htpowlasers's blog
Buying a leather engraving machine is not an easy task. That's mostly because there are so many options available, and it's easy to get lost in the technical aspects of these machines.
If you can't find the right engraving machine or tools, I have some suggestions. Drawing insights from my years of leather engraving experience, I can suggest some options to help you personalize your leather at home.
Some people believe that engraving or needling can damage the leather. While this technique is vital, no damage can be done by engraving on leather. That's because you worked on the surface and removed minute amounts of material to design.
When you slide the tool across the leather surface, it forges the leather surface and leaves a design behind.
Can I laser engrave leather?
Yes, you can laser engrave leather with a laser engraver.
These machines use high-energy laser beams to create precise and detailed patterns on the surface of the leather. The laser beam acts as a chisel for engraving the design. The top layer burns when it hits the surface, turning into smoke. The result is a dark cut that looks elegant and authentic.
The best types of leather for engraving are full grain leather and top grain leather. While you can also use it for suede and faux leather, it won't have the same quality.
Just like there are different types of leather, there are different types of lasers. CO2 laser machines are best for engraving leather. But they are not cost-effective and can only be used for industrial purposes. For DIY projects, you should consider UV lasers and diode lasers.
Loved by professionals and beginners alike, the A5 is the perfect laser engraver for both functionality and safety.
The newest addition to this laser engraver is a new eye protection design hood. It filters out 97% of UV rays. You can look directly at the laser while operating it without goggles.
The machine provides a laser between 5-5.5W, enough to engrave any thickness of leather. You can adjust it to suit thickness and type. The engraving accuracy is about 0.01 mm, which can be called highly accurate. In addition to accuracy, the contrast ratio also stands out due to its high power.
A5 is compatible with two leading engraving software LaserGRBL and LightBurn. Connect the machine to your PC or laptop, load the design onto the software, and engrave it on the leather. It's that simple.
The brand Atomstack is involved in the research and development of laser equipment. So when you buy an atomstack a5 pro , you're getting the latest in laser technology.
Easy to assemble and use, you'll love this laser engraver.
This entry-level laser engraver is designed for beginners and hobbyists.
The main problem for beginners is assembling the machine. But this laser engraver comes pretty much pre-assembled. All you have to do is connect to your computer and start carving leather.
It also has wide software compatibility, which means less research is required to find the right software. It is compatible with all three leading operating systems (Windows, Mac and Linux) as well as LaserGRBL.
To ensure your safety while working, this machine has four protection systems. One is active position protection, which stops operation if the position deviates. This is followed by a laser beam safety guard that intervenes if the signal transmission fails.
The third and fourth are exposure duration detection and power control systems.
The results produced by this machine are impressive. It has a focal spot of 0.07 X 0.06 mm, which is ideal for engraving high-precision designs on leather. But you can use it for other materials like cardboard, stainless steel and stone.
Weighing less than 7 pounds, this leather router is very portable. You can easily bring it to a friend's house or art club.
The L1 is a high-end high-power laser engraving machine from LaserPecker, a well-known brand in this field. It comes with many accessories and everything is packed in a carrying case, making it easier for you to carry the machine.
The machine has a unique design with a tripod and motorized stand. Once you're set up -- which shouldn't take long -- you need to connect to the mobile app and start engraving on the leather. You can engrave any picture on your phone. The results are very accurate, with a high level of detail.
It has blue filter protective goggles to protect your eyes from harmful radiation. Additional security features include motion detection shutdown, thermal shutdown, and password lock.
Longer Ray5 laser engraving machine has built-in 3.5 inch touch screen, TF card slot and built-in WiFi. Plus, it has a built-in controller that eliminates the need for a computer to be constantly connected to the laser engraver. Ray5 can be used for engraving or cutting.
Touch Screen and Offline Engraving: The Longer RAY5 10W laser engraving machine has a built-in 3.5-inch touch screen and a friendly user interface. This allows us to cut multiple pieces of plywood or an image to be engraved without taking up your computer to run it. Longer Ray5 has a built-in controller, no need to connect the laser engraving machine with a computer all the time. Save your files to TF card and use it to run Ray5 for engraving or cutting.
Ultra-Fine Laser Spot and Powerful Laser Module: This laser engraving machine adopts the latest FAC laser technology for compressing the laser spot, the spot size is 0.08*0.08mm; the smaller the spot size, the more concentrated the energy. This makes engraving or cutting much stronger. The output power of the laser module reaches 5-5.5W.
32-bit chipset and WIFI connection: RAY5 is built with ESP32 chipset, including WIFI connection for engraving machine and router. This 32-bit chipset runs at 240MHz. This means it is faster and more powerful than comparable machines with 8-bit chipsets. As a bonus, RAY5 supports WIFI connection via web page or App to control engraving or cutting.
