Sam, this type of video is what separates your channel from all the other folks out there in YT land. I see a lot of people demonstrating machines but no one except for you ever goes back to show all the maintenance needed to keep things running. Full marks on this one Sam. 👍👍
Bloopers are always fun. Shows how hard it really is to be a one person production unit RU-vidr! I have the Ortur Laser master 3, and I'm really enjoying the addition to my shop as I learn it.
Wife bought me an ATOMSTACK, for Christmas. I didn't think I'd ever own a laser, but it's still a LOT to soak in. So I'm watching several makers with lasers. I really enjoy how you explain things, for us older not so tech savvy folks. THANKS
Hahaha!! I was about to say, “Just flip it over!” And then you flipped it over and showed us it’s already been flipped once. LOL! Way to make the most of what you have. 👍
Sam, this a great unexpected video. Most guys out there barely go over assembly when they are sent a laser and frankly don’t know what they are talking about. Going over the maintenance is genius. Haven’t seen first one showing this. And you always talk safety about everything you do. Great one here. Ideas for future SamCraft. You need storage so let’s have some woodworking making storage. Like a work table tat holds your new saw with a t track or dog hole top to hel with assembly of projects. Yo and Angela and your whole& amply is great.
Some soon-ish upcoming videos will be building my new tool wall for behind my island work table, as well as building LaserTown (a dedicated 12' wide bench space in the shop for the laser engravers and their accoutrements). I've been pondering what to do with my new table saw and have considered a rolling island workbench. Just needs to be the right size, too. The workshop is only 12x20 and has quite the assortment of tools. :)
Entertaining Sam as I know nothing about what you showed- I do enjoy your videos however. Your clarity of speech and educational information is fun for me to view. Thanks
I am as impressed with your presentation as I am with the clarity, completeness, and usefulness of the material you discuss. Your personality is perfect for this and your diction, vocabulary and continuity control are valuable assets that make your videos a pleasure to watch and listen to. I am an editor for 7 best-selling authors, so I have some knowledge of what makes a good story (in their case) or a good presentation in yours. Keep it up kid (I’m 90) you’re a natural. Oh, I have a LM2 Pro sporting a 40W laser head and control it with Lightburn on a dedicated desktop PC running Windows 10. P.S. How can I buy you a coffee [or an adult beverage if you prefer] ?
Hello Sam , First off I want to say I think your one of the most genuine people on RU-vid, your honesty is genuine . I am in the process of buying a laser. WOW so many choices . I want a cabinet , air assist and easy Z adjustment. I keep leaning to the Adomstack . My biggest concern is power of the machine , I am looking at there 33W version . All i want to do is basically what you are doing along with building some small boxes, tumblers, earrings and pictures to wood. Do I need a 33W or is that to powerful . Should I just get a 10W or 20W. I know it’s his is a lot and you are busy, if you have time I look forward to your reply . Thanks
Well I just entered the club with the Ortur Master 2 S2 so the smaller brother to try. I am hoping to do engraving to brand my product and maybe some custom work also. Never know where the rabbit's hole will take us. Enjoy your videos keep up the great content.
An informative and refreshingly honest presentation, about what you do and don't do.! Excellent patter and very listenable to.! One thing about that bottom board, would it not be better if constantly loading coaster etc for engraving, to have small raised ply forms or keeps so that you are 100% @90 degrees in line? Just "L" shapes as not all coasters are exact same size. I am sure someone will have mentioned it before? And, if u r doing different work, u can always slide in another thin board on top and it should still be in focus range, depending onthe item being engraved. Good luck with the series - I enjoy watching and isle be back - for tips as soon as i get my X20 built up & sorted into a proper site.!! [ Using Laserpecker 2 atmo!]
enjoyed this Sam. Until seeing this video, I had no idea that this thing even existed outside of large commercial applications. It was a good tour of how this operates and let me tell you brother, the quality of your videos is very professional and entertaining. Love the bloopers too
Thank you so much! I try very hard to make as good a presentation and "flow" to my videos as I can. Happy to share the fast-growing world of hobby laser engraving, too! :)
Interesting that it was so clean. I suspect that will be down to a few things but the biggest will be what you are engraving, if that is mainly slate coasters theres not a lot of really nasty sticky residue going to be given off, unlike many other materials
I have exactly the same set up you are using and the Lightburn software also. I haven't used my device for over a year and am ready to start playing again. I intend to purchase your Lightburn waste board file and utilize it for placement and designing just as you showed in your video. I was hoping to not remove my metal bottom plate on my device and was wondering if that amazing file could be sketched/burned/marked directly onto my bottom metal plate? What are your thoughts on that possibility? Your videos are the best! Your bloopers make you "real". Thanks in advance.
