I’m newer to laser engraving and I have a Snapmaker 2.0 with 1.6w diode, 40w diode, and soon a 1095 infrared. This is one of the best laser engraving orientation videos to show you what you can get and what it’s for I’ve seen. Subscribing.
What a comprehensive guide! his video is truly invaluable for beginners like me. Thank you for the detailed insights! I have decided to choose the S1or F1 Ultra as my first laser machines.
Somehow just liking and leaving a comment doesn't feel like an equal measure for the lessons I have learned watching it. It's hard to talk about our feelings, but it is so important. Good for you Mark. Keep Making.
23:54 I'm not sure if I'm more jealous of the amazing amount of lasers and other tools you have in this video, or just the amount of shop space you have available, lol
Kudos for excellent presentation of the variety of lasers for home use! Can you suggest a 'best' choice for a fairly large gantry to cut single layer cotton fabric?
A CO2 laser will get you there. If you on a budget I'd check out OMTech or Monport. I wouldn't worry about the wattage as much since you won't need a ton. Look more at the bed size to make sure it will fit the size you need.
1:43 you say fiber lasers are around 290nm which is incorrect - they are usually between 1000-2000nm, as indicated by the arrow on your graph. Really appreciate the spreadsheet, it is a super helpful resource! Is the xtool conveyer system the only system of its kind?
Great video! Incredibly informative. I recently bought a 40K diode laser (Sculpfun SF-A9), but found that the laser spot size was .4mm - .5mm, which for my purposes is basically unusable. The advertised spot size was .1mm - .15mm. In your experience, is this a common problem for higher-watt diode lasers, or did I just get a lemon?
@@makeorbreakshop I agree, it felt very high to me as well!! I tested it at multiple focus depths from -3mm to +9mm from the recommended focus distance and saw little change (a tiny bit of improvement with longer distance before getting less focused again). I tested it on anodized aluminum as well to be sure I had crisp lines. If your experience is generally better than .4mm for 40W diodes, then I guess I won't give up on diodes just yet. I'll assume that the machine I got was a fluke.
Sounds like you're either terribly out of focus or got a lemon indeed As far as I know the 40W with smallest dot is S1 - the dot is the same size as typical for 20W.
Thanks for the great info...really looking at the Thunder Bolt, and REALLY like the RF type laser in that unit because of its engraving detail (smaller beam width). But, maybe you could do a video on the difference between regular RF Tube and the Coherent RF Tube - is it worth the extra $2000 in the Bolt line? Thanks, Charlie in Central Ohio, but soon to be Central Florida !!
Have you happened to hear anything from Roly about swapable heads for mrk2? I thought they said they were going to be releasing an IR module but can't seem to find any info any more. Also, can't wait to hear about the 1 laser info
Buy a cheap Chinese diode, a Good (like OMTech) Fiber and a decent (80watts or more) CO2. Yeah 3 lasers... and while there's a lot of crossover in capabilities, you don't want to use your CO2 (tube replacement is expensive) or fiber for stuff your diode can do.
Please stop referring to the Xtool F1 as a fibre laser. It's an IR & visible light diode galvo machine. Xtool muddied the water by marketing it as a fibre, then wondered why people were annoyed by the misrepresentation. The F1 Ultra, however, *is* a fibre laser.
Perfect timing and a great video! I've read that a diode can cut iron on vinyl just fine (PE only, PVC omits noxious fumes) which is all I use a blade for. Would you agree with that? I'd like to obtain a better laser for cutting and engraving 3-6mm? wood than invest in an M1 especially with the ultra out of the budget.
There are two types of heat transfer "vinyl" - one is the actual vinyl which is not safe to laser cut, and the second is the "laser safe vinyl" which is not vinyl at all but PE. That second one is indeed safe to cut with a laser, so you can safely pick something cheaper than M1 Ultra from the desktop diode category.
Hi! Great video! I have an Xtool S1 40w. It Works great. Now I was wondering to upgrade to an Xtool p2 but I’m afraid about the integrated water cooling sistem. Is it able to support 3-4 Hours of continuous Wood cutting? Thanks 😊
I haven’t tested it for that long but I would lean towards no. It does have a heat indicator so it would at least cut off if it got too hot. But if you are looking for something to work for extended amounts of time I would get a unit that has an external chiller hook up.
Wait before you decide because they're releasing P2S soon! The P2 can do 3-4 hours of continuous cutting but it depends on the temperature in your studio/workshop.
On the market for my first laser… unfortunately I want to do metal. Considering a Laserpecker 5 or break down and buy a Roly and MOPA fiber. Not cheap!
Great video! what would you recomend for engraving on different type of plastic computer keyboards as well as on laptop keyboards. A lot of manufacturers use different types of plastic and I have seen some excellent results with IR fiber engraving but on other manufacturers the results are barely visible.
Still the best and most informative laser channel on RUclips, in my opinion.
Thanks!
I’m newer to laser engraving and I have a Snapmaker 2.0 with 1.6w diode, 40w diode, and soon a 1095 infrared. This is one of the best laser engraving orientation videos to show you what you can get and what it’s for I’ve seen. Subscribing.
Thanks !
What a comprehensive guide! his video is truly invaluable for beginners like me. Thank you for the detailed insights! I have decided to choose the S1or F1 Ultra as my first laser machines.
Somehow just liking and leaving a comment doesn't feel like an equal measure for the lessons I have learned watching it.
It's hard to talk about our feelings, but it is so important. Good for you Mark. Keep Making.
Thanks for that!
Another hit out of the park Brandon! Great job
Thanks!
