A wood laser cutter is an advanced cutter designed to make carpentry, home improvement, and woodworking projects simpler and save time and effort. They are made not only to cut wood, but their usefulness further extends to other metals such as aluminum.
This tool works in a dozen ways, for whatever purpose and how you want to get your work done. Additionally, using a wood laser cutter will give you more precision, and you can make detailed engravings within a given time. Thus, you do not have to worry about making mistakes and wasting your raw materials. You will achieve accurately desired results compared to when you use other contemporary methods of woodcutting, giving your work a high-quality finish.
Besides being highly versatile, wood laser cutters are also very much sought after for their speed and automation. Additionally, these tools do not consume so much electrical energy compared to other methods of wood cutting. This is one tool that can get the job done for you effectively without consuming all your time and effort.
Before deciding to purchase one, you need to make sure you thoroughly review which type of wood laser cutter will work best for your woodworking ship as there are dozens of them on the market, some being more powerful and feature-rich than others. Let’s take a look at the best wood laser cutters.
Best Laser Cutters for Wood
Best Wood Laser Cutter: xTool D1 60W DIY Laser Cutter and Engraver
Pros
- The D1 gives excellent results even on extensive projects such as V carvings and complex wood designs.
- It can cut and engrave cylindrical objects
- You do not need the latest computer to set up your software.
- 60W
Cons
- No limit switches
The xTool D1 is an excellent laser cutter ready to tackle any woodworking project, no matter how big or small. 60 watts of power guarantee a clean cut on even the most challenging wood pieces and even thin pieces of aluminum.
It provides excellent versatility due to its powerful laser able to cut through wood, and aluminum, and also able to gently engrave pieces of wood. Its smart configuration is able to engrave cylindrical objects, such as a mug.
Overall, the xTool D1 is an outstanding piece of machinery that will let you DIY projects that would otherwise take a long time to complete without a laser cutter.
Product Details:
| Product Dimensions | 24.4 x 5.1 x 13.58 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 14.12 pounds |
| Wattage | 60W |
| Manufacturer | Makeblock Co., Ltd. |
Best Wood Laser Engraver: MathRose A5 Laser Engraver CNC 20W
Pros
- Facilitates precision and accurate cutting on wood, paper, and leather.
- The metal design makes the machine solid and convenient when changing certain parts.
- The product further comes with an extra pair of eye-protecting goggles.
Cons
- Does not have an end-stop.
The A5 laser Engraver from MathRose Store is a laser used for cutting as well as engraving. 20W of power make it great for engraving wood and cutting thin plywood. The frame feels solid and well built and the laser is calibrated for precise delivery.
It features built-in eye-protection designed to shield your eyes from UV light and minimize your need to use protective goggles. Additional eye protection is still recommended.
Product Details:
| Product Dimensions | 23.62 x 22.44 x 10.63 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 10.98 pounds |
Best Budget Laser Cutter: ATOMSTACK A5 Pro Laser Engraver Cutter 40W
Pros
- Eye-protection technology.
- Suitable for cutting wood and rubber.
- Provides spot focus for engravings.
Cons
- Software control is not the best
If you are looking for a budget-friendly alternative that doesn’t sacrifice the quality of the results, the Atomstack A5 Pro laser cutter is a cost-effective solution with a decently powerful and precise laser.
40W of power can cut through and engrave wood easily, and spot focus functionality can output the extra kick of power some areas could need. Built-in eye protection technology is a great safety feature.
Product Details:
| Package Dimensions | 23.78 x 13.78 x 5.43 inches |
|---|---|
| Item Weight | 11.09 pounds |
OMTech 60W CO2 Laser Engraver and Cutter for Wood Leather Rubber and More
Pros
- Advanced LCD control panel.
- Wide pass-through doors
- Motorized workbeds for reduced manual adjustments
- Password and key protection
- Built-in waste collection
Cons
- Does not include light-burn software
The OMTech 60W Laser Cutter and Engraver is a feature-rich workbench for any kind of woodworking project. Apart from being great for wood, it can also engrave metal, leather, acrylic and glass with precise designs and patterns due to its precise adjustment and front & rear pass through.
Built-in waste collection will help you keep dust to a minimum and a protective sepia filter will let you see what the machine is doing in real-time without damaging your eyesight.
Overall, this is a wood laser cutter with tons of useful features, a precise and powerful laser, and excellent build quality.
