K40 CHINESE LASER CUTTER VS GLOWFORGE?? WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU
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- Опубликовано: 3 дек 2019
- K40 CHINESE LASER CUTTER VS GLOWFORGE?? WHAT THEY DON'T TELL YOU
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k40s are cheap Chinese lasers that great for modifications.
with a little time and money you can have a very capable machine
if you don't have the time or the want to do the mods then there is nothing wrong with buying a glowforge, muse, or dremel laser
Im just trying to show you the best value
----Teaching tech vids----
cohesion and lightburn
• K40 upgrade guide - Co...
laser guide
• K40/Chinese CO2 laser ...
----way of wood vid----
review and test
• China K40 laser review...
----lets fix it----
K40 Laser control panel upgrade
• K40 Laser control pane...
music
Joakim Karud - Classic
Eling - Groove
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![GLOWFORGE - Does It Still Work One Year Later? [WhenGeeksCraft]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/WfnUu-Fuo8U/mqdefault.jpg)
Awsome video, single handedly talked me out of a glowforge and into a k40, thank you sir
I really like and appreciate your honest way of explaining important details without a lot of "stalling for time" talk. Keep up the good work, bro!
Great comparison between the K-40 and Glowforge.
The big thing to remember about the K-40 is that it was not exactly intended to be a hobby/home shop laser engraver, it was designed to make rubber stamps. Because we are using it beyond its original intent, we need to think of of the K-40 as a kit that we modify to meet our needs. You cannot exactly open the box and expect a K-40 to be comparable to a Glowforge or other high end machine. If you have some mechanical know-how and enjoy a bit of tinkering, the K-40 is fantastic and is a very capable little machine. I enjoy tinkering so could not ever justify going high end vs the K-40.
Also, you do not necessarily need to update the board to get away from the bad K-40 stock software, Scorchworks has developed K-40 Whisperer that uses Inkscape to run the K-40 and it works quite well. K-40 Whisper does not give you the ability to automatically adjust the power level but it does provide a usable interface for zero additional dollars.
The glowfordge at the end ...killed me!! Lol !!!! New sub!!!
dude thank you so much for saying out loud exactly what I've come to understand through my own research over the past few days about lasers!!
got that right....you can get and do so much more for half the price.....people just need to do some research, watch DIY videos
Great video man - Really enjoyable to watch.
I feel the same way. Glow forge and the others did seem like upgraded K40’s to me too. I bought a K40 and am in the process of upgrading the boards to the cohisan 3D parts. I’m looking forward to learning and using it.
I would love to see more laser and CNC videos! Subscribing and hoping for more!
Very informational. Thank you. --Off to look for more of your videos.
If you want a hobby that includes tweaking a laser machine and upgrading it, get a cheap Chinese laser like the K40. You will save a ton of money, but you will also spend a lot of time doing research, upgrading firmware, figuring out which water to buy for the chiller (there is no chiller on a Glowforge.. it's built into the machine), etc. If you have a small business and want to get up and running quickly and get by with very little maintenance, go with a Glowforge or FS Laser, Boss Laser or something similarly priced. Buying a laser is similar to buying a 3d printer. It's like buying an Ultimaker vs.a Creality Ender 3. Eventually you can get the results looking very good, but you're gonna spend a lot of time and money getting the quality you want. I purchased a Glowforge a few years ago, and had a big desire to start a small business. I've made quite a few sales with it so far as a "hobby business", but you really have to work at selling things and find a niche. There are tons of laser cutting businesses out on Etsy, so good luck. They don't really care what laser you used as long as it looks good. Anyway, Glowforge also continues to update software which is nice, but it also requires an Internet connection to work which is a big down side. Had I purchased a K40 I probably would have been able to do the same thing but already made my money back, though I am not convinced I could get the same level of quality or wouldn't have just given up because of the steeper learning/upgrade curve. Glowforge has autofocus on the laser and also supports "3d engraving" which varies the power based on your image- not sure if you can do that on a K40. Anyway, just wanted to add some more perspective on this.
I could not possible agree more. Your first sentence nails it.
Thank you. Very informative and helpful.
I got one in the mail yesterday. For 315€ shipped it is amazing. Lots of support on YT, Inkscape and K40 Whisperer are a must.
