CNC vs Laser Engraver | What You Need To Know Before Buying!

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Should you buy a Laser Engraver or CNC Router? Which one is worth it? In this video I will be comparing a laser engraver and a CNC router to find out which one will work best for your situation. Having woodworking and practical experience with both, Ryan goes over the Pro's and Con's of a laser engraver and a CNC and which one you should buy.
Cost - 0:43
Space/Footprint - 4:21
Skill Level Required - 6:02
Capabilities - 8:50
Overall Opinion - 11:04
Founded in 2020 Cuttin It Close is the educational platform of Drapela Works we look to provide value and insight on various wood related projects and techniques. Through training videos, CNC router techniques, unique projects, and practical applications, we hope to share our knowledge in the woodworking field and CNC Routering.
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Instagram: / drapelaworks

[@billjohnson69]

Thank you so much for making this video. We run a printing production shop and added laser engraving a few years ago. We have a decent size CO2 laser and a fiber laser (which is so much fun engraving and cutting metal!) and are looking at adding a CNC so that we can engrave signs and other small wood items. Thank you again!

[@eyoshan7036]

so many people were in need of this briefings which is rare on youtube cocerning cnc and laser eng,

[@jennifererin8104]

So simple. Thank you. I needed someone to break down the differences.

[@RaplimNaim]

I'm torn between getting a CNC or a laser engraver, your video helped me weigh the pros and cons! 👍

[@germantorres5144]

that was perfect information delivery, thank you.

[@ArtyzFirst]

Great tips, thank for sharing your experience.

[@bahmannosratollah7017]

Very good job and made it so easy to understand. Thank you.

[@flywittzbeats4008]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thank you so much

[@neilhay2155]

Thanks for the good overview. Very well done and informative. Thank you.

[@alejandramoreno3242]

Dude, such a good video! you saved me so much time in research. Thank you!

[@alphacat4927]

Good video thanks for the helpful information.

[@hungngo8075]

Thanks for the insight and informative video. Repetitive information. Overall great job.

[@gerardoflores9177]

Very good and helpful video, thank you…

[@Kristopher342]

Awesome detailed upload you certainly know your machines, well done 👍

[@0745mikey]

Best video so far...pick a portion of this video and get more visual...but this is awesome for someone like me who is trying to learn

[@ZtheGypsy]

THANK YOU!!! THIS WAS VERY HELPFUL!!!

[@rebekahrush1973]

Thanks for the information!!!!

[@tomtimmons2228]

Great tutorial. Thanks

[@patsector7g723]

Great info !!!! Thank you Sir.

[@mikesr8783]

Thanks so much for the great video, my questions were answered!!

[@blacklionengineer3274]

your going to want 100w+ laser

[@ComgrowOfficial]

Great video and very clear👍

[@brkoury]

great video, thank you!

[@rjaiya]

thank for in detailed information.

[@richrinehart1083]

Thanks for the insight. I didn't really think about the programming side of the CNC machines. I come from a family of machinists, my father was a master tool and die man that did everything on manual machines. He had a small shop in the basement and I spent many a night running parts with him so I can run a manual lathe and mill. My brother is an incredible CNC machinist and he used to sell CMM machines for a couple of years. He now runs the quality department at a big job shop down south. I am in Michigan but I could pick his brain on the G-code or whatever language the CNC uses. I did a little over a year on a brand new Mazak lathe at a CNC shop I was working at but I was just a button pusher and dimension checker. I didn't even have to compensate for insert wear on that Mazak. It was sweet and fast as hell. That vertical turret freakin whipped back and forth. It spit out parts fast. I couldn't take just standing, resting my hand on the parts door waiting to check 1 out of 25 parts dimensions and that lathe could keep .0005 tolerance with no problem. We made medical parts for Stryker Medical on that new lathe. It was possibly the most I had ever watched the clock waiting for my 12 hrs of hell to be over everynight. I went back to construction. I should have toughed it out in hindsight. 2 back surgeries. The Laser's like the Epilog (which I am leaning towards for doing inlay) is just basically like printing. The only thing I do not like about the Epilog's is there isn't a way to pass material through the cabinet allowing to say do inlay on a long piece of material. I have a molder and my father in law has a portable bandsaw so I am drying my own lumber so I want to machine custom interior trim/casing/base etc. I would like to be able to inlay let's say a door casing and have it tie into the baseboard and have it travel around the entire room. How's that for a challenge. I think the Glowforge has the ability to pass material through the cabinet but that machine seems like it is a little too light duty for cutting inlay for hours on end.

[@cutting-it-close]

Yes, Epilog is not a passthrough laser which is very hard, Inlays with a laser will work, but it works best with very thin inlays. Thicker inlays will need to be done on a CNC.

[@slopesoarer1]

This video came at just the right time for me I am looking to get a 5 *10 CNC but due to long lead time I was thinking of a laser which I can get immediately, thanks for all the great info keep the videos coming .

[@FrostedImages]

A laser is no substitute for a cnc machine or vice versa...they can compliment each other.

[@youngatnaruto]

@@FrostedImages Exactly what I was thinking

[@robjtko]

Great video. Very informative. Thanks for sharing!! I hope you do well on YT.

[@zacharyhill3304]

Thank you!!! Great video! Very helpful. Can’t believe you have that many machines

[@cutting-it-close]

I still cannot believe it either!

[@justinagrigaliunaite4249]

Great video, dude

[@phoenixstudiomexico]

2d laser cuts - 3d cuts cnc

[@davidstokes5481]

GREAT VID! I am hooked on your vids. Few questions. PROGRAMS! What type of software are you using? Have you run into different problems using different equipment or is all your equipment the same? What about people sending you files? Can you use or convert any type of files? As I have been looking into both CNC and Laser some companies address the software they use (proprietary or open market), the Cost, Upgrade Cost, etc. What have you ran into and what's your thoughts?

