Is a 40W CO2 Laser Cutter Worth? OM Tech K40 Review
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- Опубликовано: 12 июл 2024
- One of if not THE most popular budget CO2 lasers is the K40. The combination of price (under $500) and power (40W CO2) make this an attractive option to anyone's shop. But it has always come at a cost. Over the years people have had issues with quality with these Chinese imports but this week we take a look at a new US supplier OM Tech. Let's check out their unit and see if its a good fit for you!
Check out the full review here - www.makeorbreakshop.com/proje...
OM Tech sent me this unit for review but all opinions are my own.
40W CO2 Laser - geni.us/kYTy?track=yt-aBj0mJe...
50W CO2 Laser - geni.us/NsQiB9Q?track=yt-aBj0...
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 - Intro
01:23 - Features
04:13 - Tests
10:58 - Pros
12:08 - Cons
15:25 - Who is this for?
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Хобби
Definitely excited to see what upgrades you're gonna do and how to do them.
How does this video not have 50K plus views yet!? The quality here is on par with the best. Great video mate
Thanks!
I just ordered this one. Excited to start using it
awesome!
Thanks for this very good review. Just ordered a K40 :)
I like the idea of the 50w but being over Tripple the price of the 40w takes it out of the running
I just bought 1 of these. Thanks for sharing this
Because of you I just grabbed an Ortur LM2 and loved it for engraving. You also made me get an Omtech K40, can't wait for it to arrive. Thanks for making these awesome videos!
Hey! I am planning on also getting both. I will mainly use the Omtech laser for cutting and the Ortur for engraving. What is your experience with the ortur Lm2
@@Dv-hb2gi I'm still very new to the Laser world, and I have the same plan or each laser as well. So far I've been really happy with the LM2. I've only used it for making smaller item so far, some bookmarks, gifts, and souvenirs - sold a few, so that's a good sign haha
It was really easy to setup and use, only took me an hour to have it running
I just received my K40 and I'm waiting to get an air assist set up before firing it up.
If you want to ask specifics, or see my results, feel free to email me if you want jonstanovich@gmail.com
Ordered one a couple hours using your link. Finally made me do it. Should be here in 5 to 7 days
Awesome! Let me know how it goes.
How do you like it after 8 months?
k40 whisperer was a game changer for the k40...i now have built my own
600x400 co2 laser using the k40 control board, 45w spt laser.....have
had for 3+ years.....spt makes great tubes.....they are actually tested
with info like peak power......made motorized bed out of 1x1 steel tube
and 3d printed parts....total cost was $900....well worth it as its paid
for itself many times over
great idea, so you just made x/y axis longer? are you able to make it as long as you want? can you just set the software to cut as long as you want? you just made a bigger housing for it. this would be a game changer for sure...
@@scottrupp6067 I designed my 600x400...bunch of 2020 extrusion....think k40 whisperer has an x/y limit....not sure...but having something do approx 16x24 inches compared to 8x12.....well, it works for me.....the advantage of having something at least 12x12 is huge.....so, to all you ripping out the inside of the k40 to make bigger.....i applaud you...
@@glennmartonic6376 can you share photos or a document with info on how you expanded and parts list?
Thank you for all. This is a great video. Can't I wait for it arrive. Do you know how to install air asistence?
Just finished a K40 with many many upgrades to include upgraded gold mirrors, upgraded lenses, upgrades fume extraction, upgraded cooling, air assist, amp meter, Cohesion 3D board, adjustable manual bed and increased table area, upgraded power supply. Works like a champ and a fraction of the cost of a glowforge co2 laser. All of the upgrades took around a week mostly due to waiting on parts.
can you share details on what you purchased and installed and pictures please?
Yeah please share
Glowforge are terrible I have one and I think it's the worst laser I've ever used
@@zakforce2572 what makes you dislike the Glowforge? Is it mainly the online software?
