've looked at many youtube videos on this machine and some just about like it.. I'm looking to engrave acrylic with it.. maybe some light woodwork but my main reason for wanting one is to engrave the acrylic.. I'm sure I will find all kinds of things to use it for, LOL 

I paid a little more for mine but basically the same unit. I use it to personalize pens and wooden pen boxes. I haven't done acrylic yet as I don't turn it. It worked okay on a small piece of Lucite. I don't know if I would buy it again. You have to be careful of reflection or you can ruin the tube which is almost the same price as the unit itself. It has it's pros and cons.