Boost Your Laser Engraving Business!
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- Опубликовано: 13 авг 2023
- Let's talk about a quick money maker and growing your laser engraving business.
👀 Free Template (Lightburn) Files as mentioned in the video! 👀
letsmakeathing.com/pencil
Want to join a group of like minded makers who want to grow their business? Come join the Makerpreneurs Facebook group!
/ makerpreneurs
⚡With Laser Learning:Diode Edition you will learn everything you need to set up your new laser, and get started engraving and cutting unique projects in less than a day!
letsmakeathing.com/llde5
*Grab it now, price is going up soon!*
If you buy using my links below I may get small share of the sale.
Longer B1 40 Watt Laser Engraver/Cutter:
amzn.to/3IbfEUW
My Longer B1 Laser Review: • Solid Laser...Once You...
Tools, Equipment, & Materials:
Twotrees Laser Enclosure 800x800x400: amzn.to/43nGsJG
Krylon Clear Coat: amzn.to/478ZnLi
#2 Pencils: amzn.to/3ORQvml
1/4 or 6.35mm inch plywood: amzn.to/3OwGY2J
Rubber bands: amzn.to/3OQSE1i
PPE:
OD 6+ Laser Safety Glasses: amzn.to/43nTiYt
Follow me on social media:
👉Facebook Group: / makerpreneurs
Disclaimer: The content presented in this video is for entertainment purposes only. The information provided is not intended to substitute or replace professional advice, and viewers should not rely solely on the information presented in this video. Viewers should always do their own research and consult with professionals in the appropriate fields before making any decisions based on the information presented. The creator of this video does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information presented in this video.
#DIY #Making #Longer #LongerB1 #LaserEngraver #LaserEngraving #LaserBusiness
I went through the variable text and print and cut features in Lightburn really quick in the video. If you'd like to see videos about those features leave me a comment!
Yes please. More on print and cut.
I'd like to see more on these features! Subscribed. Thank you
Here's what's probably a dumb question... How do we change fonts? In the spreadsheet maybe?
No dumb questions when you're trying to learn something new! You can change the font in Lightburn. Right above the grid in the middle of the screen you should see "Font" with a drop down menu next to it.
@@LetsMakeAThing I think it's greyed out with the template. I'll have to look again. If it works, then he's, it is a dumb question 🤣. Thanks for the reply!
Curtis, Great video! I’m still new to laser engraving/ cutting and I picked up some very useful tips! Making stuff for my kids and grandkids. You are very generous to share your files also. I subscribed right away and look forward to watching your channel.
Awesome, thank you! Hope you enjoy making stuff with your new laser!
Simple yet amazing. Thanks!
You're welcome! Glad you found it useful!
Just a detail: "CSV" refers to "character separated values", the coma might be one of the separating characters, but it could be any.
Great video, very inspiring!!
Great video! Thank you; I appreciate how clear your instructions are!
Thank you! Glad it was helpful for you!
Thank you for this. Really helpful. I've signed up for your course as well. Really looking forward to getting into it.
Welcome aboard! Appreciate you.
I like the print and cut workflow - it makes positioning so much easier - remember: i your need tight fitting positioners to think of your "kerf" and the burn loss - sometimes half a millimeter counts
I just wanted to thank you this will be my first templet I am doing thanks so much
You're welcome! Enjoy!
Great video..thanks for explaining "print and cut" in Lightburn
You're welcome! Keep an eye out for a new print and cut video soon. I'll be showing how to cut/engrave pieces bigger than your laser's cutting area using print and cut.
Great stuff, I just finished your course too. Now to fire up the laser and start getting creative.
Fantastic! Have fun!
man that's awesome i didn't wait a second when you say press the like button .... everything you say are so helpful and thanx for the file
Glad it helped! Thanks for the like!
Great video! I learned several new things about LightBurn, including the alignment which will help me on my other laser projects.
And FANTASTIC sound quality on the video. I have subscribed.
Thank you! Glad the video helped you out!
Awesome video, Curtis!!!
Thanks Ed!
Really great video, thank you!
Glad you liked it!
Thanks. Appreciate the great video and idea.
Glad it was helpful!
I received my Diode laser yesterday (still in the box and will be assembling today) and stumbled on this video….you’re a fabulous teacher! I’m your newest subscriber and I’ll definitely check out your class offerings. I don’t have the same Diode laser as you so hopefully your class will cover various brands and settings. Thank you for sharing your knowledge (you really are an awesome teacher!)
