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Best Laser Engraver for Metal
Ready to elevate your metalwork craft? Consider investing in a laser engraver designed for metal to unlock limitless artistic potential. Effortlessly etch intricate patterns on steel, aluminum, brass, and more with utmost precision and efficiency. Move away from conventional techniques and embrace the innovation of laser engraving. From bespoke keepsakes to industrial-grade prototypes, the creative boundaries are endless. Delve into new artistic methods, refine your engraving skills, and witness your creativity come to life.
Don’t hold back—infuse your metal projects with intricate laser patterns that leave a lasting impression. Prepare to surprise yourself and awe your audience. Your transformative journey into the world of laser engraving on metal begins now.
3 best laser engravers for metal [2023]:
1. LaserPecker 3 (Deluxe) – Best Overall Laser Engraver for Metal
The LaserPecker 3 is the latest laser engraver metal from LaserPecker, who have created several other successful laser engravers such as the Laser Pecker 2 which used to be our number 1 recommendation.
The major highlight that I like about the LaserPecker 3 is that you can use it directly on metal without any pre-treatment. The LaserPecker 2 can still work on metal, but you must pre-treat it before you work on it. Compared to cheaper blue lasers, the 0.03mm ultra-fine laser from the LP3 allows clear engraving on metal.
If you want to get into laser engraving on metal immediately, the LaserPecker 3 is our current top recommendation for a metal laser engraver in 2023.
Highlighted features
- Diode Laser: 1064nm fiber laser
- Laser Power: 5W diode laser
- Weight: 12.72 pounds
- 👍Compact and Convenient Storage: Keep all your LaserPecker 3 machine and parts organized in a portable storage case made of high-quality materials. The handle design makes it easy to transport, and it's reusable and recyclable.
- 👍360° Rotary Engraving: With the help of the Versatile Electric Roller (rotatry module), LaserPecker 3 laser engraving machine can do 360° rotary engraving on cylindrical surfaces such as bottle, pen, jewelry etc.
- 👍Made to Engrave Metal & Plastic: The LaserPecker 3 laser engraver is perfect for metal and plastic materials, including stainless steel, gold, silver, aluminum, titanium, copper, coated metal plate, acrylic, and plastic. You can directly engrave without any preprocessing, making it a versatile tool for your projects.
- 👍Fast and Efficient Engraving: With innovative galvanometer technology, the LaserPecker 3 laser engraving machine achieves a high-speed engraving of 48000mm/min. This means you can complete more work in less time, making it a valuable addition to your toolkit.
- 👍Ultra-High Engraving Accuracy: The LP3 laser engraving machine features a 0.03mm ultra-fine laser point that ensures ultra-high engraving accuracy. The integrated improved image algorithm technology allows you to choose between 1K/2K/4K resolution, so you can reproduce more vivid engravings.
2. LaserPecker 2
Unlike common engravers, the LaserPecker 2 is a high-end, well-polished machine with a smooth surface, a small ergonomic handlebar, and a touchscreen control panel. The panel and the handlebar are at the top. On the front is an indicator, while on the back are two USB ports, a power port, and a type-C port. One USB port receives data and the other powers auxiliary components. A ventilation filter and an inbuilt fan are also at the back.
The unit has a 5W laser beam emitter. To use it, connect a portable shield(it filters out blue light) and a quarter-inch thread for fixing the unit to the electric stand bracket. The practical bracket has an L-shaped ranging rod that uses small motors to move along the Y-axis. Another thing you should not miss is the rollable bracket or auxiliary booster. With it, you can print on cylindrical objects such as water bottles or wine glasses, giving you a wide range of engravable objects. This is good if you want to engrave it on water bottles, wine glasses, or cups.
The rollable bracket runs on batteries held in place by a magnetic strip.
Other accessories it comes with are an extra fan and a power cube, a 20000aAh power bank that can power the unit for 200 minutes.