Product Details:
| Product Dimensions | 47.2 x 38.2 x 36.2 inches |
|---|
OMTech 50W CO2 Laser Cutter
Pros
- An excellent machine for wood, paper, leather, and cardboard and for glasses and ceramics.
- A two-way passthrough lets you fit big pieces of wood.
- Transparent viewing window
- Versatile
Cons
- No auto-focus on 50W Laser Machine.
- Complicated manual guide
Similar to the machine above, the OMTech 50W Co2 wood laser cutter is an excellent quality machine with a varied array of features. A spacious 12×20 workbed gives your room to fit almost any project with the pass-through doors.
Barrell roll rotary axis can engrave on cylindrical objects with precision and the see-through window will let you observe the progress of your project in real time.
Choose your design and upload using a flash drive, USB cord or Ethernet, and the OMTech 50W CO2 laser will do its utmost job of engraving your design into perfection.
Product Details:
| Product Dimensions | 41 x 25.6 x 20 inches |
|---|
SCULPFUN S9 90W High Precision CNC Laser Cutter for Wood
Pros
- Powerful 90W laser beam shaping machine
- Built-in laser filter for reduced laser radiation
- Wide software compatibility
- Expandable cutting/engraving area
- Ultra-thin engraving line
Cons
- Costlier than similar alternatives
The Sculpfun S9 is a high-precision and high-power wood laser cutter and engraver. It can cut up to 15mm thick wood, 10mm acrylic, and carve wood, acrylic, and stainless steel.
An ultra-thin engraving line of 0.08mm lets you create more precise and accurate patterns that are sharp and well-defined. The focused laser also helps penetrate further into wood for a powerful and sharp cut.
The expandable cutting area makes this laser cutter great if you’re thinking of cutting big planks of wood, it could even work well as a table saw replacement.
Wide software compatibility ensures that no matter the engraving software that you’re used to, you can have a seamless experience in both Windows and MacOS. Supports LaserGRBL, Lightburn, Benbox, GrblController, Litefire in addition to PWM mode engraving.
Considerations When Looking for Wood Laser Cutters:
Before purchasing a wood laser cutter, it is wise to take many factors into consideration. Do thorough research online and identify the pros and cons of every machine before you can finally zero your options down to a particular one that will work best for you. It would be best if you kept the following in consideration:
Laser Power
Wood laser cutters can come in different dimensions, capacities, features, and laser power. The more powerful your machine is, the more effectively you will be able to cut through tough metals with precision. Do not attempt to use machines that are not primarily built for heavy-duty. This can destroy the machine within a short span of time. It can also cause you unprecedented injury. The laser power of a wood laser cutter can range from 20 watts to 150 watts or more. Depending on the laser power, the cost and the dimension of the machine may also vary. If you are new to laser woodcutters and want to experiment as a part of your hobby, it is advisable that you opt for a machine with lesser laser power.
It is vital that you are aware of the specific laser powers you would require based on your work demands. For example- you will need a laser power of somewhere between 25-85W if your project’s primary focus is on engraving. However, for laser cutting of incredibly thick wood, you will require about 60W or more laser power.
Cost
As mentioned, the cost of a wood laser cutter is determined by its feasibility, versatility, dimension, and durability. While the cost of an A5 Laser Engraver CNC may likely cost somewhere between $250-$350 due to its power capacity, which is 20 watts, a OMTech laser cutter will roughly cost around $1000-$2000 since the machine comes with a router and is one of the latest laser wood cutting technology making the rounds in the market. According to its feasibility, the demand also increases.
Firmware and Software Compatibility
It is essential for your software to be up and running once you are able to connect your device to the particular machine you have purchased. Taking the OMTech as an example, one of the reasons the machine is heavy on the price side is its software feasibility. The machine comes with six items in the mounting kit. If you happen to purchase a BobsCNC, you have the option for a firmware upgrade to give your machine an added bonus of being able to make engravings of any pictures you upload on your software and transfer via your USB or Ethernet. You will further be able to download other software such as lightburn, X Loader, etc. The quality and end result of your designs and project work will ultimately be determined by how compatible your firmware and software are with each other.
Machine Size
You must consider the size of a laser wood cutter before purchasing. If your machine has a decent dimension, you will be able to work on large-sized metals and materials without much hassle. Furthermore, if you travel a lot and you like to carry your work with you, you can opt for more portable machines. This machine has high impact resilience and has all the features other bigger laser machines have.
