Thread: My "Wedding Box"

A beautiful box. You are always coming up with new ideas and skills and you have obviously got a pretty good handle on the laser already.
Is the photo under glass?
What is the largest piece you can engrave?

Thanks Dallas, yes mate, I am always trying to come up with something different to the normal. The photo is embedded in a routered recess I made 3mm deep. And it has a piece of 3mm clear perspex sitting on top of it. I made the recess so precise the oval perspex just pushes in and there is no chance of it ever falling out. It took me 3 attempts to get the jig for the oval perfect. I use my Makita laminate trimmer to cut the recess. They have a little follower at the bottom that follows the jig and a 1/4 inch bit sits inside the follower. The hole in the jig has to be 2 or 3mm bigger than the actual piece of perspex. 3 attempts at it I got it perfect. You would have to prise the perspex out to remove it and that would dent the timber next to it.

The lazer I bought does an area 430mm x 400mm. I really can't see myself doing something that big. I made a large grid from 3mm MDF with horizontal and vertical lines both ways I think about 20mm apart, that sits flat on my table inside the 4 corner supports of the lazer. That way I can sit the workpiece on the grid, and know it is square to the lazer burn.

I make the lid insert with frame, sand down to 3000 grit, then engrave, then glue lid to box, then do the usual cutting off of the lid. Then sand the front and sides of the box down to 3000 grit.

Paul

You keep upping the anti, now you go to 3000 grit. Sounds like you achieved the perfect fit for the Perspex, but that doesn't surprise me.
That's a nice size blank that you can fit in the laser. Did you by it locally or online?

Hey there Dallas, This is the lazer engraver I purchased and where I got it from.

2020 CNC Roller Rotation Axis Rotary Attachment Rotate with OLM 2 Desktop DIY Logo Mark Printer Carver Laser Engraving Machine|3D Printers| - AliExpress

The one I purchased has the roller attachment, but I must confess I haven't even taken the roller attachment out of its box yet. I will one of these days, one thing at a time. I think I paid around the $425 mark aussie dollars for this including delivery.

I note Dick Smith also sells the same one

Dick Smith | ORTUR Laser Master 2 Laser Engraving Cutting Machine With 32-bit Motherboard(20W) | Computers/Tablets & Networking » Printers, Scanners & Supplies » Printers

and that one doesnt have the roller accessory with it.

I already have two other small cheapie chinese lazers, one only does an area 40mm x 40mm, but with that one I have the attachment to engrave on pens also. I also have another cheapie, it does an area 80mm x 80mm. It's served it purpose at times.

This new one is entirely different, but for this sort of money its still just a hobby lazer. If you were to invest in a CO2 lazer, not that I know anything about them, your looking at much bigger dollars. This one just has a diode lazer. The Lightburn software costs $40 US, you get a one month free trial of it, then you have to buy it, which I did.

I've looked at CNC routers but then I ask myself, what would I really do with one, that I can't do now. So if this one just lasts for a while and lets me do similar engraving type things before it spits the dummy, I'll be happy. I've seen some of the engraving other people do on FB with this Ortur, like photos, images, burns etc, on tiles, some is amazing. But it does not cut, says it does, but, it doesnt. But I dont want it to cut anyway.

Paul

It does sound impressive and all the reviews are very positive.
In the advertising it mentions a 7W, 15W and 20W laser master. Are these different models and price related or is it just different levels of laser output in the one machine?

Hey there Dallas,

Yes they are price related. The 20w is the dearest. I have seen people say that the 15mm is better for engraving only as it does a finer cut and it is easier to focus. I bought the 20w, and my model has a variable focus, meaning you have to get the little "dot" as fine as you can for a nice burn. From what I read every model sold by Aliexpress now in the 20w version has a fixed focus which is supposed to be easier.

Paul

Stunning Paul, inspirational