UV laser know-how is basically thrilling and has attention-grabbing benefits over extra typical laser varieties, but it surely has historically been a relegated to specialised industrial machines. That modified with ComMarker’s launch of the Omni 1, which made UV laser tech accessible. Now they’re again with the even higher ComMarker Omni X and I acquired to attempt it out.
Why UV?
“UV” is brief for “ultraviolet” and that refers back to the portion of the sunshine spectrum during which these lasers function (355nm for the Omni 1 and Omni X). As compared, diode lasers emit seen blue gentle (round 455nm), CO2 lasers emit gentle deep into the infrared vary (10,600nm), and fiber lasers emit gentle within the close to infrared vary (often round 1,064nm).
These wavelengths matter, as a result of they instantly have an effect on absorption, reflection, and transparency in several supplies. Diode lasers, for instance, usually can’t even mark clear acrylic. However CO2 lasers can simply lower that very same clear acrylic — although they wrestle with the reflectivity of most metals.
The beefy UV laser module.
Along with wavelength, the strategies for producing and focusing the laser beam fluctuate, leading to completely different beam properties. In comparison with different laser varieties, UV lasers are inclined to have a really small “spot” at the focus and a really brief focal vary. These properties yield actually attention-grabbing prospects, as you’ll see later.
UV lasers are typically referred to as “chilly lasers,” as a result of they will engrave materials with out transferring an extreme quantity of vitality that may trigger the fabric to warmth up — one thing that may trigger melting, warping, and discoloration with different laser varieties.
You possibly can even engrave Skittles (Wild Berry pack – Raspberry taste) with out melting the sweet.
That “chilly marking,” very advantageous element, broad materials compatibility, and high-contrast engraving are what make UV lasers fascinating. On high of that, they will do some cool issues in 3D in glass.
Omni X specs
The Omni 1 was ComMarker’s first UV laser machine and it was (and nonetheless is) helpful. However the Omni X has a ton of enhancements that make it way more usable, for my part.
The obvious is the enclosure, which is a giant deal to me. I don’t evaluation machines with out enclosures anymore, as a result of I think about them to be a security threat. So, it’s nice that the Omni X has one.
The Omni X additionally has an autofocus system, which the Omni 1 lacks. That’s definitely a very necessary comfort characteristic.
And the Omni X has an obtainable slide extension accent, which dramatically extends the working space within the X axis to accommodate a lot bigger supplies.
Earlier than I listing the remainder of the attention-grabbing specs, I wish to clarify that the Omni X, just like the Omni 1, has two obtainable lenses. They have to be swapped manually. One lens has a better point of interest, shorter focal vary, and might cowl an space of 70×70mm. The opposite has a wider “subject of view” and might cowl 150×150mm.
For many use circumstances, the 150mm lens is good. However the 70mm lens is critical for the 3D glass engraving and, at the least in idea, ought to have higher advantageous decision (although I didn’t discover a distinction).
Specs:
- Laser kind: UV
- Laser movement: Mirror galvanometer
- Laser wavelength: 355nm
- Laser energy: 5W or 10W
- Laser spot dimension: 0.0019mm
- XY positioning accuracy: 0.001mm
- Working space: 70×70mm to 150×400mm (with 150mm lens and slide extension)
- Max working pace: 10,000mm/s
- Max processing top: 235mm
Laser energy
The Omni X is accessible with a 5W or a 10W laser module, and my check unit got here outfitted with the 5W module. That is the primary UV laser I’ve examined, so I instantly in contrast that to a diode laser and thought “effectively, that’s fairly weak.”
I used to be improper about that and didn’t take into consideration how way more environment friendly UV lasers are than diode lasers (or CO2, or fiber).
On this case, 5W is greater than sufficient to depart deep engravings in metallic that you could really feel with a finger, even transferring at very quick speeds of two,000mm/s. It’s genuinely shocking to see, since you wouldn’t count on so little energy to take action a lot.
In lower than 10 seconds, I can engrave textual content or a emblem the dimensions of a US quarter in, say, aluminum. And that will probably be very seen and deep sufficient that I can simply really feel it.
It is usually highly effective sufficient to carry out 3D aid engraving in stone, wooden, metallic, and extra. That’s notably helpful in wooden as a result of, in contrast to with different laser varieties, you gained’t burn the fabric.
