K40 Laser Cutter/Engravers... How Are They Really?!?

I heard much about these mysterious cheap Chinese "K40" Lasers. I decided to take the leap, and this is what I found out.
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Amazon K40 Laser Link: (These go in and out of stock often, so I will try to keep these K40 links current in hopes you can find one!)
www.amazon.com...
If you still have your heart set on a Glowforge, you can use my referral code to get:
$600 off a pro, $300 off a plus, or $150 off a basic!
I'll get credit too! Use the link below.
glowforge.us/f...
List of Potential K40 Upgrades:
www.amazon.com...
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Software I use:
Adobe Creative Cloud (Includes everything listed below):
adobe.prf.hn/c...
Adobe Photoshop (Raster Graphics):
adobe.prf.hn/c...
Adobe Illustrator (Vector Graphics):
adobe.prf.hn/c...
Adobe Premiere (Video Editing):
adobe.prf.hn/c...
Adobe After Effects (Video Effects):
adobe.prf.hn/c...
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Social Links:
Website: geeksmithing.com
Twitch geeksmithing.co...
Instagram geeksmithing.co...
Patreon: geeksmithing.co...
Twitter geeksmithing.co...
Facebook geeksmithing.co...
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[@davashawnparker5006]

Can this be used on metal?

[@Geeksmithing]

That is a simple question with a complicated answer. While you cannot directly engrave or cut metals, there are still ways you can use the laser along with metals in your projects. The laser can remove surface coatings on metals such as powdercoating or anodization. This allows you to engrave stainless steel tumblers and water bottles, as it is actually just engraving/removing the paint coating, letting the steel color show through. You could also spray paint the metals and then laser away a design into the paint revealing bare metal making a mask/resist layer. Then use an salt water/electric setup etching setup to engrave/etch into the metal where your paint was removed. Remove the paint using acetone. You are left with an accurately etched surface. If you still want to get a laser to engrave metals, you should look into "fiber lasers", but be prepared to spend at least $3000.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

Geeksmithing thanks for taking the time to answer his question your answered a question I had. And subscribed!😁🛫

[@marckleejoseph2498]

Hi. Thx for thw video. I liked. At least we can engraving on stainless steel?

[@Geeksmithing]

@@marckleejoseph2498 nope.

[@leedozza3435]

Hi mate whats the largest size material you can engrave? Thanks mate

[@poruatokin]

The weird format paper manual was most likely A4 size, as used in every country in the world...except the USA

[@Geeksmithing]

It was a deadpan joke. :P Sorry.

[@internettrihard2955]

@Bingus McDrangus Murica fuk yea

[@cheytac989]

I subscribed after watching this. I like how you get to the point and tell us just what we need to know. Great video.

[@Geeksmithing]

Thanks Ken!! Cheers!!

[@markh2128]

I am also now subscribed for same reason! Also your a smartass and I respect That. Say it like it is, in a world full unicorns and snowflakes I like to hear its great or POS. Keep them vids coming.

[@Geeksmithing]

@@markh2128 haha, thanks for the sub! Hope you like some of my other videos. 😄

[@_M317]

I just did the same. Great video and can't wait to see more about the K40

[@Geeksmithing]

@@_M317 cheers!

[@tomfoil5590]

You, sir, just sold me on a 400 dollar laser engraver. Excellent review! Also, I just subbed. Thanks!

[@Geeksmithing]

Hey, thank you sir! Happy to help. I have had mine for over a year now and it's still going strong! Thanks for the sub, let me know if you like any other videos:)

[@pyrexphainz431]

Is there a tool or setup that comes with it to do silicone bracelets

[@deangreenhough3479]

I’ve had one of these for 2 years. Played with it for a month and gave up because of the software and lack of knowledge base. This has inspired me to give it another go. Thank you very much. Subscribed 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@Geeksmithing]

Oh wow. That is the best compliment I could receive! Thank you! Reach out if you get stuck again! We are in this together!

[@psider1522]

I like that the free software really is Free Software, that's my style :D

[@Geeksmithing]

Heck yeah!🤑😎

[@hirenei]

What's it called

[@psider1522]

@@hirenei Inkscape (for creating and manipulating vector files) and K40 Whisperer (laser control) are both Free Software and shown in this video.

[@court2379]

But is it worth your time to use the free stuff, vs buying lightburn for instance?

[@farbenformenlicht]

Looking forword to you posting a video about the rotary module :) Thx

[@Geeksmithing]

It has been a popular request!:)

[@willharris342]

Geeksmithing I would like to see your installation and use process the eBay listings I see say it can’t be added to this smaller machine. I’d also like to see a link for the one you have as well. Awesome video you have me talked into buying one. Now for the wife!

[@Geeksmithing]

The rotary video is coming out this week!