Cutting Accuracy and Speed
Even though all the machines boast of high-speed technology and accuracy, one will always be better than the other, depending on the machine’s quality, make-up, and build. The accuracy and speed rely heavily on your machine’s laser power. If your project involves cutting thick metals and making complicated engravings, you might want to consider an OMTech machine. Another alternative you can try to increase speed is by forgoing the raster engraving and using vector engraving.
Cutting/ Engraving Area
The dimension of the cutting area differs from one machine to the other. The more spacious the cutting and engraving area is, the more comfortable it will be for you to work on your designs. As you continue to do your research, you will also find that one or two laser wood cutting machines come with two beds or boards to make the user’s life easier. One such example is that of the OMTech 50W and 60W laser engraver. The engraving area of your machine should be able to accommodate your projects.
Laser cutter maintenance requirements when working with wood:
Yes, laser cutters do require maintenance to keep them working in good condition. Here are the basic maintenance areas you have to keep in mind:
Clean laser lens every 8-10 hours of use: blow off the dust particles on the lens and remove the lens. You can either use a wet wipe or a cleaning agent. Many experts also suggest vinegar for cleaning the surface of the lens. You can also apply dust extraction techniques such as exhaust fans to keep dust from collecting around the corners of your laser engraving surfaces.
Clean the dust collector every 30-40 hours of use: since laser cutting and engraving results in excessive dust and debris build-up from the raw materials, the machines come with dust collector and cooling tubes. While working with these tools, you should keep in mind that as much as you are controlling sound from passing out of your garage doors, you are keeping the dust in check to keep the air pure around you and your neighborhood.
Poor dust controlling system will drain your wallet. Some laser machines will have smaller dust collectors. If your machine has higher wattage, it is understandable that your machine will produce more dust than other machines.
Thus, it is vital that you effectively manage your dust collector to give your machine a more extended life and keep your work area clean.
Change the HEPA filter every year: in order to make sure that large particulates are not trapped in the filter, you have to change the high-efficiency particulate air filter every year by replacing the cartridges. Laser cutters can emit laser-generated air-borne contaminants and acrylic LGACs. Thus, changing the HEPA filter can reduce these emissions to a great degree since they are most effective at keeping a tab on micro-particulate matters.
Change carbon granules every year: carbon granules are used for maintaining the highest purity of air. Since they are cost-effective, you can either choose to change them twice a year or annually. Many laser woodcutters also opt for coconut shell-activated carbon.
Frequently Asked Questions:
How does a laser cutter cut wood?
Laser woodcutter is a computer-controlled technology. Each machine comes with a technical manual guide to help you assemble each part of the machine.
Once assembled, the machine’s firmware is connected to a laptop’s software via a USB port or ethernet to control the movement of the laser beam. The laser beam is very powerful and works between 20W to 150W or more. After establishing both your firmware and software, place your cardboard or wood in the cutting area. The laser beam will then begin to cut in a very precise manner.
A laser beam is used for cutting and engraving by heating up the surface of the wood such that the wood undergoes the process of vaporization. This technique of cutting is also known as the ‘thermal separation process.’ the laser will then continue to cut through the metal with the help of heat. There are so many advantages of using a laser as a cutter:
- It can cut the wood into any geometrical shape.
- It can seal synthetics and other combustible metals effectively.
- Laser cutters will not wear out quickly.
Lasers are used to achieve optimum use of raw materials without causing wastage.
What is the minimum laser wattage for cutting wood?
The minimum laser wattage for cutting wood is 20W. One of the best examples is the A5 Laser Engraver CNC 20W. This full-body metal machine can cut through wood, leather, paper, plastic, and even aluminum with precision. It has a protective eye cover and can engrave any kind of file format. Despite working at 20W laser wattage, the machine has high accuracy and is pocket-friendly.
Can you also engrave wood with a laser cutter?
Yes, laser wood cutter machines come in C02 laser technology, which is perfect for grafting, cutting, and engraving. They are either called laser woodcutters or wood engravers, or both depending on the user’s project. The only difference is, while some machines are designed primarily for wood cutting, like the OMTech 60W Co2 Laser, which has a unique feature of pass-through with a larger bed size, other machines such as the Dremel LC40-03 40W c02 Laser will be more feasible for making engravings due to its high speed and small bed-size. These engravings, however, work under low power; thus, accordingly, you need to adjust your speed. For better results, you can also download software that helps you achieve good results.
