Why Buy This Laser Engraver?
The Orion Motor Tech CO2 Laser Engraver is one of the best laser engravers that provides an affordable means to create your own 3D designs on various materials. The engraver works with much popular design software. It also packs many safety features such as water-break protection and ventilation fan.
Introduction of Orion Motor Tech Laser Engraver
Engraving lets you personalize objects on a different level than simple printed design. The etching on an object feels adds more depth on design as you glide your fingers over it. However, being able to make your own custom object with a personal engraving machine has been out of reach for many people due to its price. Fortunately, Orion Motor Tech introduces its CO2 Laser Engraver to the market as an affordable laser engraver for the hobbyist.
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Orion Motor Tech’s engrave features a 40W laser that lets you apply your designs on compatible materials. This laser is also upgradable to a higher wattage one when you need it. In addition, you also have a 12” x 8” printing space for cutting objects.
You can transfer your design onto the printer from much popular software. If you do not have one, the engraver comes with a design software of its own to get you started on making custom objects.
Given the specifications and features of Orion Motor Tech CO2 Laser Engraver, does the machine deserve a spot in your home? Let us break down the different aspect of the unit to answer that question.
Orion Motor Tech CO2 Laser Engraver Review
The machine’s engraving area may have a 12” x 8” space, but this does not account to the moving parts within the space. Taking the parts into the account, you can fit an object that has a maximum dimension of 10.3” x 8” x 2.9” in the engraving area. This is just enough space for small wooden objects. In addition, the laser can cut through 2mm to 3mm of certain materials.
On the topic of wooden objects, the Orion Motor Tech Laser Engraver works with most organic materials such as wood and bamboo. It will also work on plastic, polycarbonate, rubber, leather, and even glass. It is important to note that the laser is not powerful enough to engrave on metal surfaces. However, you can engrave on the coating of a metallic material such as anodized aluminum.
It is important to note that the laser works efficiently on flat surfaces. Using the engraver on cylindrical objects such as mugs or small bottles can be difficult.
The various CNC parts are made with durable materials and pieces. This includes the Y-axis guide rails that are German built. The parts and components of the engraver give it a long lifespan. You can also check out our list of the best CNC routers for engraving.
The engraver comes with a CO2 Glass 40W laser. Its lifespan usage is around 1,000 to 1,300 hours. The laser is capable of 1000 dpi resolution on your design. If you want to increase the speed of the engraving process, you can upgrade the laser with a much higher wattage.
The machine comes with its own Shenzhouyi software that you can use to create your designs and engrave it onto an object. The software has its limitations and only offer barebones functionality. It will not even work with iOS devices. Fortunately, you can use other design programs with the engraver such as CorelDRAW. Using other design software is highly recommended if you want to create quality designs for engraving.
The engraver also has many safety features such as a water flow sensor. This feature prevents the laser from operating if it is not receiving any water from a tube. Water is important to keep the temperature of the laser down because of the massive amount of heat it generates.
Another safety feature is an included ventilation fan that you can connect at the back of the machine. This draws out the smoke and fumes generated by the engraving process. By venting out the smoke, you can protect the sensitive parts of the machine from soot and other substances.
Upon getting the Orion Motor Tech Laser Engraver, prepare to do plenty of reading, setting, adjusting, and testing before you can start making engravings the way you want it to. It will take some time to ready the machine to run and more time to learn about using any design software with the engraver.
Setup simply comes down to your understanding in the use of a laser engraver. This is not much of a deal breaker for some people given the capabilities of the machine. However, it can put off others who simply want an engraver to work straight out of the box.
Specs & Features
– 12″ x 8″ engraving area
– CO2 Glass 40W laser with 1000 dpi resolution
– Shenzhouyi software included
– Temperature range of 40°F – 104°F
– Ventilation fan unit
– USB connectivity
– 31.5” x 19.5” x 10” engraver dimension
– Stepper motor
– AC 110V power supply
- Compatible with numerous materials such as wood and plastic
- Upgradable and customizable
- Can connect with numerous design software
- Safety features
- Affordability of unit
- Included ventilation fan for controlling fumes
- Limited engraving area
- Not compatible with metal
- Does not engrave on cylindrical or rounded area
- Requires time and effort to setup engraver
Final Word
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The functionality of the Orion Motor Tech CO2 Laser Engraver does the job in terms of creating 3D designs on real-world objects. Excluding metal, you can etch nearly any design or lettering on many different materials. If the performance of the laser, fan, or water sensor is not enough for your projects, you have the option to upgrade these components for better parts. You can even put aside the design software that comes with the machine and choose to use a superior one for the engraver.
The flaws that we can see with the engraver is its limited engraving space and the learning curve required to operate the machine. However, the affordability makes the flaws of the machine reasonable. The entry-level price gives you a chance to try your hands at engraved designs before investing in high-end machines.
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