10 Best Laser Cutter Engraving Machines in 2021

If you love DIY projects or you are working in the engineering department, having a laser engraver 3D printer would make your life much easier. Instead of doing everything manually, you can now cut anything with excellent precision. You won’t even break a sweat while doing it.

Because it allows you to become more flexible with your projects and enables you to customize everything, a laser cutter and engraver became a popular choice for many people.

If you’re planning to have one for yourself, you need to know how to choose the best one and you need to have some idea on the best products to buy on the market.

Best Laser Engraver 3D Printer

1. TEN-HIGH CO2 Engraving Machine

 

Most of you are probably looking at the price of the laser engraver. The TEN-HIGH CO2 engrave Machine has a mid-range price point, but the features and the quality is almost the same as the top-tier machines.

One of the reasons why it is a popular pick is because of its ability to cut and engrave a wide range of non-metal materials. If you’re doing some projects that are non-metal, you can rely on this engraving machine, making it a great option for personal use and small businesses. It’s not as huge as the other engraving machines, but the engraving speed and high-power laser can give you the type of work that you need.

It features a 400 x 300mm engraving area and you can use it for different materials like plywood, leather, wood, acrylic, glass, cloth, paper, bamboo, and more. It is also compatible with Windows systems. Both 32 and 64-bit can use this properly. It’s not too big so it will not eat up too much space in your house.

2. NEJE Master 2S Plus Engraving Machine

If you are looking for something affordable, the NEJE Master 2S Plus Engraving Machine is one of the best options on the list. One of the main reasons why it is a popular choice is due to its price. You can do a lot of personal projects without spending thousands of dollars.

This machine weighs around 7 pounds and you can use it to cut plywood with ease. It is strong to cut a variety of materials like leather, wood, paper, MDF, and acrylic. With its 255 x 420mm engraving area, you can cut bigger sizes of materials.

Setting up this laser engraver is very easy. It has multi-functional keys to reset the functions and to adjust the frame positioning. It will also work properly with different document formats like PNG, JPEG, TIF, SVG, and more.

The best feature of the NEJE Master 2S Plus Engraving Machine is its engraving speed of 1000mm per second. This is pretty amazing for a low-priced model. It comes with protective panels and an automatic reset to prevent any accidents from happening. The temperature can be controlled and you can adjust the fan speed as well.

3. Orion Motor Tech 40W CO2 Laser Engraving Cutting Machine

 

The Orion Motor Tech 40W CO2 Laser Engraving Cutting Machine is a popular choice right now because of its price tag. Compared with other laser engraving machines, this model is one of the most affordable also one of the best when it comes to laser engraving functions, which is available for personal and small business use.

This machine weighs around 50 pounds. It is a bit heavy, but it only means that it has a lot of parts that can help you. It comes with a control panel with adjustable knobs to help you control this laser engraving machine with ease. It’s movable as well because of its 4 detachable wheels.

This machine can work well with different graphic software programs like LaserDraw and CorelLaser. You can also use different document types like BMP, JPG, JPEG, WMF, EMF, PLT, and more formats. The only issue with this is that you cannot use it on Mac operating systems.

With its integrated exhaust fan, you can guarantee that the laser cutter will have a more improved ventilation performance. It won’t overheat even if you use it for a long time. It has a 300 x 200mm engraving surface, which is sufficient for small projects.

4. BIBO 3D Printer and Laser Engraver

Many people are choosing BIBO 3D Printer and Laser Engraver because of its dual purpose. It is working as a 3D printer and it can be used as a laser engraving tool at the same time. If you don’t want to buy separate machines, this BIBO 3D Printer and Laser Engraver will surely be a good option for you as you can save more money. It is definitely a hidden gem since you can print 3D items and you can use its laser engraver feature at the same time.

This model can cut through wood, leather, crystal, organic plastics, fabric, double-color planks, and many more. This is pretty amazing for its price range since most of the items with the same price are only laser engravers or 3D printers. Having two important functionalities for this price range is a steal.

It has an engraving area of 214 x 186mm, which is pretty small, but it is sufficient for small projects and tasks. It provides an engraving precision of 0.01mm so you can expect that its engraving function is top of the line. It is compatible with Linux, Mac, and Windows so compared with the previous machine, this is a more competitive model. It also works with different file formats like DAE, AMF, BMP, PNG, JPEG, JPG, and more.