Lastly, the engraver is highly portable. You can hold it against a stationary surface like walls and engrave it on. Set the machine on sliding mode, and it will roll on wide surfaces like tables as it engraves.
Highlighted features
- Speed: 36000mm/min
- Power rating: 60W
- Weight: 10 pounds
- 💎Best Choice for Laser Engraving: LaserPecker 2 Laser Engraver with upgrade galvo technology for faster engraving. Max engraving speed of 1417"/min and frame/graphic preview speed of 8858"/min. 0.05mm compressed spot for more details. 3 resolution options (1K/1.3K/2K) for perfect details level.
- 💎360° Rotary/Mobile Engraving: The versatile electric roller enables "Cylinder mode" on cylindrical surfaces like tumblers and pencils. "Slab mode" and "Trolley mode" extend engraving length up to 196" (width remains 4").
- 💎Functional & Widely Used: Engraves Paper, Cardboard, Wood, Leather, Aluminum alloy, Coating metal, Brushed stainless steel, etc. Can cut Wood, Paper, Leather (thickness within 0.2"). ATTENTION: light color or transparent material will reflect laser, paint/spray it black before engraved and wipe when jobs done.
- 💎Easy to Use: Plug and play laser engraving machine with innovative handle design for hand-held engraving. Small size for portability. Connects easily with smartphone or PC. Keep 11cm(4.33") laser distance. File format supports JPG/PNG/G-code and more.
- 💎Safety＆Guarantee: Blue light filter protection cover and glasses prevent blue light from damaging eyes. Multiple safety functions ensure safety during engraving process. 12-month warranty, if you have any questions during use, please email us and we will be happy to assist you.
3. Tool D1 Laser Engraver
This laser engraver is sold in five major components packed in a small box. All the electronics are usually in an enclosure; you only need to unpack and reassemble the frame and connect wires, power, and data cables. Unless you have assembled the machine before, it takes around 45 minutes to read through the how-to-set-up manual and do the setup. And because every wire and part is designed uniquely, you can’t interchange connections or parts.
The frame and rods are high-quality steel and resistant to warping.
The machine runs on two quiet stepper motors. One is for the X-axis, while the other moves the laser head along the Y-axis. A focus guide on the head moves it along the Z-axis, i.e., up and down, depending on the thickness of the material.
The D1 has two diode emitters instead of the one we always see in many laser engraving machines. The main diode points directly to the material. The other emitter is perpendicular to the main, but synthetic lenses are tilted at a 45-degree angle as the beam bounces off. This bends the beam by a 90-degree angle, joining the beam from the main diode. The result is a double-powerful engraver.
With a 10W beam hitting a surface, heat build-up is inevitable. Fortunately, a fan on top of the unit cools the area.
The engraver is compatible with LightBurn and custom LaserBox Basics software, which receives data through USB cable, Wi-Fi, or TF cards.
Highlighted Features
- Speed: over 350 inches per minute
- Weight: 23.4 pounds
- Power: 10W
- 【High Speed With Powerful 10w Dual Laser Output】xTool D1 Pro laser engraver combining 2 laser beams into 1, has 60w machine power and 10w output power. It can cut a 6mm basswood board or 3mm black acrylic in ONE PASS, at a speed up to 24000mm/m.
- 【Super Fine Engraving & Cutting】With all aluminum alloy made structure and steel shaft wheel guide rail design,xTool D1 Pro is also equipped with strong belt tension adjustment device and 0.08*0.08mm super fine spot focus, enable engraving/cutting accuracy precisely controlled within 0.004 inches,repositioning accuracy less than 0.007 inches.
- 【Upgraded Security】xTool D1 Pro laser cutter has built-in flame Sensor for detect and alarm fire in time, while it is more convenient to find the position of the laser head and prevent equipment from colliding with edges with the help of upgraded X&Y axis limit switches.
- 【Newly Upgraded xTool Creative Space Software】Tailor-made free software for xTool Series laser engraver, more smooth to begin your DIY with unlimited use of 500+ elements, 30+ fonts, and default parameters for common materials.
