The 12 Best Laser Engravers for Any Project

The Ortur Laser Master 3 is the flagship laser engraver in Ortur’s lineup and an excellent upgrade over the previous generation’s OLM2. It has an improved set of features and a premium build quality, making it one of the best choices for a 400×400 mm open-frame laser engraver.

Included is a compact, lightweight 10W laser module capable of quickly cutting through material. It offers good material compatibility, and with a bit of preparation you can even use it to engrave on coated metal surfaces—albeit slowly.

Ortur has focused on improving the engraver’s structural rigidity to increase the machine’s speeds and engraving accuracy. This improvement leads to fast engraving speeds of up to 20,000 mm/min, almost twice that of the OLM 2.

The OLM 3 also has WiFi connectivity, so you can control the entire machine through your smartphone or tablet. The app is easy to use, and the user interface neatly lays down all the machine’s functions.

Its emergency stop and safety lock features are added benefits that are nice to see on a small, hobbyist-level device. They are not often included and can be valuable if safety is a priority for you

The OLM 3 also features an air assist nozzle that you can use in combination with an optional air-assist pump. While it’s technically not necessary, it does help improve engraving and cutting quality.

With its upgraded features, the Ortur Laser Master 3 delivers excellent engraving quality, and you’re in for a pleasant user experience. At a price of almost $699, it is not a cheap machine, but for a serious hobbyist or professional, the device is well worth its price and delivers on its promises.

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A machine for your laser engraving business? Check. A laser engraver for your hobby? Check. Thinking of setting up an Etsy shop? Check. The xTool P2 is the latest kid on the block and checks all of the above boxes and then some.

With its impressive laser power and material compatibility, this laser machine can do almost everything. Its 55W CO2 laser is capable of engraving into a wide variety of materials, from wood and leather all the way up to acrylics, ceramics, stone, and coated metals.

In our review of the xTool P2, you can see that we were able to engrave on stainless steel without even using any marking spray. Its 0.15×0.2 mm laser spot size and 10649 nm wavelength are solid features too. You can get excellent levels of detail and can engrave the finest of designs. Even on straight onto clear acrylic.

Even more impressive is the P2’s ability to engrave on curved surfaces. This opens up a whole new array for engraving on kitchen utensils, musical instruments, skateboards, and a multitude of other objects.

The ease of use is great too. The machine has two cameras that help you align your jobs onto the workpiece. The build quality is excellent, and everything feels well-polished.

Its loud fan and the poor performance of the cameras with dark objects are some of the things we think could be better. Compared to the whole package, however, these shortcomings are fairly insignificant.

The xTool P2 outperforms its price point in most aspects. It’s a high-quality laser engraver for anyone who values ease of use and a strong set of features. If you have the money, the P2 will be more than enough for all your current and future laser engraving needs.

The OMTech 40W CO2 laser is a powerful K40 desktop laser engraving machine for beginners and hobbyists. It comes with a 40W laser tube and is designed to be easy to use. It has a compact form factor and comes with all the accessories and parts for use right out of the box.

It also has plenty of user-friendly functions. For example, its digital control panel on the top panel lets you easily control the laser’s power depending on your material. The red dot guidance system on it lets you quickly verify the laser’s location and set up your object accordingly, so you can be sure that your engraving is placed perfectly.

The 40W CO2 laser tube is designed to last for about 2000 hours before you need to replace it, so you can be sure that it will last for years to come. Its power is sufficient to etch on basswood, bamboo, acrylic, rubber, paper, and even some metal materials. You can also use it to laser cut most non-metal materials.

To vent out any harmful gasses, the OMTech 40W also has an exhaust fan built-in. This also helps cool down the laser tube and ensures that it lasts longer.

The engraving machine’s overall design is built for durability and to introduce laser engraving to the masses. If you are looking for a powerful, feature-rich engraver on a limited budget, the OMTech 40W CO2 laser likely is the best choice for you.

xTool’s D1 Pro is a power-packed laser engraver with an impressive 20W laser module, excellent build quality, and a rich feature set.