It's slow very low power for the cost the cloud system is slow unreliable and the. It broke because of poor build quality and for the sake of a 10 dollar cable they wanted to bill me 1500 for a refurbished unit witch are notorious for not being refurbished or even cleaned before they go out to someone else
Great video!
Thanks for the helpful insights! Wood smoke is also very toxic, FYI, not merely “no fun”.
Good point, fumes in general aren't great. I should have been more clear that you'll need to vent out ALL fumes and to be especially careful when working with acrylic.
Used your referral link for a K40! Thanks for the video.
Thanks for another review!
You got it!
@@makeorbreakshop Sold out lol
I take cash/check/PayPal 😉. All seriousness this will be my recommendation for a small scale CO2 laser. Even if people don’t go through my link.
Excellent overview. An issue that I see with mine is that the controller seems to sometimes restricts the head to stay within a virtual 8x12 inch boundary when using K40 Whisperer, but sometimes allows the head to move outside of that boundary (I've modified my bed setup to allow 9 x 12.75 inch boards). Reinitializing the laser seems to reset things and then I can go outside of that boundary.
Great point!
@@spencerm5913 Unfortunately the board is half the price of this unit isn't it? Like another $200 right?
@@Ralith09There are boards that others have used to upgrade their K40 printer that are significantly less money (i.e., 3D printer controller SKR 1.3 running Smoothieware for $25 plus < $20 for TMC 2208 stepper drivers for the X and Y axis) that were purportedly compatible with LightBurn. I have a spare SKR 1.3 but haven't gotten around to trying it yet.
Did you modify the gantry to get that 9 x 12.75 bed size? That's about what I need.
Good review glad I did not pull the trigger on this one, I want to use light burn.
I inherited one of these that had only been used for one project before the owner passed. I have a 3d printer collection with 3 Prusas, 2 Bambulabs, a Voron 0.2, and a CocoaPress, so I’m familiar with the basic construction and Cartesian mechanics, and gcode. As best I can tell, it is complete, except the water chiller hasn’t turned up yet. It’s also missing the manual. I am interested in learning about the machine and the process. Thanks for producing this video.
So, your review pushed me over the edge! Get my Omtech K40 on Tues! Would love to see a video on how to add air assist!!
This guy talks about what he did generally.
ruclips.net/video/P-5octGZ0j0/видео.html&ab_channel=JMKDIY
hello nice video very useful. I wanted to ask at what distance should the laser be positioned from the workpiece? thank you
Great vedio! Thanks! Question, looking for a good quailty laser, a little on the higher end but trying to stay under $5k. What would you rocommend?
I bought a “upgraded” K40 about a year ago along with the cohesion 3D board and light burn.
I was in the process of changing out the board then had an accident and never got back to it.
I would appreciate seeing you do some of the upgrades. Especially doing the board conversion.
That’s the plan!
Cohesion3d should be a 10 minute swap, simply un-plug and re-plug the wires.
Cohesion 3D board was 10/20 mins, followed the instructions on cohesions website.
Ok, I'm just looking for something like this (I hope)! Planing to use just for hobby (dioramas) coz I guess I will speed up my progress like brick texture, cobblestone, cut windows frames parts, and all what I need for models.... but with my 0 knowledge on this field, I want to ask first is this one good or is to much for me? I would like and appreciate some opinions
Im looking at a k40 to dip my toe into the laser world and hopefully get a bigger one later on. I would like to see what upgrades you do. I hear that upgrading the mirrors helps.
Fist of all start with diode laser to learn the basics
Do you think this is suitable for decent engraving on metal business cards?
Thanks for this video am very new and this is my 1st time to buy a laser cutter. this is the 1st video that explains those power button please my question is the 3 ➕ and minus ➖ buttons only for the power? and can i set directly from 40k whisperer software?
Great video. Useful information. Mahalo for sharing:) 🐒
Glad it helped!