- 【Material Supported】xTool D1 Pro 10W laser cutter can be used to cut paper, wood, leather, plastic, dark acrylic, engrave on most consumables such as metal, glass and more.
4. ATOMSTACK A5 Pro Laser Engraver, 40W Laser Engraving Cutting Machine
ATOMSTACK A5 Pro is a standard desktop engraver with a working surface area of around 252 square inches, a 5W module, and a compress spot. The compress spot houses several crystal-clear lenses that compress less powerful thick laser beams to a narrow, more powerful beam. The more focused laser easily tears through a 0.5-inch-thick piece of wood. If you want a wide working area, an extension kit effortlessly expands the length to 33.5 inches from 21 inches.
Besides, a high-performance, light aluminum structure composed of an integrated screw rod is agile and forms the rail for the laser module. The smooth rod’s laser module can cover up to 430 inches per minute. This impressive speed is good when making complex designs, and time is not on your side.
UV filter acrylic on the laser module filters out up to 97% of UV light rendering it safe for your eyes and skin. The feature also lets you view what the machine is doing 180 degrees from above.
Lastly, ATOMSTACK A5 is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems and software. You can use the free LaserGRB software or pay for an advanced design software called LightBurn. After coming up with your unique design, you can convert it into NC, BMP, JPG, PNG, or DXF files. The machine has no problem with any of them.
Highlighted Features
- Speed: 430 inches per minute
- Power rating: 5W
- Weight: 10.88 pounds
- Spot Compression Technology and Upgraded Fixed Focus: Atomstack A5 Pro Laser Engraver with up to 5.5W output power. The ultra-fine laser focus area is reduced to 0.08mm*0.08mm, with stronger engraving force, can easily engrave 6mm plywood, 12mm balsa wood and 10mm acrylic board.
- Exclusive air-gathering Hood Design: The upgraded laser module adds an exclusive air-gathering hood design, which can effectively prevent smoke from adhering to and destroying the lens of the laser, and the guaranteed life is 3-5 times longer than other engraving machines.
- With Air-Assisted Pump: ATOMSTACK Air Assist Pump powerful airflow can reduce the surface temperature of objects quickly and effectively during engraving and cutting, prevent excessive burning, and make the cutting edge cleaner and smoother. It will make the quality of your artwork better!
- Extended laser head life: Air Assist Pump equipped with 10-30L/min adjustable airflow. The airflow will remove the smoke and dust effectively, it can prevent laser energy attenuation by avoiding smoke and dust touch the lens, ensures the stability of laser energy while extending the life of the laser head.
- Wide Range of Uses: Atomstack A5 Pro laser cutting engraving machine can meet your daily needs, it can engrave on metallic paper, bamboo, wood, plastic, leather PCB board, alumina, etc. Allows you to create unlimited DIY.
5. ATOMSTACK S20 PRO Laser Engraver
This is another practical and magnificent laser engraver from ATOMSTACK. Its design involves bringing a compact yet advanced machine able to shape pieces out of wood, acrylic, and metal plates. It can cut through a 0.5-, 0.3-, and 0.002-inch-thick piece of wood, acrylic, and metal. A 20W beam does this.
The beam combines four 6W beams, reflecting the same target by a laser coupling technology. It is one of the latest inventions in the industry, and ATOMSTACK is proud to use it to upgrade the output of this machine compared to its predecessors.
The brain of the machine is a 32-bit motherboard. This motherboard is built using the same architecture that runs some of our laptops and computers. Similar to the laptop’s, the machine’s motherboard can process up to 32 bits of data parallel to each other, offering stable and consistent results.
Supporting the motherboard is an advanced 254-bit color scale and a laser spot covering an area of 0.000012 square inches. In retrospect, this minute area is comparable to a single pixel (the smallest unit of an image). So, the smaller the laser spot’s surface area, the clearer the final piece. Thus, this engraver creates delicate patterns with better contrast.