[@Geeksmithing]

Rotary Video!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@danthemakerman]

Freekkin lazers!!! Sorry it had to be done.

[@Geeksmithing]

Dang! I should have had that in there!!

[@dsf2tman]

Sold me. I am getting one. Just downloaded the software you recommended so I'll get a jump on it before the unit arrives. Thanks for posting great content!

[@Geeksmithing]

Oh sweet! Happy to help! Feel free to reach out if you run into a snag!

[@domenicdesantis9847]

the one u have is a Mophorn or Orion??

[@AllThingsComplex]

Can you cut metals? And what thickness is the limit if they can. thank you for sharing your work.

[@Geeksmithing]

See top pinned comment.

[@CHIBA280CRV]

Awesome 👍Can you tell me if I can use it to staple and or engrave a polymer glock frame ? Thanks

[@Geeksmithing]

🤷‍♂️ no idea. I'd be surprised if it didn't do something.

[@thewarthogproject]

Great video. I've had one for about 4 years, although I never got mine working at all out of the box. Make sure you check all the wiring before turning it on, mine was a major fire risk the way it had been done in china. The earth wasnt even connected, and the high voltage cable to the laser tube was far too thin and poorly insulated. I upgraded to a DSP, added a larger tube, new PSU and a new focal lens and it's a very capable little machine now. Oh.. and I too am interested in that rotary bed. Great idea! Were those flasks you showed actually engraved with yours!!?? Brilliant results!

[@Geeksmithing]

I think they have improved some since then, but you are right, since they are coming from different manufacturers, people may get different results. The rotary was indeed used with this machine and made the examples I showed. Hopefully within the next month or so I can finally get to the video for that. Thanks for your interest and watching!

[@thewarthogproject]

@@Geeksmithing thanks for the reply! Looks like I'm gonna buy me some cups! Subscribed!

[@Geeksmithing]

@@thewarthogproject of your K40 dimensions are similar to mine, I had to modify my K40(i.e. cut the bottom out) to fit in tumblers to keep surface of item within focus.

[@Geeksmithing]

Rotary Video!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@bringithard6721]

Maybe on the next one show us how to run the machine, how to find origin, set z height etc.

[@Geeksmithing]

great ideas! Thanks!

[@minkorrh]

If I remember correctly, these were anywhere from $1k - $2k only a couple of years ago. Nice to see the price come down. I may bite.

[@Geeksmithing]

🎣🤓

[@Kelly-lo6cz]

Is this machine safe? I'm worried about fumes you might breathe in or if you must wear googles. Also, does this cut acrylic? I want to make earrings similar to this product: www.etsy.com/listing/912127481/green-glitter-starburst-dangle-earrings?ref=shop_home_active_1&frs=1 Thanks

[@bekriky8711]

I am wanting to make cookie debossers with acrylic, would this be able to do that? Thanks in advance

[@49cfr]

Great video Wes; I bought one last year on your advice and it’s already paid for itself twice over. It allows me to personalize hand crafted items. Thumbs up.

[@Geeksmithing]

Woo hoo! That's great to hear!!

[@guitrgirl]

Can you engrave on glass as well?

[@3DPrintingNerd]

FANTASTIC video!

[@Geeksmithing]

Oh wow. Thanks man! High praise!!✋

[@ollympiangamer3264]

I use various £50,000+ units at work and to be honest apart from a lot of QOL features the etching on yours seems to be on par with what the systems I use can do. Cool video!

[@Geeksmithing]

Oh neat! That's interesting! Thanks for checking it out. Please stick around and enjoy some of my other projects!:)

[@benben9434]

Basic questions I know but. If you have done any cutting out stuff from Bass wood? If so can it be done at a power level so the sides are not like charcoal. I'm sure it will cut thru 3mm and 6mm basswood as it looks as if some of the demos towards the end are made from what looks like thin plywood. Thanks

[@Geeksmithing]

I have not cut basswood with the K40, but I have cut/engrave other woods such cherry, walnut, maple, baltic birch ply, and paduk. Unfortunately, when you cut wood with the laser, you will always get the black edges. Some people can remove/reduce some of it with different solvents, but I haven't had much luck there. To really be able to cut basswood with a robot and not get those edges, you might want to look into a CNC..

[@kabar123ar]

Just pulled the trigger on one of these, not the most mechanically inclined but I lie forcing myself to tinker

[@shadowofpalms]

I've had a K40 for several years now and love it. I have done several upgrades however. I replaced the board with a cohesion 3d board ( I think it is based on the smoothie board but is sized to fit perfectly in the K40) . The board was only $100 and was the best upgrade I think you can do. I also made an electric water chiller from an Igloo ice machine ($90) and a temperature controlled outlet( made for a few dollars). The water chiller has worked great for 2 years now. I also added a motorized Z bed and air assist. All in all I probably have about $800 into it (including the laser itself) but now have a great machine that can hold it's own against much more expensive machines. The only issue I have now is the size (300mm X200mm). I think that the K40 is a great buy with a few accessories.