Thank you for your honest feedback. I've been looking at getting a laser engraver just afraid it's gonna be way outside my wheel house. Pretty technically challenged over but think it would definitely add a ton of value to my lil shop.
I'm giving some thought to grabbing one of these but I was wondering if you could give a review or info on engraving glass, crystal, or metal in general?
I added the Laser Module Kit 450nm 80W with Air Assistance, 10W Optical Power, LASER TREE Laser Engraver Module Head, Double Ultra-Fine Compressed Spot and love it. I still have the original and will use it as a back up. I just needed more power and wouldnt you know it they come out with one 2 mos after I drop 280 bucks on a new diode
When working with multiple machines (cnc, laser, print farm). I've had the best luck just using a dedicated mini pc without a monitor or keyboard. Then just using my primary laptop to remote into it to setup jobs. This also has the added benefit of being able to use some USB cameras can monitor the setup while I'm out of the room. For some setups you can do it cheaper with some raspberry pis but the control and slicing software may not be able to run on a Pi.
That's an interesting solution for sure! :) Ahh the good ole rPi. Brings back memories of my past life in IT and making remote sentinels for network discovery and monitoring at various locations.
Yes Sam, this older lady found your video to be interesting, educational (even though most is over my head) and also entertaining!! Oh, I enjoyed your reaction to the spider. That wasn't fair, he blindsided you
Sam, been enjoying your video's for months now and this video sold me on buying my own Ortur. I recently (6 days ago) bought the Laser Master 3 and I now have it up and running the first burn. I'd love to know what you did to handle fumes/smoke/etc before you got the enclosure for your LM2Pro.
love me some of them sparks when plugging in the 24v adapter lol. You could have just painted it white as well and engraved it black lines. Sand and paint and when you need a fresh one repeat sand and paint which again.
Fantastic content as always Sam. I see you are using the Manual Z axis lifter mechanism. Did that installation reduce your workbed area from 400mm x 400mm to 400 x 380mm on the Y axis? What bed area dimensions did you put into lightburn when you added the device as my machine crashed into the x axis bottom frame when trying to engrave my workbed at 400mm x 400mm
Maybe u could make a how to run video using lightburn? Just like a simple engrave like if i went and bought it,all the hookups like u have and like a walk thru video or tutorial on how to use the lightburn as u do...also do u ever use the rolling tumbler setup? Thanks man...live the inspiration...really thinking i want one...
I've wondered about making such a video, but worry it may be very dry... I'll ponder on how to spice it up and make it fun but also be properly informative. :) I have the rotary for the machine, but honestly haven't ever used it. I need to spend some time learning the ins/outs of it. Many others use them and like them!
Sam until you get an air compressor, get yourself a pack of Dust Off. Its a Electronics gas Duster. It works great on my keyboard, and other electronics I have.
Have you already completed a video on maintenance for the Shapeoko? I'd like to see that if you have. Keep up the great job you are doing here on Sam-Craft!
I’ve not, but that is so over due! I’m getting the shop in order more day by day and will soon be ready to actually fire up the CNC again. It’s been storage for so long… will be interesting to see what needs adjusted!
@@Samcraftcom After watching your assembly video on your SPXXL, I ordered one. Your video made assembly a breeze. I feel I may be due for some maintenance so I look forward to your video on that topic. Mine runs very well, knock on wood, there may be room for improvement. 😛
That was a very informative video. Thanks for that, because I have been wondering whether I should get one. Curious of your recommendation between this and the S10.
I noticed you used that metal cylinder to set your Z axis for focus. That would place your "focal point" at the top surface of your board, correct? Now if you put your slate on the board, wouldn't the focal point be at the bottom surface of the slate rather than the top of it? Or, is that metal piece cut to length to account for the slate thickness?
@@Samcraftcom Doh! I feel stupid, LOL. I completely overlooked that you have easy Z axis adjustment and would therefore set your focus for each job. I do not have Z axis so I end up putting ceramic tiles under each leg of the frame to raise the whole thing up by the same amount as the thickness of the tile I am burning and then fine tune the focus with my lens adjustment. Thanks for the quick answer to this "braindead" old man, LOL.
I have the Ortur Laser, (my worst one), the FoxAlien, (better), and the XTool D1, (the best diode laser I own). My favorite of all though is the OmTech 60 Watt CO2, that thing is a beast, and comes with both air assist and built in exhaust fan. Lasers are great for doing all kinds of stuff, and they are fun to experiment with.
From an observer’s perspective (me), the xTool D1 Pro does look to be one of the best diode lasers on the market today. I totally agree re: CO2 lasers though… there may be one coming to the Samcraft shop soon. ;) That will be a new learning curve for sure, but I’m eager to really be able to cut materials in a business capacity (i.e. faster than an hour per job).
I bought that "Laser Head Focusing Controller" - "stop" extender - gcode the extra weight ? Also the scale that's less than 15.748in? Have you done that before ?
