What is a K40 Laser Cutter or Engraver? How does it work? What materials can a 40W CO2 laser engrave? Laser Engraving & Laser Cutting Capability.

What is a K40 Laser Engraver?

For many laser engraving beginners, a K40 laser cutter may sound familiar as the term has been thrown around in numerous laser engraver forums and videos. The name K40 laser simply refers to an affordable 40W Desktop Laser Engraver that costs around $500 or less, such as that from OMTech. The good news is that these DIY laser cutters do not just cut into various materials, they also engrave, etche, and mark within its power limit and engraving area.

This K40 laser cutter engraver was uniquely crafted to help beginners have a seamless welcome into the world of laser engraving. It has a simple build, user interface, and general appearance that makes you feel confident around it even as a beginner. In the next few paragraphs, let’s examine the mode of operation, the features, and the exceptional capabilities of the K40 laser engraver. Without further ado, let’s dive in!

How does the K40 laser cutter engraver work?

This machine is made up of a CO2 laser tube which produces the needed medium for cutting or engraving a variety of different materials. The CO2 laser tube contains a mix of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium, and hydrogen through which electricity passes with mirrors on both ends. As electricity runs through this mix of gases it generates powerful light energy forming a laser beam. At each end of the laser tube, there is a reflective and absorbent mirror respectively. These initial mirrors concentrate the laser beam before reflecting it off of three more mirrors which form a laser pathway, directing the beam into the target material.

As the beam travels, it reaches the laser head nozzle which houses the focal lens, further concentrating, or focusing the beam into an extremely precise chisel capable of cutting and engraving. For cutting or engraving to take place, the material has to absorb the laser beam with a melting effect. This melting is partial for engraving a mark but complete for cutting to take place. Generally, you would achieve quick and precise cutting and engrave with a CO2 laser beam.

Features of K40 Laser Cutter and Engravers

Compatibility with Materials

The fact that the K40 laser cutter engraver is a desktop size machine does not limit its versatility or capability. It can cut or engrave numerous materials; however, it has an engraving depth and cutting thickness limit. The OMTech 40W laser cutter can cut up to ⅛″ (3 mm) thick plywood and acrylic. These DIY laser cutter and engraver machines are capable of cutting 12 different materials while it can also etch and mark about 19 materials including glass, stone, marble, and metal (metals must use laser marking spray).

What materials can a 40W CO2 laser engrave?

• Acrylic
• Wood
• Leather
• Plastics
• Fabrics
• Glass
• Rubber
• Cork
• Brick
• Granite
• Marble
• Tile
• River Rock
• Bone
• Melamine
• Phenolic
• *Aluminum
• *Stainless Steel
• *Titanium

*CO2 LASERS WILL MARK BARE METALS ONLY WHEN ANODIZED OR TREATED.

What materials can a 40W CO2 laser cut?

• Acrylic
• *Wood
• Leather
• Plastics
• Fabrics
• MDF
• Cardboard
• Paper
• Corian
• Foam
• Fiberglass
• Rubber

*CANNOT CUT HARDWOODS LIKE MAHOGANY

Convenient Size

When you purchase this DIY laser cutter engraver, all you need is a workspace that is a little above 640in2  to place. You also get an 8” ×12” engraving area at your disposal for engraving/cutting your favorite materials. This makes it perfect for hobbyists in small and non-industrial settings such as a garage, office, basement, living room etc. In addition, this engraving area also has a vented board on which you lay your workpiece for cutting or engraving. The engraving area has a Z-height of 0.5’’ with the board in place, but increases to 2.5” when removed.

Laser Engraving & Laser Cutting Capability

As mentioned earlier, this DIY laser engraver machine can conveniently cut and engrave different materials. But its capability varies in completing these two operations. For instance, the engraving speed of a typical K40 laser cutter is between 100-255 mm/s while the cutting speed lies between 1-20 mm/s. You can still slice through materials like butter, it just takes a little bit longer than engraving, which is ultra-fast.

Powerful CO2 Laser Tube

How long does a K40 laser last?

The CO2 laser tube is rated to produce a maximum of 40W power and can last up to 2,000 hours in operation. However, the longevity of this laser tube depends on the frequency of usage. When used between 10-40% power settings it can last up to 2,000 hours, and at 40-70% usage it can last up to 1,200 hours. Adequate water cooling is essential to maximize the lifespan of a laser tube.

K40 Lasers: Frequently Asked Questions

This section contains answers to popular questions about the K40 laser cutter.

Can a K40 Laser Cutter cut wood?

Yes, K40 lasers can cut wood perfectly, and it does this fast and precisely without burning or charring it. Although it is not suitable for hardwood, softwood and MDFs are just fine for this machine.

What can you do with a K40 laser cutter?

K40 laser cutter engravers are truly the ultimate DIY laser cutters ideal for small projects and DIY crafts. With this machine, you can create crafts like awards and plaques, custom signage, custom decorations, custom kitchenware, custom key holder etc.

Why should I buy a K40 laser cutter?

An OMTech K40 laser cutter has a simple build, yet it is sophisticated and fully integrated with the latest technologies. It has a built-in ventilation system necessary to aid the performance of the laser by cooling. You also have red-dot guidance to help from start to finish of the cutting process for maximum precision and accuracy.

Take away

With this blog, you must have learned how a K40 laser cutter works, its unique features, and its capabilities. More so, the combination of superior functionality and affordable pricing makes OMTech’s K40 laser cutter stand out among its contemporaries. All this information is expected to guide you as a beginner both before and after getting yourself a DIY laser cutter. Know that K40 laser is an umbrella term and it encompasses different variants of a 40W CO2 Laser Engraver that you can select from.

You can be certain of getting the best K40 laser engraver when you shop with OMTech. You stand to benefit from a dedicated U.S Customer Support team, competitive prices, access to training and installation, and that’s not all! As a beginner, you get to join their community of users on social media to share ideas and get inspiration from hobbyists and businesses alike. Buy OMTech today, to join a winning team!