[@Geeksmithing]

Thanks for your thoughts on the K40. I also have a Cohesion board, but have yet to install it. Looking forward to messing with that soon. Cheers!

[@shadowofpalms]

@@Geeksmithing I think you will be very pleased with the Cohesion once you install it. I use laserWeb with mine and love it. Thanks for a great video and good luck with the new board.

[@3DPrintFarm]

Great Job! I need one of these to add to my channel! Just don't know how I'm going to sneak it past the wife. The box is pretty big! :)

[@Geeksmithing]

Haha! Just drape a frilly tablecloth over it. She will never notice!

[@mac11380]

It would be nice to engrave cell phones on the back, could be a market for it like at a mall booth or something.

[@IanScottJohnston]

"A strange format of paper".......Looks like standard A4 to me. Available around the world and is an ISO standard......LOL!

[@Geeksmithing]

I'm sorry that dry humor is lost on you. 😆🤷‍♂️

[@williamslone6357]

I recently acquired a K40 machine and downloaded the K40 Whisper program and the Inkscape program as well. Do I need the original program dongle to operate the machine?

[@Geeksmithing]

If you use K40 Whisperer/inkscape, you don't need the dongle for anything.

[@IdealGrain]

K40 might be on my short list of tools to add to my shop. Will be nice for details and logos and such on my CNC furniture. Also, great vid! Glad to see you putting stuff out there again!

[@Geeksmithing]

Hey! It absolutely should be! I have been constantly impressed with it . Thanks, I have been wanting to put this video out for a long while! I hope to put vids out more regularly.

[@Evergreen64]

This is great! I saw the Glowforge but 4 grand is a bit too rich for me. Especially considering I'm not going to be using it for income.

[@jimhatch5873]

The gateway drug for lasers :-) The K40 is how I got started a few years ago. K40 Whisperer and a raft of innovations and safety upgrades came over time. (There's a super Google+ group out there - but Google is killing the app so it's moving to a proper Discourse forum.) If you have the space, jump straight to a 60 or 100W with motorized Z-axis, not much more than you'll end up spending getting the K40 safe and tweaked and so much more in terms of capability. (Then get the Glowforge, Epilog or Trotec) The K40 leads you down the path to serious "laser all things" :-)

[@kenhcuanhan]

Hi man. Can this machine use for glass/crystal engraving?

[@freealannow]

Can Hip Flasks be etched with the K40? Asking because they're not flat or round! Great informative video by the way, I thing that I'll be purchasing one of these machines before too long. Cheers.

[@Geeksmithing]

Depends on what material you are engraving. If it will be a metal surface, please see the pinned comment here about metals. As far as the shape, as long as the surface stays in focus it will work. The focal range(~10mm) is a fixed distance away from lens. So as long as the surface is +/- 5mm from that spot, you should be good. Hope that makes sense. :)

[@natalefr]

Hi Where did you find the system to rotate the object and how did you synchronize it with the laser? Thanks for the reply

[@Geeksmithing]

Hi! The rotary device I threw together from some parts I had around the workshop and a 3d printer. On the machine there is a stepper motor that cause the laser head to move left/right (X-Axis) and one that causes it to move forward/back (Y-Axis). All you do is unplug the Y Axis motor and plugin the rotary in it's place. So when the machine thinks it's moving the laser head forward and back, it is really just spinning the bottle forward and back beneath it. Hope that makes sense! This has been my #1 question on this video and I really need to make a video showing the rotary in more detail. Thanks for the kick in the rear I needed for that to happen. 😂😁🤓 Have a great day!

[@abdelhaditaya880]

@@Geeksmithing please do that. That's the first question i had when i saw it

[@danio1021]

@@Geeksmithing That's a brilliant solution :D

[@Geeksmithing]

Rotary Video!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@mygiguser]

I thought that tube with the chinese writing was some hemorrhoid cream to ease the deal with all the troubles this machine gives you?

[@Geeksmithing]

Haha, I have not run into any issues but it may be of use for the sore Corel users that didn't like me tossing out their software. 😂😉😋

[@GeekBuildersNet]

**Best Comment**

[@chrismarshall6096]

My family has been in the sign and engraving business since the 70's. I worked there for a couple years but my asshole uncle took over and I had to bail to avoid shoving his head under the heat press. I was are laser engraving tech. I miss the Convenience of having one of these around to use. I didnt know these ones were so cheap. Adding this to my watch list on ebay and subbing to see how this thing works out for you. Thanks for sharing.