Does the Ortur Z-axis adjuster give you more travel down? I have taller feet (20mm of lift) on my LM2 and need to get the focus lower. I bought an after market 3D printed adjuster, but that isn't working for a number of reasons.
Not as-is. You would need a different bed (metal with air gaps), and an air assist setup in the least. I only engrave with this machine -- no cutting. IMO if you want to cut, get a CO2 laser.
Thanks for the video… wouldn’t a cheap camera make these adjustments and stock placements super duper easy and also add overlays as a big benefit to your operation that will work with every laser you run lightburn on?
Spider! Not a fan myself but I definitely do NOT freak out. The closest I ever came to it was that tarantula in Roswell. It was crossing the road at night as I was heading home. It was 6 - 8 inches across each section of its body and all legs were over 10 - 12 inches long I thought it was a possum crossing the road - it looked that big. As I got closer, it continued to saunter slowly across the road. I waited until it was out of sight before continuing. Roswell has a lot of them in their desert like territory. I have since found them all over southern New Mexico and Arizona. They are pretty harmless and keep certain populations under control. Scorpions, mice and rats do not like them FUR SHURE!
Twas the proximity to my face that got me. LOL It was on my shoulder. I carried it outside and it live... no doubt to return for another visit soon. LOL
Still using it or does the Gweike Pro does all the work now? :) I've also got the Ortur Laster Master 2 Pro. Starting a little business to save up for the Gweike Pro. :D
@@Samcraftcom I think engraving and stencil outline making but not cutting. I’m trying to do some bespoke work and slate engraving. Budget is not really a concern. I am hoping for the roi to cover costs.
What a great video. Love all the fine detail you go into with everything. I do not own a ortur laser, but still a lot of great points on how to get stuff done and cleaned. So, o a, going to add my 2 cents worth here since you are thinking on getting or upgrading the computer for the laser and future ones. I highly suggest at least 32GB RAM with about 1TB of SSD storage and a good CPU like a good i7, i9, or i5. Windows 10 pro would be ideal with staying away from windows 11 at all costs for "NOW"... Hope this helps. If you can afford it, 64GB RAM would be better. Hey now, what happened to that daddy long legs ehh?? ROFL!
Great points all around. :) I'll be repurposing a computer I already have, but upgrading it a bit too before it makes its way to the workshop. It's a small Lenovo ThinkCentre. I have an SSD and RAM upgrade coming in the next week that will give it plenty of power for lightburn and the likes. ETA: No spider were harmed in this video.. but were tossed outside! LOL
@@Samcraftcom Good call on the spider... Them creepy crawlers give me the creeps too. On the PC side... I think your doing good. Even an i3 is good combined with a SSD HD. But don't hold back on the RAM because that is KEY...
I'd be surprised if someone hasn't mentioned it already, but there are cable chain designs for that x-axis wiring just like you're using on the y axis (I'm currently at about 8:22 in the video, so if you address this in there, I haven't heard it yet, LOL).
I'd also suggest making the area of your waste board separate from the wood that attaches to the bottom of the laser enclosure, so if you need to replace it, you just slide it out of the laser, and slide in a fresh new piece. It'd make maintenance a bit easier, and you could have one waste board set up for, say spoons and such, another set up specifically for coasters.
If you're only going to engrave, and not on metals, I would recommend the Genmitsu Jinsoku LE-1620 as a great starting setup. That's one that I have personally used and like. I have a video on my channel about it, too. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-JwlHCYmTdww.html
Hello Sam. I just watched your video about making templates for the laser machine. I am new to lasering, in fact I just got an Ortur Master 3 today and this is my first. I am interested in making multiple coasters at the same time and would like to make a template for 9 coasters. My question is how I make sure I place the template on the right position all the time, so my coasters are aligned properly and will engrave where they need to be engraved. I have not put together the machine yet so I'm not sure if there are mark or guides that will help with the position of the template on the laser bed. Could you please let me know? Thanks.
That’s exactly why I like to mount the lasers to a plywood sheet. It locks the laser down to the wasteboard and then allows me to engrave my template without any fear of it moving. The biggest thing to remember is to always use ‘absolute coordinates’ when doing this method. That sets your job origin as the homing point of the machine and allows repeatability time after time. I’ve probably engraved about 1,000 coasters with this style method and never had alignment issues that weren’t human error. :) Congrats on the LM3! I have a slew of companies trying to get me to make a video on it and am considering it. I’m curious to see how better it is than this model.
@@Samcraftcom False alarm. Must have been a drive by prank. As soon as I said I was interested, I got ghosted. I was actually looking forward to learning about lasers. Now I"'m even more intimidated...just kidding...mostly.
Yep, they all do it with this model. It's even in the user manual! I've never liked that, but after talking with many other users of the machine is "normal"...
