Really enjoyed that, thanks for the breakdown of its workings, would be interested to see what it can cut maximum mm/fraction of inch, also enjoyed your cutting board video, thank you.
Hey thanks for your video. I recently purchased the “60w version”. Looking forward to watching your videos on this. I’m going to make a few also. Good luck!
Loved this review! Clear and to the point. I’m thinking of buying one but have one concern.. how to manually focus a non-autofocus laser? Would you like to show us how you setup yours? TIA 🙏🏼
Thank you for watching and the kind words. The manufacture sends a small piece of acrylic on a key chain with the machine. The acrylic is the exact distance the work piece needs to be from the tip of the laser head. To adjust the height of the work piece you move the work piece table up and down and not the head. I was thinking about doing another laser cutter video some time, if I do I will be sure to include some of my initial setup procedure.
I'm super excited to order mine. I'm thinking about getting the 100w version, but I've noticed it doesn't seem to come with the auto focus. Going to call them and have questions. Anybody have any suggestions on what I should ask?
Hi! Great run through! What was your cut settings on that material? I heard the engraving was 250mm but curious about the actual cut through. I have the exact same model!!
Thanks! Glad the video was helpful. To be honest I deleted the old light burn file that had those cut settings so I am not positive what speed and power I was using. I remember using this PDF I found on line as a go by on figuring out the speed and power required. Hope it helps. www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/academic/class/99353-f16/speedsfeeds_RL.pdf
What a well done video! Really nice explanation of everything good and bad. I’ve been trying to decide on which laser engraver/cutter to get as a complete newbie. Can you please share the link that you used to purchase yours?
Thanks! Glad you found the video helpful. The Product ID on Amazon was : "Orion Motor Tech Upgraded 55W CO2 Laser Engraving Cutting Machine, 16 x 24 Inch Work Table Laser Engraver with Digital LCD Real Time Data Power Supply, LightBurn Software for Windows, Mac OSX, Linux" I would send the link but it is not currently coming up on my Amazon search. The item floats from Available to Not Available as the vendor gets new stock I ran into the same issue when searching for it before I purchased it. I bet if you wait a few days it will come up again during a search. Thanks again for watching the video and good luck on your search.
Follow on info for some points brought up.... The CO2 laser operates at a wavelength that can't penetrate the transparent cover. In fact, if it needed a tint to work, you wouldn't be able to use the laser to cut plastic with it in the first place! So, tinted or not, the unit is safe as long as the cover is closed.
I've been using an older Epilog with motorized Z-axis for years. I can tell you, there are times I really wish it was manual Z axis. Focusing with the machine OFF for example would be helpful when engraving glass on a rotary. If I did alot of greatly different height objects, I might have more use for the motorized z axis.
Hey MrPhantom302 thank you for watching the video. Gotta say I have a bit more time under my belt with the new toy and I am still like a kid in a candy store when working with it, you wont be disappointed. Unfortunately I don't have plans for my stand, it is just something I threw together using scrap wood I had lying around from an old project. In general I took a bit of a gamble and built my stand a few inches bigger than the dimensions given on the Amazon description of the item before it arrived. Nothing special to the stand just some casters, plywood, 2X4s, 4X4's, glue, screws, and some good old fashion hammer marks where things needed to be "encouraged" to fit. Best of luck with your new machine!
@@orangelabengineering2923 thank you . I'm a kid in the candy store hahahahaha , Me like . can you take some pics of your bench? just to have a better idea hehehehe . thanks for getting back to me . hope you keep doing more videos , so I can learn :) later
Would this work well etching granite or slate memorial plaques? I would like to start a business and need something that will do quality work. Thanks for any info you can give.
Your Welcome! The unit comes with a small air assist pump pre installed in the bottom of the unit. I am sure if you are adventurous enough you could probably take out the existing small pump and install a new one. Pretty sure that would void the warranty though....
Wanted to circle back on the size. I just purchased this one based on the size. I need to get mine through a 32" doorway. On the website, MACHINE DIMENSIONS are 44.5" × 29.5" × 27.2". You measured it at about 30" front to back so I'm hoping I can maneuver mine through it. Any thoughts?
Just go ours. Unpacked it in the garage and it fit through with no problem. It is 29.5” and our door from the garage is 32”. Getting it into a room wit a standard 29.5” wide interior door is another thing. Before unpacking anything inside the machine or even taking the stretch wrap off we tipped it on its side and set it on a moving cart. Worked fine.
I took the clear tape off of my laser tube, don't know if I was supposed to or not, but it works so..... LOL. The RUIDA is a digital controller, what do you really need to see the ammeter for?