[@Geeksmithing]

I have had it about a year now, and it is still going strong. I hope to make more videos about it in the very near future. Thanks for the sub :)

[@Highnz57]

Good prices 👍💯. Looking for a decent but cheap one to try out some laser stippling on polymer glock frames. Looking at one on Amazon called Snapmaker original 3 in 1 (3D printing, CNC carving and Laser engraving) for $700. But around $300 is a far better deal.

[@Geeksmithing]

I'm not a fan of those 🤷‍♂️😆

[@joshuaoniyilo3098]

Hi Geeksmithing, your review helps.....but I have a question can this K-40 engrave and cut leather materials? I am in the footwear sector and I'd love to pick one but I want to be sure of my options. Thanks

[@Geeksmithing]

Hey! So while I haven't done it myself, I know that this machine is fully capable of cutting and engraving leather items. I am in a K40 Facebook group and often see beautiful examples of their work produced from these machines. While I wouldn't say these are industrial grade machines or anything, for experimenting or limited batching out of custom items, it could be perfect. Hope that helps!

[@GeeksWoodShop]

Awesome Wes, super helpful for a lot of folks. Those mugs are dope

[@itsmewoodG]

I have had one for almost 3 years. Had to replace the laser power supply after only 2 months, warranty took care of that. Had to replace laser tube after about 6 months. I paid for that. Installed a real air nozzle system. Got rid of the clamping system and put in an aluminum grid for a bed. Built my own rotary device. Working good now.

[@z8ty]

I hope you see this... Do you have time to share more about your air nozzle system, the clamping system and your rotary device? I assume for the clamping you the bed you put in has tapped holes spaced at regular even intervals. Ready to buy one of these, but would like to learn as much as I can. The rotary device would be a must have, but the once I saw on Amazon were close to $200.00.

[@borayurt66]

Can you please make a video of it cutting 3-4mm clear acrylic (plexiglass) sheet? Can it do in one pass without melting the edges?

[@freeaudiobooks7469]

Yes, you have to turn down the power of it

[@jgo8050]

a man u think this laser would work on car projector lens ???

[@erichinshaw7787]

Could you tell us what Rotary attachment you are using? I have found some on Amazon but no mention of the K40 compatibility listed. Thank you. Your video is the most informative with cool humor.

[@Geeksmithing]

Thanks! I have the video on the rotary on this channel. It was one that I made. The link is at the end of this video. Let me know what you think on that video! It also has my dumb humor. 😆😜

[@joesmoe71]

Great stuff, thanks for posting this! A couple of other suggestions I've heard that make sense is one, try to buy from a US seller, as if there's a problem they're usually a lot easier to work with than someone overseas. And second, make sure it is WELL VENTED to the outside, a lot of the stuff you engrave with the laser give off extremely toxic fumes you do not want to breath!

[@Geeksmithing]

Well the toxic fume thing can be a bit more serious than that, depending on what you are trying to laser. No one should laser any vinyl or anything with ABS in it, as it can create chlorine gas, that can corrode the internals of the machine and the internals of human lungs. Stick to organics such as wood, paper and cloth, and it's not really that serious.

[@Geeksmithing]

Good tips with the US seller bit

[@leematthews3578]

Andrew Tornadoboy , could this be used to cut thin balsa wood?

[@Geeksmithing]

@@leematthews3578 like butter

[@chmarr]

can this laser cut through thin plastic / wood .. say 3mm to 5mm thick ??

[@Geeksmithing]

Absolutely. Up to 6mm wood, acrylic, cardboard, plastics (as long as they don't have vinyl in them as that is dangerous to laser)

[@chmarr]

@@Geeksmithing absolutely AWESOME. now i know what i'm buying :D :D

[@Geeksmithing]

@@chmarr 😊 Those items and thivknesses, are what this machine really shines at cutting and engraving. Let me know if you have any more questions!

[@Soggytiri]

You have now got me interested in buying one. Can’t justify thousands, but this seems a good alternative.

[@Geeksmithing]

Sweet! It's a fun bit of kit!

[@DougieBarclay]

Hi, I'm a huge noob and my wife who is wanting to import stainless steel waterbottles from China is a bigger tech noob - how would you go about engraving on curved surfaces? Does the K40 whisperer software have algorithms that turn the bottles on the add-on rotary module as it's being engraved? TIA!

[@Geeksmithing]

Hi! Do the water bottles have paint/coating on them or are they shiny metal? I have a video about engraving with a K40 and a rotary. Maybe this will answer your question regarding how K40 Whisperer deals with the rotary... kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@amtproductions3350]

Thank you , Excellent video very informative, no clutter and straight to the point. Liked and subscribed!

[@Geeksmithing]

Hey I appreciate that!! Thanks!! 🙏

[@acadman4322]

Not that you're unaware of this- but, that was a damn fine video. Thanks. Well done!