Can you maybe post thé link from where bought it?
k40 a great machine...started with one of these....but now, built 16x24 rig, upgraded tube, power supply, used 2020 extrusion for build...still use k40 m2 nano board, the free software for last 3 years....used thingaverse to print out pla parts used in build.....
Nice video, I learned a lot!
Very informative and quick
I owned a K40 first and now a Glowforge too.
I rarely turn on the K40 these days, when I used to use it all the time.
I'm always fighting it for the perfect focus/height adjustment with a DIY z-axis bed, while the Glowforge adjusts automatically using optics and a distance sensor. That's worth its weight in fast prototyping for me. Doing all my upgrades to the K40 was a serious lesson in patience. Nothing went smoothly.
I hate that I'm restricted to 2" tall objects until my warranty runs out and I can cut the bottom out of my Glowforge, but I figured that's why the K40 would stay on the table. To be honest I rarely work on anything other than plywood and acrylic sheets, and cutting boards :P
Now, I'm not a huge Glowforge fanboy. It doesn't do a lot of the things their marketing says it does. It has annoyances that really get to me at times, like not being able to open the lid to fix something in the bed without cancelling the job (unless you make do some tweaking), and the proprietary webapp leaves a lot to be desired. They decided to go with their own speed measurement and only display a percentage for power-- so moving projects to other machines means making educated guesses instead of already knowing what settings work.
I find myself missing features from RD Works, which is saying something 😂
At the end of the day I'm glad I have the glowforge, it takes care of a lot of the inconveniences for you.
I got into this hobby trying to spend as little as possible, and that can work-- but do yourself a favor and splurge on a machine you don't have to build from the ground up. I LOVE Makerspaces. Find yours! They usually have several brands of machines for you to play on, and you'll learn a lot! Then buy a solid machine for home.
Couple years later …. Is it really worth 6-7k dollars…? Seems like a lot u could buy a laser engraver or cnc
Well u could get both for $1500 lol’
Is 6k worth it…? Working bed isn’t that big so can’t make huge stuff right…?
It is nice to see a clean and swift reality check on on the over paid expensive name brand equipment that doesn’t produce any better end result. Sure they may have add of ease features but the advantage of several machines versus one cannot be ignored. Ive found in most cases that i can manufacture my own cnc machines in a higher quality for much less. Its the presentation that gets most people. Fancy case, emblems, those things attract more money. The adage you get what you pay for no longer sticks for everything. Nice presentation.
Hey thanks for the video. What’s the thickest it can cut (wood) pine plywood to be exact. Also, how big is the surface area inside thst is able to cut ? ( the dimensions on the area inside the machine) thanks a bunch
Great vid.
After Lightburn's recent announcement of renting the machine you bought through their Premium Software subscription, I am SO glad I went with a Chinese laser. I went with a 60W from Orion Motortech. For the same price as a base model Glowforge I got a bed that's nearly twice as big, can place objects up to 9" thick, and best of all, use Lightburn. One time purchase, no renting my own equipment.
Has it been user friendly? Can you share some of your projects. Thinking of getting one too.
after learning on k40...sold it on craigslist for $200....then built my own....$1000...minus the $200=$800. 16x24 area....looked into rowmarks or duets 2 color sheets....make $150-$240 per $20 sheet....making labels ....part time...retired......researched many videos...then made on design....no cohesion or lightburn needed....
Wow, I cannot believe you didnt burn off Spongebob's arms and legs.. the level of detail has my jaw on the floor.. great video, thanks!
That's it I'm buying one.. I already have an eleksmaker laser...
Awww, Wright CNC is out at the Speedway Industrial Park. I knew I recognized that building.
What did you use to blacken the glass?
What do you use for material as far as wood?
I upgraded my k40 to.a yongli tube and the increase in performance is amazing. Beam was so tight. Also hacked a 40 dollar auxiliary car heater to use as a cooler instead of using a cw3000.
awesome....the CW-300 chiller doesnt do squat....i got an Spt tube from lightobject.com...built own rig...tube been working for almost 3 years....i am interested in your hack with the $40 aux car heater....clever....never thought to go that way....wish you would have done a video on it....
You could buy a 240 pc radiator for $20 online and add a couple fans. They cool well.
