Overview
For precise engraving, marking, and cutting of wood and wood composites, a wood laser cutter is an excellent tool. If you have a high-quality laser engraver for wood, you can personalize just about everything. These days, laser cutter machines for wood are becoming increasingly popular. It is desired not just by product designers and small business owners, but also by individuals who want to ornament their residences with their artwork.
The market for wood laser engraving can be difficult to decipher and there is a plethora of laser cutters for wood from which to choose. So, if you don’t know where to start, choosing the best laser cutter machine for wood can be difficult. But there is no need to be concerned about that anymore because this article contains a comprehensive guide on the best laser wood engravers available, with options for every price and purpose. Let’s get going!
Top 5 Best Laser Engraver & Cutter for Wood
There are both high-quality and substandard wood engraving machines available on the market. Some products are dreadful, but some are superior to others. Problematically, it’s not always obvious which products are high-quality and which aren’t. The best wood engraving machine to purchase is among the most often inquired questions. To assist you in making a wise choice, in this guide, we have researched a large number of wood engraving machines and pick top 5 for selection.
1. XTool D1 Pro
Editor Pick
The Makeblock xTool D1 Pro is super easy-to-use, smart, powerful, and fast laser engraver & cutters for home, business, and school.
The engraving area is 430*400 mm(16.93*15.75 inch), and it includes steel rollers on all axes, which will definitely result in good precision and minimal mechanical wobble at high speeds. The machine’s installation is simple, and it takes less than half an hour owing to a comprehensive manual.
With an industrial grade structural design, the xTool D1 pro movement accuracy can astonishingly approach 0.01mm. It differs from the plastic steel of other laser machines with its Industrial Grade ALL-STEEL Wheel & Shaft. Furthermore, it can be slid over 100,000 times and has a lifespan three times that of a plastic wheel. Whether engraving or cutting, the 0.08*0.08mm ultra-fine compressed laser spot will always display the best details.
2. Laser Pecker 2
For amateur laser engraving use, this small desktop laser engraving equipment is perfect. Your concept will be in your hands within minutes. Simply press the button to produce thoughtful presents for your friends, original goods to sell, or something uniquely tailored for you. It is ideal for decorating, engraving, or personalizing your small and lovely personal belongings.
It can be taken anywhere and can be powered by power bank. Further, it can be connected by Bluetooth and quite easy to operate with the application. You can enjoy engraving your heart’s content with Laser Pecker.
It is controlled via Bluetooth by a smartphone. The app offers four engraving modes, including the import of images, text, drawing or painting directly. JPG, BMP, PNG, G-code, and more file types are supported. Photo and vector files are also supported.
3. Atomstack A5 Pro
The Atomstack A5 Pro is a powerful and adaptable laser engraver that brings industrial-grade technology into your house. This machine is developed for all types of users, from enthusiasts to experts. The output power of the CNC laser engraving machine is 5.5W. The ultra-fine laser focus region is lowered to 0.23 mm2. Not only engrave but also cut1/2 of the wood and acrylic; without altering the focus when you are engraving, the new laser can simultaneously do the high-energy cutting and precise engraving. The fixed-focus laser’s power is more stable than the zoom laser.
It offers new eyes protection function. Your eyes are perfectly protected by the laser engraver’s protective cover, which blocks 95% of UV light. Without eyewear, you and those around you may observe laser engraving. Reduce the price of your eyewear and the hassle of wearing them.
Precision scale lines are present on the X-axis and Y-axis, making it simple for you to perform quick length measurements. The 410x400mm large-area engraving interval can accommodate a wide range of engraving requirements.
The machine is compatible with a variety of mature engraving applications, including LaserGRBL and LightBurn, and supports Windows XP/7/8/10 (LaserGRBL) as well as Mac systems (LightBurn). Engraving file formats supported include NC, BMP, JPG, PNG, DXF, and others.
Instead of a combined coupling, the machine employs an inbuilt screw rod. The integration of the stepping motor and the screw rod makes the laser movement more precise and the coupling more durable.
4. ORTUR Laser Master 2 Pro
The ORTUR laser master 2 Pro is a powerful and versatile laser engraving machine for wood that offers a wide range of features to suit your needs. With a large engraving area of 400x400mm, it is perfect for larger projects.
The 32-bit motherboard provides smooth engraving and faster engraving speed, while the focal point is 0.07*0.06mm for higher accuracy. The emergency stops and flame detection features make it safe to use, and the 1.8 firmware is upgraded for even better performance. This machine is stable and reliable, making it the perfect choice for all your engraving needs.
One more of the safety features of the machine is that it will automatically stop the laser if the machine is displaced or tilted. This prevents damage to the target from the laser. Another safety feature is that the laser will stop working immediately if the engraving machine or computer crashes. This prevents continuous fire. The ORTUR Laser Master 2 Pro is a great choice for those who want a safe and easy to use laser engraving machine.
5. Longer Ray 5 10W
The Ray 5 10W is a great laser engraver under $550 with its ability to cut 0.8″/20 mm thick wood and 1 .2 ” / 30 MM acrylic! It also uses the latest compressed technology which generates an ultra-fine spot (0.*06mm ), making artwork more precise & consistent.
With a 3.5 inch touch screen, Ray5 10W can control the machine and even edit the images and the engraving parameters in offline mode or by a mobile APP “MKSLaser” available for Android & iOS.
