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Add to SafariWhen comparing Orion Motor Tech 12"x 8" vs CNCShop Laser Engraving Machine 130W, the Slant community recommends CNCShop Laser Engraving Machine 130W for most people. In the question“What are the best laser cutters?” CNCShop Laser Engraving Machine 130W is ranked 2nd while Orion Motor Tech 12"x 8" is ranked 3rd. The most important reason people chose CNCShop Laser Engraving Machine 130W is:
This is a very high precision machine, it has an accuracy of 0.4 mil (2500 dots per inch). This cutting precision is perfect for woodworking.
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 Excellent precision
This is a very high precision machine, it has an accuracy of 0.4 mil (2500 dots per inch). This cutting precision is perfect for woodworking.
Pro Perfect for cutting thick wooden plates
This is a powerful laser cutter. Its CO2 tube can generate a 130 W laser beam. If focused correctly, the beam can cut through ¾" plywood on a single pass. The 130W of cutting power is just right for wood cutting, as more powerful lasers will ignite the wooden workpieces.
Pro Large working area
The working area of this laser cutter is 55" x 35". This is noticeably more than the 12" x 20" building areas offered by hobby series FSL and Glowforge machines. This CNCShop laser cutter will comfortably fit a standard A0 sheet (33.1" x 46.8").
Pro Router rotary attachment for cutting cylindrical objects
This laser cutter is capable of cutting cylindrical shaped objects. The only thing required to do it is getting a $219.99 router rotary attachment. It is entirely compatible with all the CNCShop laser cutters and engravers and the software is prepared to use this function. This accessory can be used for operations such as cutting or engraving pipes, glasses, and bottles.
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 Expect to buy a water chiller
Initially, the CO2 laser tube of the machine is cooled with the aid of an included water pump. However, this system has a problem, since water in a reservoir heats up quickly, reducing the efficiency of the cooling system. Adding a chiller to the loop ensures that the water is 'chilled' before entering the CO2 laser tube, thus, enhancing the cooling performance.