The 20W laser module can cut up to 10 mm basswood and 8 mm acrylic in a single pass, while you can achieve engraving speeds up to 24,000 mm/min. Not only that, but the laser also gives you incredibly wide material compatibility for a diode laser engraver.

The team at xTool has also focused on build quality, designing a premium machine with a high-quality finish. The D1 Pro replaces conventional plastic wheels with grooved roller bearings and steel linear rails on both axes. These elements impart a smooth motion and are more durable than their plastic counterparts.

You also have features like optical limit switches, WiFi connectivity, crosshair-assisted positioning, and an easy-focus system on the machine. In our review of the D1 Pro, we found these systems to be convenient and contribute towards a smooth user experience.

With the massive collection of accessories available for the machine, you can customize the machine to your projects’ requirements. The options are nearly endless.

The lack of an emergency button on the control panel and an overly sensitive flame sensor are some of the minor drawbacks we encountered on the D1 Pro, but these are minor in the grand scheme of things.

Overall, the xTool’s D1 Pro 20W does justice to its price tag. If you have the budget, it is undoubtedly the best open-frame laser engraver you can get right now.

The Glowforge Plus is a home laser engraver that is intuitively easy to use. It is designed for first-time users, professionals, and hobbyists who need a high-end laser engraver with all the bells and whistles. It compares well to industrial-class laser engravers, yet blends in easily with your home decor.

The Glowforge Plus uses a 40W CO2 laser tube, giving you the power to engrave and cut through tougher materials. It has an engraving area of approximately 280 x 500 mm, which is suitable for working with things like cutting boards, wallets, and gifting cards. The cutting depth of 50 mm ensures that you have sufficient height to execute deep cuts on even thicker materials.

Unlike other laser engravers, the Glowforge Plus comes with various materials included in the box, letting you create your projects right away. This is a significant advantage since you don’t have to hunt for the right material or waste time ordering it online.

Another useful feature of the Glowforge Plus is that the laser also auto-focuses on the object, taking away the hassle of adjusting the laser beam focus with each project. With other laser engraver machines, you have to change the focus of the laser beam manually for each project.

While the Glowforge Plus is a great machine, it doesn’t come without its drawbacks. The biggest drawback is the price tag, which is significantly higher than other machines on the market. Another is that the machine needs to be always connected to the internet for you to use it.

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However, if you can afford it, the high-end features and easy operation are worth the investment. If you need a professional-grade laser engraver for your projects, the Glowforge Plus will suffice your needs, making the laser engraving process fun and easy in the process.

The Triumph fiber laser engraver is an excellent solution to engrave on reflective materials like metals. It uses an optical fiber laser arrangement and comes as a complete desktop unit, ready to fit in a garage space or a small workshop. The 30 W fiber laser is adequate for engraving on stainless steel, aluminum, copper, gold, silver, and plastics.

The Triumph has a galvanometer set up to give you high-speed scanning and engraving. It also includes an industrial computer that is fully specced to run demanding jobs with its built-in laser engraving software. The laser head is designed to be maintenance-free, and the laser source has a long life of about 100,000 hours.

You can also use the fiber laser to remove rust, strip paint, remove oil, and as a pre-treatment for welding your metal parts. The fiber laser is also convenient for engraving on rings, brass, hardware, and jewelry. But, the major drawback is its small engraving area. With a 110 x 110 mm engraving space, you are limited to working on small areas.

At a price of approximately $5000, the Triumph fiber laser is significantly cheaper than other fiber laser units with the same features. It really offers a lot of value for the cost. The Triumph laser is an ideal fit for you if you’re looking for a professional laser engraver to primarily work with metals.

