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If you’re looking for the best laser engraver for tumblers, then your best bet is CO2 lasers – they’re simply the best laser engravers for tumblers out there especially for semi pro work/hobby (and they wont break the bank).
Below we reviews our favorite 3 picks to point you in the right direction as you scour the market for the best laser engraver for tumblers..
Best laser engraver for tumblers: Top 3 picks
Before we dive into our best recommendations for your home /hobby projects, it is important to mention that while there are tons of cheap tumbler engravers, most won’t cut it.
What you want is a minimum of approximately 40 watts (assuming you will go the CO2 route).
Keep in mind that the prices ramp quickly if you need more power.
OMTech CO2 Laser Engraving Machine 12″ x 20″ 50W
This engraves on rtic/yetti/ ozar tumblers (All sizes) very well and it’s a much cheaper option compared to premium engraving machines like Glowforge.
And yes, the Orion Motor Tech CO2 laser engraver machine for tumblers includes a rotary attachment (for cylindrical objects).
Key Specs
| Power | 50W |
| Dimensions | 40″X25.6″X24.8″ |
| Software | Ruida DSP Control System |
| Speed of engraving | 0-23.62 in/s |
| Engraving/Cutting Thickness | 0 to 0.2″(depending on the material) |
| Data Transfer Interface | USB to PC; Flashdrive; Ethernet To PC; Offline Capability |
| Rotary Device | Yes |
| Working Size | 12″X20″ |
| Compatible System | Windows; MacOS (but with LightBurn software which is not included) |
| Resolution | 4500 dpi (max) |
| Cutting Speed | 0-15.75in/s |
| Lift Table | 0-9.1″ |
| Supported Graphic Formats | BMP; GIF; J HPGL; PG; DXF; DST; JPEG; Al; etc |
| Cooling | Water Cooling & Protection System |
Pros
- Well wired (and aligned) out of the box.
- Works flawlessly once you get the hang of it.
- Great price
Cons
- Tech support can be better.
- Instructions not very clear.
Boss LS-1416
If you’re looking for a “desktop” machine under $5K that won’t disappoint, the Boss LS-1416 is the tool you need to invest in.
The boss is of significantly higher quality, has a lot more capability/versatility (it has a nice collection of features to make engraving and other jobs easier), and is very, very reliable.
But it will certainly cost you a lot more once you add the chuck rotary tool(sold separately).
Key Specs
Cutting Area: 15.75″ X 13.75″ / 19.75″X13.75″
Laser Power:CO2 Glass 50w -Optional 70w (Cuts Up To 3/8” Wood/Acrylic)
Material Capability: Non-Metal/ Organics- Can also mark treated metals
Software: 2021 Lightburn Software
Dimensions: 61.5”X36.6”X45.3″ (-70W Tube Extension and Stand)
Z-Table: Push Button Lower/Raise 7.5″
Material Platform: Both Honeycomb and Knife Blade Platforms
Venting: Air Exhaust Fan with Extended Venting Pipe
Platform Capacity: 30 Lbs. (max) Lifting 35 Lbs. (Static)
Power: Standard AC 110v (220V can be requested)
OS: Windows/Mac OS/Linux (32-bit Or 64-Bit)
Laser /PC Connectivity:USB + Wi-Fi Networking
Machine Stand: Steel Stand W/ Casters For Mobility: 14″ Height (Optional Accessory)
Job Memory Capacity:128MBs Via USB Flash Drive
Warranty: 2-Years Parts, 1-Year Laser Tube
Machine Weight:415Lbs
Pros
- Fantastic customer service.
- Solidly built.
- Smooth, frosted finish.
Cons
- Costlier than OMTech CO2 Laser Engraving Machine
PS: Here is a Video showing you how to engrave tumblers with the Boss Laser 1416.
K40 laser cutter/engraving machine 40W CO2 Engraving/Laser Cutting Machine (with USB Port)
The K40 is the absolute minimum beginner level CO2 laser machine and is our 3rd and final pick.