Thank you, I really appreciate that! My diode course is brand/make/model agnostic so it will help even if you have a different laser.
I would like to offer a suggestion keep the lens of the laser clean, I have already damaged a lens on my 10 watt Longer Ray. I have air assist and thought I could skip the cleaning thinking the air would keep the soot out I was Wrong. My laser was not cutting the 6 mill plywood with the usual 3 passes. Sure enough the lens had a burn spot on it. I replaced the lens every thing is back to normal😁🛫
Awesome.. Thank you 🙌
You're welcome! Glad you found it helpful!
You good, thanks! Subscribed!
Welcome Aboard!
Great idea and fabulous job!!! Subscribed without delay!
XTool D1 Pro user.
Thanks for the sub!
@@LetsMakeAThing I made a few pencils with my name (Andrew's Lab) and phone. I showed one to my favorite taco truck owner. Bam - got an order for 50! 👍👍👍
Thanks a lot, subscribed :)
You're welcome! Glad you found it useful!
There are a lot of laser businesses making these exact products. Sales do not appear just because you make something, it's mostly about the audience you build whether you build it organically or you pay for it.
100% correct. My sales were done by word of mouth through people I know.
Thank You
You're welcome!
we are about to buy a laser! that was a good video thanks
Glad it was helpful!
I'm going to try this with a bit of Nordic, or Celtic design on either side of the name.
Yeah. That’s for a batch of all the same pencils.
My son just started school so he obviously got a pencil case filled with one regular (grey) pencil and a set of colored pencils.
I created a jig and everything just as you did, fully assuming „it’s a set. They will all engrave with the same settings“.
Big mistake.
I have now 10 pencils with literally 10 different looking engravings: some only scratched the paint, some went through to the wood, some created dark burn-stains, some didn’t… and one color in particular was so resilient I had to re-laser two more times despite the settings of the laser were EXACTLY the same.
That was a pain.
But thanks for the tip on how to align, that’s VERY helpful!
Thanks!
Sorry to hear you had issues with the colored pencils.Glad you found the video useful!
Sounds like mirror/lens or table leveling issues.
@@LuisCasstle thanks for your feedback but no: I lasered 1 pack of 10 colour pencils, one after another (not 10 at the same time but one after another at the same position).
With colour pencils even though they all are out of the same pack, they widely differ in terms of thickness / composition of the paint that's onm them, leading to very different results: laser with the same settings will or will not scrap the color off and reach the wooden inside, or will leave burnmarks or not...
My learning is simply: don't assume that one pack of color pencils means they behave similarily. They do not.
Love your videos, i have xtool F1, can I open this file on xcs
Glad you enjoy the videos! My template is a Lightburn file so I don't think you will be able to open it with the xtool software.
I like to use round pencils
Great video! I was wondering if you had a video that explains a little bit more about the cross hairs and they work? I am wanting to make and little bit larger template. I will be using a CO2 laser. I am just wanting to make sure my text lines up properly. Thank you
I don't have an in-depth video about print and cut yet. I've had a lot of people asking about it though so hopefully soon I'll be able to put one out that goes more in-depth on this topic!
@@LetsMakeAThing OK thank you. Yes I would like to see a more detailed video about print and cut.
In this case the jig should be named 'cut and print'. Measure your slots, cut them, place always the jig/plywood in the same position, move the cut lines in a tool layer and bring over the engraved text in a Fill layer. Then engrave. It should always stay aligned with the cuts if you're using the same file to do both. There are harder alignment options, but I found this very easy if you learn how to work with layers.
Great Tutorial. Thank you for the jig. I am very new and a visual learner. Any idea why my Burn Lab laser will not make a perfect circle. It looks more like an eclipse. Thank you again for a great tutorial. have a blessed day.
Check the tension on your belts. A common cause of getting ovals instead of circles is due to the belt on one axis being too loose/tight.
@@LetsMakeAThingI would also add or question how are you making this circle in Lightburn? (LB) You may know this but the what we think is a circle in LB is actually an ellipse if you want a true circle with LB select the eclipse tool hold down the shift key while dragging the ellipse to the desired dimension. 😁🛫
Thank you! I am curious how you got a white laser engrave on your pencils?! Did I miss something? Is it only the power/speed settings you are using? I only get black/dark brown engraving on my normal orange pencils? Thanks
Great question! My pencils have a layer of white paint underneath the yellow. I dialed in my laser so it was only removing the yellow layer of paint and that's how I got the white lettering.
