How to choose your favorite and affordable desktop laser marking machine? This is a troublesome thing for many small DIY entrepreneurs. In fact, there are plentiful desktop laser marking machines on the market, handheld, all-in-one, detachable, etc., from models to lasers, the variety is dazzling. In terms of price, diode lasers are by far the lowest-priced desktop laser marking machine. They are loved by some handmade enthusiasts, but due to their lower output power, they are not the first choice for small DIY entrepreneurs. This also reflects that blindly pursuing low prices may have wasted money on the one hand, and on the other hand, they cannot meet their own needs. In this blog, we will analyze and give examples of the desktop laser marking machine brands currently on the market, and select a suitable desktop laser marking machine for you.

1. Why choose a Dual Laser Engraver?

• Compability of materials. For example, diode laser engraver is good at engraving or marking non-metallic materials, especially wood, leather, acrylic, etc., while fiber laser engraver can greatly handle metal materials, like strainless steel, aluminium, titanium alloy and so on. Thus, a Dual Laser Engraver is suitable for craftsmen who prefer to creating artworks on various materials.
  
• Sharper and clearer engraving patterns. Different lasers have different laser distance, which is 0.15mm diode laser and 0.06mm for fiber laser. And from this unite, we can use diode laser for filling, and fiber laser for precise engraving. 
  
• Faster engraving speed. For diode laser engraver, the highest engraving speed is 600mm/s, while fiber laser engraver is 10,000mm/s. If we put them together, we can engraving for a faster and sharper engraving work.
  
• A single machine replaces multiple machines. Compared with the purchase of two single-light-source equipment separately, the initial investment in the dual-light-source model is lower.
  

2. How much to charge for laser engraving?

In fact, running a small DIY business via laser marking machine, the cost of the machine is not the only spend, but the first. Before you purchasing for a desktop laser marking machine, you need to consider:

2.1 Material Cost

• Wood: It is one of the most commonly used raw materials for laser engraving and cutting, known for its smooth texture and ease of processing, making it the top choice for laser enthusiasts and novices alike. However, for small DIY entrepreneurs, the demand for wood is generally higher than that of ordinary enthusiasts, and to ensure the aesthetics and quality of their products, they have higher requirements for the materials. Therefore, manufacturers usually choose to purchase materials online or offline for secondary processing, which also generates the first cost of laser engraving.
  ps: Currently, a small number of merchants choose to repurpose waste materials, reprocessing discarded wood scraps or household waste wood products. This undoubtedly benefits both the environment and the wallet, but due to the limited source of materials in this model, it can only meet the needs of a small number of buyers.
  
• Metal: Metals, such as stainless steel, aluminum, titanium alloys, etc., are also one of the most common materials in daily life, and small DIY businesses, necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, dog tags, etc., are all places where metals shine. And metal is also the most familiar treatment material for fiber lasers. And this material is generally obtained through purchase.
• Acrylic: With its high light transmittance, diverse colors, and easy molding properties, has become a popular choice for laser engraving and cutting, especially suitable for making signs, display cases, decorative ornaments, and personalized gifts. Its cost is significantly affected by thickness, color, and transparency—the price of colored or special texture acrylic plates is usually 20%-50% higher than that of the transparent basic model.
  
• Leather: It is mostly used in laser engraving and cutting to personalize leather goods (such as wallets, straps, keychains) or artistic relief works. The cost difference between natural leather (cowhide, sheepskin) and synthetic leather is very different-the unit price of the former can reach 3-5 times that of the latter, but the natural material is more retro after laser engraved and presents a focal edge. When purchasing, you need to pay attention to the thickness of the leather (1.0-3.0mm is the mainstream) and the compatibility of the surface coating (some painted leather is easy to deform at high temperature). It is worth noting that the burnt smell generated by laser cutting needs to be equipped with an exhaust system, and the remaining material can be processed into small objects such as earrings and bookmarks to reduce marginal costs.   
• Paper: As one of the cheapest laser processing materials, paper is commonly used in greeting cards, three-dimensional books, paper carving lamps and other fine artistic creations. The cost of ordinary cardboard can be as the lowest, but the price of specialty paper (such as rice paper, metal foil paper, embossed textured paper) may soar by more than 10 times. Although the material itself is cheap, the laser parameters need to be precisely regulated, and the test loss may account for 15%-20% of the overall cost. Environmentalists often use recycled paper or waste wrapping paper, but they need to pay attention to the uneven engraving caused by impurities.
  

2.2 Accessories

Most DIY craftsmen will carry out secondary processing on the products after production, such as key chains need to wear iron rings, dog tags need to hang collars, rings need to be equipped with ring boxes, etc., and the secondary packaging of laser craft products will also be part of the cost.

2.3 Warranty for laser marking machine

In the process of using a desktop laser marking machine, some components will inevitably be wastaged, or the laser will fail. Therefore, it is necessary not only to choose an affordable laser marking machine, but also to choose a trustworthy brand to provide a guarantee for subsequent after-sales problems.

3. Affordable laser marking machine recommendation

At present, there are many types of diode desktop laser marking machines, but most of the power is among 5-15W, and the power is relatively low, mainly for manual enthusiasts. Lower power means longer time and slower efficiency. The maximum engraving speed of diode desktop laser marking machine is generally around 600mm/s, and the material compatibility is limited, but its processing on non-metallic materials is better than other types of lasers. In its unfamiliar metal material processing level, fiber lasers can make up for this, so diode plus fiber desktop laser marking may be the latest choice. The following are five dual-source desktop laser marking machines:

3.1 EM-Smart Dual --- 20W Fiber+20W Diode

1. Material Compability

Cuttable: 

• Diode laser: Paper, Wood, Leather, MDF, Felt, Dark opaque acrylic
  
• Fiber laser: Brass, Strainless steel, Aluminium
  

Engravable:

• Diode laser: Paper, Wood, Leather, MDF, Starinless steel, Some of dark opaque acrylic, Bamboo, Fabric, Dark glass, Ceramic, Jade, Marble, Shale, Cement, Brick, Plated metal, Painted metal.
  
• Fiber laser: Stainless steel, Aluminium
  

2. Engraving speed and precision:

• Fastest 10,000mm/s & ±0.002mm repart accuracy, also EM-Smart can engrave/cut at least 0.9mm into wood material with ease.
  

3. Expansion of working area: 

• 230mm*230mm horizontal working area & 150mm working height
  

4. Support rotary, curved, and bulk engraving

5. Integrated design, small area occupied, high safety performance:

• EM-Smart Dual is designed with protective enclosure which can effectively avoid laser damage. 

6. Maximum cuttable thickness for wood 17.88mm, black acrylic board 14.21mm, strainless steel sheet 0.53mm.

7. Internal Ventilation Fan:

• Equipped with an advanced air-cooling system, the EM-Smart Dual efficiently extracts heat, ensuring machine stability and reducing smoke for a healthier user experience.
  

8. Smart Built-in Camera of 800W, precise positioning of the engraving material

9. Comes with LightBurn, No Extra Purchase Needed, All EM-Smart Machines Covered. 2-year warranty for fiber, 1-year warranty for diode.