TwoTrees is another manufacturer of 3D printers, CNCs, and laser engravers. Their currently best laser engraver is the TwoTrees TS3, a compact machine that comes as a ready-to-use machine. It is designed for ease of use and delivers high-quality engraving without the need for you to upgrade your machine with post-purchase improvements.

Unlike the other engraving machines so far, the TS3 is a fully-enclosed device. The enclosure is made of stainless steel, whereas the moving parts use aluminum for rigidity and low weight. The engraving area is not the largest at 300 x 200 mm, but you do have the choice of either a 5W or 10W LD+FAC+C laser. Either laser option has a fine point of 0.06 mm, letting you engrave highly detailed designs.

Included by default is a practical honeycomb mesh bed, eliminating the need for purchasing a separate platform. The inclusion of both an exhaust system and a smoke filter (you can switch between them depending on your needs) makes it safe to use the engraving machine indoors.

The TS3 also includes a touchscreen and gives you control over the various features of the machine without the need for any computer. You can use the touch screen + microSD card, or WiFi + a mobile application to control and monitor your laser engraving process remotely.

The machine also comes with a rotary roller attachment that you can use for laser engraving on cylindrical objects. This is a great attachment that opens up the possibilities of what you can do with the machine.

One limitation of the machine is its poorly translated documentation, which can be confusing to follow. The quality control is not the best either, so you might have to do some configuration and setup after unboxing.

Despite its limitations, the TwoTrees TS3 is a great laser engraver to work with once you become familiarized with its quirks. Its enclosure, filtering, and all-in-one package make it stand out from the competition, and it is a great choice if you’re looking for an engraving machine that is safe to use in a hobbyist or small business setup.

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The LaserPecker 2 is the top-of-the-line handheld laser engraver from LaserPecker. It is a considerable upgrade over the previous LaserPeckers. Like the others, it comes in four different versions. However, it has brand new features and looks more industrially professional than other engraving machines.

Unlike most other laser engravers, the LaserPecker L2 uses galvanometers for laser engraving instead of a traditional linear rail set up for motion. It allows you to achieve engraving speeds of up to 36,000 mm/min, letting you engrave your designs nearly instantly. The laser beam has a focus of 0.05 mm, which is ideal for etching highly detailed outlines.

Also included is a roller attachment that lets you engrave on cylindrical objects. But you can also enable slab mode, which enables you to engrave objects of up to a length of 2000 mm. Perfect for long engravings on things like surfboards, baseball bats, and long cutting boards.

The LaserPecker L2 comes with a preview function to picture your design before the engraving begins. To make it easier for beginners to use, the company has curated a guide of engraving settings to use with different materials. It gives you a good starting point to use that you can later customize depending on your needs.

Overall, the LaserPecker L2 is an excellent laser engraving machine of premium quality. It gives you the freedom to engrave on virtually anything. The portable nature integrated with high-speed and neat features makes it an ideal engraving machine for both professionals and hobbyists.

The Snapmaker 2.0 is a versatile, all-inclusive laser engraver machine for beginners and hobbyists. It is a popular machine that is well-known for its 3D printing, CNC carving, and laser engraving functionalities in a single 3-in-1 3D printer.

The laser engraver on the Snapmaker uses a small 1.5W laser module suitable for engraving on wood, plastic, paper, and leather. It has a decent work area of 320 x 350 mm, letting you etch on larger objects than you can with other 2-in-1 or 3-in-1 machines.

Because the Snapmaker 2.0 uses a modular design, you can quickly swap the laser module with a CNC head or a 3D printing hot end and continue working on your project without losing time.

The device comes with a touchscreen so that you can control it without using a computer. On the software side, you can use the open-source Snapmaker Luban software for all the functionality that the machine has to offer. On top of that, its WiFi connectivity and a built-in camera let you effortlessly monitor your engraving process from anywhere.

A combination of its modularity, work area, and Luban software make the Snapmaker 2.0 one of the most versatile machines for hobby spaces and schools where it can be used for various projects. Especially for places where that do not have the space for multiple machines.

