Laser cutting and etching
From Grand River Makerspace Wiki
Laser Cutting & Engraving Area
⚠️ LASER SAFETY GLASSES REQUIRED WHEN MACHINE IS OPERATING ⚠️
⚠️ NEVER LEAVE LASER UNATTENDED WHILE RUNNING ⚠️
Laser Machines
- CO2 Lasers — Best for cutting and engraving non-metals (wood, acrylic, leather, fabric, paper, anodized aluminum, and more).
- OMTech 80W CO2 Laser (Red/Black) — Primary workhorse machine; fully operational.
- 130W CO2 Laser — Larger 4ft x 3ft bed; currently awaiting electrical hookup.
- Noua 50W MOPA Fiber Laser — For metal marking, engraving, and color marking on stainless steel, titanium, brass, and copper. Also works on ceramics and stone. ⚠️ Use portable fume extractor near machine.
- ComMarker Omni X 5W UV Laser — Ideal for engraving plastics, glass, and coated metals without heat damage. Great entry point for tumbler engraving with the R5 Rotary attachment. ⚠️ Use portable fume extractor near machine.
- Diode Laser — Entry-level machine; good for light engraving on wood, leather, and some plastics. Lower power than CO2.
Equipment
Laser Machines
| Item | Model | Specifications | Safety Training Required | Owner's Manual & Resources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CO2 Laser (80W) | OMTech 80W | 80W, 28" x 20" (500mm x 700mm) bed; autofocus currently disabled (pending repair) | Yes — Mandatory | User Manual |
| CO2 Laser (130W) | 130W CO2 Laser | 130W, 4ft x 3ft (1219mm x 914mm) bed; autofocus status unknown ⚠️ Currently awaiting electrical hookup — not yet operational |
Yes — Mandatory | — |
| MOPA Fiber Laser | Noua 50W MOPA | 50W; bed size varies by lens: • 254mm lens — 160mm x 160mm (6.3" x 6.3") • 420mm lens — 400mm x 400mm (15.7" x 15.7") ⚠️ Use portable fume extractor near machine Software: LightBurn Pro required (EZCad2 Galvo controller) |
Yes — Mandatory | Generic User Manual Noua Product Page |
| UV Laser | ComMarker Omni X 5W | 5W UV (355nm); bed size varies by lens: • 150mm lens — 150mm x 150mm — everyday workhorse for flat engraving and general work • 70mm lens — 70mm x 70mm — 3D internal glass/crystal engraving and high precision work ⚠️ Use portable fume extractor near machine Software: LightBurn Pro required, or use free ComMarker Studio on your own laptop |
Yes — Mandatory | User Manual Omni X Product Page |
Software note: All machines are compatible with LightBurn. The ComMarker Omni X also supports ComMarker Studio — free to download and use on your own laptop.
Support Equipment
| Item | Model | Specifications | Notes | Safety Training Required | Owner's Manual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fume Extractor | Generic portable fume extractor | HEPA filtration | ⚠️ Required when using the Fiber Laser or UV Laser unti |