All these features, including an air assist kit, are built on aerospace-grade aluminum frames. The frames are durable, stable, and lightweight.
Highlighted Features
- Speed: 470 inches per minute
- Power output: 20W
- Weight: 20 pounds
- More Powerful Engraving: ATOMSTACK S20 PRO is the first 130W semiconductor laser engraving machine. It uses the newest generation of four 6W laser coupling technology to produce the output power soars to 20W. It can cut 15mm thick tung wood board and 8mm thick black acrylic board at one pass and easily cut more than 40 kinds of materials such as 0.05mm thick stainless steel board.
- More Precise Engraving: ATOMSTACK laser engraver with a 32-bit motherboard works more smoothly and stable. The advanced built-in 256-bit color scale with 0.08 * 0.1mm laser spot area MAKEs the engraved pattern more contrast and more obvious. The finished pattern is like sketching on paper. the effect is more deliCATe and natural in the overlay of black and white.
- More IntelLIGEnt Engraving: We have developed an ATOMSTACK APP to connect to the S20 pro laser engraving machine, supporting Android and Apple mobile phone systems. At the same time, It is equipped with a controller and emergency stop button, so that completely offline engraving can be achieved. You can do your engraving work smoothly and safely even without network environment or computer.
- More Clean Engraving: The S20 PRO laser engraver is equipped with an upgraded F30 pro air assist kit, which have dual built-in air-assist pumps. It MAKEs it twice as efficient as other air assist units. The air assist kit keeps the surface clean and considerably optimizes engraving works' quality. The thick aluminum cover MAKEs it stronger and more durable, generating less heat and lasting longer.
- More Stable Engraving: ATOMSTACK S20 PRO laser engraving machine is made of all anodized aluminum material. The internal structure is meticulous and sturdy. Equipped with a high-performance fixed-focus laser with a built-in focus-free module. The machine uses an integral screw that allows the laser engraving machine to move more stable and accurate and the couplings are more durable.
6. ORTUR Laser Engraver, Laser Master 2 S2 SF
A new box with an ORTUR laser engraver has four aluminum frames, an X-axis gantry, belts, brackets, and some cables. You will also find the 5W laser module, a power supply cable, and an electronics enclosure.
Though setting up the unit is a bit complicated, manuals and tutorials simplify the job. Start by building the frame, followed by belts and the X-axis gantry. Finalize by screwing the electronic enclosure and laser module in place.
The electronic enclosure has a 32-bit 9th-generation motherboard for professional and accurate designs. With the laser output power of 1 to 1.6W, the beam will cut through a credit card-sized piece of wood.
The ultra-fine focus area of 0.018 square inches produces pieces with clearer borders. If you have a large piece you wish to work on, the machine’s working area of 247 square inches and an expansive top of around 96 inches per minute will get you through.
Safety is a major concern when it comes to using laser engravers. To reduce accident incidences and eye damage, ORTUR has invested in three safety features: if the USB cable is accidentally removed, the machine switches off a laser beam to reduce the fire risk. Another feature is the G-sensor on the motherboard, which automatically switches off the laser when the machine is tilted. Lastly, the laser turns off automatically if left unattended for a long time.
Highlighted Features
- Speed: 96 inches per minute
- Power output: 1.6W
- Weight: 7.8 pounds
- ✅Ultra-Fine Compression: Ortur Laser Engraver has 32-bit Professional motherboard, which is smarter, faster, more accurate and easier to use. The laser engraving output power is 1W-1.6W, Engraving area is 390*410mm. Ultra-fine laser focal area is reduced to 0.12*0.15mm, The engraving machine speed can be as high as 5000 mm/min. The laser cutter can cleanly cut 6mm plywood plate in one pass.