Good to know someone had some luck taking the tape off! I might have to take off my tape some time soon. The Ammeter tells you how much current you are drawing in your laser tube. From what I have read it is best to keep your total power below a certain % of the laser tube's rating to extend it's working life. The ammeter is a much more accurate display of total power usage than the RUIDA according to some people online.
Great question that I unfortunately don't know the answer to.... In the past I have used LaserGRBL when running a small diode laser on my CNC but I don't think that software works on a Ruida controller.
It all depends on the material and speed, I can get it to cut 1/4" plywood. There are some good tables online that you can find that provide information on depths of cuts based on materials and laser power.
Question, can this be turned up on one of its ends, I need to get it through a door and the 26 inch clearance will work. Is the frame strong enough to handle being on its end?
Great question that I don't know the answer to. It would make me a bit nervous to try. When you first get the machine the gantry is secured in place on one of the side of the cut area. If you do try turning it on it's side I would recommend ensuring the side facing down is the side that the gantry is secured to. Good luck.
Depends on the guys lol. I'm not a big guy and my friend and I were able to lift the laser cutter and put it on the platform I built and at the time I didn't feel that it was too heavy. I think the biggest concern I would have in your shoes is how would you actually get it down the stairs, any tight turns or narrow door frames could cause some issues. Also the machine is made of thin sheet steel so it is susceptible to dents and dings. Good luck!
Christopher great minds think alike! I do have some follow up thoughts about this machine after spending more time with it. Might have to throw together a quick follow up video in a few weeks.
I've looking to get one of these machines any day now, and I like to know if you have a review opinion after owning the machine for about a year since the post the video. I've heard some people had some power supply and laser issues on some previous models. Also, I found the following table for cutting plywood which know if this is true for this machine Average Cutting Settings for Baltic Birch Plywood of Various Thicknesses Wattage Parameter 1/16in 1/8in 1/4in 1/2in 50w Speed 15 mm/s 10 mm/s 5 mm/s 3 mm/s Power 20 % 26 % 37 % 47 % 55w Speed 17 mm/s 12 mm/s 5 mm/s 3 mm/s Power 20 % 25 % 35 % 46 % 60w Speed 16 mm/s 12 mm/s 6 mm/s 4 mm/s Power 20 % 25 % 32 % 45 % 80w Speed 25 mm/s 12 mm/s 7 mm/s 5 mm/s Power 20 % 25 % 30 % 35 %
Honestly I have not tried 1/2" plywood on this bad boy. It cuts through 1/4" fine but I am not sure if it could handle 1/2", I have a gut feeling that it would be a little under-powered for the task.
Great question. In the video I show a map of Westeros which is from the TV show Game of Thrones, I found the source image from a few google searches. For real world applications you may be able to google Topographic Maps and find something useful there. Good luck on the hunt!
Not a real chiller, I made a chiller in a different video. I use the term "Chiller" lightly, mine is more of an radiator. A real chiller would be nice for the summer.
There was no link to post at the time. Amazon has this model posted when some are in stock. When this device is not in stock it is not posted on their website. At the time this video was posted Amazon did not have any of these models in stock.
You can buy a camera! I use light burn software and they sell a camera that you can install in the unit. It works much more like a glowforge with the camera. I give a brief description about the camera in my video about "Laser Etching IKEA Cutting Boards". Hope you find it useful.
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Awesome review. I just ordered this laser engraver can't wait to get mine!
Great job no doubt one of the best videos reviews I found for a home shop or hobbyist, thank you very much
Thanks for watching!
Appreciate this review man, the best I've seen so far after a week or so of research. Thanks!
Any time! Glad it helped.
Really enjoyed that, thanks for the breakdown of its workings, would be interested to see what it can cut maximum mm/fraction of inch, also enjoyed your cutting board video, thank you.
Hey thanks for your video. I recently purchased the “60w version”. Looking forward to watching your videos on this. I’m going to make a few also. Good luck!
Thanks for watching! I was very close to getting the 60W version. Ill keep an eye out for your video.
Nice job, I was on the fence, but I'm thinking I might buy one now.
Loved this review! Clear and to the point. I’m thinking of buying one but have one concern.. how to manually focus a non-autofocus laser? Would you like to show us how you setup yours? TIA 🙏🏼
Thank you for watching and the kind words. The manufacture sends a small piece of acrylic on a key chain with the machine. The acrylic is the exact distance the work piece needs to be from the tip of the laser head. To adjust the height of the work piece you move the work piece table up and down and not the head. I was thinking about doing another laser cutter video some time, if I do I will be sure to include some of my initial setup procedure.
