Seeking Recommendation for a High-Quality Mini Laser Engraver

[Julian Ashcroft]

Have a look at the Chinese Aeon Mira 5, it's a small bed machine, the build quality is up another level on most machines from China. You can get them with either a glass or metal tube.

I have two Aeon machines and haven't had any issues with either.

[Kev Williams]

You have a 30w Zing you're cutting with, and you're looking for a dedicated engraving laser-

So-- why not dedicate the Zing to engraving? -- and pick up a Chinese machine as a dedicated cutting machine? The Chinese machine will also work well for wood engraving. I rarely engrave wood in anything but my Triumph...

[Clyde Baumwell]

There is a very well known American made desktop laser units that are in the 25watt range. I think the manufacturer's name is verboten on this forum because it is not considered enough of a professional level unit. But the price is right and it might fit your needs. I have had a Universal but I now Forge ahead.

[Kev Williams]

Nothing to do with lasers is verboten in my book -- and of the 20 machines I've owned since 1980, only ONE is US made.

Anyway, I'm curious...

[Scott Memmer]

Have a look at the Chinese Aeon Mira 5, it's a small bed machine, the build quality is up another level on most machines from China. You can get them with either a glass or metal tube.

I have two Aeon machines and haven't had any issues with either.

Thanks, Julian. I'll looking into that.

BTW, I was reading about imported K-40 type of laser machines and software. Are you using Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw? The reason I ask is I heard some Chinese machines will only run on Corel.

Thanks Again,
Scott

[Scott Memmer]

Chinese CO2 Galvo laser

Ross, thanks. I have a weird question. I've subbed out a small engraving job to a guy who seems knowledgeable. However, he said that he has a fiber laser engraver from Trotec, but it will only engrave on black material. That makes no sense to me. Is that true?

Thank You,
Scott

[Scott Memmer]

GCC Laserpro Venus II. 300x210mm work area. RF Tube

Hilton, thanks for the info.

Scott

[Mike Null]

Clyde
I don't know of any brand that mentioning is forbidden on this forum. I suspect the brand you say is well known--isn't-- but there were probably hundreds of comments regarding this brand and their business practices.

[Bert Kemp]

Thanks, Julian. I'll looking into that.

BTW, I was reading about imported K-40 type of laser machines and software. Are you using Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw? The reason I ask is I heard some Chinese machines will only run on Corel.

Thanks Again,
Scott

FYI Laser machines don't run on corel. Corel is software used for designing projects to be cut on the laser. Most of us use corel to design, then we convert it to something the laser understands like a dxf file and send that to the laser. AI can also be used to design but that file still has to be converted to a dxf or something the laser will understand

[Kev Williams]

Bert, that's true with many/most? Chinese glass lasers, which are typically proprietary to Chinese designed software..

However, my 2 Gravographs, the GCC and my old Universal, which are 'metal' laser machines, all come with printer drivers that print directly to the lasers from Corel or AI, among others... Gravograph's "Gravostyle" software is similar to Chinese software in that it's proprietary to their machines, but far and away better than any Chinese software (that I have experience with)-

[Julian Ashcroft]

Thanks, Julian. I'll looking into that.

BTW, I was reading about imported K-40 type of laser machines and software. Are you using Adobe Illustrator or Corel Draw? The reason I ask is I heard some Chinese machines will only run on Corel.

Thanks Again,
Scott

I run all my machines using Lightburn, it's improved so much over the few years it's been out I also use it for the majority of any designing I do, before that I used to use Inkscape.

[Bert Kemp]

Bert, that's true with many/most? Chinese glass lasers, which are typically proprietary to Chinese designed software..

However, my 2 Gravographs, the GCC and my old Universal, which are 'metal' laser machines, all come with printer drivers that print directly to the lasers from Corel or AI, among others... Gravograph's "Gravostyle" software is similar to Chinese software in that it's proprietary to their machines, but far and away better than any Chinese software (that I have experience with)-

Right Kev I should have said most Chinese lasers as thats what Scott said he heard.

[Scott Memmer]

Thanks to all of you for the great info. Been slammed. Will respond at more length in a day or two.

sm