Laser engraving works the same way your printer does its job. You have to upload your design in a horizontal manner under any format so that your laser can process the graphics of your design to start engraving. Laser engraving machines also come in precise X and Y-axis scales to help you make accurate measurements.
How deep can a wood laser cut through?
A wood laser cutter can cut through 0.5mm to 15mm, which is the ideal thickness of any type of wood. For those other wood with about 20mm or more, the machine will require more than one pass. The most ideal machine to cut thick wood will be the BobsCNC Evolution 4, which can cut through 2 to 3 stock inches using appropriate tools. However, if you are new to laser machines and you want to work on thicker wood, it will be more advisable to use a jigsaw tool.
What is the best kind of wood to laser on?
A laser cutter works great on plywood, and other thin softwoods, but it can cut all kinds of wood, depending on the laser power and speed control. However, if you are inexperienced with these machines, it is advisable you begin with easy-to-operate thin wood materials like plywood and cardboards. Here is a list of woods laser woodcutters can cut through:
- Walnut and oak
- Timber and maple
- Alder and mahogany, etc.
For the woods, as mentioned above, it is advisable that you use a CO2 laser cutter. Additionally, you can install the latest software for laser cutting.
What is the best kind of wood to use with a laser cutter?
Understandably, softwoods are the best wood to use with a laser cutter. You can cut and engrave your designs on woods that are softer and thinner in size as compared to a thick wood, which can be more robust in nature. In order to choose the suitable wood for your designs, you must consider looking into the sap content in any wood. Oak is lighter compared to alder or cherry. In general, laser machines can cut through all kinds of wood. However, the density of the wood and the laser power of the machine will determine the outcome of your designs.
Plywood and Balsa fall under the category of softwoods, which are easy to work on. The softer the wood is, the lesser the power consumption will be. On the contrary, oak woods are hard and will demand more energy and power consumption.
Should you use eye protection?
Yes, eye protection is recommended. Every laser wood cutter recommends safety goggles to shield eyes from the laser beam. However, as long as you do not look directly at the light when it is operating, you shall be okay. Safety goggles are not so necessary since all the laser cutters come with in-built, high-quality eye protection laser technology. Additionally, machines such as the A5 Laser engraver comes with a pair of safety goggles for user safety. Keeping safety in mind, if you feel that there will be chances you can expose your eye to laser radiation, then you can further add more protection by wearing the safety goggles.
Laser Cutter Software for Woodworkers:
Here is a list of software options that are excellent when you’re working with wood:
Rdworks: this is a powerful software to help you perform detailed engraving on your designs. It is an intelligent laser controlling technology that supports features such as horizontal and vertical lines, markings such as logos or points; it is an expert tool for making triangular, rectangular, and circle shapes, eclipse, and indenting text fonts of all styles. Also known as one of the best software in the market to create and understand G-Codes. It is simple software, easy to understand and maneuver. The software runs on free download and program, with its latest version being the rdworks v8.01.34. However, this version can take up a lot of space on your computer.
Corel Laser: after installing the Corel laser, you can start designing using the Corel draw platform. This software is commonly used for engraving drawings and high-quality images easily with accurate precision. Simply layout the pictures you wish to engrave on your Corel draw, select new and identify the size of your workspace. The software allows you to copy/paste your images, and resize or rotate them according to your project demands. To learn more, you can refer to howtolaser.com. This website gives a step-by-step layout of how you can apply the software to your laser machine.
Lasergrbl: lasergrbl is recognized as one of the most popularly used Windows for engraving. Its unique features are:
- It can easily load computer programming languages, also known as GCode, to open-source platforms in both hardware and software.
- It comes with an in-build tool conversion.
- Easy configuration.
- Facilitates ‘Error’ coding and decoding.
- Easy to import and export files.
- Support varieties of color and grey-scale conversion, which is a digital CGI that allows your engravings to be more visible.
- Simple interface
Lightburn: lightburn is software used primarily for image layout and editing. You can do the following with lightburn-
- Import images in different formats.
- The software support welding, edits, and re-arrangements of the file.
- Feasible for designing vector shapes
- Simple interface for controlling speed, power, contrast, etc
- Submits the end result of your project efficiently into your laser cutter without hassle.
- Furthermore, Lightburn is known as the native language of windows and Linux due to its core processing functions.