[@Geeksmithing]

Ha!! Hey thanks!! I appreciate it!

[@jasongooden917]

Who would win in a fight He-man or the crazy Optic laser kitty?

[@Geeksmithing]

Or the Surge Protector?🤔

[@SteveFrenchWoodNStuff]

Great review, great advice and awesome intro!

[@Geeksmithing]

Hey thanks Steve! I figured true Nintendo fans would dig it!!! :)

[@fredevans766]

hello there geeksmithing !! greetings from south africa!! I watched your video ( which is really great - Hope you do a lot more) I went through all the instructions in inkscape and k40whisperer but when I started the first cut I got an error "laser usb device not found . libusb driver may not be installed?? how do i sort out this problem?? many thanks Fred

[@Geeksmithing]

Awesome thanks! Did you install the driver as detailed on this page? www.scorchworks.com/K40whisperer/k40w_setup.html

[@gregoryshelton4024]

Could you etch aluminum with this with this I have 4" square tubes of aluminum and 6" square tubes of aluminum that are hollow approximately a quarter inch thick and I just want to put simple but nice designs on them will this machine do that and I thank you for your help

[@Geeksmithing]

Not exactly. Please read the pinned comment on working with metals for a more complete explanation.

[@TheSlayerDiary]

"That someone in China made specifically for me, that's nice... Just throw that out" lawl

[@Decco6306]

4:11 I like how the red highlighted squares are actually transformed to perspective rather than just a flat square nice work

[@Geeksmithing]

Thanks for noticing that!:) Cheers.

[@GetRealwithMike]

That impressed me as well. If you took the time to get that right, then I have a lot of confidence in what you said in your video.

[@RunnerGunner2020]

Buy it and end up throwing half of it in the trash 😂

[@vizualeyesit]

Looking for something inexpensive like this to efficiently cut small chipboard box templates and inserts for my product packaging. Would this do the trick?

[@Geeksmithing]

It definitely can cut cardboard. As long as the footprint is large enough. ..

[@joeybox0rox649]

It just dawned on me that if you taught a class on that machine with compatible software, you'd probably make a small fortune. So, in which state do you reside?

[@Geeksmithing]

Haha I also had this realization just today! 😁😁😁😆. I'm in NC

[@joeybox0rox649]

@@Geeksmithing Synchronicity. Bummer... I'm near Phoenix, Arizona. One last question, what is the max dimensions of a piece of plywood, which can be inserted & engraved by your machine?

[@Geeksmithing]

If you remove the default bed, you can fit in approximately a 15"*12" piece of material and the engraving region 14"*9"

[@joeybox0rox649]

@@Geeksmithing HOLY CRAP! That's only off by one inch. As far as I'm concerned, that's perfect. Thank you good Geek. 👍👍

[@katajamarie1534]

I'd certainly pay for a zoom lesson.

[@xcvsdxvsx]

5:50 What no "firein' ma' lazar" gif when you say "firing your laser"?

[@Geeksmithing]

Hahhaha. I totally said that when testing it when I first got it!!

[@Geeksmithing]

The most common question I get is about the rotary module shown in the video. I finally made a video on how to make your own! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@carlosherrera5624]

does it cut glass or plastic ?

[@Geeksmithing]

@@carlosherrera5624 it does cut cast acrylic perfectly. I am not sure about glass. I doubt it.

[@carlosherrera5624]

Thank you

[@musicilla]

Goodmorning I was wondering is there a depth adjustment for the laser? Say if u wanted to laser 0.2mm stainless would it burn through it ??

[@Geeksmithing]

@@musicilla you cannot cut or engrave metals with this, so.. um.. no. 🤷‍♂️🤓

[@SS-vp6yd]

I’m not sure how I ended up watching this video, seeing that I’ve never done anything with lasers, but I enjoyed it very much. Now I feel like I need a laser engraver.

[@Geeksmithing]

Haha, well I am glad you are here! Please pull up a chair and enjoy some of my other videos! I would love to know what you think. :) And who can resist lasers?!

[@Chris_the_Muso]

*Everyone* needs a laser engraver.

[@Waynemanner]

Awesome video! Everyone else should take notes!! Question can you make some items for me? I’m building a Batmobile and am needing backlit switch plates. Thanks Al

[@Geeksmithing]

Thanks! If only I had the time!

[@stobbyenduromx9692]

So how does the rotary unit work with this machine? I can't imagine it is natively supported by the K40 to control a rotary unit while it is engraving.

[@Geeksmithing]

Good question! I fully explain it in another video here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@ryoohk]

The one big thing my father did to his was add in safety switches so if any of the lids on the machine are opened it kills power to the laser so there is 0 chances of the beam firing up while your working on it. He said he rather be paranoid than a paranoid blind man.