- ✅Safety protection: Laser Engraver newly upgraded Safety protection. 1. There is a G-sensor on the motherboard, When the engraving machine is displaced or tilted, it will automatically stop the laser; 2. If your computer system halted or USB cable disconnected, led to that the laser engraver stops moving, the laser beam will stop, to prevent fire. 3. The engraving machine is turned on, but there is no movement for a long time, the laser will be turned off automatically.
- ✅New eye protection design: The laser engraving machine with newest panoramic filter glass protective cover plays a very good role in protecting your eyes, filtering 97% of the ultraviolet light to perfectly protect your eyes to reduce the cost of your goggles and the inconvenience of wearing goggles.
- ✅Extensive Compatibility & Uses: Ortur laser engraver and cutter can engraving cylinders by add to rotaty rollers. Unleash your creativity on over one hundred materials including paper, bamboo, wood, leather PCB board, aluminum oxide, metal, glass, etc.compatible with various mature engraving software, such as LaserGRBL(Free), LightBurn(Paid). The ORTUR laser cutter supports Win 7 / Win 8 / XP / Win 10 / Win 11, and also support MacOS and Linux system.
- ✅Quality and Assurance: We are the manufacturer of ORTUR. We only provide Amazon customers with the best quality and comprehensive pre-sales and after-sales services. The engraving machine enjoys a one-year warranty. If the engraving machine fails during the warranty period, please contact us.
7. 80W RECI W8 and 80W RECI W2 Hybrid Metal Laser Cutter Laser Engraver
RECI W8 is a hybrid laser cutter for engraving and cutting metallic and non-metallic materials. The futuristic machine has a strong lifting workbench, a cooling water system, and an exhaust gas system. The lifting workbench allows you to lower or raise the 1800 square inches working area. The water-cooling system, in contrast, uses two water chillers to cool down the machine when running, while the exhaust system has fans to suck out smoke.
The machine has American Ⅱ-Ⅳ and Singapore wavelength focusing lenses, a liner guide rail, and stepper motors. When turned on, the motor moves the engraving unit along the linear rail to cut or engrave on ceramics, leather rubber, and carbon steel.
Being the most advanced machine on our list, it supports AutoCAD, CorelDraw, and various file formats such as plt. ,dxf. ,dwg.ai. and las. In addition, it uses a very sensitive 1.3-million-pixel charge-coupled device (CCD) and WIFI.
Highlighted Features
- Speed: cutting speed and engraving speed are 11 and 22 inches per minute, respectively.
- Power output: 80W
- Weight: 1100 pounds
- Hybrid Laser Cutting Design. 180W RECI W8 Hybrid Laser Cutting Head for metal, non-metal Cutting and 80W RECI W2 Laser Engraving Head for non-metal Engraving.
- Laser Source: RECI W8 and W2 CO2 Laser Tube; Control System: Ruida DSP; Focusing Lens and Mirrors: American Ⅱ-Ⅳ and Singapore Wavelength; Stepper Motor&Driver: YAKO; Guide: PMI Linear Guide; Water Cycle Cooling: S&A Water Chiller CW-5200 and CW-3000.
- Cutting and Engraving Materials: Wood, Bamboo, Plexiglas, Crystal, Leather, Rubber, Marble, Ceramics, Nonmetals and Carbon Steel Sheet ≤1.8mm, Stainless Steel Sheet≤1.5mm.etc.
- File Format: plt./dst./dxf./bmp./dwg./ai./las. Support AutoCAD, CoreDraw Output Directly.
- 1 Year Warranty; Customer and Technical Support. Software and Video Training Enclosed. Ships by sea to door including tariffs around 70 to 80 days(COVID-19 Affect). Warning: This machine is over size and weight for liftgate, customer need rent folklift to unload the machine to your door.
Buying Guide for Laser Engravers for Metal
To get the right laser engraver metal, you need to consider the following:
Laser Power – If you have a too low-powered laser, it won’t provide a clear engraving. The higher the power, the stronger the end design will look. Laser power is given in watts, so choose the highest wattage that matches your budget.