You have nice tools
Very cool
how large of a work area can you get?
can you slide in a larger piece to engrave on part of it?
Where is the best place to buy wood blanks like cellphone cases, keychains, etc.? Thanks!
Looks exhausting to say up and use. People are picking the glowforge and others because it is simple and doesn't look hideous. 😜
If you "set" it up it's really easy. I can tell you a lot of people that bought all the "cloud base" machines are sorry the first time they have to wait an hour or two for the project to start. Lightburn can run circles around their software. Plus every good product you think up is now shared with the world!!!!!
the fact glowforge works offthe cloud completely turned us off. We got a boss with everything they had for accessories as well a 100w laser tube for about half whata glowforge cost.
@6:02 I would very much like to learn about projects like this. Where would I start?
What if you're not very engineeried? Is it difficult to setup? I might go for a k40 Chinese laser. Hope i won't burn my house though
Very informative video. Thank you. I wonder what laser is the best choice for aluminum / brass engraving (deep engraving) and cutting. Maybe a 0,7 - 1 mm thick sheet? I need something that is not so expensive and I do not know what to choose. I am afraid that some offers are too good to be true.
CO2 lasers can only mark metal with the use of marking sprays.
You can't engrave metals with them.
Fiber lasers are expensive.
You're better off looking into CNC machines
co2 laser not way to go....when you talk about metal....the pricetag just went up thousands....and i mean thousands....
Awesome video! Any idea if a k40 can cut 3/4" PE foam?
you really don't want to cut thick foam fire and fumes can kill you I've cut 3mm foam board with mine but the "melt away" make using it for most things useless
nice
Thks
Ok.....with the normal upgrades, what thickness acrylic can I expect to cut with this machine?
I saw 12mm in the video and that comes in a little under a half inch. Will that cut designs in the acrylic with good accuracy?
Believe me, I know how much a GF is.....geez. If I can cut 0.50in acrylic nicely for under $800, I'll be happy!
Thanks in advance.
I don't regret my glowforge however I do wish I see. This video before I made the decision to get one. It's worked out great for me so far but there are still things I can't do with it that I wish I could
Does it cut metal jewelry?
Movie clips completely strip credibility from your videos. Your content stands on its own.
I’m about to get my hands on one of these what should I look for when checking them out ?
Make sure that the tube is in one piece with no cracks and that you have the machine grounded.
It also doesn't hurt to check to see if the connections to the board and power supply are fully plugged in.
Make sure to only use DISTILLED WATER
also look up a video on how to align your mirrors to see if it's shooting straight
Then you are good to go!
Great video. I'm curious if you could use this to actually cut glass? For stained glass arrangements.
You can use it to score the glass to snap like a glass cutter but it won't cut through, if you want a machine that can cut through glass you'd need a desktop waterjet cutter like wazer. The sun catcher in the thumbnail is made of chemcast acrylic!
@@NickMartinelliTV Thanks, I wasn't even aware that desktop waterjet was a thing. If that price point becomes a little more approachable, I'll have to consider it.
@@st0n3p0ny haha right there with ya
@@NickMartinelliTV If you are looking for a cheap waterjet, you may want to check out ruclips.net/video/Lg__B6Ca3jc/видео.html
How loud is it?
Where did you get Torres Venn you share link to same one ty
Can you focus the laser into a more fine point so you could get better results with a photographic raster?
The cohesion 3d board has a digital potentiometer which can ramp the power automatically to make really good looking rasters
Hey brother, loved the vid. I own a store and we do personalized engravings (by hand currently) on leather bracelets. Would the k40 work for me?
I’m also wanting to engrave/etch onto jewlery (stainless steel dog tag pendant style). Is the k40 best for my needs?
Ps. It’s in a brick and mortar store, so I’m not sure proper ventilation is feasible.
Or is there a different machine that would be better to do both those jobs?
hey I'm glad you liked the vid,
k40 will work on leather but without proper ventilation it will be smokey and smell terrible
you could deboss the leather like this ruclips.net/video/qHGGlHy-SNI/видео.html
as far as etching on the stainless steel, the k40 isn't strong enough you need a fiber laser to actually engrave the steel
you can mark on it with cermark ruclips.net/video/VJjU7pOXUp8/видео.html
you could also etch anodized aluminum dog tags ruclips.net/video/s0d319BhkFs/видео.html
hope this helps
-Nick
@@NickMartinelliTV Yeah, gives that WONDERFUL burning hair smell. I did horse bridles and they came out beautiful...
