DIY LASER Engraving/Cutting for Dummies

In this Instructables, we will learn how to start with NEJE 1000 mW Laser Engraver /Cutter.
Also, many users are having an issue with the product I have seen on youtube so I also give a solution to the problem.

List of material

• Popsicle Stick https://www.amazon.com/Popsicle-Sticks-Box-of-100...
• Foam Sheets https://www.amazon.com/sheet-different-color-A4-Thickness/...
• Card Board Sheet (From Old Boxes )
• Plastic sheet From Toy
• A Laser engraver http://www.gearbest.com/3d-printers-3d-printer-ki...

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What is laser engraving

Laser Engraving is the process of incising a design onto a hard, usually flat surface, by cutting grooves into it with the use of a laser.

What is laser ?

Laser Stands for "light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation"It emits light through a process of optical amplification based on the stimulated emission of electromagnetic radiation.

CAUTION

Laser pointers have the potential to permanently damage your eyesight if misused! Read and follow these safety precautions when using laser pointers!

• Before turning on the laser pointer, always be sure that it is pointed away from yourself and others.
• Never look directly into a laser pointer.
• Never direct a laser pointer at another person.
• Follow the same rules for direct reflections of laser light from reflective surfaces.
• Always wear safety goggles before carving or working with laser

  i got one in the kit i alway use it before carving .

A laser is a light source that can be dangerous to people exposed to it. Even low power lasers can be hazardous to a person's eyesight. The coherence and low divergence of laser light mean that it can be focused by the eye into an extremely small spot on the retina, resulting in localised burning and permanent damage in seconds. Certain wavelengths of laser light can cause cataracts or even boiling of the vitreous humor, the fluid in the eyeball. Infrared and ultraviolet lasers are particularly dangerous, since the body's "blink reflex", which can protect an eye from excessively bright light, works only if the light is visible.

I was not knowing about laser until I got one of this

The Neje Laser engraver seems to be a very cheap laser engraver . I grabbed it for in a sale
for 80$ only. It works both offline and online mode you just need to use adapters in that case.

Pros VS Cons

It is cheap.

It is pre-assemble to you can start your work soonerCalibration are good except when the focus is later it took one whole day to adjust it back.No need of conversion or G code.

Cons

The Software has a bug you need to restart. Power issues result in the stopping of the laser,just change external power than PC in that case.This laser engraver works with DVD-ROM stepper motor with a dedicated controller to control the motion.this way really a cool way to decrease prize. It comes with a software named laser carver that is very easy to use and work with.

check this video to know how to setup the laser engraver

The machine has two ports

1. Power Port
2. USB Port

So they don't mention this on their site this printer has power issues with a lot of users.
The reason is power is drawn from both the ports.
While USB port helps in communicating it also acts a power port .

I had issues when the laser stops working in the middle of a print .

Solution

Use two power adapters and plug it into the adapters this will solve power issues

One of the things is I saw on the internet that laser cutter or engraver need a Bmp file.

Where to get the software ?

you can download the software from trusfer.com

what is BMP file ?

The BMP file format, also known as bitmap image file or device independent bitmap (DIB) file format or simply a bitmap, is a raster graphics image file format used to store bitmap digital images, independently of the display device

How to convert other formats to BMP file ?

http://image.online-convert.com/convert-to-bmp

You can use this online tool or use Photoshop to help u in the changing format

I didn't need to do all of this as the laser engraver software converts a jpeg image to BMP itself.

This was a really nice feature that came with the software.

Steps to use the software

1. Drag and drop the image in the drop section.
2. Send it to the Engraver.
3. Change the burning time depending on the design and material
4. Click on carving preview to see where the print is going to take place
5. if satisfied with the location hit start ? ,NOOOOOOOOOOOOO
6. WEAR SAFETY GOOGLES
7. Now you can start the process and enjoy the smell of burned wood/paper.

Here is online tool that converts text from jpeg and is quite useful

http://www.text2image.com/pit_t2i/saver

I used photoshop to make the files.
Here are the steps if you are using photoshop

1. Create a new file with area 512px x 512 px
2. Write your text with any font style
3. Crop the unnecessary parts.
4. Click on File >then> Save as .
5. From the option select JPEG
6. Then Click on oK

Congrats you made a text to a jpeg file.

To engrave cardboard you need to cut into piece of size 2.5 cm x 2.5 cm

We put the design for the engraving in the laser carver .

Change the Burning time to 60 sec for outline image

For filled image consider changing the setting to 30-35 sec

It ensures that the cardboard does not burn.

The files are also given in this step fell free to try them.

Wood and Popsicle stick take more time to burn compared to cardboard .
The setting for the engraving process needs to be changed.
The burn time for wood will be above 150 sec

And the burn time for Popsicle stick will be 90 sec

The files are also given in this step fell free to try them.

Foam sheet can be easily cut using this mini laser engraver.
The burn time should be small .
To engrave burning time will be 20/30 sec

The cutting process needs more heat .
I use a setting of 150 sec and the results are good

The files are also given in this step fell free to try them.

The only disadvantage of the product is that they have small carving area but I got a hack for that divide the image into several sections and print it several times to get a large image.

Here is an example of the process

the image of iron man was done it two half the first half printed the head and the second half printed the torso and the leg

The files are also given in this step fell free to try them.

You can change the font style and pictures to experiments with things
have fun making those

if you liked this project follow me for some more upcoming projects

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iI will be also trying some cutting works and other hacks with the laser so stay tuned