If you would only use the Snapmaker 2.0 for its laser engraver functionality,the cost of $1500 would be too steep. However, if you plan on using it for its other capabilities as well, then the machine is absolutely worth the investment.

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The Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro S2 is one of the most popular 400x400mm laser engravers currently available, and for good reasons. For example, it is highly customizable and comes with a variety of safety features not found on other machines in this price class.

It has a 10W laser module with a fine 0.06 mm spot size. This translates to sharp edges and clean engravings. The robust metal frame allows you to achieve 10,000 mm/min speeds, ideal for batch engraving jobs and when working on large engravings.

The laser module is enclosed by a laser light filter that blocks 98% of the laser light for safety. If the user accidentally tilts the machine or there’s some issue with the computer, the lasers will turn off immediately to prevent accidents.

In case of any mishap, the ORTUR Laser Master 2 Pro also features a flame detector, buzzer alarm, and an emergency stop button. These are useful safety additions that give you some peace of mind when working with the machine.

Unlike other engravers, the Laser Master 2 Pro also has the option for an extension kit to increase the engraving area to a whopping 800x400mm. The Ortur team also has many other accessories that go with the Pro S2. For example, you can opt for a 10W laser module, which you can use to cut wood and acrylic materials up to a depth of 10-12 mm.

Last but not least, there is the option for you to get the metal Laser Master 2 Pro enclosure. With it, you can protect the machine from dust and yourself from the laser beam and fumes. The built-in ventilation automatically gets rid of any fumes generated during the engraving process.

The Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro S2-LF is a top-notch home laser engraver, considering the value it offers along with its excellent reliability. There is no question that this is one of the overall best laser engravers for sale right now.

The Jinsoku LC-40 is a hobbyist laser engraving machine from SainSmart. This company already has a good track record of developing 3D printers and CNC machines but has branched out to laser engravers and cutters as well.

The LC-40 comes with a robust industrial design with a neat set of features and is designed for ease of use. It is an ideal machine for gifting projects and customizing accessories.

It comes as a modular kit making it easy to assemble and configure, even for beginners. The 5.5 W laser head is compact and has a fixed 5 mm focus. The entire frame of the Jinsoku LC-40 is made of aluminum, making it lightweight yet robust. The addition of linear rails for movement allows for more precise movements and high-quality engraving.

The machine features a user-friendly USB Type-C interface with fast transmission speeds. Its mobile application lets you import your files, adjust the machine settings, and control it via Bluetooth. This makes it very easy to operate, even for those with no prior experience.

If you are a more experienced user, you have the option to upgrade the inbuilt firmware to GRBL firmware for more features and control.

With its 395 x 365 mm work area, the LC-40 gives you enough room to work on big projects. The large engraving area, robust build quality, and easy-to-use design make it suitable for beginners, hobbyists, and small businesses who need a straightforward laser engraver under $500.

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The Anycubic Mega Pro is a 2-in-1 laser engraving machine that you can use for engraving and 3D printing. It comes with a 1.5 W laser module attached to the printer’s hot end, letting you engrave on things like paper, wood, plexiglass and leather.

You get an engraving area of 220×140 mm, which is suited for engraving small items like paper cards, wallets, and wooden coasters. The 1.5 W power is fairly limited, however, and you’ll want to look elsewhere if you need to engrave on tougher materials like metal or glass.

For the 3D printing part, the Anycubic Mega Pro comes with a decent build volume, a dual metal gear extruder, and silent stepper motor drivers. You can easily combine the laser engraving function with 3D printing and customize your 3D printed parts. Both PLA and PETG work well for laser engraving. If you want your models to stand out from the crowd, this is a great machine to get.

Considering its dual functionality and the price of $250, the Anycubic Mega Pro is an ideal fit for maker spaces, schools, and hobbyists on a budget. It is easy to assemble, simple to learn, and with a bit of practice and tuning, you can use it for various 3D printing and laser engraving projects.