How do you setup the csv file to work in lightburn with the text boxes? Have you done a video on this?
I have not done an in-depth video on using variable text in Lightburn. I will definitely add it to the list for a future video!
Nice tutorial. How would you change the font or letter size with this method? Are you doing that in Lightburn? My laser doesn't use Lightburn so I usually create my layout/artwork/text in Coreldraw and send direct to my laser driver. I know how to do this in Corel - I'm just curious how it is done in Lightburn or Google Sheets. Thanks!
Great question! The file from Google sheets only supplies the text, it doesn't have any impact on the style of the engraving. Font, font size, and all other design aspects are changed in Lightburn.
@@LetsMakeAThing thank you
I remixed this design to engrave carpenter pencils. I did a rookie mistake on my first lot. If you are going to add a phone number, make sure it is in quotes before you copy it down the column or google sheets will auto increment the last 4 digits of the phone number!
Oh great advice! Thanks for sharing!
I found some at Staples for there back to school pricing. I like using the Staples ones because the pencil is not branded, it just has the small HB on it.
Non branded is the way to go when you can find them!
Good overview of the Lightburn variable text, however, your template looks to be made for pencils engraved for left-handed people. You're supposed to read what is written on the pencil while you hold/write with them and if you're right handed (as the other 90% people) the writing is upside down. All factory logos are at the other end of the pencil (i.e. place the eraser on the right side in the jig). Am I missing something?
Thanks for the video - followed the instructions setting the start and end points, however, when I click start my Atomstack just moves to a totally different location and doesn't even start to engrave. If I click frame, it frames the pencils correctly, but that's as far as I can get.
I haven't run into the issue you are describing before so I don't have a ton of advice to offer. I would try creating a brand new file and use print and cut in the new file to see if it works. If you have the same problem in a brand new file I would contact Lightburn. Their support is great, and they should be able to help you sort it out in short order.
@@LetsMakeAThing thanks - think I've solved the issue - I was running a previous version of LB. Updated to the latest version and now it works. good tutorial :)
@@grezmel Glad you got it figured out!
Appreciate the video. One question, though. Since LB has an array function that would have saved the Google Sheets step, is there a reason you went that route? Thanks!
There are a few reasons why I used variable text. Using the array function you would still need to arrange and line up each item to match the template. Once you create an array with Lightburn editing one item doesn't edit all of the items in the array. You would have to recreate your layout from scratch for each new text you were engraving. You could take the time and work out the exact settings to enter in the array setup to have it lined up perfectly, but I'm not sure that is any faster than using variable text. And with a little programming you can enter the name once into a custom program and generate the CSV automatically. That would eliminate the step of using Google Docs or Microsoft Excel to generate the CSV file.
@@LetsMakeAThing True, a Web app could generate the CSV files for remote orders :)
I have the longer B1 I bought 2 weeks ago everything was running fine then something went wacky.
when I would first start up the machine would go to the bottom left. now it goes to the top right and out of bounds. and also in my move window when I hit the right arrow it goes left.
All the arrows are moving the opposite. I honestly don't know what happened.
Sorry to hear that. Hope you get it sorted out!
Hi just downloaded your free files but it looks like you use drop box is there a different way i can down load the files.
many Thanks Steven.
Please send me an email and I'll help you get the files!
Hi Curtis,
Just started going through the course work. I'm up to things you need. One of these was a fire extinguisher. What size would you recommend? Currently have a 1kg one.
1kg should work fine.
@LetsMakeAThing Thanks for that Curtis. Really enjoying the course.
I tried to download the jig file today and never received it...I even tried a second email address....yes I checked the spam folder. Any idea why or another way to get it?
Finally got it, thanks
Excellent. Glad you received the templates!
I didn't come here thinking I'd learn such handy lightburn tricks. Specifically the set target feature, that's going to be SUPER handy. and the idea for making jigs the way you did for the pencil- accept for all sorts of things. Great Video! Sub earned!
Thank you. Glad you found all the tips useful!
What do you think of your K40 machine?
I've never used it. I got it used (non-functional) with the plan to upgrade it, but that never happened. Now I have a desktop CO2 laser and am giving the K40 to a friend.
