laser wood cutting machine for beginners

5 Best Laser Wood Cutting Machines For Beginners

October 25, 2022
/ Buying Guides Laser Engraving Machines
/ By Faria Noor

Looking to get the best laser wood cutting machine for beginners?

The following article reviews 5 of the best options currently available. We’ll discuss several best wood cutting machines for crafts and the best beginner laser engraver available, plus our recommendations for which one is the best.

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Quick Comparison Guide

Products	Rating	Price
xTool D1 DIY Laser Cutter and Engraver Machine	9.8/10 [Editor's Choice]	Check Price
NEJE 3 Laser Engraver and Cutter Machine With 5.5-7.5W Output Power	9.7/10	Check Price
Titoe CNC 3018-Pro 5500mW Laser Engraver Machine & Wood Router	9.6/10	Check Price
SCULPFUN's S9 Laser Engraver & Wood Cutting Machine	9.7/10	Check Price
OMTech's 20x28 Laser Engraving Machine & Cutter With 60W Of Power	9.7/10	Check Price

What is a laser cutting machine?

A laser cutter and a laser engraver are tools used to cut and engrave shapes into different materials for designing purposes. There are different types of laser-cutting machines available in the market today. Industrial laser cutting machines can be used by professionals to cut tough materials such as stainless steel and nickel with ease because they have high cutting powers and depth. Alternatively, beginners can use affordable laser-cutting machines at home to cut beautiful shapes out of wood, acrylics, and other soft materials.

Laser Cutters vs Laser Engravers

The cutting and engraving techniques both create beautiful and accurate images on different types of materials using custom models or designs. The two differ, however, in a few ways:

Laser Cutters: A laser cutter uses powerful lasers to create your final model by cutting entire pieces off your workpiece.

Laser Engravers: Laser engraving machines engrave on top of your material rather than cutting completely through it. They can create images, logos, or graphics on your materials that will last for years.

Check out our article – How To Use A Laser Engraver Machine – Guide!

These differences are minor and several companies sell these machines separately to earn profit. But, here in this article, we will introduce 2 in 1 devices that offers both engraving and cutting features at an affordable price. To begin with, let’s discuss some factors that you should consider before purchasing a laser engraving or wood-cutting machine.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Laser Wood Cutting Machines

Before buying a laser wood-cutting machine, you should consider some factors, as this helps in making an informed purchase. Here are a few factors to consider:

Price: Cheaper machines are never a good investment in the long run, so invest in a better machine with innovative features that may cost a bit more, but offer better results in the long run. For those in the US looking for an affordable laser cutter, a few hundred dollars should be enough to get you what you need.
Laser software: Some companies provide their own software, which you need to activate with a license key or USB dongle. This software is typically simple and easy to use. Most laser machines have an open system, which means you can use popular software such as Lightburn to operate them. AutoCAD, Adobe Illustrator, CorelDraw, and other vector artwork-based software can usually produce vector files for design work. Generally, these are paid-for programs, but if you’re looking for something free and simple, you can always use InkScape.

Material Type: Woods, acrylics, and fabrics are the most common non-metallic materials that Co2 laser cutters can cut. If you’re looking for something to process metals, Fiber laser cutters are a good choice.
Warranty: Laser cutters are also covered by warranties, just like any other product. Getting a product with a longer warranty will give you peace of mind that it is a product that you can count on for years to come.
Laser’s size & power: For processing larger or thicker materials, you need a unit with a large cutting/engraving area and a powerful laser source. It is always a good idea to get a larger cutting area than you initially think you will need since you will be able to expand or move at a faster pace if needed. Nevertheless, when it comes time to replace the laser tubes, you don’t want them to be too powerful, since that will result in a greater cost.

Safety precautions: Lasers, like anything else, can cause injuries, so make sure it has all the safety features you need (sensors, interlocks, fume extraction, etc.).

5 Best Laser Wood Cutting Machines

Here are the 5 Best Laser Wood Cutting Machines For Beginners:

1# xTool D1 DIY Laser Cutter and Engraver Machine

Why We Love It:

360-degrees engraving rotary
3-Way Connection (Wi-Fi, USB cable, TF card)

PROS	CONS
✅ Large Engraving Area of 17x16‘’	❌ It is difficult to understand the instructions! There are several different languages on one page.
✅ Good Accuracy
✅ Amazing results
✅ Easy to use
✅ Thicker cutting
✅ Good choice for beginners
✅ Ultra-fine engraving

This is one of the best wood laser cutting machines for crafts. Cutting a 10mm wood board and a 5mm black acrylic with the xTool D1 laser engraving machine and laser cutter results in a smooth cutting surface with fewer burn marks. This engraving machine uses an ultra-fine compression spot of 0.08 mm x 0.06 mm to achieve detailed and vivid engraving images on the engraving plate. Moreover, the xTool D1 laser engraver’s all-steel wheel, shaft, and enclosed synchronous belt provide greater stability when engraving and 3 times longer life when compared to similar laser engravers.