Thanks so much for your review. I have been having such hard time deciding what to by. I am really interested in making earrings. Do you recommend this for that?
Complete newbie to laser cutters- is it possible to upload images and have the laser cut around the outlines of the images on felt? If this cutter isn’t able to do that, what would be a better option? Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks so much!
Did you add the purple and green lights inside & if so can you make a video explaining the installation please
I am enjoying my k40 so far! I am having trouble with some of the design stuff though...
To create a file that works for vector cutting, I am using dxf files, but the size is shrinking when I save it as a dxf file in inkscape.
For example, my design in inkscape is 100x100mm. If I save it as a svg, it goes into Whisperer just fine. If I save it as a dxf, it come out to about half that size.
Any advice on this?
Thank you!
what softwar are you using to run the K40 ? K40 whisperer can use SVG files do no need to convert to DXF and is free.
Awesome video, happy to use your affiliate link.
thanks!
Hi, great video, thank you. Will this K-40 engrave acrylic? Also, will it cut through 4mm thick acrylic?
yes , defiantly worth it. I am a war gamer. MDF terrain is expansive. using my stock K40 I have already made more than a tables worth of MDF terrian which would have cost me way more than the K40 did. love the thing :)
hey bro, does is engrave metal
@@abdulobeid3931 not really no , watch this vid mate ruclips.net/video/aT65ODsnLKA/видео.html
Hay Darren have you tried it on work shop tooling I'm interested to see if it would leave a lasting mark. Cheers
@@adamlambert1797 I would say not. The K40 cuts wood , plastic etc fine but it is not up to metal in any meaningful way. to upgrade to that point you would better off buying a better machine from the get go go IMHO.
Would you say this is better than the glowforge? I was thinking of using it to make large stamps
Hi, there! Do you know if I can engrave metal with this one. For example, to make PCBs?
I'm curious to know if I'm using this 2-3 hours a day, how much will my electric bill go up? Also, can you engrave and cut in the same pass, or do you have to set it to engrave and then reset it to cut in a separate pass?
What is the plastic cone pointing towards burning area? Is that guide laser? Would love to see video of air assist... can I use my shop compressor for air guns? Just lower psi I assume?
Do you have a review on their 50W unit?
Hi, I've been looking at getting this unit and had a question. Is there a way to remotely operate the unit like one does with a 3d printer with a USB stick.
I want to have the laser cutter out in my workshop but my PC is inside the house. Do I need a small laptop to run it or can I load files onto a USB stick and run them straight on the machine?
I have a question. I'm curious what eye protection you use. I just got a k40. Very concerned about the uv radiation. Also, Do you think the tinted window filters uv effectively?
I am just really starting to get into this and I am wanting to cut very thin plastics for like stencil art. Will this machine be able to do that well? Thanks
Maybe you could do an update video on this? A few things have changed from 2 years ago. Nowadays, K40's are generally Lightburn compatible out of the box, have air assist and adjustable laser head for different material thickness. I've been thinking about getting a K40 and it's between Omtech and Monport..
Get version with ruda controller and ofcourse air assist
I just ordered this about two hours ago!! Been looking for "this video" for the last 45 minutes, had to call my sister, and she asked "WHYYYY?? I have it in a corner collecting dust, you could have borrowed it!!" But this one is mine, and i won't have to give it back!!
Ask her if i can have it
Please & Thank you
Hi… I would like to set the machine up in my office that is in my basement. If I get the fume extractor that they recommend, Do I need stool get a tube out through a window for ventilation? Because I’ve seen other machines that comes with extractor for use indoor spaces.
Does the wispherer software left you use this with a Mac? And would it cut 1/4 thick plywood ?
A question.. after a power outage during operation, when power is restored does the laser restart automatically
you mention at @4.33 upgrade of board to use Lightburn. Any chance you can elaborate... maybe a link on what to upgrade to... and then a how ;) got a friend that mentioned the 40W is the low end, as you also indicated, is it worth considering upgrading the laser in this unit... the K50 is like 3-4x more expensive for us. you mentioned the upgrade video ?