Good and well made video. I'm in the laser business (galvo driven, not flatbed) but was a product manager for Gravograph (now Gravotech) and sales manager for Trotec. Different grade of product at a much higher price point.. These both look OK for home/hobby use but it seems like you can make some profit too!!. How is the service from China though? I've heard that the documentation can be weak and parts can be hard to get with some Chinese companies. The DC excited tubes don't typically last as long as RF excited sources. Are the replacements readily available? I think about a side business from time to time and who knows, I might go this direction.
The returns and service are backed by eBay so they're pretty decent the main thing is finding a supplier/distributor that's near you... The act as a middleman between you and the Chinese manufacturers..
These k40 units are so popular that replacement parts are easy to find.
Pound for pound the k40 is the best deal you're going to find and it's easily capable enough to make you some decent money
Ive been wanting to buy this laser engraver for the past year no joke, i just keep pushing it due to not really know what to expect with this laser. My biggest thing is I want to be able to engrave weapons such as the slide, hand grip, mags. this video has made me really want to press buy now on my cart. Could you tell me if I am able to engrave the slides for weapons?
only if it has a paint layer. these 40 watt co2 lasers cant engrave metal on its own, you could probably do the grips if they are wood or plastic (be careful about what kind). if you have the budget I'd look into fiber lasers for engraving metal
Absolutely the best, most understandable laser engraving video I have seen. (actually the best review/informative video I have ever seen) You could make a living just writing and narrating videos. Trust me, it is a MUCH NEEDED addition to most videos. Now, how do I install the board for Lightburn and add a cylinder turn thing?
can you still find k40 under 500? where do I find one?
I think of glowforge as like an Apple product.. and the k40 as an Android. Apple is expensive, not very customizable, and showcases a sleek design.. while android is cheap and customizable all while not looking too terrible... that's just how I see it.
Courragated cardboard is probably the most dangerous material to laser. Melted the window on my K40 that way. K40 whisperer is a simple control option if you just want to get up and running without having to do hardware mods.
GF owner here, I have pondered picking up a K40. One thing I did not see touched on is bed size can the K40 achieve 11.5in (292mm) x 19in (482mm) in cut size?
Not without modification, standard size for a k40 is a little more than 8½in x 11in
This instantly convinced me to stop looking around at all the other types of laser cutters.
I own 2 k40's and am a fan.
started with k 40....then...size does matter....got an SPT 45 watt tube....some 2020 extrusion....built my own....accuracy is great....all for $1000....my hobbyist limit......
reason i built this...was i hooked up with a friend who wanted to see if it was possible to use 2-color plastic to make and design labels that he uses and resells to 20-25 of his other customers.
I'm retired and there arent massive orders to fill......in short, i go this way, because no pressure, work 2-3 days out of 7....minimum i make, $150 on a $20 piece of plastic.....$240 max on other labels per $20 piece of plastic .....all using free software and cheap chinese m2 nano board....cohesion and lightburn not needed.
I use Coreldraw for my vector based design, will that work??
It depends on what software they send you, laserdraw you will need an inkscape extension to read svgs, if they send corel laser you will be all set... Or you can look into k40 whisperer or a different controller board so you can run light burn
Can you recommend a vendor and model? thx.
Came here to ask just that. Who do you use?
Did you use rotary attachment for the wine glasses??
No I didn't, just tried to get the glass mostly into the focal point and ran an etching pass twice
I have bamboo wooden boxes with dimensions 11x8x5 inches, will it fit this machine if i need to engrave a logo or drawing on the top? Or will i need the version with the bigger bed 300x500m?
this will do 8x12...but remember....it is limited in the box top height....justa a piece of wood.....it would be fine
Where did you purchase your laser I see him on eBay but there's like 50 different ones different people I really can't afford to get a bad one
It really depends on where you're at. You should look for a seller that is relatively close to you, with a high positive seller rating
I am very interested in purchasing a K40. Is there a recommended site to buy them from?
eBay is the cheapest, covid 19 may effect the price/speed of delivery, I'd look for eBay sellers that are near your area... You could get it from Amazon but they tend to be more expensive but will have a better 30 day return policy/refund
@@NickMartinelliTV Thank you!
