2-in-1 5500 m W Module Engraver CNC 3018 Pro-M Engraving Machine, TopDirect GRBL Control 3 Axis CNC Router Kit Working Area 30x18x4.5cm, with Offline Controller Router Bits for Wood Plastic Acrylic

This isn't my first rodeo with these machines but it is my first with the laser. I have an older 2418 machine that I've worked with quite a bit. This 3018 size gives me a bit more working surface for larger items. It went together very easily, all of the parts were there and the pictorial instructions that were included made it an easy job.I like the enclosure around the controller board - my other machine doesn't have this - and I like the reset button on the controller board, also something lacking on my first machine.Using the router head, the operation is identical to the other machine except that I have the option with this machine to use the offline controller. Nice, because I can be running one job on the first machine connected to the computer and running another job on this machine with the offline controller.My original machine has a spindle motor holder designed for a laser, just as this new one does. I thought that I'd get a new machine with the laser instead of just buying a laser to use on the first machine. I'm an admitted gadget junkie.I've been able to run a few projects with the laser and am very pleased with it so far. My CAM software (BobCAD) has some very basic generic laser controls but I'm presently looking for CAM software more adept at working with laser machines, especially in the area of laser control. BobCAD has great controls for spindle speeds and depths plus feeds and speeds but it doesn't have these same controls for laser machines.All in all, I am very pleased with this machine. It went together easily and quickly and it worked perfectly on first power up. I really like that it gives me something new to learn.

I am a beginner at this. The whole thing was fairly easy to assemble in less than an hour, it is easy to get up and started if you are familiar at all with GRBL. It works, it does its job.My issues have been in part due to a lack of previous knowledge regarding the software, but also in part due to some low quality of the device.The laser head has been my focus over the past couple of months, and it is the only thing I feel confident remarking on at the moment.In the description, when I purchased this, it said that the laser was good for engraving soft metals including aluminum specifically, which is great because that is exactly what I was after, besides engraving some leather as well.On leather it was great, but keep the power level down or you will burn pretty deep pretty quickly.On the aluminum it created varying results, I assume due to the finish of the aluminum.The focus is fairly difficult to fine-tune but mostly doable. It never gets to a round pinpoint but rather has a slight line shape to the beam which does not lend well to accuracy, but it was good enough for what I was doing.After a few weeks, and maybe a dozen or so aluminum engravings, and mind you these were 20-30 minute engravings, the laser was no longer functioning with any kind of power and was not getting a good engraving in the aluminum at all.The seller claimed that it is no good for aluminum and said it was my fault.I showed them what the listing said, and they immediately changed their story and told me that it is fine for aluminum but should be considered a consumable, and offered me a one-time replacement, which is great considering the issue arose before the 30-day warranty was up, but terrible because I had to twist their arm with their own item description to even get that offer.It took around 3 more weeks for the replacement to come in, and I have simply resigned to not using it to engrave aluminum for the time being. I would recommend getting a higher-power better-quality laser with this instead of going through the hassle. If you plan for that then I don't believe you will be disappointed.

I received this 2 in 1 engraver. Assembly was fine. But the thing does NOTHING. Won't connect to a computer, motors won't move. The manufacturer's customer service is completely non-responsive. I sent it back for a replacement. The replacement was the exact same. The thing does not do anything. Good for nothing but a paper weight. Save yourself some aggravation and purchase a different engraver machine that will actually work.

Where do I get help? The laser does not work when running a project. It worked fine to start, but after I tried to focus the laser and inputting "M3 S50" it stopped working. Is there a $ command to change back from M3 S50?

Assembling this was a lot more work than assembling my 3D printer, but the instructions (all pictures) were really easy to follow. Work on a flat surface and put everything together the way the pictures show you and you should have no problems.Running with the spindle, the machine is quite loud, but I expected that. It caved some scrap pieces of wood easily. I don't think I'd try to use it as-is on aluminum or anything harder, but there are upgrades you can buy or build to make this a much more capable machine.The laser is bright, even at half power with the glasses on. Wear the glasses at all times while the laser is running, don't take any chances with your eyesight. At full power it was too powerful to burn any of the example SVGs into a piece of scrap wood, it just left a charred mess. After setting the laser to half power (max power 500 in LaserGRBL) and increasing the feed rate a little I was able to get good results.

I am a older person and I don’t have great computer skills. I was able to assemble the 3018 with the instructions that came with the machine. That was end of any instructions. After several hours of online and, I mean days, I was able with some trial and error to get the basic down and make it work. I enjoy the outcome and consider time well spent. For my next learning experience I am going to work with the laser.

I haven’t tried this machine yet because we are still putting it together. Instructions are wrong and we had to tale it apart three times and figure out where everything go.