Laser Showdown - Longer B1 30W vs Wizmaker L1 36W Laser Cutter Showdown with Minton Lasercam

[@3dpprofessor]

It's almost like I'm a professional. www.3dpprofessor.com/2024/01/08/laser-showdown-longer-b1-30w-vs-wizmaker-l1-36w-laser-cutter-showdown-with-minton-lasercam-video/

[@davidwilliams1060]

Thanks. I’m having a lot easier time with a diode laser than 3D printing or CNC, so I’m glad you’re covering lasers as well now. The size is an issue, space only in a tight corner of my basement and difficult to hook up a laptop to it. A camera is a good idea to more safely watch for fire.

[@wolf9545]

To continue with the excellent company names, my laser cutter is a ComGROW 5W laser.

[@recoveryguru]

I think laser software, LaserGRBL and LIghtBurn, are no where near as nice as any of the popular slicers for 3D printers.

[@3dpprofessor]

LaserGRBL reminds me of early slicers from 10 years ago. Lightburn is actually pretty good. I excitedly like the test patterns it provides.

[@KenWeinert]

I'll be interested to know how well the enclosure and the exhaust fan work. I have an Atezr P20 and I ended up with an 8" exhaust fan in a home-built enclosure to get all the smoke smell outside. The 4" and 6" fans just didn't move enough CFM to clear out the smoke/particles.

[@pixel_printing]

i love how his tie changes every cut/transition

[@3dpprofessor]

This video consisted of no less than 3 different recording sessions, and that's reflected in the ties. Just a little Easter egg for the observant.

[@pixel_printing]

@@3dpprofessoryou did a good job if it werent for the ties i wouldnt have noticed that they were recorded at different times

[@edstar83]

Actually I'd bring my Anet A8 to the battle. Fight lasers with fire.

[@AlexSwavely]

"doesn't come with a cutting surface" is fine for 1-10w laser engravers, where you're only expected to mark the top surface of a thing. I use a Raspberry PI to run my engraving laser, I can operate it either from a tablet or my desktop computer in the other room through a web interface. And I set up a cheap webcam through it to monitor it from within the enclosure I built which doesn't have a window.

[@3dpprofessor]

What software do you run on the RPi. I'd love to explore that option.

[@AlexSwavely]

Laserweb 4 and Motion

[@davec6113]

The issue I've run into is plywood. The plywood that I've tried using had spots of filler between the layers. They cut out the knots and patch them with wood filler and you can't cut through the filler. You also don't know where these are because they are inside the plywood. Until I can afford to buy the more expensive plywood my laser sits on the shelf. :P

[@3dpprofessor]

Yeah, I've found this out as well. There's a plywood we got that nothing cuts though. I don't know what the middle layer is, but it's convinced me that wood specifically sold for lasers are worth it.

[@3dpprofessor]

What I have done is use the laser to etch the pattern I want to cut in the wood ae a guide, then use traditional tools to cut it.

[@MisterMakerNL]

I hate diode lasers from the bottom of my heart.

[@3dpprofessor]

Fair. I'm just impressed at what they can do now a days.

[@MrBassard]

My issue I have with diode lasers like this that are not already enclosed like the glowforge or gweike is why do they cost so much. Other than the laser itself the structure has very little design and engineering involved to make it.

[@3dpprofessor]

Honestly, I'm with you. Mind you the enclosed lasers are $6k, but $2 for an enclosed diode laser (with interface) shouldn't be unreasonable.

[@MisterMakerNL]

Because they need to send free stuff too youtubers😂

[@stewartpalmer2456]

Sir, although I'm not ready to move into the laser cutter arena soon, you mentioned "Sprawl". I can already see this happening as I have 2 3D printers and wish to expand into lasers and wide format printers within the next few years. Can these laser cutters be mounted on the wall "vertically"? If not 90 degrees, say anywhere near 45 degrees? Wall space I have. Floor space not so much.

[@3dpprofessor]

I actually experimented with it. The problem is both LaserGRBL and LightBurn have a bad habit of turning off the power to the steppers frequently, meaning that if you hang it vertically, gravity causes the arm to fall. Theoretically a counterweight system could be devised to prevent this, but I was unable to engineer it myself.

[@stewartpalmer2456]

Thank you for that information. Much appreciated. Guess I should look for a model which doesn't have this oddity.

[@3dpprofessor]

@@stewartpalmer2456 Unfortunately its an effect of the software more than the hardware. I'll admit I don't know enough about this area to know if there is one that locks the motors in this price range.

[@stewartpalmer2456]

​@3dpprofessor I agree, more research will have to be done on my part before investing in one. Thank you again. keep up the awesome content.

[@woodturner1954]

Everybody is on the laser bandwagon. Thought your thing was 3D printers, Oh my bad, everyone else started with 3D printing and then also jumped in the lasers too. G_D Wonder what's next?

[@3dpprofessor]

I believe the natural progression is 3D printers-> Laser Cutter-> Decoupage ->Bedazzling. I look forward to my future sequin obsession.

[@Joshplv]

Also just the fact that laser and FDM compliment each other with their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to making stuff and will only become more viable and popular as prices drop

[@edstar83]

Calm down child. Laser cutters are just another tool that compliments fdm and resin 3d printers. Like cnc machines.