Hi Steven, you can check "yonntech official store" on AliExpress.com. It's Chinese but they have a warehouse in the US and in Europe. Mine came in less than a week!
Hi, Can I use the K40 to make sterling silver/gold name necklaces
No normal co2 lasers can't cut metal, look into 3d castable resins... Veg oil guy has a few good videos
Can you engrave a wooden baseball bat? Like a 31 in long bat?
The bed is only 12 in long, so not with out cutting a hole in the machine
How would this handle 1/4" acrylic? Would it be able to cut it in one pass?
I cut 1/8" in one pass at 12 mm a second, and cut 1/4 in two passes. I'm sure if you go slow enough it can do it in one
yes it will...couple passes....use cast acrylic
Can this machine cut thin metals?
No this is only a 40w co2 laser if you are trying to cut metal you need at least a 150w oxygen assisted co2 laser. Cheaper options are small plasma cutters or small waterjets like wazer
Just beware, my K40 failed after 6 months and the company gave me the runaround for another 6 months before they stopped responding. Also they often ship with internal wires disconnected/loose, so be sure to be a little handy to make it work...
Also there's returns on Ebay for $250 every now and then...
Agreed! always do your due diligence!
@@NickMartinelliTV k40 replacement parts are < 1/5 the price. if you are needing the support I think glowforge is a good model. similar to makerbot in 3d printing. the workflow was simpler for the non-technical user and worth the price.
each has it's merits. price will lead you to k40 in laser (or possibly diode for low power) ease of use to the beginner will favor glowforge
in 3d printing there is a similar model, cr10 etc is much cheaper than makerbot and other high cost. but the support is sometimes worth the cost for those who are inclined makerbot was easy as a beginner back in 2012 for me.
I think there are clear benefits in the glowforge workflow for the new user. but k40/inkscape/k40 whisperer are a huge cost benefit..But i am a tinkerer and that is a big factor.
I would lean to k40 simply because i could have several for the cost of one glowforge.
if i was recommending to a non techie, glowforge might be the better choice depending on tech competency.
started with k 40....then...size does matter....got an SPT 45 watt tube....some 2020 extrusion....built my own....accuracy is great....all for $1000....my hobbyist limit......
reason i built this...was i hooked up with a friend who wanted to see if it was possible to use 2-color plastic to make and design labels that he uses and resells to 20-25 of his other customers.
I'm retired and there arent massive orders to fill......in short, i go this way, because no pressure, work 2-3 days out of 7....minimum i make, $150 on a $20 piece of plastic.....$240 max on other labels per $20 piece of plastic .....all using free software and cheap chinese m2 nano board....cohesion and lightburn not needed.
No engine coolant?
Ive never needed it, 3 or 4 gallons of water is enough to keep my machine running great for hours
You showed a water jet when you said a plasma cutter. So... what did you get?
No, I showed a plasma cutter with a water pan, the water in the table is to stop fumes and to stop the metal from warping
Glowforge also recommends that you buy there proof grade materials.
haha its a good way for them to make more money
Great video! I was curious, does the gantry support go all the way around the inside of the box? The reason I ask, I make 12x17 in cutting board and would like to customize them. I would maybe cut an oversize material slot in the front of the machine to allow it to sit inside the engraving area. Just looking at it, do you think that would be possible?
It may work, I know that the internals for the bed are about 14 in wide so it should accommodate the thinner side of the cutting board.
If you do have the funds getting a larger machine www.ebay.com/itm/80W-Co2-Laser-Engraver-Cutter-Engraving-Cutting-machine-20x28-USB-Port-Ruida/153734136465?hash=item23cb44c291:g:jbIAAOSwPqBdwPJm . its a bit more expensive but if you need the space its over twice the working area and twice as powerful
@@NickMartinelliTV I would love to pick one of those up, but I can't convince my wife to let me get it right now. haha. I would potentially use this to customize and make router templates for special order boards. Once I make my money back, I could upgrade. What's the thickest material you think you could cut with this? Acrylic, wood, whatever.