Indeed, the K40 is one of the most reasonably priced yet very capable CO2s – Engraving can be done flawlessly on a ton of materials (glass, steel -with laser engraving coating- stone, anodized aluminum, etc.)..
Keys specs
Application: Laser Engraving
Applicable Materials: Acrylic, Crytal, Glass, Leather, MDF, Metal, Paper, Plastic, Plexiglax, Plywood, Rubber, Stone, Wood, laser engraving machine
Engraving Area:300mmx200mm
Laser Type:CO2
Engraving Speed:0-350mm/s
Graphic Formats Supported: AI, BMP, Dst, Dwg, DXF, DXP, LAS, PLT, laser engraving machine
Cooling: Water Cooling
Place of Origin: China
Laser power: 40w
Dimension: 36.22×24.41×15.75inch(L*W*H)
Weight (Lbs): 56.54857
Warranty: 1 Year
After Warranty Service: Online support, Video technical support, Online support
Pros
- Cheap laser engraver for tumblers.
- Has a variety of cool settings/options.
- You can upgrade it easily to get more features.
Cons
- Setting it up properly takes a bit of tinkering.
Best laser engraver for tumblers: More picks
Flux Beamo Desktop 30W Laser Cutter/Engraver
You can as well use this personal hobby desktop engraver for your hobby engraving projects at the beginning (as you wait to upgrade to a much bigger laser) as well.
You, however, need to order the rotary add-on (for doing tumblers/cups) separately.
TEN-HIGH industrial Laser Engraving Machine – Best engraving machine for tumblers for commercial application
If you’re using the engraver professionally, we would suggest looking into the commercial-oriented TEN-HIGH CO2 (400x600mm, 60W-120V) Upgraded Version Laser Engraving Machine (with USB Port).
It will cost you an arm and a leg but it will pay back in no time as long as you get enough business.
Another wonderful option is the 50w Fiber Laser Engraving Machine JPT Etching/Marking Machine (with 300mm Lens +100mm Rotary Attachment)
High end engraving machine for tumblers
Overall, Trotec, Epilog, and Universal occupy the high-end market and tend to outsell their competition because they typically use top quality parts and offer best support.
In addition, these have significantly higher engraving speeds.
Now, Universal and Epilog are American made so they are likely to get repair parts to you way faster than almost everyone else.
As regards Trotec, it compares favorably in the top-of-the-line market despite being made in Austria.
To be clear, Trotec CO2 laser machines are typically best for people who plan to run the engraver 8+ hours per day or really need to reduce their downtime.
That said, they too come at a premium- and their parts won’t come cheap either when they do break.
For that reason, most professionals use mid-level brands such as Boss, Full Spectrum Laser, Aeon, Bodor (Bodor BCL 0605 Laser Engraving Machine is awesome) and a few other mid brands.
Of all these mid brands, Boss has the most positive reviews for support so their Boss LS-1416 machine can be an excellent option (That’s why we recommended it above).
Remember the key differences in these machines are the engraving/parts/software quality, durability, and quality of customer service.
Wrapping up
As mentioned earlier, if you get to a point where you want to make the jump to one of those big machines to save time on the job, you can go for Epilog/Trotec and probably GCC/Universal.
The only issue is that these are all priced well over $5k.
That being so, you can go for a mid-range engraving machine for tumblers that stands out like the Boss LS-1416 – The 1416 is a beast and will reward you all the time (it will be fine even if you want to be running it for hours every day).
On the other hand- and I had forgotten this- Glowforge is ideal if you just have random pieces to do (maybe a couple of times/ week) though you need a live internet connection (Glowforge uses cloud-based software).
Lastly, you can get some decent alternatives including Rabbit/Thunder machine- These use technology that’s closer to cheaper “Chinese” machines though they are western companies so they’re better in terms of quality and tech support should you need it.
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