[@Geeksmithing]

It's absolutely a great idea, and on my list of upgrades. I have the parts, just haven't yet... Thanks for the motivation to make it sooner than later!

[@sgoldens24]

Great content thank you for posting !

[@seanherman4741]

Great job on this review. I have mine for almost a year now. Burned out my first laser tube by over powering it. Then I upgraded to a 60W tube. Loving it.

[@samirpasic6836]

Where you order 60W tube,how much,is it hard to instal??? If you have link please give us. Thank you very much

[@wolfrobots118]

get two external CPU water radiators (they are $19 on Amazon) and 4 fans 120mm fans for the radiator and you will never have to use ice again.

[@Geeksmithing]

I have never used ice. 😐🤷‍♂️🤣

[@reneedilworth3960]

Hi! I am looking at investing in a machine but certainly don't want to break the bank. I saw that you can engrave on the tumblers but noticed they were all powder coated. Can you do the plain stainless steel cups on it as well? I make custom tumblers and was looking for a way to make some a little more "guy" friendly. Thanks for the help!

[@Geeksmithing]

You can use plain metal tumblers but you would need Ceramark or Enduramark spray or paste. You apply that material to the surface and laser directly on it. The resulting text/images etc. shows up black. Then you just rinse off the nonlasered stuff. There are several videos on this process (I need to make one myself)

[@craftedgemworkshop7927]

You just gave me more to think about. I've been heavily looking and almost ready to make a decision on which of these machines to go with. The fear of not getting the added worth to my shop has made it really hard to pull thousands of dollars for a glowforge or other machine of that nature especially with me transitioning out of the military.

[@Geeksmithing]

That is exactly the same thought process I went thru. I figured that $350 was an acceptable amount to toss at the idea of a K40... I figured even if it didn't work out, I could use the parts for something else... But now that they are also available on Amazon in addition to eBay, the consumer has additional protections/options if something doesn't work.

[@tommynorthwood]

Love your Surge protector!

[@Geeksmithing]

THANK YOU!! Finally someone did! 😂

[@G33v3s]

You've basically answered my primary questions perfectly. Massively increased my confidence on pulling the trigger on a K40 soonish. It was also cool to see the water bottle I won from the Making Geeks survey in the video :D at least I know what high quality is possible. My main question outstanding is about the controllers and how to identify what type is in a low cost machine? Does it matter? FB groups seem to harp on about them but I guess it's just if whisperer is compatible with it.

[@Geeksmithing]

That's a great question. The K40 has a list of compatible boards and ways to identify them I believe.... I picked up a Cohesion3d controller board replacement for it and hope to swap it in soon, so that's also an option for you down the road a bit.

[@fluffhead7892]

I don't think you can know exactly what you're gonna get from the listing. But once you get it you can see your control board and it will come with CoralLaser/CoralDraw software. Had one almost a year and have used it probably 500+ hours (daily) and it does anything you really want to do with it but out of the box it needs upgrades and it needs constant maintenance (I use it a lot so obviously a lot for me).

[@MaxCruiseable]

can you put a tray of 8-10 pens in and have it do them all at once?

[@bowsboss1]

I've been looking to buy a laser a cheap starter model as I don't know if I will like it and I'm not sure I will be able to understand how to use the program from my computer to the engraver. I'm not very computer savvy. How difficult would you say this is to get running for someone that never used one? Thanks

[@Geeksmithing]

From the graphics design software, there is a bit to learn, but they are fairly easy to follow steps. There are plenty of tutorial videos out there to walk you thru the process from idea to finished product. This series of laser machines can require a bit of tinkering/fiddling to get it to work sometimes, but it's not too bad, compared to a 3d printer or CNC machine.

[@5ivearrows]

I think if you are a person considering getting one of these, it is important to note that it can be a gamble. You may get a great (as great as it can be anyway) machine, or you may get a machine that needs all kinds of work to make usable. Quality Control is not a thing in the factories these come from. Good idea to have someone familiar with these types of things available to help you out, if you yourself are not.

[@Geeksmithing]

Excellent points!

[@JoePhotoByJS]

Awesome! I can't wait for the follow up videos!!! 😀

[@mattk9676]

just stumbled across your channel as i am looking to get a k40 within a month or so. didnt even know you could get the rotary part so i am very much looking forward to seeing a video on that.thank you for taking the time to make videos to help us all. Subscribed!

[@Geeksmithing]

Glad to help! Thanks for the support! 🤜💥🤛

[@Geeksmithing]

Rotary vid is coming this week!

[@Geeksmithing]

Rotary Video!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@BeComfy]

Dumb question, but if I wanted to put my logo on a charcuterie/cutting board that is 19" long by 5" wide, it would not fit in this machine, correct?

