CrealityLaser Engraver 22W Output, 120W High Power Laser Engraving Machine, CNC Laser Cutter and Engraver Machine for Metal and Wood, Paper, Acrylic, Glass, Leather etc, 17" x 16"

. Pros: The machine is quality built, and assembly is somewhat straightforward. It operates smoothly and seems very accurate. The provided gcode example was cut cleanly and accurately on the two pieces of basswood provided in the kit. The files on the included microSD card (i.e. comes installed on a USB-A reader) are useful and includes a User Manual, controller software ( Lightburn (30 day trial) and LaserGRBL), operation video, focusing video, and firmware update instructions (i.e. get the latest firmware release for this model from the Creality.com website). Also note that this unit comes with laser safety glasses (required to protect your eyes from the light emitted by the laser beam)..Cons: None as far as the machine quality and operation is concerned.General Info/Advice for Beginners:1. Buying the laser engraver/cutter is only the first item you need.BEFORE YOU USE THE LASER:2. You must adequately vent the gases and smoke generated by the laser engraving/cutting process if using the unit indoors. My preference was to purchase the Creality Laser Engraver Enclosure which has an 80mm (3”) vent fan and hose and thick colored plastic zippered access panel on top that helps protect your vision. Note that my use is in a cellar with a casement window that is 30’ away from where I had to locate the laser unit. I upgraded and modified the enclosure to contain a 120mm vent fan capable of moving 141 cu ft/min. And attached 30’ of expandable conduit (similar to a dryer hose) to a dryer vent through the window (i.e replaced the glass window with a pane of transparent acrylic). This setup works well.3. A honeycomb cutting table is necessary to protect your workbench/table that the laser is on. I bought the Creality Cutting Table for Laser Engravers kit. It comes with the aluminum honeycomb unit, an aluminum bottom plate, and a set of leg risers for raising the engraver frame so you can accommodate large objects and a separate roller unit that allows you to engrave cylindrical objects. I’ll do a separate review on the the honeycomb kit.4. For this unit, an air assist unit greatly enhances the engraving and burning operation results. It helps to minimize burn and soot marks on the piece being worked on. I bought the Creality Air Assist for LaserEngraver which works very well. I’ll do a separate review for that.

I opted for the 10W version and found it to be quite capable. It engraved intricate designs onto wood with precision and effectively cut through 1/4" birch plywood from a big box store, producing clean, smooth edges.For the cuts, there was some minor burning along the edges. This wasn't an issue for my project, as the pieces were being painted. However, optimizing the laser settings could help minimize this burning.Setting up the machine physically was straightforward. However, configuring the software (LightBurn) and getting it to function as intended had a bit of a learning curve. Thankfully, there are helpful tutorials available online.A few tips for others:* Ensure the machine is placed on a perfectly flat and stable surface. Consider looking online for potential upgrades if you’re running into issues.* If making multiple cuts, secure the machine to prevent movement. Using wood blocks along the outside corners can be effective.* Laser out a grid on your work surface to use as a reference for precise placement. This will greatly improve your accuracy and efficiency.* Always wear appropriate safety gear, including laser safety glasses, when operating the machine.Overall, this is a fun and useful tool with a good price-to-performance ratio.

So I purchased this laser to use it with another Atomstack item, the R5. I alredy had a 10W laser and didnt need a second one. Howere due to misleading product ad I had to purchase this laser to use my conveyor.Shipping was on time, arrived in good shape. Upon assembly its almost identical to my other laser. Pros:Software Contorllable air assist port, screen port?, wifi antenna... Safety glasses are orange tint, which makes it easier to see than emerald tint. Preinstalled air assist nozzle. Multiple software options.Cons:Wifi antenna, screen port - nothing in documentation about these, not sure if they work or not.So to the technical side of review. Standard Frame build was reasonably simple, all pre assembled pieces were tight and in good tolerances. On the laser its a "fixed" focus, which is problematic for using with R5 conveyor. You have to make a few changes to your maxhine for it to work. The slide on the laser needs to be longer to accommodate using this accessory. Motion seems fairly smooth, steppers are relatively quiet. Laser shielding at busness end is adequate. Comes with a preinstalled air nozzle for air assistRating based on:Functionality as expected= +3 stars,Safety equipment : +1 Star,Focus depth: -1 star.Nozzle: +1 star,Available accessories +1Summary: Standard Frame Design, easy to use but you have to learn it, multiple software options, Medium value for this price point. Great first laser, with many accesory options available

After only 3 months of use I had to return this item. No useful troubleshooting options and NO Customer support. The company is based in China so good luck getting any help when this machine stops working!!! Don’t buy it, it’s not worth the money or hassle to return!

Product didn’t work. Customer service responded timely and offered a full refund.