Make or Break Shop, nice content I loved it
23:54 I'm not sure if I'm more jealous of the amazing amount of lasers and other tools you have in this video, or just the amount of shop space you have available, lol
Kudos for excellent presentation of the variety of lasers for home use! Can you suggest a 'best' choice for a fairly large gantry to cut single layer cotton fabric?
I would love to know as well. I’m cutting a lot of fabric for appliqué for embroidery
A CO2 laser will get you there. If you on a budget I'd check out OMTech or Monport. I wouldn't worry about the wattage as much since you won't need a ton. Look more at the bed size to make sure it will fit the size you need.
But if you want "Best", I'd go with something like the Thunder Nova series.
Very nice video. Thanks for all the information. You definitely know your stuff.
1:43 you say fiber lasers are around 290nm which is incorrect - they are usually between 1000-2000nm, as indicated by the arrow on your graph.
Really appreciate the spreadsheet, it is a super helpful resource!
Is the xtool conveyer system the only system of its kind?
*almost the bluest light possible*
"Its actually pretty purple!"
ha true, that's probably more the color grading on the video. Real life its more purple.
perfectly timed video. will be getting a laser at some point
Do it!
0:12 - NOT a tanning bed...
Haha nope
Great video! Incredibly informative.
I recently bought a 40K diode laser (Sculpfun SF-A9), but found that the laser spot size was .4mm - .5mm, which for my purposes is basically unusable. The advertised spot size was .1mm - .15mm. In your experience, is this a common problem for higher-watt diode lasers, or did I just get a lemon?
.4 seems really really high. There might be an issue with focusing, if you move it up and down can you dial it in at all?
@@makeorbreakshop I agree, it felt very high to me as well!! I tested it at multiple focus depths from -3mm to +9mm from the recommended focus distance and saw little change (a tiny bit of improvement with longer distance before getting less focused again). I tested it on anodized aluminum as well to be sure I had crisp lines.
If your experience is generally better than .4mm for 40W diodes, then I guess I won't give up on diodes just yet. I'll assume that the machine I got was a fluke.
Sounds like you're either terribly out of focus or got a lemon indeed
As far as I know the 40W with smallest dot is S1 - the dot is the same size as typical for 20W.
Thanks for the great info...really looking at the Thunder Bolt, and REALLY like the RF type laser in that unit because of its engraving detail (smaller beam width). But, maybe you could do a video on the difference between regular RF Tube and the Coherent RF Tube - is it worth the extra $2000 in the Bolt line? Thanks, Charlie in Central Ohio, but soon to be Central Florida !!
Have you happened to hear anything from Roly about swapable heads for mrk2? I thought they said they were going to be releasing an IR module but can't seem to find any info any more.
Also, can't wait to hear about the 1 laser info
Buy a cheap Chinese diode, a Good (like OMTech) Fiber and a decent (80watts or more) CO2. Yeah 3 lasers... and while there's a lot of crossover in capabilities, you don't want to use your CO2 (tube replacement is expensive) or fiber for stuff your diode can do.
Please stop referring to the Xtool F1 as a fibre laser. It's an IR & visible light diode galvo machine. Xtool muddied the water by marketing it as a fibre, then wondered why people were annoyed by the misrepresentation.
The F1 Ultra, however, *is* a fibre laser.
Perfect timing and a great video! I've read that a diode can cut iron on vinyl just fine (PE only, PVC omits noxious fumes) which is all I use a blade for. Would you agree with that? I'd like to obtain a better laser for cutting and engraving 3-6mm? wood than invest in an M1 especially with the ultra out of the budget.
There are two types of heat transfer "vinyl" - one is the actual vinyl which is not safe to laser cut, and the second is the "laser safe vinyl" which is not vinyl at all but PE. That second one is indeed safe to cut with a laser, so you can safely pick something cheaper than M1 Ultra from the desktop diode category.
Hi! Great video! I have an Xtool S1 40w. It Works great. Now I was wondering to upgrade to an Xtool p2 but I’m afraid about the integrated water cooling sistem. Is it able to support 3-4 Hours of continuous Wood cutting? Thanks 😊
I haven’t tested it for that long but I would lean towards no. It does have a heat indicator so it would at least cut off if it got too hot. But if you are looking for something to work for extended amounts of time I would get a unit that has an external chiller hook up.
@@makeorbreakshop Thank you. A Machine with an external chiller may be the best choice for me
Don't worry, P2 is capable of supporting long-duration continuous wood cutting.
Wait before you decide because they're releasing P2S soon!
The P2 can do 3-4 hours of continuous cutting but it depends on the temperature in your studio/workshop.
On the market for my first laser… unfortunately I want to do metal. Considering a Laserpecker 5 or break down and buy a Roly and MOPA fiber. Not cheap!
Look at the Xtool F1 ultra as well
I highly recommend the F1 Ultra
@@abbyhe4245 why?
Get a MOPA.
ikier has a 70w diode laser, which is the output
Yep just haven’t tested it out yet
I’m looking for a laser cutter that will cut fabric letters. I use a cricut maker right now and need something faster.
its "E" on :P
Great video! what would you recomend for engraving on different type of plastic computer keyboards as well as on laptop keyboards. A lot of manufacturers use different types of plastic and I have seen some excellent results with IR fiber engraving but on other manufacturers the results are barely visible.
For consistent results, you'll need UV.
why OMT TECH doent make a. nice desktop laser like 600x900
That would be an awesome size
Because that wouldn't fit on a desk.
I wondering what One Laser can offer to the market.
High quality components at a good price.
@@makeorbreakshop Looking forward to it !!!! I will wait to see
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