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2# NEJE 3 Laser Engraver and Cutter Machine With 5.5-7.5W Output Power

Why We Love It:

Ensures user safety with anti-static design

Quieter operation

PROS	CONS
✅ Excellent quality hardware	❌ It is difficult to understand the instructions!
✅ Amazing results
✅ Easy to use
✅ Easy to install
✅ Great for beginners
✅ Portable
✅ Compact
✅ Ultra-fine engraving

This laser engraving machine & laser wood cutter from Neje has a 170x170mm engraving area, is lightweight and portable, with 5.5-7.5w power, and does not occupy much space. If you use square focus, then the minimum focus point can be as small as 0.08 x 0.08 mm. Moreover, with strong engraving and cutting capabilities, this laser engraving and cutting machine is portable and safe to use.

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3# Titoe CNC 3018-Pro 5500mW Laser Engraver Machine & Wood Router

Why We Love It:

Offline controller module (for CNC router)

Short circuit protection

PROS	CONS
✅ High performance	❌ It cannot carve metal, jade, and other items with very hard textures.
✅ High engraving power	❌ Not compatible with Mac.
✅ Sturdy frame
✅ Great for beginners
✅ Great customer service
✅ Excellent for carving softer materials e.g. copper, wood, plastic, acrylic, etc.

For those who are just starting out in CNC, Titoe’s laser engraver and wood router make an excellent choice. The focus can be fine-tuned to within 0.1 millimeters, and the engraving is powerful. Moreover, you can control your CNC router without being connected to the internet with an offline controller module. Remember that the controller and computer cannot be used simultaneously.

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4# SCULPFUN’s S9 Laser Engraver & Wood Cutting Machine

Why We Love It:

Equipped with a laser protective cover

Latest laser beam shaping technology

PROS	CONS
✅ Ultra-fine laser focus	❌ Instructions are difficult to understand. Click here to get proper instructions.
✅ Easy to set up
✅ Sturdy
✅ Durable
✅ Great for beginners
✅ Expandable engraving area
✅ A4 metal pad for safety
✅ Fixed focus & easy slide design
✅ Compatible with Windows, Mac, LightBurn, LaserGRBL

With 90W of power and 5.5W of laser shaping technology, the Sculpfun S9 laser engraver machine works like a charm. The laser focus is ultra-fine, with an accuracy of 0.6mm, making it easy to cut and engrave precisely. Moreover, the S9 laser engraver can cut wood (up to 15mm thick), acrylic (up to 10mm thick), ceramics, stainless steel, and carved ceramics. Also, with a fixed focus lens and sliding design, the S9 laser engraver provides a powerful engraving experience.

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5# OMTech’s 20×28 Laser Engraving Machine & Cutter With 60W Of Power

Why We Love It:

Intuitive digital controls

Power supply with digital display

PROS	CONS
✅ Two-way pass-through design	❌ It is not compatible with Mac OS & Linux.
✅ Auto-lift platform
✅ Quick autofocusing
✅ Dual engraving tables
✅ Transparent viewing window
✅ Good customer support
✅ Easy to use & clean
✅ Great for beginners

There are two work platforms provided by this laser wood cutting machine for beginners: a honeycomb bed for engraving smaller objects and an aluminum bed for engraving larger and harder materials such as acrylic. You can cut up to 1/4″ through plywood or acrylic with greater speed and precision with this 60W laser engraver and cutter by OMTech. You can create even the most intricate designs with its intuitive control panel, whether you are a professional engraver or a beginner DIY enthusiast.

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FAQ’s

1- What is the process of laser cutting?

A laser cutting process involves slitting metal or non-metal raw materials of different thicknesses. The method revolves around guiding, forming, and bundling laser beams. The material heats up when laser beams strike it, causing it to melt or vaporize. It allows for cutting or engraving beautiful designs with intricate details and good edge quality.

2- What is the maximum thickness that a laser cutting machine can cut?

The best home laser engraver and laser cutter machine can cut materials up to 20 millimeters thick, but most machines work on materials around 0.5-12 millimeters thick.

3- Which materials are suitable for cutting with a laser cutting machine?

There are a variety of materials that are suitable for cutting with laser cutting machines, such as wood, cork, paper, and some types of plastic. Moreover, it is possible to engrave on nearly anything, including cardboard, aluminum, wood, plastic, marble, stainless steel, stone, glass, and tile.

Final Thoughts

With laser cutters, you can cut and engrave your materials very quickly and with great accuracy. They are usually cheaper and can cut a more diverse range of materials. There are quite a few laser machines out there. As with anything, some might suit your needs and others might not. Make sure you take the time to do your research and check all the options before you buy one. After all, it can be a terrific investment if you play your cards right! We have gathered almost all the information regarding laser wood-cutting machines and also listed some of the best home laser engravers and laser cutters. Thanks for picking out our tutorial on the top 5 Best Laser Wood Cutting Machines. Hopefully, it will help you make an informed purchase decision.

Faria Noor

I specialize in writing tech-based product reviews for over 3 years now. My blogs aim to provide well-researched and informative content to help people make informed purchasing decisions.