5. Ten-HIGH 3020 40W Version

 

The Ten-HIGH 3020 40W Version is considered one of the best mid-range laser engravers. It’s not as affordable as the other models on the list, but it is definitely one of the most powerful for its price range. One of the best reasons to use this version is its increased surface area. It has a working area of 12 x 8 inches, which is pretty big for a small laser engraver.

With its 0.01mm accuracy and 600mm per second top speed, it is one of the most accurate and powerful laser engravers in this price range. The Ten-HIGH 3020 40W Version comes with double exhaust fans to prevent the build-up of vapors. When you are engraving plastics and other materials, they will give off vapors that can damage the machine. With its exhaust fans, you can prevent this from happening.

It’s very easy to use because you can connect it to your Windows computer through a USB interface. It is also compatible with CorelDraw, but you cannot use it on Mac devices.

6. Snapmaker 3D Printer, Laser Engraver

 

We’ve got another 3D printer and laser engraver on the list, but this model is a lot more powerful compared to the previous one. The Snapmaker 3D Printer, Laser Engraver can cut, carve, engrave, and print your designs in a single machine. You don’t need to buy separate machines to do what you need to do to complete your projects. This Snapmaker model can do everything on its own.

If you are searching for an arts and crafts kit that can do everything, this would be your best option. It is also very affordable compared to other options on the market. It comes with a 3-in-1 software known as Snapmaker Luban. This will enable you to be more creative with your projects and to have access to tutorials, APIs, and plugins.

The autofocus feature will automatically find the right laser height before the machine starts engraving. This will guarantee that the laser engraving will be extremely accurate. You won’t have to spend time adjusting the focal point as well just to get a clear image.

If you only need laser engraving features, you should buy a machine that focuses on the feature. This is a great pick if you prefer versatility and if you are looking for other crafting styles to try.

7. TEN-HIGH CO2 40W Engraving Machine

 

We have another TEN-HIGH on this list, but it is more affordable and less powerful compared with the previous model that we introduced. The TEN-HIGH CO2 40W Engraver Machine is a popular choice if you want to engrave a wide range of materials. You can engrave wood, glass, cloth, leather, paper, bamboo, and more. It’s definitely a great pick if you plan to start different projects with different materials.

However, take note that this is different from the 60W model. It is also more affordable so if you are a bit short on budget, you can get this model instead of the 60W machine. When you buy this machine, you can get device-specific software known as LaserDraw. This is compatible with CorelDraw, but you will have to get it separately since it’s not included in the product.

For compatibility, you can use the machine software in almost all Windows operating systems. However, it will not work on Mac computers so make sure that you check this out before you buy. Remember that this is not wireless so you need to have a system nearby.

8. Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer

 

The Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer is already part of the more expensive models on the mid-range spectrum. You can get this 3D laser printer for under $4000, but it’s still a bit expensive if you only plan to use it for personal projects.

One of the main attractions of the Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer is its appearance. It is a laser engraving machine that doesn’t look industrial. The design is perfect for home and office setups because it looks just like a normal printer.

Aside from laser engraving, it is also used as a 3D printer so it’s extremely versatile. You can pick this up if you want the combination of a laser engraver and a 3D printer. We also have other more affordable options on the list, but this is on a whole another level. It doesn’t use the plastic mold designs that most 3D printers have, but it will allow you to completely build an object from scratch.

This 3D printer and laser engraver work with different operating systems. You can use it on Windows and Mac operating systems and it can be used for Android and iOS as well.

9. OMTech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver and Cutter

 

The OMTech 80W CO2 Laser Engraver and Cutter is made for people who plan to use laser engraving and cutting in their business. This is already part of the high-tier machines and it is also the second most expensive machine on this list.

Well, even if it’s expensive, the features are definitely worth it. This machine is a high-performance laser engraver and it is known for its fast and neat engraving result. It can engrave deep into the material that you want to engrave and it can cut through different materials like plastics, cardboard, fabric, wood, and leather with ease.

It comes with an advanced control panel along with LCD screens that are compatible with all Windows systems. The best thing about this control panel and the LCD screen is that you can monitor and check the engraving process. You can stop the process and make changes whenever you want.

Aside from these, it comes with protective features. There is a reflective mirror and air assistance to remove the smoke once the system is opened. There is a password feature that would prevent anyone from accessing aside from you.