Safety Protection: Longer RAY5 is designed with movement protection and thermal protection. If the machine moves during use, the mobile protection will initiate an automatic shutdown to ensure personal safety. Thermal protection initiates an automatic shutdown if a flame is detected or if the engraving area is overheated.
Compatible with Windows/MAC/Linux systems: Longer RAY5 5W is compatible with free engraving software LaserGRBL and paid LightBurn software. Supports importing BMP, JPG, PNG, DXF, AI, SVG and other file formats.
Power Button & Eye Protection: The engraving machine has a power switch for turning the power on or off. The laser module has an acrylic cover. This shields the laser to help protect the eyes. You will also need to wear goggles for laser light scattering.
The Longer Ray5 laser engraver is made from a material that feels like aluminum. It's lightweight but strong. Assembly is required, but is easy. There is a shield over the laser and it contains shadows. Also includes a USB micro SD card and adapter. USB cable and Allen key to tighten the screws.
The first step is to assemble the router. It's easy as long as you take your time. The instructions in the manual aren't great, but there are also instructional videos on the included micro SD card. However, I don't need video.
Once the engraver was assembled, I used the micro SD card that came with the USB adapter to test the unit. The card comes with 3 sample files for engraving. Additional software is also on the memory card, including manuals, firmware, instructional assembly videos, and 2 design applications.
Once the height is set, it's time to insert the micro SD card and start engraving. A USB cable is included if you want to use an external hard drive or connect directly to your PC.
Watching the Longer Ray5 20W laser engraver is as much a pleasure as I am watching a 3D printer print. However, this device produces quite a bit of smoke and of course the smell of the material you are carving. If you want to see the laser to see what it's doing, you'll have to use the shade that comes with it. I recommend using it outdoors or at least in the workshop. Also, I didn't test the cutting ability as I currently don't have a suitable surface to place underneath the material I'm cutting. The device would be better if it included a case and some material to limit the depth of the laser. The way the engraver works is that you can choose how many times you want to engrave while engraving, and each time you engrave, it will cut deeper. I have to assume it would take hours to cut open the 1" think board I used for testing. Overall, this is still a very good engraver with a large print area and a wide range of uses.
I must say that I really like the quality of the Longer laser engraver, its relatively quiet operation, and the quality of the engravings it produces. Since it's not enclosed, in the future I'll have to use it outdoors, maybe in my garage. There will be quite a bit of smoke when carving, and if it is carved from material, there will also be a smell of burnt wood. I tested it indoors and the smoke was the offending part. However, the experience was great for me, and this carver is very capable, especially because of its larger build area. I give it a job well done!
There are many ways to celebrate a special occasion or promote your brand. T-shirts and coffee mugs are always a favorite. If you want something a little more professional, a custom pen or notebook might be a good idea. But T-shirts are a dime a dozen.
For a truly special occasion or an impressive branding campaign, you might want to step up the pace. As for mugs, pens and notebooks, we must have too many. They make great gifts, but no one thinks they're really special.
Printmaking, on the other hand, has a greater appeal to it. It has a timeless aura that nothing like a T-shirt can bring to the dinner table. An engraved plaque, badge or tumbler feels important while a simple print doesn't. As for branding, engraving is great for long-term signage. Sturdy engraved signs will last for decades without any noticeable degradation.
When most people think of engraving, they think of metal. But the truth is that you can engrave a wide variety of materials. With the right laser, you can engrave wood, plastic, rubber, acrylic, and other materials. You can also use a laser to make intricate custom cutouts for crafts. But to get high-quality engraving, you need a well-designed engraving machine.
LONGER RAY5 10W Laser Engraving Machine
It's a powerful 10-watt laser that can etch almost any material, even cutting wood boards in one go. It also works very fast at speeds of up to 10,000 mm per minute. Coupled with a large work area, it was clear we were interested.
That said, a laser engraver is a complex machine with many different functions. To really get our hands on this device, we're going to have to dig a little deeper.
We'll discuss the physical design, and how the engraver is built. We'll discuss the laser module itself and how to operate the controls. Also, we'll look at the different ways you can print, as well as any noteworthy extras. After we've discussed all of these things, we'll have enough information to make a fair verdict. let's start!
Frames and Gantry
Like most laser engravers, the Longer RAY5 10W laser engraver has a rectangular metal frame. It's made of matte black aluminum, which is both lightweight and durable. The frame sits on a set of metal feet a few inches off the ground. Overall dimensions are 23.07 inches wide, 22.95 inches deep, and 6.95 inches high, including laser module.
A gantry spans the top of the frame, extending from side to side. It rides on a set of sturdy wheels that clip into slots in the side rails. This allows it to move freely back and forth in the work area. There is a small motor at one end of the gantry that powers its movement.
