While wondering down another rabbit hole, I was reminded that a fiber laser engraver for etching metal (part number, alignment marks, scales/graduations, destructions) would be a nice thing to have around at work.
Who here has one?
Make and Model.
Quality
Usefulness or just new toy, now it sits on the shelf gathering dust.
Looking at something sub $2k. Already blew my nut on a lathe.
What kind of working area are you after? Xtool has a 220x220 mm 20 watt.
I’m still impressed with the accuracy of my xtool D1 pro. Once adjusted right, it’s dead on. I’d like more power, but I’m not ready to buy a new module yet. It’s only a diode.
I don’t have one but I’ve been looking. My buddy has a DTC brand and works it to death.
Not a huge work area.
The desktop models are about right, ComMarker has one that is dual use mount or handheld. That feature I like for stuff that just won’t be practical trying to get on the mounted version.
I don’t see a need for anything over a 6" x 6" at this time.
I have one. Just got it and still have a lot to learn. So very different than my CO2 laser. Mine is a 100 watt GA model from Monport. Got a screamin’ deal but still a whole lot more than $2K. One thing to be aware of, most of the fiber lasers don’t have an enclosure, though the deal I got had one and l absent mindedly left the door open. I made a sideways glance while it was engraving on stainless steel and now my left eye has a really annoying dead spot like a giant floater. I am hoping it heals but I may have to live with it for forever. Take extreme care and ALWAYS wear safety glasses.
Man, that sucks. These very high powered lasers are extremely dangerous. Very easy to get reflected energy without any protection. Good luck with your injury.
The injury has lessened its affect on the vision in my injured left eye; healing a bit I presume. Hopefully it continues to heal. One thing for anyone with a laser to remember, you have to be 100% reliably wearing your safety glasses because 99.9% means you will eventually get flashed and the laser doesn’t care that it was only that one time…
Kind of like plasma, does not care what is in front of it, it gets the full 30k*F treatment.
I’ve triple checked the specs on my lasers and my glasses. My eyes get sore if I watch at all, so now it’s monitored by camera and I’m not in the room.
Careful with that if you laser acrylic - the off-gasses can catch fire which then burns the acrylic and then you’re roasting marshmallows on the remnants of your shop 
An air assist is a great investment to push the gases away from the laser beam.
Good to know. I haven’t cut any acrylic but I have some I’ve been wanting to experiment with.
I’ve got the air assist on my xtool, is that enough? And I’Ve got the 8 inch harbor freight ventilator with the hose on in for exhaust out the window.
Its a Wyze camera I can pull up on my phone and continuously monitor.
I have the Ikier 20W fiber laser; it’s a standard XY gantry style. Works well. Their basic settings chart is crap and it has taken a long time to document different materials. If I were to do over, I might go with a ComMarker B4 20-30W Galvo instead. Just need to get my money’s worth on the Ikier. I have an expanded frame Ikier 36W diode which has done what I’ve needed.