<p>If you do not have knowledge about the electronics then consider buying a cheap etching machine instead.</p>

<h1>Build</h1>

<p>Take a look on <a href="https://hackaday.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://hackaday.com/</a> and search for laser engravers.</p>

<p>I have found following articles in few seconds:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2013/05/06/dvd-laser-diode-used-to-build-a-laser-engraver/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: DVD LASER DIODE USED TO BUILD A LASER ENGRAVER</a></li>
<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2016/03/14/laser-pcb-exposer-built-from-cd-rom-drives/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: LASER PCB EXPOSER BUILT FROM CD-ROM DRIVES</a></li>
<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2017/10/31/homebuilt-laser-engraver-using-salvaged-parts/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: HOMEBUILT LASER ENGRAVER USING SALVAGED PARTS</a></li>
<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2017/11/27/entry-level-3d-printer-becomes-budget-pcb-machine/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: ENTRY-LEVEL 3D PRINTER BECOMES BUDGET PCB MACHINE</a></li>
</ul>

<h1>Cheap laser engravers</h1>

<p>And this one is about 2018 list of laser cutters/engravers: <a href="https://all3dp.com/1/best-home-desktop-laser-cutter-engraver-aio-machine/%20It%20lists%20machines%20around%20100$" rel="nofollow noreferrer">15 Best Laser Cutters, Laser Engravers &amp; AIO Machines of 2018</a>. It lists machines around 100$</p>

<ul>
<li>Meterk Laser Engraver ($125)</li>
<li>NEJE DK-8-KZ ($70)</li>
<li>QIILU Mini Laser Engraver ($130)</li>
<li>SuperCarver K2 ($160)</li>
</ul>

<h1>Safety</h1>

<p>Laser could damage your eyes (imagine laser reflection or if the machine falls from table when it's working). Take a look on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wikipedia</a>.</p>

<p>The best option is to use <em>acrylic cover</em> in same color as your laser, so you can observe the etching process and the laser beam is always blocked. For example take a look on orange cover of <a href="https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-2/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Formlabs Form 2</a> 3d printer (it uses laser for printing).</p>

<p>Another protection is to wear <em>laser protection glasses</em>. Again the glasses must have same color as your laser. </p>

<p>Using laser for cutting or engraving means to burn material away. You should have good ventilation in the room.</p>

<p>Buy a <em>smoke detector</em> if you use cheap electronics with higher power consumption.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T12:02:55.190Z
This is a *mostly* link only answer. If the links die, which they usually do, then the answer will be not much use. Please edit and include a summary of each link, and the highlights
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-16T09:07:06.660Z
As an alternative to editing this, you can always delete it to earn the 'peer-pressure' badge. I think it's important to address the safety issues if you do answer this question. To clarify - not my downvotes (hadn't voted on the question till now)
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-16T10:12:32.220Z
@SeanHoulihane thanks for the critics. I rather try to improve the answer then just to delete it.
amra
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T09:26:02.430Z
2018-08-16T10:10:50.407Z
2018-08-16T10:10:50.407Z
amra
<p>I have a printer and a diode laser head which will etch aluminum for under $4k, but you're going to have to manage potentially noxious fumes based on what material you're lasering. It's safe if used safely: the focal distance is 15-20mm from the lens, but all present should wear PPE.</p>

<p>Note: I work for Hyrel3D.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-14T16:38:39.767Z
2019-06-19T22:36:59.383Z
2019-06-19T22:36:59.383Z
Davo
<p>I would love to start a small engraving business without having to purchase expensive hardware. </p>

<p>Using scrap parts at home, or parts from broken CD players, are there any ways to make a laser engraver at home? My cousin managed to make one of his own from scraps.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-14T16:38:39.767Z
How cheap, what area, engraving what material?
Davo
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T00:37:33.503Z
There are ways to do one or several at home (I made one), try to look for laser forums.
Fernando Baltazar
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-15T22:15:13.957Z
I don't know anything about laser engravers, but you might find these links useful: [Make your own 3D printer for under \$60 using Components with Instructables Design](https://3dprint.com/23080/instructables-build-3d-printer/) and 
[Instructables – EWaste 60$ 3DPrinter by mikelllc in 3D-Printing](http://www.instructables.com/id/eWaste-60-3DPrinter/?ALLSTEPS)
Greenonline
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-16T09:09:54.577Z
This question is very opinion based, it's also asking for 'competent person' advice in terms of safety. If you want safe, pay someone who has insurance. Thinking a bit more about this question (and adding my downvote), I think it needs to be split into a few parts. Clearly a laser engraver _can_ be built from scrap, what is easier to answer in the context of this site is some details about 'is a CD player laser strong enough to engrave', what safety do I need with a CD laser (or other type if you go that way). The business aspect of using DIY hardware I think is way off topic.
Sean Houlihane
CC BY-SA 4.0
2018-08-16T09:11:31.000Z
"cheapest" is a pretty much impossible to answer question. One might arguably get it rather cheap if one converts a printer ot an engraver... This might best be a host for Laser-cutter questions interlinked or a general design consideration question. Basically there is a design triangle of "Cost-Safety-Versatility" to cover here: to go into one direction of this design triangle means to sacrifice in the other two, to to a compromise of two of these means to sacrifice in the third: there is no "Cheap-safe-AND-Versatile" machine.
Trish
<printer-building><laser>
How to build a cheap (but safe) laser engraver with spare parts
LtMuffin
# How to build a cheap (but safe) laser engraver with spare parts

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-08-13)

I would love to start a small engraving business without having to purchase expensive hardware.