[@Geeksmithing]

Correct. 15" is about the max width u could fit.

[@bearlylegal1737]

This is a must for anyone into stippling firearms and magazines.

[@osccha1834]

With it being 40 watt can you use it for the serial numbers

[@bearlylegal1737]

@@osccha1834 lol possibly on aluminum plates, but probably not into steel

[@theonlybuzz1969]

Cool, thanks 🙏 for your brief introduction into this engraver, I have looked at them over and over again thinking should I take the plunge? After your introduction to them, I think I will have to invest in one of them, thank you very much for your information as it’s been informative enough for me, keep up the good work and I look forward to your further videos.

[@Geeksmithing]

Hey, absolutely! Thanks for checking out the video! I hope to release more soon. Best of luck with your new laser adventure. 😎

[@13johncobb]

Any chance you have a link to the rotary piece you added?

[@Geeksmithing]

Sorry, no, I built it using parts I had on hand. I will upload a video on how to make one/ where to buy one very soon.

[@freqster]

There are lots of videos on how to make a rotary device yourself. Just a quick search and you willl get tons of results.

[@13johncobb]

Awesome thanks! Sorry just assumed it was an add on.

[@Geeksmithing]

Rotary Video!! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYCpYahvpth5has

[@isabellao5580]

You really sold me on this one! But I have a question!!! Where can I buy the Rotatory Accessory for mugs! That's dope! Thank you! Loved the review

[@Geeksmithing]

Ha! I actually made it myself, with some bits and bobs from the shop and a 3d printer. I hope to make a video covering this very soon! Stay tuned!!:). Thanks for watching!🤓

[@Geeksmithing]

Just an update... that rotary video is on my channel now, feel free to check it out!

[@jimgregoire1138]

I have a few questions about this type of stuff. I don’t know how to contact you but I thought I would try this. My name is Jim thanks

[@raymondr1414]

Been looking for something to stipple polymer gun frames. And also possibly light engraving designs on the metal slides/metal parts.. is this able to do both?

[@Geeksmithing]

Not sure about polymer. Never tried. Probably will do something. As for metal, please see pinned comment.

[@patricktack165]

Would this engrave metal?

[@Geeksmithing]

No, not really.

[@patricktack165]

@@Geeksmithing thank you

[@Geeksmithing]

@@patricktack165 Generally, lasers of this power level cannot do anything to metals. It can however affect stuff on the surface of metal. It absolutely will take off powder coating. That's how I do the water bottles briefly shown. I have yet to try anodized but it's on the list. There is a product called Ceramark that can be applied and lasered to leave behind black where it was lasered. That's a way to make a black design on stainless steel for example, bit again it's just a surface coating. This can be an acceptable solution depending on what you are looking for. Hope that helps.

[@patricktack165]

@@Geeksmithing actually that does help. All I am looking to do is etch my name into tools and such. Thank you

[@jrtechnology5005]

fiber laser can engrave on all kinds of metal and some no-metal materials, like plastic/ABS...

[@zachariahlinsacum4597]

Epic video thanks for all of your information. You mention upgrading the exhaust... what did you do?

[@Geeksmithing]

Thanks!! There is a replacement exhaust linked on my Amazon page in the description below. It's pretty inexpensive and works great!

[@angel93223]

Did you say you made rubber stamps ? And do you know if it’s possible to voy though sheet metal to make metal Stencils

[@Geeksmithing]

Unfortunately, It cannot cut thru any metals, regardless of thickness. And yeah, it can cut and engrave special rubber for lasers for stamps. It does an awesome job.

[@shadowbanned-9577]

Unless it cuts wood, I truly don’t care... stupid skulls and sci fi graffiti I want nothing to do with....

[@Geeksmithing]

It does cut wood. Not sure what else you are going on about... 😆🙄

[@melissamcdaniel3542]

Could you do an up to date video on you Laser Cutter? I am trying to decide which one to get one like yours or an Up-Dated machine. Thanks

[@Geeksmithing]

If I had the space or a reason to get an upgraded one, I would!:) This machine in video is still going strong, I use it all of the time!

[@thomaswade3072]

100%!!! NEVER plug in random USB storage devices to your computer.

[@Geeksmithing]

🤓 exactly!

[@Robertsshed]

No one questioning why the Food and Drug Administration logo is on the machine?

[@Geeksmithing]

What, you don't eat photons?

[@Angie-sz7oj]

Does it cut mirrored name and jewellery?

[@MD_Builds]

they advatise as 30x20cm work areas... Roughly A$ paper sized, Is this true? that clamp thing you were showing doesnt look anywhere near that big?

[@Geeksmithing]

The work area estimates they give are often wrong or deceiving. You are right, if you leave the clamp thing in, it is far less than that. If you remove it, your cutting area is like 35cm * 22cm.