Unboxing and meeting
I’ll admit that when the ComMarker Omni X first arrived on my doorstep, I used to be confused. The field was a lot bigger and far heavier than I used to be anticipating. For some cause, I believed the Omni X was going to be a comparatively small machine and I used to be very improper about that.
The field was very giant and my workplace may be very messy.
This can be a hefty boy. The machine itself weighs in at 71 kilos and is 26.5 inches tall with the enclosure all the way in which closed. Apart from that enclosure protect, which is a few form of laser-resistant plastic, every part is sturdy metal.
Working alone, the meeting course of took me roughly 45 minutes to finish. That was largely a matter of bolting the Z axis movement system to the bottom, bolting the laser module to that, connecting the cables between the bottom and the laser module, mounting the enclosure, and attaching the protect to the enclosure.
These screw holes did not wish to line up
I did have a problem with the bolt holes on the enclosure and base not lining up very effectively, however with some muscle I used to be in a position to push them collectively and get the screws in to carry every part collectively.
Flat engraving
I used to be actually excited to get began, so I jumped proper in with engraving a number of the aluminum enterprise playing cards that ComMarker equipped with my machine. They’re coated and the machine simply engraved them at excessive pace.
My canine hasn’t but earned stage alignment.
I then switched to uncoated supplies, together with aluminum, metal, brass, wooden, and stone. Curiously, the Omni X appeared to carry out finest when marking and engraving metallic. It did that shortly and simply. Wooden required a bit slower speeds and better energy, which I discovered to be counterintuitive based mostly on my expertise with different laser varieties. Stone was even slower, however was nonetheless solely doable to engrave.
That is actual, real rock.
My impressions at that time have been superb and I used to be stunned by how effectively the Omni X engraved metallic, contemplating the comparatively low energy. I’ve used 20W fiber lasers that couldn’t mark metallic as simply as this 5W UV laser can.
Engraving on the floor of glass.
I discovered that it might additionally lower by means of skinny (underneath 0.5mm) aluminum in an affordable period of time. It nonetheless took many, many passes. However these have been fast passes, so it could be possible to do in a pinch.
However then…
Laser module failure 1
Throughout that preliminary testing, I ran right into a significant issue: the laser immediately turned very weak. I might now not see the “preview” laser in any respect (it’s the most important laser working at very low energy) and if I attempted engraving, the marks have been a lot, a lot lighter than they’d been.
Trying inside to see the mirrors of the galvanometer.
After speaking to ComMarker help, we got here to the conclusion that the laser module had failed. They despatched me a brand new laser module and I despatched again the unique, so they may tear into it and discover out what went improper.
I put in the brand new laser module and resumed testing.
Aid engraving
Flat engraving labored effectively, so I moved onto testing the aid engraving performance. That burns away layers of fabric, virtually like a reverse DLP resin 3D printer, abandoning a carving in aid.
I first tried that in brass and although it did work, it isn’t one thing I’d wish to do commonly. The UV laser beam is tiny and isn’t burning away a lot materials with every cross, so it takes a really very long time to do a aid in powerful materials. Potential? Sure. Sensible? In all probability not.
Subsequent, I attempted to do the identical factor in wooden. That labored effectively and was speedy sufficient to be sensible — quick sufficient that I didn’t understand I had lower all over the wooden after I stepped away for a couple of minutes.
That additionally highlights one of many advantages of the “chilly laser” know-how: it didn’t burn or scorch the encircling wooden, which might occur with different laser varieties.
I even tried aid engravings in pure stone and brick. Each labored, however have been taking so lengthy that I ended up stopping the roles a part of the way in which by means of. Like with brass, it appeared too sluggish to be sensible.
3D “inside engraving” in crystal
That is the ComMarker’s coolest get together trick. Put a block of glass underneath the laser and you’ll create a 3D etching inside the glass, like a suspended hologram.
Proof that I stay in Arizona.
That’s actually, actually neat and isn’t one thing you are able to do with most lasers.
It’s actually solely doable due to the distinctive geometry of the UV laser beam. The beam solely carries sufficient vitality to create a microfracture within the glass when it’s in focus and it is just in focus for a really brief distance. By directing the beam in X and Y, then transferring that point of interest in Z, the machine can produce microfractures at any level throughout the 3D quantity of the glass block. Add sufficient microfractures and also you get a visual “ghost” 3D mannequin within the glass.
This doesn’t work with all types of glass. ComMarker instructed me that it’s best-suited to “K9 glass” (typically referred to as “K9 crystal”), which is a kind of borosilicate crown glass with 9% lead oxide content material.