@@metalman1004 haha I feel that, I've cut 1/4 in birch on here.
for a job that need something thicker I stacked and glued 8 pieces of 1/8" ply to make an inch of material.
The work area is 8.5" x 11" but if you are smart with your layouts you can index pieces into a bigger layouts for your boards.
If you end up doing the pass through this could help in the customization ruclips.net/video/nTaQC7lZHTI/видео.html
also found a passthough someone had done ruclips.net/video/0r5sdS8zqY0/видео.html
Please, I want to cut through iron (not steel), 0,1mm (1/254inch), is that possible with that machine??????? Thanks!
Not likely. A CNC plasma cutter would probably be a better option for cutting metals
No. CO2 lasers can not cut metal.
@@parkerthornton1372 CO2 lasers can cut metal, quite easily, but not with this power output ... 40W...
What link can we use to get a K40
before buying...for the heck of it...check craigslist...got mine for $200 from a dude who didnt know how to operate...sat in his garage for 2 years....maybe you'll get lucky
That was an interesting video. I am interested in getting a K40. I'm just wondering how loud they are and how much smoke they put out. I live in an apartment complex and I don't know if my neighbors would have a problem with it, or if the smoke vented out the window would be enough to cause some concern.
They are about as loud as a 3d printer and bathroom vent, the apartment complex might be an issue.
Cutting wood puts off a fair bit of smoke and acrylic puts off a nasty smell, maybe if you get a more powerful exhaust fan that can disperse the smoke/smell more efficiently. If you work at night the mole will be less visible/maybe give the people around you a heads up you are gonna bbq haha
@@NickMartinelliTV Thanks
@@ryandowney8743 lots of smoke for wood and acrylic
Last 45 seconds of audio are bad but its the best I can do with the tools provided by RUclips. Got a copyright claim by someone that isn't the artist, RUclips's content id system is too easily abused.
How you make colored engrave on glass ?
only black and white
@@glennmartonic6376 how to make black ?
#TeamK40 ;)
5:01 ThisIsFine.gif 😂
I'M SOLD.
using a pixleld pikachu like that might make ppl think that's the k40's best resolution in acrylic.!!! Which it is MUCH better that is just a pixel art photo!
A K40 is in no where near in the ballpark of a glowforge. It's a cheap way to get your feet wet, but you'd be FAR better off to buy the Chinese 50W laser engraver for under $1500. They are MUCH better made (with real linear rails), faster, and have better controllers and software. I started with a K40 also, and even today I keep one as an emergency backup....but I use the 50W for all daily tasks.
agreed! if they just want something to tinker with for a hobby the k40 is the best choice... (1500 is steep for marketing as a hobbyist machine)
+ once a k40 is dialed in it can do some good work
if they are going to use it every day then they are probably out of it just being a hobby and more into business
@@NickMartinelliTV
Nick is the k 50 already Dialed in for use? And is it a lot better than the k 40 ?
I actually want to get on for my little Girl, She's very Artistic on Drawing and Making things so I thought this would be a Great Start for Her.
One of the things She would like to be able to do is make the Face Mask and Shield for the Drs.
Is that Possible?
Exactly, what All can she do on this
K 50 ?
@@rickh1227 either one will do what what you are trying to do
I recommend this vid for more on the k50 ruclips.net/video/Zo9UNg99wtw/видео.html
A k50 with a ruita controller running the lightburn software would be more user friendly than the stock software that comes with both of these, and it has a bigger cutting area(12in x 20in) but is more expensive
85% = how much MA is that
Around 10ma
@@NickMartinelliTV oke thanks my k40 wil do it around 19 ma maybe i have a wrong focal length 10 ma does not cut it at 3 mm/s
Tempted to buy one, but I think I'll wait until they're made in some other country.
ANY other country...
I agree. It's going to be difficult but I plan on boycotting China until they embrace Democracy like they embraced Capitalism. Communism = Lack of Accountability = Dishonesty.
Was shown 2 glowforge ads while watching this 6:47 video
Just one example of where your 5k+ goes when you buy a glowforge
( besides the Scrooge McDuck size money vault of straight profit that's stashed somewhere )
i think want to make some crappy little figures