The laser module is also housed in a motorized housing that sits on top of the gantry. It moves side to side on the gantry, while auxiliary rods below the gantry keep it stable. Between the gantry and the module housing, there are two axes of motion. The laser module can be easily moved to any position within the working area.
When sculpting, placement is key. If you're carving something off center, that's a problem. Luckily, the LONGER RAY5 router has some white markings on the side of the frame in centimeters and millimeters. There are additional markings on top of the gantry so you can precisely place whatever you want to carve.
Laser and Control
When you use your LONGER RAY5 engraving machine, you must first calibrate it. This means adjusting the laser module so that it is just the right distance from the target. This may mean moving it up or down, depending on the thickness of your work material.
Place your circuit board under the head and find the small metal cylinder in the kit. This is your focusing post, and it fits in a small slot in the laser module. Unscrew the module and adjust it so it rests lightly on the focusing post. Then, retighten the screws. This is easy to do, but you have to do it every time you switch between materials. We do have some concerns about the tuning mechanic, as it might fail if you keep tuning it.
There is a 3.5-inch touchscreen on the front left of the housing. This is used to control laser speed, create manual offsets, or make other adjustments. There's even a small SD card in the slot, where you can access documents and print them directly. No computer or smartphone required!
There are also some security features you should be aware of. In the event of a fire, the fire protection will shut down the laser. If the laser engraving machine is tilted, the anti-tilt protection will be turned off. The motionless protection will turn off the laser if it is frozen in place for more than 15 seconds.
connection and setup
There are several ways to print to the LONGER RAY5 10W Laser Engraver. First, as we discussed, you can use an SD card for offline printing. This is perfect for an industrial setting where you can make multiples of the same thing. It's also very useful if you're engraving somewhere without internet. However, this is only an option.
One way to connect is via WiFi. Via WiFi, you can control the printer through a dedicated smartphone app. Print any file to the app and it will be converted into a high-quality engraving.
You can also use your computer's WiFi connection. Using a computer, you can set up multiple RAY5 routers to run in parallel. Print it once and it will be sent to all engravers. This is the easiest way if you want to sculpt a lot of things quickly.
If you don't want to mess with WiFi, you can always use a USB connection. The kit includes a USB Type-A to Type-B cable that can be connected to any PC or Mac. It is even compatible with Linux systems where many engravers are not.
As for software compatibility, you'll have a lot of options. The engraver is compatible with all major engraving software, including LaserGRBL and LightBurn. Considering that over 90% of sculptors use one of these programs, you should be fine.
Plus, you can work with a wide variety of file formats. In addition to older standards like JPG, BMP, PNG, and GIF, you also get support for newer formats. If you need to sculpt SVG, NC or GC files, here you go. You can even engrave images that have been saved as G-code.
engraving performance
The working area of the LONGER RAY5 is 400mm x 400mm. That works out to be 15.75 x 15.75 inches, which is quite a large area. You can engrave large plaques or intricate artwork without the limitations of a small frame.
The laser is capable of engraving at 10,000 millimeters per minute, or about 32 feet. The exact speed will vary depending on how dark the image is. The deeper you try to cut, the slower the laser will move. The design is very stable, so you won't get any blemishes from working at maximum speed. Lines will remain smooth without any unexpected jagged edges.
The 0.6mm laser diameter is beautiful and compact, allowing you to create beautiful shadow images. Due to the small diameter, you can engrave fine details and they are practically visible. They won't get lost in the cleaning process like they can with a low-resolution laser engraver.
The 10 watt laser module is surprisingly powerful. A single knife can cut through 8mm thick wood. You can cut thicker materials with multiple passes. When it comes to materials, lasers are great for engraving just about anything. You can engrave wood, metal, acrylic, rubber, and even vinyl or leather.
If you don't need that much power, consider the LONGER RAY5 5W version. It has a similar work area and speed, so you can make large engravings quickly. It's also more affordable than the RAY5. That said, it only has a 5-watt laser.
Accessories and Support
In addition to the RAY5 router itself, Longer laser has included some nifty accessories to help you. The most important thing is the second laser module, with a power of only 5 watts. You might think that a weaker laser would be a bad thing, but it's not. The 5 watt laser module is more suitable for engraving fine materials. For example, you can use it to cut complex shapes on paper, which a 10-watt laser wouldn't do.
In addition to that, you also get a 77-piece engraving kit. Most of these pieces are small wooden blocks and small metal tags. They are great for making small carvings. If you've never used an engraver before, they're a great way to gain basic experience. However, there are also some larger wood and metal panels. These can be used to create larger, more complex carvings.
If you want a more powerful engraving machine, you can upgrade to Longer RAY5 20W laser.
As you can see, the LONGER RAY5 is one of the better laser engravers on the market. It has a powerful laser and easy-to-use controls, and is even capable of offline printing. It also offers excellent resolution and fast working speeds so you can quickly create detailed engravings.