Using scrap parts at home, or parts from broken CD players, are there any ways to make a laser engraver at home? My cousin managed to make one of his own from scraps.

**Tags:** printer-building, laser

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: How cheap, what area, engraving what material?  
> **username_2**: There are ways to do one or several at home (I made one), try to look for laser forums.  
> **username_3**: I don't know anything about laser engravers, but you might find these links useful: [Make your own 3D printer for under \$60 using Components with Instructables Design](https://3dprint.com/23080/instructables-build-3d-printer/) and  [Instructables – EWaste 60$ 3DPrinter by mikelllc in 3D-Printing](http://www.instructables.com/id/eWaste-60-3DPrinter/?ALLSTEPS)  
> **username_4**: This question is very opinion based, it's also asking for 'competent person' advice in terms of safety. If you want safe, pay someone who has insurance. Thinking a bit more about this question (and adding my downvote), I think it needs to be split into a few parts. Clearly a laser engraver _can_ be built from scrap, what is easier to answer in the context of this site is some details about 'is a CD player laser strong enough to engrave', what safety do I need with a CD laser (or other type if you go that way). The business aspect of using DIY hardware I think is way off topic.  
> **username_5**: "cheapest" is a pretty much impossible to answer question. One might arguably get it rather cheap if one converts a printer ot an engraver... This might best be a host for Laser-cutter questions interlinked or a general design consideration question. Basically there is a design triangle of "Cost-Safety-Versatility" to cover here: to go into one direction of this design triangle means to sacrifice in the other two, to to a compromise of two of these means to sacrifice in the third: there is no "Cheap-safe-AND-Versatile" machine.  

---

## 2 answers

### Answer by username_6 on 2018-08-15. Score: -2 | Accepted answer

If you do not have knowledge about the electronics then consider buying a cheap etching machine instead.

# Build

Take a look on <https://hackaday.com/> and search for laser engravers.

I have found following articles in few seconds:

* [Hackaday.com: DVD LASER DIODE USED TO BUILD A LASER ENGRAVER](https://hackaday.com/2013/05/06/dvd-laser-diode-used-to-build-a-laser-engraver/)
* [Hackaday.com: LASER PCB EXPOSER BUILT FROM CD-ROM DRIVES](https://hackaday.com/2016/03/14/laser-pcb-exposer-built-from-cd-rom-drives/)
* [Hackaday.com: HOMEBUILT LASER ENGRAVER USING SALVAGED PARTS](https://hackaday.com/2017/10/31/homebuilt-laser-engraver-using-salvaged-parts/)
* [Hackaday.com: ENTRY-LEVEL 3D PRINTER BECOMES BUDGET PCB MACHINE](https://hackaday.com/2017/11/27/entry-level-3d-printer-becomes-budget-pcb-machine/)

# Cheap laser engravers

And this one is about 2018 list of laser cutters/engravers: [15 Best Laser Cutters, Laser Engravers & AIO Machines of 2018](https://all3dp.com/1/best-home-desktop-laser-cutter-engraver-aio-machine/%20It%20lists%20machines%20around%20100$). It lists machines around 100$

* Meterk Laser Engraver ($125)
* NEJE DK-8-KZ ($70)
* QIILU Mini Laser Engraver ($130)
* SuperCarver K2 ($160)

# Safety

Laser could damage your eyes (imagine laser reflection or if the machine falls from table when it's working). Take a look on [wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety).

The best option is to use *acrylic cover* in same color as your laser, so you can observe the etching process and the laser beam is always blocked. For example take a look on orange cover of [Formlabs Form 2](https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-2/) 3d printer (it uses laser for printing).

Another protection is to wear *laser protection glasses*. Again the glasses must have same color as your laser.

Using laser for cutting or engraving means to burn material away. You should have good ventilation in the room.

Buy a *smoke detector* if you use cheap electronics with higher power consumption.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: This is a *mostly* link only answer. If the links die, which they usually do, then the answer will be not much use. Please edit and include a summary of each link, and the highlights  
> **username_4**: As an alternative to editing this, you can always delete it to earn the 'peer-pressure' badge. I think it's important to address the safety issues if you do answer this question. To clarify - not my downvotes (hadn't voted on the question till now)  
> **username_6**: @username_4 thanks for the critics. I rather try to improve the answer then just to delete it.  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2018-08-14. Score: 1

I have a printer and a diode laser head which will etch aluminum for under $4k, but you're going to have to manage potentially noxious fumes based on what material you're lasering. It's safe if used safely: the focal distance is 15-20mm from the lens, but all present should wear PPE.

Note: I work for Hyrel3D.


---