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'm super excited to order mine. I'm thinking about getting the 100w version, but I've noticed it doesn't seem to come with the auto focus. Going to call them and have questions. Anybody have any suggestions on what I should ask?
Hi! Great run through! What was your cut settings on that material? I heard the engraving was 250mm but curious about the actual cut through. I have the exact same model!!
Thanks! Glad the video was helpful. To be honest I deleted the old light burn file that had those cut settings so I am not positive what speed and power I was using. I remember using this PDF I found on line as a go by on figuring out the speed and power required. Hope it helps.
www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/academic/class/99353-f16/speedsfeeds_RL.pdf
What a well done video! Really nice explanation of everything good and bad. I’ve been trying to decide on which laser engraver/cutter to get as a complete newbie. Can you please share the link that you used to purchase yours?
Thanks! Glad you found the video helpful.
The Product ID on Amazon was :
"Orion Motor Tech Upgraded 55W CO2 Laser Engraving Cutting Machine, 16 x 24 Inch Work Table Laser Engraver with Digital LCD Real Time Data Power Supply, LightBurn Software for Windows, Mac OSX, Linux"
I would send the link but it is not currently coming up on my Amazon search. The item floats from Available to Not Available as the vendor gets new stock I ran into the same issue when searching for it before I purchased it. I bet if you wait a few days it will come up again during a search.
Thanks again for watching the video and good luck on your search.
Follow on info for some points brought up.... The CO2 laser operates at a wavelength that can't penetrate the transparent cover. In fact, if it needed a tint to work, you wouldn't be able to use the laser to cut plastic with it in the first place! So, tinted or not, the unit is safe as long as the cover is closed.
Hi. Nice video. Did you use the past through to get the map done? Mainly the larger back piece. Or does it fit in one go?
Thank you! It barley fit on the cutting surface, I didn't have to use the pass through.
I've been using an older Epilog with motorized Z-axis for years. I can tell you, there are times I really wish it was manual Z axis. Focusing with the machine OFF for example would be helpful when engraving glass on a rotary.
If I did alot of greatly different height objects, I might have more use for the motorized z axis.
Good insight!
I love it when people pull out a tape measure and measure very carefully and then say, "about 45 inches"... XD
Great video, im getting a new toy as well. Same one , do you have plans for your bench for your laser. Ill be needing one . Thanks again
Hey MrPhantom302 thank you for watching the video. Gotta say I have a bit more time under my belt with the new toy and I am still like a kid in a candy store when working with it, you wont be disappointed. Unfortunately I don't have plans for my stand, it is just something I threw together using scrap wood I had lying around from an old project. In general I took a bit of a gamble and built my stand a few inches bigger than the dimensions given on the Amazon description of the item before it arrived. Nothing special to the stand just some casters, plywood, 2X4s, 4X4's, glue, screws, and some good old fashion hammer marks where things needed to be "encouraged" to fit. Best of luck with your new machine!
@@orangelabengineering2923 thank you . I'm a kid in the candy store hahahahaha , Me like . can you take some pics of your bench? just to have a better idea hehehehe . thanks for getting back to me . hope you keep doing more videos , so I can learn :) later
@@orangelabengineering2923 Yes! I'm looking to make the same stand you did. How tall did you make it? Thanks so much!
Would this work well etching granite or slate memorial plaques? I would like to start a business and need something that will do quality work. Thanks for any info you can give.
Yes, this will engrave on stone. Check the OM Tech website for a listing of everything it will engrave
Thank you! Can you add an air assist to this unit?
Your Welcome! The unit comes with a small air assist pump pre installed in the bottom of the unit. I am sure if you are adventurous enough you could probably take out the existing small pump and install a new one. Pretty sure that would void the warranty though....
Wanted to circle back on the size. I just purchased this one based on the size. I need to get mine through a 32" doorway. On the website, MACHINE DIMENSIONS are 44.5" × 29.5" × 27.2". You measured it at about 30" front to back so I'm hoping I can maneuver mine through it. Any thoughts?
Just go ours. Unpacked it in the garage and it fit through with no problem. It is 29.5” and our door from the garage is 32”. Getting it into a room wit a standard 29.5” wide interior door is another thing. Before unpacking anything inside the machine or even taking the stretch wrap off we tipped it on its side and set it on a moving cart. Worked fine.
I took the clear tape off of my laser tube, don't know if I was supposed to or not, but it works so..... LOL. The RUIDA is a digital controller, what do you really need to see the ammeter for?
Good to know someone had some luck taking the tape off! I might have to take off my tape some time soon. The Ammeter tells you how much current you are drawing in your laser tube. From what I have read it is best to keep your total power below a certain % of the laser tube's rating to extend it's working life. The ammeter is a much more accurate display of total power usage than the RUIDA according to some people online.