10. SFX 180W Reci W8 CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter Machine

The SFX 180W Reci W8 CO2 Laser Engraver Cutter Machine is the most expensive and the most powerful laser engraver on the list. As the most expensive, it also has the best features and the most accurate laser engraving functionality on this list. It takes advantage of its air-assisted engraving feature. It works well with AutoCAD and CorelDraw and it supports a wide range of file formats like JPEG, BMP, DWG, DST, and more.

Even with its price range, it is still not powerful enough to engrave into metal. But, you can engrave in almost all types of material that you can use for your projects. Whether it's crystal, wood, glass, bamboo, acrylic, and more, it can engrave and cut the material easily.

It has an engraving speed of 60,000mm which is definitely mind-blowing with a cutting speed of 5000mm per minute. It is a bit heavy at 946 pounds so you need to have a designated place to put this machine.

How to Choose a Laser Cutting Engraving Machine

It’s great that you already have an idea of the best laser cutting and engraving machines in the market, but is your knowledge enough to find exactly what you’re looking for? It’s easy to decide based on the brand, but there are other important considerations that you need to consider if you want to find the machine that would fit your needs. Here are a few things to know on how to find the best laser engraver 3D printer.

1. Consider the Core Application

It’s easy to be lured by versatility when it comes to laser cutting machines. Most people would pick the one that can allow you to cut, engrave, and 3D print, but is it really the best choice?

Versatility is definitely beneficial if you need all these features. If you’re tight on budget and you need all three, then you can get a machine that can cut, engrave, and 3D print. But, what if you only need a machine that can cut materials or a machine meant for engraving? Will it be a good choice?

No. If you need very specific features, you need to focus on the core application of the machine. If you only need a machine for cutting, then you should only get one that is focused on cutting. These machines are better compared to those that offer different features.

2. Throughput

When you have a business and you’re having problems with the output, you need to look for a machine that can produce many parts per hour. It means that it should have a very fast production speed.

Take note that when it comes to business, you need quality and quantity. If your machine is producing good quality parts, but the volume is low, you might want to look for something that can do both. You need a machine that can produce more parts of the same quality.

Can you find something like this in the market? Yes. What you can do is to check the volume produced by your current machine. Look for specific models and brands in the market and make some comparisons. You need something that can produce more parts with good quality for a price you can afford. This will increase your sales and improve the productivity of your business.

3. Focus on Technology Before the Brand

Most people would look at the brand first before they check the technology and features that a laser cutting and engraving machine have. It’s not a bad idea if you already tried the brand in the past. But, if it’s your first time buying, it won’t be a good idea to go with the brand first.

You need to check the features and the technology of the machine before you buy. You’re buying it for its features and not the brand. This would allow you to assess if the brand that you bought fits your preferences.

First, look at the features then start checking the brands that offer the same functionalities that you need.

4. Price

Checking the price of laser cutting and engraving machines is a must, especially if you are a bit tight on finances. There are affordable brands that would cost $500 below and there are expensive machines costing as much as $12,000.

Since you already know how to check the features of the machine that you want to buy, the next step is to compare the price. There are instances where specific machines have different prices, but the features are the same. Most of the popular brands are more expensive because you are also paying for the name of the brand. If you’re on a tight budget, focus on the features.

5. Software Compatibility

You have two software options when it comes to your laser cutter and engraver:

• Make sure that your project is compatible with the software of your machine.

• Look for an engraver that supports that software you are currently using.

With these two options, it is better to consider the latter because you are not adjusting to the machine. Instead, you are looking for a machine that would support and run the project that you are currently doing.

Doing the first one will be a bit difficult because you will need to adjust to the machine that you’re going to buy. There is a learning curve involved so it is not a convenient option. Well, there are tons of laser cutters and engravers that support multiple software so you have more options to choose from.

6. Material Options

You have to remember that laser cutting and engraving machines can only work on softer materials. You cannot cut or engrave metals so you will focus on other materials like leather, glass, and more.

Most of the affordable options can only handle softer materials. If you want something that can handle metal and other hard materials, they are more expensive. If you are on a tight budget and you don’t plan to work on metal at the moment, you can look for a machine that can handle multiple materials. Check the features and see if the material that you’re using is included.

Conclusion

It takes time to find a reliable laser engraver 3D printer. These machines are very complicated and they have so many features that you may or may not use. It’s the reason why you need to spend time researching the different models and brands available before you decide to buy one. Check out some of the suggestions that we have above and let the simple tips we mentioned guide you in finding the right one.

If you are looking for laser engravers and cutting machines, we have a wide range of items that you can choose from.