It also offers safety features like flame detection and displacement sensors that will protect you if something goes wrong while using this amazing device
Common FAQ for wood laser engraver
Above, we have mentioned the top 5 wood laser engraver and cutter machines. Laser engraving & cutting machine is a wonderful tool that can be used for a variety of different projects.
Please remeber that it’s always important to take some safety precautions while using this type of machine. And also there are some common frequent question need to be known well. I have compiled some common FAQs for wood laser engraver below that will help beginners to start engraving journey, check below..
What wood can you laser engrave?
Laser engraving works best on light-weight wood that doesn’t stain easily. Multiple types of wood, including Adler, Plywood, Douglas Fir, Cork, and Balsa, can be laser engraved.
How to Pick the Best Type of Wood for Laser Engraving
All woods have different compositions that affect how they interact with a laser beam. When choosing the right wood for your project, it is critical to consider the wood’s color. Darker woods typically have laser etching marks that are more difficult to see. In contrast, lighter woods develop a deep and dark burn when etched, resulting in well-defined marks that are more visible. By taking the time to consider the color of the wood, you can ensure that your final project will have the optimal level of detail and visibility.
One important aspect is to check the resin content. Resin is a viscous solid organic material found mostly in plant bodies. The resin polymer is burned first when the electromagnetic laser beam strikes the surface of the wood, and subsequently the other wood tissues are burned. In this scenario, the wood that has a greater density of resin will burn darker, while the wood that has a lower content of resin will burn lighter. Compared to the dark or more delicate design, the simple contrast design is more professional. Therefore, it is crucial to examine the resin content of the chosen wood.
Another crucial factor to consider is selecting a wood with minimal streaking. Wood Streaking generally makes wood more reflective and resistant to external bacterial attack. In most cases, the producer of the wood streaks it before selling it since doing so makes the wood more lasting. In this scenario, it is critical to consider wood streaking before proceeding with laser printing.
Moreover, choosing lighter wood is strongly recommended for higher design quality. As opposed to dark woods, the lighter wood allows for a more visible and high-quality layout. In this scenario, the wood’s base color will remain similar to its original color. Resultantly, the dark body will produce dark burns when engrave the wood’s surface and the design’s text will be difficult to read. Further, the photographs on the engraved surface will be blurry and unprofessional. In contrast, lighter wood gets a dark and deep burn during the etching process, giving you clearly defined marks for maximum visibility.
Finally, while wood laser engraving, it’s crucial to select the best wood species possible. Although most woods are technically suitable for laser engraving, some are more suited than others. Alder, Cherry, Basswood, Balsa, Veneers, Plywood and Maple are, according to the majority of laser engravers, the best woods for laser engraving.
How does your laser engrave wood without burning it?
To engrave wood without burning, wood coating is useful, which you will apply to the surface and then polish. After polishing, laser cutting or engraving is done. After completion, wipe the burned residue. This will avoid burned waste from reaching the wood, making cleanup much simpler.
Another important aspect is to adjust the laser setting. It is suggested to concentrate on the speed and power settings as this will minimize the surface marks. Therefore, a proper setup is all that is required, and you should not rely on automated adjustments but instead set them to manual.
Before beginning work, bring focus down to a lower level, but perform experiments with different focuses. This will allow you to determine the exact depth and thickness of the engraving required to meet your specifications. It is important to modify the CO2 laser power settings so that it zooms out slightly. Moreover, another efficient strategy is coating your wood before running it through a laser wood cutter. Thin wood can also be submerged in water to avoid burning.
However, it won’t work on huge wood or non-composite items. Nevertheless, it can be a simple and fast remedy in some circumstances. Another effective strategy is to use Air Assist to avoid burning.
How do you remove smoke from laser engraved wood?
It is preferable to prevent smoke from reaching the work surface in the first place. When engraving, you need as little air assistance as possible to avoid blowing smoke and particulates back onto the work surface. Thus, a big diameter nozzle and a laser nozzle greater than 10mm from the work surface will aid in this. Additionally, If you have an air assist adjuster, lower the output so that there is just enough positive pressure to prevent the smoke from polluting the lens. Another easy tip is to run the engraving from the front to the back of the machine. By doing this, any dust will land on the raw wood rather than the freshly engraved image.
How do you clean laser engraved wood?
There are a couple of tips to follow to clean laser engraved wood. You can accomplish that by utilizing a natural hand cleaner that uses no water, no harmful chemicals, and no ammonia. Put some hand cleaning detergent on a soft brush and carefully clean the surface.
For this task, lightly sanding the engraved area is also advised. You can also use white vinegar with a paper towel to clean your engraved wood. Simply soak a paper towel in vinegar (or a soft cloth) and use it to wipe away the residue from your wood.
Moreover, masking tape can also be used to clean laser engraved wood which is a superb and simple tool for any laser engraver since it shields the surface from the smoke residue left behind after laser cutting and engraving.
Last but not least, lowering the laser power can also aid in lowering the quantity of debris emitted throughout the laser engraving process. It will help you to protect the wood and doing so is very helpful when engraving woods that are rich in sap and natural oils.
Conclusion
With so many options available to you, it is understandable that choosing the best one has grown more challenging. But now, there’s no need to worry; as in this article, we have researched excessively to compile the best 5 laser engravers for wood in 2022. Based on our research, we advise complete beginners to start with Atomstack A5 Pro.
Finally, it’s important to keep the laser beam focused on the area you’re working on. If the beam is allowed to wander, it could damage nearby objects or even start a fire.