[@MD_Builds]

@@Geeksmithing But you need to design and fit your own bed?

[@Geeksmithing]

There are posts that hold up the clamping bed as seen in video. You could attach a piece of metal here to use as a bed. Or corrugated metal mesh. You could also use a wooden panel as a bed, but beware that over extended time, the wood can accumulate charred areas that can smolder and cause a fire, so metal is best.

[@MD_Builds]

@@Geeksmithing makes sense. Thanks a lot for the tips... I'm still trying to make my mind up about this or a 4060 50w laser.... Tough choice :)

[@paulhelleman4461]

Would it be able to make PWB printed wiring boards (burn copper off a fibreglass board)?

[@Geeksmithing]

It cannot burn off the copper (or any metal for that matter). You can do the acid resist method instead. Spray paint the whole copper coated board. Laser away the paint from the areas that you want copper to be removed. Submerge board in ferric chloride to etch away and remove exposed copper. Then use acetone to remove remaining spray paint.

[@dejuan4967]

Hello, as of today, 8/28/2021, do you still stand by your recommendation ?

[@Geeksmithing]

Yep! I still use mine and haven't had any problems. If you are ok with tinkering and are mechanically, it can be a nice solution and you get a lot of functionality for the money. Even if you have to get an extra tube later on, it's easy to make back the money invested in just making Christmas ornaments for one season, for example.

[@KimandGarrettmakeit]

Awesome! thanks! I was on the fence about getting one! Sold!

[@Geeksmithing]

Woo hoo! ONE OF US!! ONE OF US!! Hit me up if you have any questions!

[@srryabturdaughter]

Bottom line… how deep will it engrave in say soft metal? (Aluminum cards, brass plates etc.)

[@Geeksmithing]

Zero. See pinned comment for more info.

[@srryabturdaughter]

@@Geeksmithing ty but than what’s it’s point!?! Why pay the same price for this when you can buy one that will??

[@Geeksmithing]

@@srryabturdaughter what? I would like to see you find a laser engraver that can engrave metals for $500 or less. I'll wait.

[@srryabturdaughter]

@@Geeksmithing wow how much time do you have dumb ass? Amazon.. all day long! Engraving on metal isn’t an issue and for under $500, it’s HOW DEEP???? So spend 5 minutes on a search and you’ll see COUNTLESS.. I’ll wait!?! SMH BUT instead of being an AH how about simply helping out since you’re obviously being paid to review post!!! SMH

[@Geeksmithing]

@@srryabturdaughter Feel free to pick one up, but you will be disappointed. CO2 lasers nor Diode lasers can engrave metals to any depth. For that you need a fiber laser and they are in the thousands of dollars. I referred you to a much more in depth explanation that is pinned in this comment section. I am sorry that you do not believe it. The K40 laser cannot engrave any metals to any depth. The examples you might be seeing on Amazon are either bleaching surface treatments such as aluminum anodization (this is not engraving to any depth) or vaporizing away a powder coated paint on items such as water bottles. Again, this is not actually engraving the metal on the bottle itself, but vaporizing away the paint. You are clearly going to believe what you want to believe regardless of what I say, so I hope you have a good night.

[@tizianaberjaoui]

Can it be used on acrylic 3mm thickness. How well does it cut out acrylic names

[@Geeksmithing]

Absolutely. It's great. I have a couple videos showing how to use it in projects.

[@shadowhenge7118]

What thickness of wood can it cut through for doing laser cut board game organizers and the like?

[@Geeksmithing]

up to 1/4", just might require multiple passes for some wood species.

[@robingibson7503]

I'm not a computer person, so, what kind of a learning curve is there to get started with this?

[@Geeksmithing]

You might have some trouble then..

[@StarflightVirtual]

Hello, Nice Video! I have bought a blue minilaser to engrve letters for my Homecockpit Panels, but it dosent work. Now i am thinking about to by such a 40W Laser. What i need to cut is a 3mm Milky Acryl late paintet in Gray (Boeing) color. The there i have to cut the Letters, but only removing the paintet gray color. So the Letters itself are then again white, around is the gray color and when you turn on a light behind the Plate, the you can see the cuttet Letters. Letters are very small, only 3mm Height maximum. Is that possible with that Machine? Maybe you can make another Video?

[@Geeksmithing]

I have engraved pretty small text on the wooden Harry Potter ornaments, so I would think so. I have successfully cut and engraved 3mm cast acrylic, no problem!

[@cobycudjoe8605]

Could you laser stipple polymer items?

[@scaniapower4610]

Hey great video and very much info and chance you could do a upgrading video on all you upgraded you made please

[@Geeksmithing]

Thanks!! Not a bad idea!