@@orangelabengineering2923 yeah just don’t see the real advantage on a ruida controller of watching the ammeter.
With a 55W laser, how many passes do you need to cut 1/4 plywood or acrylic?
I am able to get through 1/4" plywood in one pass, but is is a slow pass. I have never cut 1/4" Acrylic but when I do cut Acrylic I use one pass.
What other software can you use other than. Lightburn or corel. For this engraver
Great question that I unfortunately don't know the answer to.... In the past I have used LaserGRBL when running a small diode laser on my CNC but I don't think that software works on a Ruida controller.
Was that westeros poster made of maple plywood? And what was the thickness?
It is 1/4" sanded plywood you can get from the big box store, pretty sure it is pine.
What is the deepest depth of engraving it can make?
It all depends on the material and speed, I can get it to cut 1/4" plywood. There are some good tables online that you can find that provide information on depths of cuts based on materials and laser power.
Question, can this be turned up on one of its ends, I need to get it through a door and the 26 inch clearance will work. Is the frame strong enough to handle being on its end?
I would like to know this as well
Great question that I don't know the answer to. It would make me a bit nervous to try. When you first get the machine the gantry is secured in place on one of the side of the cut area. If you do try turning it on it's side I would recommend ensuring the side facing down is the side that the gantry is secured to. Good luck.
Did you make it through the door on its side? I'm going to attempt this as well.
Did you have to pay for liftgate service?
Great question! Its been a bit since I received it but based on what I remember it was included in the price from Amazon.
I thinking about purchasing this machine. would two guys be able to carry this down a basement.
Depends on the guys lol. I'm not a big guy and my friend and I were able to lift the laser cutter and put it on the platform I built and at the time I didn't feel that it was too heavy. I think the biggest concern I would have in your shoes is how would you actually get it down the stairs, any tight turns or narrow door frames could cause some issues. Also the machine is made of thin sheet steel so it is susceptible to dents and dings. Good luck!
Hey buddy, would be nice to see some more updates
Christopher great minds think alike! I do have some follow up thoughts about this machine after spending more time with it. Might have to throw together a quick follow up video in a few weeks.
I've looking to get one of these machines any day now, and I like to know if you have a review opinion after owning the machine for about a year since the post the video. I've heard some people had some power supply and laser issues on some previous models. Also, I found the following table for cutting plywood which know if this is true for this machine
Average Cutting Settings for Baltic Birch Plywood of Various Thicknesses
Wattage Parameter 1/16in 1/8in 1/4in 1/2in
50w Speed 15 mm/s 10 mm/s 5 mm/s 3 mm/s
Power 20 % 26 % 37 % 47 %
55w Speed 17 mm/s 12 mm/s 5 mm/s 3 mm/s
Power 20 % 25 % 35 % 46 %
60w Speed 16 mm/s 12 mm/s 6 mm/s 4 mm/s
Power 20 % 25 % 32 % 45 %
80w Speed 25 mm/s 12 mm/s 7 mm/s 5 mm/s
Power 20 % 25 % 30 % 35 %
Have you had any luck cutting 1/2'' plywood with this machine?
Honestly I have not tried 1/2" plywood on this bad boy. It cuts through 1/4" fine but I am not sure if it could handle 1/2", I have a gut feeling that it would be a little under-powered for the task.
can i ask where you get your nautical maps?
Great question. In the video I show a map of Westeros which is from the TV show Game of Thrones, I found the source image from a few google searches. For real world applications you may be able to google Topographic Maps and find something useful there. Good luck on the hunt!
Do u have a chiller with it
Not a real chiller, I made a chiller in a different video. I use the term "Chiller" lightly, mine is more of an radiator. A real chiller would be nice for the summer.
Does it cut with any real accuracy?
Yep, I have been extremely impressed with the accuracy of the machine.
Why didn’t you post a link?
There was no link to post at the time. Amazon has this model posted when some are in stock. When this device is not in stock it is not posted on their website. At the time this video was posted Amazon did not have any of these models in stock.
Wish it had a camera 📷
You can buy a camera! I use light burn software and they sell a camera that you can install in the unit. It works much more like a glowforge with the camera. I give a brief description about the camera in my video about "Laser Etching IKEA Cutting Boards". Hope you find it useful.
Your laser,in fact, is a CNC machine.
True, the same way that a 3D printer is a CNC machine.
Hey people from around the world watch those videos , start use metric system .
Fair point but I live in the US where we use the backwards Imperial measurement system. My standard tape measure is in inches so that is what I used.