Fortunately, that’s simple to search out in quite a lot of sizes and styles.
It takes a few hours to do a 3D engraving in a 50×50×100mm K9 glass block, however the course of is basically neat to look at. Simply load an STL file, modify the dimensions and place, and also you’re able to go. The default energy and pace settings labored effectively for me.
I discovered the that the completed glass blocks look particularly good when resting on LED lights (Amazon sells a bunch of various varieties). I made one with Yoshi and Child Mario as a present for my dad (he cherished Yoshi’s Island) and it was a giant hit.
Laser module failure 2
I used to be again to being impressed with the Omni X, however then the laser module failed once more. The signs have been precisely the identical as with the primary failure.
Upon talking with ComMarker help, I discovered that another customers of those pre-production machines have been having related points. Apparently, the crystal ingredient used to provide the UV laser is kind of fragile. Warmth may additionally play an element — although I solely used the Omni X in my air-conditioned workplace.
That is the second laser module.
ComMarker stated they have been engaged on bettering reliability and would ship me a brand new laser module as quickly as their revisions have been completed. A few month later, that confirmed up on my doorstep.
As soon as once more, I swapped out the laser module and acquired again to testing.
Slide extension engraving
The obtainable slide extension accent provides you much more room to work with within the X axis on the Omni X, so you may engrave very lengthy objects (as much as 15.7” / 400mm lengthy).
The massive slide extension meeting.
The slide extension bolts onto the machine’s base and connects by way of a port on the again. Utilizing it is so simple as switching the mode within the ComMarker Studio software program. For those who’re utilizing the massive 150mm lens, you turn that within the “different” settings.
The password for these settings is: 123456 (I didn’t see that talked about anyplace within the handbook and easily guessed it)
The slide extension works effectively, transferring the work within the X axis whereas the laser galvo strikes the beam within the Y axis.
Engraving with the slide extension in place.
You possibly can’t fully shut the enclosure protect whereas the slide extension is in place, which does pose a small security concern. However I used to be in a position to decrease it to simply above the highest of the fabric, which felt protected sufficient for me.
Rotary engraving
There’s additionally a rotary accent obtainable for the Omni X. Like many such equipment today, it may be reconfigured for a large number of various jobs. There are rollers for giant issues and varied chucks/helps to accommodate oddly formed objects.
The rotary engraver with chuck in place.
Just like the slide extension, you may join it to a port on the again of the machine.
That is backwards, inflicting the engraving to be mirrored.
I simply sat the rotary accent on the bottom, so I might simply reposition it. As you may see, I unintentionally positioned it backwards and so the engraving on this ring, which was presupposed to say “Hackster Professional,” ended up mirrored.
Software program
Although I’ve coated the entire engraving modes above, I do wish to discuss a little bit bit concerning the software program: ComMarker Studio.
It’s primary, however practical. I didn’t discover it to be notably user-friendly or intuitive, but it surely isn’t archaic or cryptic, both. The necessary stuff is all there for loading photographs, getting into textual content, and adjusting job parameters.
The ComMarker Studio software program.
There’s additionally a cloth library to retailer settings in your jobs, however you’ll must fill it in your self. So, as soon as you discover good settings for, say, 6061 aluminum engraving, it can save you these for the longer term. However don’t anticipate finding settings able to go — you need to experiment and decide the perfect settings by means of trial and error.
Conclusion
I’m actually impressed with the potential of the ComMarker Omni X — at the least when it’s working. For under being 5W, it packs a critical punch and might simply engrave metallic. And it may well achieve this in a short time, which is superior.
The slide extension and rotary extension equipment labored effectively, too. Total, the construct high quality is nice and every part is tremendous sturdy.
And, in fact, the 3D crystal engraving is basically neat. It isn’t one thing you are able to do with another laser kind, so the Omni X is ideal if you wish to make that form of factor.
Nevertheless, the truth that I had two laser modules fail is a giant deal. That makes it actually troublesome for me to advocate the Omni X, as a result of with a worth beginning at $4,599, the danger is kind of excessive for patrons.
ComMarker tells me that the Omni X comes with a one-year guarantee and that they’ve labored on bettering the reliability. However as is all the time the case, I can solely report alone experiences.
So, for now, I’d advocate ready to buy an Omni X till extra long-term evaluations are available in. Hopefully the laser module reliability points will probably be resolved on the manufacturing machines and patrons can really feel extra assured buying.