Air assist and a scissor lift are easy inexpensive upgrades that can be 3D printed coupled with an aquarium air pump. K40 Whisperer doesn’t actually come with it. It’s freeware and can be downloaded, though.
I see now the OMTech K40 comes with the Lightburn compatible board, air assist, and a mA meter built in. They are not $599.00 I think that is still a good price with all the built in "upgrades". Thinking of getting one in a couple of weeks. Would really like to have a cabinet model 60w or 80w laser, but it's just not in the cards right now. Are you still loving your K40, and how is it holding up? Thanks for the video...
Has any body tried to use it on work shop tooling.. I know it's not a fiber laser but I'm wondering if it would leave some sort of lasting impression on tools like sockets, spanners.
Any help would be appreciated
Do you think it's possible to get one of these then add an air assist to help the flame issue?
hello. should I choose this machine or neje 2s max? what do you recommend?
Thanks for sharing. Did you do a video of the wiring in the back? I just bought this laser and there is a black wire taped to the hose for water and it it is not connected to anything and there is no mention of what to do with this wire in the manual.
Can I use this user to cut 1/4 " or 3/8" clear acrylic? Additionally, is there any spec difference between this blue and black model and the red and white model? I can't seem to find any but the red is listed cheaper everywhere.
will this do rubber stamps for custom ink stamps for crafting?
Do you know if you can cut silicone sheets with this , or any affordable laser cutter ?
Let's say I wanted to burn something on a round object like a dowel. Can I program that circumference into the laser for an even burn?
The new k40 on OmTech's site is LightBurn compatible and still A LOT cheaper than most 40W Diode lasers.
Any reason to choose a diode over this?
Can you recommend laser etcher that can do both stainless steel and lamacoid?
Thank you for the very detailed review - I am looking at a cabinet 60w model with the external water cooler and the additional glass/mug adapter. Good advice on dealing with the US side of things, that is what I was wondering about.
Did you get it? Looking for the mug adapter reviews
I am so new and green but I enjoyed your video, I would like to do acrylic or glass 2D photos mainly, can I do this with the 40w laser capable to do use and can I use the recommended software whisper or what it's called.
Can I use Autocad software on this machine and if so, is it just a matter of connecting it to my computer and cut away or is there other software I need?
Do you recommend it for cutting polyester twill fabric ?
Super helpful! Did you need to align the laser, or was it ready to go out of the box?
So I didn’t get super deep to check alignment, but it engraved and cut well right out of the box 🤷♂️
Can this unit be used to engrave metal such as a firearm? Can it etch polymer?
Will the Omtech K40 cut thin metals, say 1/32" aluminum?
Hi … Iv been watching ur videos… Thanku… I would really like to etch acrylic… is this machine suitable?
Could you please do a review update on the K40 since there has been some added changes to this laser
Any chance the k40 can do tumblers with an add on adapter for tumblers to rotate
Would this be a good platform for etching on bullet/casings? Any further information would be appreciated!
For etching something into metal you'll need a fiber laser
Is the muse best unit with camera ? And space ?
Nice Video you are so helpful. Does this K40 cut like 3mm acrylic? I would like to see a video if you don't mind on the best way to cut acrylic.
Second this! I need to know as well :)
Can you engrave products that aren’t flat sheets? For example, if I have a circle ring made of wood and I want to engrave on the bottom outer side of them ring could I do that?
thanks for the review, it is really helpful. I have a question though: do we need to wear any protective glasses? I noticed that you don't wear any glasses isn't dangerous to use it like that?
not really, unless you lift the lid then yes otherwise the plastic in the lid will absorb the UV, I don't recommend looking at the cutting light even through the window however as its a very bright white light, you wouldnt look at the sun so apply the same logic.