[@TruthRealFreedom]

Thanks you it did help.

[@Mike1001111]

Well Presented

[@JanR155]

I'm afraid to blink an eye so as not to lose something. The great lesson

[@reloadNshoot]

Jan, I see what you did there.

[@braveheart6207]

Such an amazing and informative video! you got the like and subscribe!

[@cutting-it-close]

Thank you! Glad to have you on:)

[@braveheart6207]

@@cutting-it-close My Pleausre! I'm so amazed by what you have a achieved so far!! I wish you more and more success,

[@DebraParkerAlObeidy]

When talking about the materials you can cut with the laser, you didn't mention wood and the fact that there are so many sizes of laser machines, some with pass-throughs, which allow you to cut/engrave very large pieces.

[@leapnlarry]

A good video would be, which machine is better or making money, what products, where to sell them, give example of what you see on eBay, Etsy, and amazon. Maybe that is giving away too much information. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience. Larry

[@ehbarooo]

Nice explanation ! Could you just swap out the router for a laser on cnc back and forth ?

[@GamerXavi77s]

Awesome helped alot im going with laser co2 but I need help on where to buy one got any good companies with prices

[@torowazup1]

👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 Thank you 😎

[@oooooo3231]

im really confused on which one to buy. im only a hobbyist and want something that can cut acrylic (for now). im not doing a business with this machine. i want an easy system to i can be up and running in on time. im looking to make speaker brackets for my car. i am doing a full build for my sound system. i have a healthy budget for one of these machines so its gotta do everything i need. the only issue i have so far with the laser is that it doesnt seem to cut thick acrylic so well. i think the desktop laser cutters are 40watts and they can do only 1/4 inch max i believe. at times i would think ill be doing 1inch or more thick pieces. whats your advice for me?

[@chogardjr.]

I recently purchased a Snapmaker 2.0 A350 to get into learning the differences in world of 3D printing, laser engraving and CNC milling. The problem I seem to keep running into is the software it comes with. I was easily able to find 3D printer slicers since 3D printing is huge these days. As you said laser engraving is extremely simple. My issue comes with the CNC. I've watched many videos of people's CNC machines doing these amazing things the Snapmaker software couldn't dream of doing. What would be good software that is good for tool paths? I'd like to find something that I can learn with on the Snapmaker but then apply the same methods when I get a more industrial CNC machine. My approach is if I'm going to spend the time to learn something I'll start at the top tier then trail and error my way to perfection.

[@FrostedImages]

Really depends whether you are willing to put in the studies to learn good software. Fusion 360 I recommend because of a complete package and you won't out grow it so quickly. Consequently, your machine may not have the capability of handling advanced toolpath stragedies from advance software. You have many choices of software to choose from that are better than what came with your machine.

[@youngatnaruto]

@@FrostedImages does fusion360 work well with 3018 cnc routers?

[@FrostedImages]

@@youngatnaruto it should. Really depends on controller.

[@youngatnaruto]

@@FrostedImages Is it good for an entry level learner?

[@StraightShot247]

I'm looking into marking denim jeans and jackets, would I go engraver or CNC. Any suggestions/ ideas are greatly appreciated.

[@BradyPuryear]

Not sure if you’ve ever measured but I’m curious if one takes much more electricity to run. That could change the comparison of “Ongoing Cost” by a lot.

[@tammysusewitz3804]

Great point! I am reading the average cost to run a laser engraver is 15-45 cents per hour, and average cost to run a cnc is, again on average bc there are tons of variables, $1-$4 per hour to run.

[@MountainBabyRoses]

@@tammysusewitz3804 thank you for that # as I am completely off grid and ... I think that may have just decided it for me 😅

[@MrJakson112]

why was electricity not part of your ongoing costs? are you from norway?

[@glensilva5082]

Ok so if I want to do this from my home, I have plenty of space. But feel like I should stick with the laser engraver, but I want to do parts for guns, some on metal and some on wood, what machine do you recommend for me to look Into??

[@cutting-it-close]

That machine is going to be costly if you want to do both Metal and wood. Trotec has a "Flex" laser that can do both.

[@silentstreamer8596]

What will I need just to burn lots of letters onto the surface of wood? Ty

[@adriansanchez5806]

What laser engraving machine is the best for deep engraving? Example I want to do deep engraving on weapons.

[@lukesp5721]

I was wondering the same? If you find something please let me know👍

[@stefangrobbelaar5674]

Both is CNC… One is just a laser compared to the other being a Router. CNC stands for Computer Numerical Control.

[@ranchitup1845]

Yeah, my add brought me here.

[@themusicifeel]

what about the noise levels? i do not want my neighbors to call police for some noise.

[@themusicifeel]

@@cutting-it-close Thanks man for your response. I see you achieved a lot within small amount of time. How did you do that? What can be your advice?

[@FrostedImages]

Which 5th cnc machine are you purchasing?

[@FrostedImages]

@@cutting-it-close nice...I assume you wouldn't change brands since you had one.

[@jatnng2]

I'd rather start a bnb business than cnc

[@ButBigger42]

I'm more of a why not both type of guy.

[@karlgreat4166]

CNC machine and put a pencil in it until you profect

[@alekspro0379]

I wanted to look at the machines, their work and features.... but I was looking at one guy. Almost 20min. not even on his tables. but I want to hear about the cnc and see it. I don't want to see a man. Ps. at least take a beautiful assistant in the frame...

[@adrianortiz1132]

Aleks Pro the video was 13:40 minutes and if you didn’t appreciate his amazing knowledge and information he’s trying to help others learn from his experience.. then kindly move on!