Size of machine – If you have plenty of space, you might be better with a general CNC machine that can also engrave metal. However, many of us don’t have much space, so you will want to look at engraver machines that take up far less space than a CNC machine, such as the range of laser engravers from LaserPecker.
Size of objects you want to engrave – If you want to engrave very large items, you will need a laser engraver with space to work with these dimensions. Most standard laser engravers are aimed at those looking to add designs to small items such as cups or cans. One of the reasons I like the range of laser engravers from LaserPecker is that they have motorized rollers that allow you to use larger items.
Type of laser for engraving metal – Fiber lasers are the best for engraving on metal as they provide short wavelengths in UV, violet and blue. Fiber lasers are not cheap, so many engraving machines use different types. Our top-rated laser engraver for metal uses an infrared laser and performs very well, creating great-looking engravings in all types of metal.
Budget – Laser engravers for metal can go up beyond $10K, so be sure to set a budget and stick to it, as many higher-priced options might include many features you don’t need for metal engraving. I think the LaserPecker 2 and 3 provide a good experience for the price.
Ease of use – If you don’t want to spend hundreds of hours learning how to use your metal engraver – try to go for a popular model with plenty of other users who can help you get started. Look at the community on Reddit of laser engravers to see which models are most suited for beginners and ask for help when needed.
Happy laser engraving!
Laser Engravers FAQs
Q: Which is better CO2 laser or fiber laser engraving?
Each of these lasers is designed for different materials. For engraving metal, we recommend choosing a fiber laser as it will be strong enough to create strong designs. CO2 lasers are best suited for softer materials like wood, textile or cardboard.
Q: Are cheap laser engravers worth it?
Most cheaper laser engravers are aimed at engraving in wood. For those looking to engrave in metal, you are better off spending at least $500 on a machine, or you will be disappointed with the results. Our top budget pick would be a refurbished Xtool D1 that you can find between $400-$500, depending on when you buy it.
Q: What metal can you use with a laser engraver?
A: A laser engraver can handle stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, titanium, gold, silver, nickel, and chrome. The possibilities are endless, from personalized jewelry to industrial parts. Follow the guidelines and test for optimal results on each metal.
Q: What can you do with a laser engraver for metal?
A: A laser engraver for metal allows you to personalize items, create industrial markings, design signage and nameplates, produce decorative artwork, make identification tags, customize awards and trophies, craft custom jewelry, aid in prototype development, create artistic engravings, and customize automotive accessories. The vast possibilities encompass personal, industrial, artistic, and decorative applications. Just remember to prioritize safety while using the laser engraver.
Q: How many watts are required to power a laser engraver to engrave metals?
A: A laser module with a power rating of 5W can be engraved on metals.
Q: How much do laser engravers for metal cost?
A: Laser engravers are cheap machines costing between $389.9 and 1199.9. But for multipurpose and bigger machines like RECI W8, the price per unit is over $10,000.
Q: Is laser engraving hard to learn?
Like any skill, there is a learning curve, but it’s simplest the skill involved in sending a file to a printer. The main challenge is getting used to the software used by your laser engraver. That’s why you should spend some time to find out what software each unit uses and how easy it is to get going. We love that the Laserpecker range uses a smartphone app, making things much easier than connecting to a PC.
Q: Is laser engraving a good side hustle?
If you are good with computers and machines, laser engraving can be a good way to make a little extra money, and then laser have never been more accessible. Your challenge is the same as any new business in finding new customers and looking after existing ones. Custom work will require more time-intensive customer service than standardized items you can sell in bulk.
Conclusion
Laser engravers are simple dual-purpose machines. They can engrave or cut through thin metal, ceramic and wooden plates by shooting a high-energy beam to the surface while following a programmed pattern.
Many laser engravers exist, but we have highlighted the top six choices. Most are small and highly portable, with frames made from aluminum or steel parts. Besides, they run on easy-to-use software.
Relevant Buying Guide:
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Be sure to let us know if you have any questions about our process or use a paint that you think we should include in future updates.