@@sitgesvillaapartmentneilsc7924 Thanks for the answer. but it seems that there is a way to produce a low brightness red dot to align the material?
@@Science3D sorry, I'm confused with your answer, I didnt thing we were discussing red dots, we were discussing the safety of looking at the light? Of did I miss something altogether?
So the low power red dot is going to come from a diode laser which is actually a separate laser on this machine. That is basically a laser pointer so you would be fine. The actual CO2 laser is invisible so the biggest thing is you want the lid close to stop the beam. But with anything protective glasses can never hurt!
@@sitgesvillaapartmentneilsc7924 sorry, I am not clear: yes we were discussing safety but then, I thought about a red dot to guide the position and if the red death comes from the main laser could it be dangerous... sorry for the confusion and thanks for your help
Is there any laptop computer that this lazer cutter does not work with or can you point me in the direction to find that info out?
i dont know if anyone asked this yet. But do you know where to buy a circuit board for this model already installed ? I would like to use light burn
I have just purchased one of these machines and I can't get the laser beam in the tube to show or switch on. Water flow using supplied pump and distilled water are fine, although the rubber tubing supplied is crap and folds readily, with a series of clothes pegs, I have been able to press it open along full length providing no restriction to water flow. Power switches on and off to the machine okay, emergency stop working fine, temperature LCDs and Power LED working fine, as are the adjustment buttons. No damage to the box it came in or obvious damage inside, laser tube is watertight ie no cracks visible and no leakage. Set laser power to 30% following instructions in the instruction manual for mirror alignment on mirror 1, set masking tape across mirror 1 and pressed the pulse button. Result - no laser beam, and no burn on the centre of masking tape. Tried beam switched on constant, still no purple laser beam in the tube (as appears at time point 1.20 on the video) or burn on paper. I have tried increasing and decreasing power and temperatures in the tube have remained about 28 degrees C.
My machine does not appear to have a flow switch, having pulled the tubes both ways in the casing to their full possible extent. Is there anything else I need to do or can try other than sending it back to the supplier for a refund?
Is this what youd recommend for someone that only needs to cut through thick cardstock?
Can u engrave yeti mugs?
Can this be a good engrave for small aluminum parts
Hey, I was trying to align the laser but when I tried to do it the laser tube doesn’t shoot the laser. What should I do?
Does this have capabilities of engraving glass/round glass cups? Does it have an option to attach a rotary piece?
nope
Hi there, I've checked the comments but I can't see an answer, is the OMtech k40 compatible with Mac? Thanks
I'm looking at getting one of these co2's 40k and was wondering if you know if it could cut abalone vernier?
On the OMtech website I see a "K40+" With a built in Air Asist and compatibility with Light burn / Laser GRBL. Any updated reviews with this new unit? seems almost too good to be true.
Do you think this will cut through thin clear plastic, like plastic food gloves?
Is it possible to engrave a bottle on this laser? Is it tall enough to fit one underneath, that is?
I’m looking for an engraving machine that would engrave stainless steel. What would you recommend?
Will this engrave stainless and anodized aluminum?
Does this machine leave burn on acrylic as looking to make some clear stands and also if i want to cut out 5 parts at the same time can it do that or do i have to do 1 at a time also can i scan a image parts for a stand i already have and make that or tha way
How thick of a piece of material can you place in there? Specifically, would a Jar lid fit roughly a 1/2 inch think. I don't want to cut it, but simply engrave or etch my logo in the top of the lid.
Wow, a laser with FDA approval! I can finally cut buffalo wings right!
Question can you do tumblers in this or to small?
How does this go with cutting foamboard (5mm)?
Will this cut sheet metal? I'm thinking of trying to make stencils for pcbs
what’s the difference from the other one you mentioned that was a little smaller but also a 40w laser
Hi would this be good to engrave the inside of a ring?
Hey - dumb question by a nooby, would this be good for toner on ABS, PLA, or PETG?