- It can edit your images into any format as demanded by your propjets. These formats can be in the form of PDF, JPG or GIF, etc.
Laser Cutter Vs. Traditional Wood Cutting Tools Compared
Even though these two types of wood cutting tools have the same primary purpose, they are different in terms of their manufacture, cost, operation, feasibility, maintenance, and durability. In short, laser cutters are a modern approach to making a user’s life easier.
It is an evolution from the primal days when traditional tools were used for cutting wood and making carvings, signs, and symbols on wood. Traditional tools are still used to date for cutting wood, but due to their lack of accuracy and their requirement for more labor power, their demand rate has come down to a significant extent. Here is a list of differences between these two tool categories:
- Popular demand and Manufacturing: while the traditional wood cutting tools such as lathe, band saw, router, and saw table help to cut large pieces of wood by making accurate cuts and even consuming less time, other tools such as hacksaw, coping saw, bow saw, crosscut saw, two-man crosscut saw and jigsaw are used less extensively due to its requirement for more manual labor. Chisels are used as the traditional method for making engravements since all the tools, as mentioned earlier, are not designed to carry out the job of both cutting and engraving. On the contrary, laser woodcutters are high in demand due to their dual performance, computer-controlled technology. They are used to cut not just wood but also metals such as aluminum, rocks, and glass, while the traditional tools are not so versatile. Furthermore, laser wood cutters use only about 20% of the human resources, while the program software carries out the remaining work for cutting and engraving.
- Cost and maintenance: traditional tools are much more cost-effective compared the laser woodcutters. Since they are a simple and uncomplicated tool, they can even be handmade and customized at home. Furthermore, these tools do not need extra care or routine maintenance. On the contrary, laser woodcutters are expensive. The price of some machines can even go up to $1,500 roughly, depending on the laser power. Besides their cost, a user has to spend some money on maintenance and upkeep. Companies such as Trotec provide wood laser cutter services. These services include cleaning or changing the lens, clearing the dust tube or dust compartment, replacing the HEPA filter, etc. Furthermore, a user has to keep up with basic cleaning of the lens after every 8 hours of use, or else the laser will not cut effectively, and engravings can turn blurry. The user further has to replace the HEPA charcoal every 6-10 months to avoid a nasty smell coming out of the machine. Surface cleaning is also a must.
- Versatility and safety: as mentioned, the traditional tools are not so versatile. While you can use a particular tool for cutting wood, you will require another tool to work on glass or metal. However, this goes without saying that the traditional tools are more effective in terms of cutting thick woods. Contrary to that, laser woodcutters are manufactured to work on every metal and non-metal element. In general, laser machines can cut up to 30 mm of thickness; however, their effectiveness may slow down, and the user may have to repeat the process and control the laser speed. While traditional tools use actual sharp blades which have a tendency to cause accidents, the only harm laser machines can do is the emission of dust particulate. Additionally, laser machines are manufactured with in-built eye protection technology to shield the user’s eye from the laser beam. One thing to watch out for though is, never to leave your machine unattended when it is running, mainly while working on acrylic materials.
- Operation: while traditional woodcutters rely on manpower and friction, laser cutters rely on power and heat to get the job done. Laser cutter gives more accuracy since the machines are controlled using computer technology. As for traditional woodcutters, the precision may be good, but there is time-consuming to achieve the end result. Laser cutters have mechanisms to keep the dust and debris in check. This is one of the reasons why laser machines have to undergo filter changes and cleaning every once in a while.
Closing Thoughts & Our Recommendation
Each laser woodcutter has its own area of specialty. While most of them are cutting-oriented and designed in such a way to focus more on cutting, others are engraving-oriented and are more feasible for making engravings rather than cutting. However, all the machine comes with dual working operation. One of the most amazing machines that focus on both cutting and engraving is the OMTech 60W router. This machine is easy to operate and very feasible for first-time users. The cutting area is also very spacious and rigid. It is one of the most powerful machines that can work at speed and deliver precision. It can cut through any metal and non-metal efficiently and is the best machine to cut thick wood and can be transported easily due to its weight. With the machine, the user will have a spacious workspace that comes in a dual drive. The software is also easy to set up. It can support all GRBL-related controls.
Thus, to summarise, the laser woodcutter is one of the most versatile machines for woodworkers today. They have hit the market so hard; it is not just the architecture and Carpenters who are in absolute need of them. Many people buy them as a hobby for carving and designing with an intention to experiment.