Add to Chrome
Add to Edge
Add to Firefox
Add to Opera
Add to Brave
Add to SafariWhen comparing Orion Motor Tech 12"x 8" vs Meterk DK-BL 1500mW, the Slant community recommends Orion Motor Tech 12"x 8" for most people. In the question“What are the best laser cutters?” Orion Motor Tech 12"x 8" is ranked 3rd while Meterk DK-BL 1500mW is ranked 8th. The most important reason people chose Orion Motor Tech 12"x 8" is:
If you need, you can upgrade the standard 40 W laser tube to a 50 W version.
Specs
Question Ranking
Pros
Pro Laser tube can be upgraded to a more powerful one
If you need, you can upgrade the standard 40 W laser tube to a 50 W version.
Pro Affordable
This is one of the cheapest CO2 tube lasers out on the market. It was created as a cost-effective alternative to multiple thousand dollar machines.
Pro Software and manual are included
The unit is shipped together with a free copy of its dedicated software Shenzhouyi. The software's manual is also included.
Pro Works very well when mastered
This laser cutter can do very fine cutting/engraving if you manage to fully unleash its potential. However, this will require you to invest a lot of your time into this machine to explore and upgrade it.
Pro Comes with accessories
This laser cutter comes with a water pump, which is used for CO2 tube cooling, and a fume extractor.
Pro Highly affordable
This is the cheapest 1.5 W laser cutter you can get, with a price tag below $150.
Pro Good for low-power cutting and engraving
This laser cutter is equipped with a 1.5 W laser head, which is capable of engraving materials like acrylics, wood, MDF, and plastics. However, when it comes to cutting, this machine is only capable of handling paper and cardboard.
Pro Can be used wirelessly
This laser cutter uses a very stable and reliable Bluetooth interface to communicate with computers, tablets, and smartphones. Also, the machine can run power itself via its built -in 6.0 Ah battery, which is capable of providing up to 6 hours of machine runtime.
Pro No need to get software separately
A free copy of the NEJE software is provided along with the machine, either on a USB drive or a CD. This software is capable of performing basic cutting and engraving actions, being specially good for vector engraving.
Cons
Con Requires a lot of tinkering
It will take a certain amount of skills and experience to run this laser cutter. Knowledge of CAM (Computer-Aided Manufacturing) processes and concepts is essential. Besides, skills and expertise in electrical engineering will come in handy, as all the electrical schematics are unavailable. It is possible to receive high cutting/engraving quality from this machine, but plan to invest a lot of time and effort into tinkering with it.
Con Focal length needs manual adjustments
It is very hard to reach the full potential (40W of cutting power) of this laser cutter, as the optimum focal length of the lens must be found experimentally/manually.
Con Workspace is small
Visually, the machine might look big, but the work area is only 12" x 8". That's less than an A4 sheet. This is an essential thing to consider before going for this laser cutter.
Con Not suitable for metal cutting
It has neither the power nor the precision required for metal cutting.
Con The software is very basic
The software is not as advanced as the software provided by brands like FSL and Glowforge. It is suitable only for basic cutting and engraving applications.
Con Tiny workspace
The workspace of this laser cutter is only 1.7" x 1.7". This cutters has one of the smallest working areas among devices available in the market today.
Con Potentially dangerous due to lack of enclosure
The machine does not have any enclosures surrounding the workspace. This is potentially dangerous as the laser can hit objects outside the workspace. The uncontrolled reflections can also be a severe threat.
