I’m still sporting the original NEJE A40640. What’s the latest on Diode Laser technology? I’ll go google as well, but more curious about what other’s on this site are using. Ya’ll are usually smarter than google.
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If you are wanting to cut, you can get a 60W diode these days! it is 3x20W inside stacked so you can turn it down pretty good for non-cutting stuff and still keep decent resolution.
I was contemplating a UV-Laser, but they are really small at the moment (XTools).
What‘s the best prebuilt CO2 Laser? Is there a good one under 2k€?
Oh…man, I allllllmost bought one of the xtools type machines just to strap it on a LR. That $7,700 needs to come down under $5k though. .4" steel cuts and 4mm aluminum. My plasma cuts aluminum like crap and I can cut .4" steel. The plasma was cheap, needed a large compressor, and the custom control board. I bet there are some other companies out there selling these much cheaper.
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I’ve been watching videos of people converting cheap Diode laser engravers to using a plasma cutting torch. That’s getting tempting…
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I’d like to also mention I have all the hardware from dismantling the MPCNC… so…
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cut “what” exactly, though? They cant compare to fiber, can they (even if slower)?
I’ve not dipped my toe in laser but we have a small diode and a small CO2 at work…..Fiber is what I really want for me, but prices are still around $2,500.
I’m cutting mostly lite plywood, leather, and a few other items. Quite a bit of etching and engraving. Most of what I’m cutting can be done with a Diode.
A co2 would be nice. I’d like to be able to cut clear acrylic. But it’s not in the budget right now. Honestly, even upgrading my existing Diode is probably not necessary. I was more curious as to what all is out there.
Quick google search shows NEJE has an ‘80’ watt module now
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So I still have the 79 buck jl1 that went around here a few years ago! Any of you upgrade and want to get rid of your “inexpensive” laser let me know! I do not do enough to spend a lot 
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I just bought a NEJE E80 laser module and installed it on a 600 X 900 machine that was going to be a plasma cutter. This is my first laser so I’m not sure how it compares to others. I have been cutting 4mm birch in one pass 250/80%. Very clean cuts in my opinion. Have done some material engraving tests and there is a pretty good variation of color. I’m very happy with it so far.
Knowing what I know now I would probably buy the NEJE MAX 4 V2. It has the 20mm Z height adjustment for focus. I ordered the Z assembly for my build.
I should make a post with some pics as my machine has V1E parts JP3, Steppers and it’s running Fluid NC. seemed wise to stick with software I had learned on my LR4.
Ya’ know, I was just out on Grabcad looking for 2020 and 2040 V-slot extrusion models this morning and while I was there, this little machine grabbed my eye…
Obviously this is not my design… but is very similar to what we talked about in the “$79 Cenoz…” thread: i.e. designing and creating a BOM for our own little inexpensive starter/entry-level machine that would be not only handy but highly educational…
There is a STEP download of the entire thing. I imported it into Onshape and it created very nice and highly organized ASSEMBLY and PART documents. The printed parts can be printed “as-is” (I’ve printed a few parts already…) and/or modified to suit… and you should wind up with a machine very similar to the little $79 Cenoz machine I (and apparently a “few” more folks…) bought and genuinely enjoyed playing with.
Here was another one I saw a couple of days ago that got me thinking along these lines…
Put a Jackpot (or other) controller board and 2W to 10W laser on it and start playing. Keep it small and portable and it’s almost guaranteed to be fun and educational!
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Nice the way the belts are recessed into the slots. Very neat.
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Using a rod to drive both sides of the gantry with one motor is a neat trick 
As is the Lowrider style single sided belt drive - coming from exclusively 3d printers I’d never seen that before.
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I bought a really cheap laser off of Amazon years ago. I’m still using the frame, but all the electronics have been upgraded over time. I didn’t even use the stock firmware on the original controller and immediately flashed GRBL on it. The a40640 is the third laser I’ve had on it. I think the original was 3w and the first replacement was 10w.
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