Creality Falcon2 Pro 60 Watt Laser Engraver review: Deep cuts and fine engravings
Early hobby lasers were almost comically unsafe. My first machine was an open-frame 5W diode bolted to a bare bones XY gantry with a plastic “hood” meant to shield your eyes. The manufacturer insisted the tinted acrylic was enough, but still included a pair of (uncertified) UV safety goggles. The machine had to be isolated behind closed doors so my pets or kids didn’t wander in while it was running. And ventilation? One of the first lasers I used came with a cooling fan strapped to a simple filter to “manage fumes.” It set off my smoke detector. It wasn’t long before I had my husband install a proper exhaust fan in the craft room to pull smoke and fumes outside.
I’ve learned my lesson and no longer recommend open frame machines. Laser-proof enclosures are a must-have piece of equipment. Manufacturers now agree, and today you’ll be hard-pressed to find a laser cutter or engraver that doesn’t come with a built-in enclosure to keep everyone in the room safe from stray beams.
The best laser tools have interlock switches that disable the beam if the lid opens, proper filtration, emergency stop buttons, and fire detection systems. Safety isn’t an afterthought; it’s a selling point. Even an inexpensive laser will come with a hose pipe so you can vent the machine out through an open door or window.
Lasers can cut and engrave wood, stone, acrylic, and some plastics, but not all materials are safe. PVC and vinyl release toxic chlorine gas, polycarbonate melts rather than cuts, and reflective metals can bounce the beam back into your machine. Some painted materials may smoke or catch fire. Even leather can be risky: only untreated, vegetable-tanned leather is safe, while chrome-tanned or heavily dyed leather can release harmful fumes.
A good rule of thumb is to stick to untreated “organic” materials. Plus, you can always buy laser-safe materials and ready-to-laser blank stock from manufacturers like xTool and Bambu Lab.
All laser cutters and engravers use highly focused light at very specific wavelengths. Consumer lasers generally fall into three main categories: Diode, Fiber, and CO₂. Diode lasers themselves operate at different wavelengths: UV, blue, or near-infrared (IR), with each wavelength better suited for cutting or engraving particular materials.
It helps to understand what we mean by wavelength. Light waves are measured in nanometers (nm), which are billionths of a meter. Visible light from the sun, a light bulb, or a laser cutter spans roughly 400-700 nm, with blue on the shorter end and red on the longer. Different wavelengths interact with materials differently: shorter wavelengths tend to produce fine detail with less heat, while longer wavelengths penetrate more deeply and can leave charred marks.
For example, standard blue diode lasers that burn through wood are around 450 nm, while fiber lasers for metal marking are about 1064 nm. CO₂ lasers, which operate at 10.6 microns (10,600 nm), are far into the infrared, producing heat that can slice through wood, acrylic, and leather more effectively than most diode lasers.
True ultraviolet (UV) lasers are just starting to appear in the consumer market. Often referred to as “cold lasers,” they can produce cleaner, more precise marks without heating up the material. UV lasers excel at marking plastics, coated metals, and electronics without burning or melting the material. They can also be used to etch or “inner engrave” glass blocks and spheres.
Blue diodes are the most common for hobby use. Basic crafting machines often start at 3W, which is sufficient for engraving paper or cardstock. A 5W module is well-suited for wood and leather engraving, while higher-power diodes (up to 40W) can cut thicker wood or leather or etch stone. Generally, the higher the power, the thicker the material the laser can cut.
▶️ Infrared (IR) Diode Lasers (808–980 nm)
Key considerations
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- Macro rates and liquidity can dominate flows
Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/maker-stem/better-safety-features-make-laser-engravers-more-popular-than-ever-a-guide-to-the-ins-and-outs-of-laser-engraving-and-cutting#main
- https://www.tomshardware.com
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Informational only. No financial advice. Do your own research.