@@LetsMakeAThing Thanks. I just ordered one to try it ($182.89 - the same one that usually sells for $400). I hear they're not great, but they sell, so there must be something good about them.
awesome video and I made some for my kids and they love it, a little mixing around with the diode settings and best fonts then all good to go!!!
Thank you! Glad you had fun with it!
Does this work with 10 w laser too
It should. You just need to run some tests to dial in your speed and power for cutting the template and engraving the pencils.
yup, it works with every laser. Try a sample with 3500mm/s@45% power. The engraving layer should be set on FILL, not LINE, with no air assist. If it's not deep enough, use the same settings, but also crosshatch. This will make the laser run twice on the same text. Then fill every shape individually. Comes out crisp.
The link doesnt work for the template any chance I can grab that?
Thanks for letting me know! The link is fixed now and you should be able to go grab the template.
@@LetsMakeAThing THANKS FOR QUICK REPLY BUT THE LINK JUST GOES TO A PAGE WHERE THE LINK IS DEAD
@@joeclark2553 The link is working now. There was an issue on the website that was fixed and it took a few minutes for the update to be available. I have checked it from several different devices and the link on the website is no longer dead.
How do you market your business?
Email list and word of mouth.
I think using the camera to make a mark would be better and fresher.
Using the camera to align in Lightburn is also a great option. Not everyone has a webcam though, so I used the print and cut method as everyone should be able to use this method.
I agree with you that not everyone has a camera and that cut and print works well. I do have an atom stack camera on my Longer Ray 10 watt laser once calibrated properly it is a great time saver. I find it most useful for using up my skeletons from previous projects. And for $100.00 USD it was well worth it! Before running a critical project I verify my camera calibration buy drawing a small circle in LB at all four corners of a Scrap piece while not touching or moving the work piece I update the picture do the circles line up with the engraved circle? If so you are set. And I use skeletons to do this alignment check. 😁🛫
Every time I tried one of these things that "sells really well" It didn't sell at all.
It really depends on your niche and your market if a product will sell well. I reached out to people I know with young children and they all replied within minutes that they wanted to purchase. I also did this in August which is back to school season in the US which helped. Your mileage may vary.
Do people actually buy Pencils?
Yes, especially this time of year because it's back to school shopping time!
@@LetsMakeAThing
I see a whole lot of Influencers pumping videos out about this… I just can’t see this being profitable.
@@Ricks2Cents The pencils were profitable for me, and as I explained in the video, the money made from the pencils isn't what grows the business.
@@LetsMakeAThing
I get the *Gateway* Item to new customers.
I can't justify selling pencils when the minimum to run my machine is at least $25 to $35.
Should mention why doing more passes at lower power is better. It prolongs the life of the laser tube, in particular CO2 lasers, not sure if the same applies to diodes.
Sounds like you already have a well established laser business!
You are spot on about life span on CO2 lasers, running them at higher amperage will shorten the lifespan. Diodes are typically over driven and the 10,000 hour "life span" is pretty generous. Running a diode at 100% is probably closer to 110%. It's really hard to say how much running a diode at 100% will shorten the life span. There are lots of factors like quality control and level of components used in the laser module. I would rather err on the side of caution and get as much life span out of my laser as possible.
There is another school of thought on this topic. That is time is money, and running at 100% power gets jobs done faster and you make more money. So you pay a few hundred dollars once or twice a year to replace a CO2 tube, but you make up for that with more product sales.
I think either way is suitable as long as you're making more than you're spending at the end of the day.
Have a 10W Diode, and every pencil I engraved is deep enough to fill the text with AMACO Rub 'n Buff Wax Metallic Finish .. I run the text with 3500mm/s@45%power.
I do not understand why you print the text in that direction. But most vids for pencil jigs do same…
Only left handed people can read their name while writing. If you print the name upsidedown oder just with the eraser and text on the right side the most people can read the text when using or holding the pencil….
Are you lefty?
And also the text has over alignment to the original text on the pencil (like brand and HB)
You don't anymore. Everyone has turned to RUclips and now everyone is buying lasers and the profit is dead! The only reason people make video's like this is for profit and views. That leads to more lasers out there and less work for all. It nice that people can learn but its not so simple.
You're absolutely right, if you buy a laser and try to copy things you see off RUclips blindly, you won't make a profit. In fact, if you want to be successful with any maker business you have to figure out your niche, customers, and marketing. That's the process I share with the members of my program.
@@LetsMakeAThing Your channel is great! Didn't mean anything negative!