Hello, do you reccomend the laser from BambuLab? I can barely find any good informations.
Can people share about it?
Or do you reccomend another laser engraver (maximal 300€)
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Before diving into purchasing a laser, it’s important to consider why you’re interested in one. Do you have specific projects in mind, or are you simply eager to learn a new tool? If you’re looking for an all-in-one device, the H2D/S + Laser can be a suitable choice. However, from my experience using a commercial laser engraver, I would personally avoid a combo unit that integrates both functions.
This isn’t to say that a combo unit is a poor choice for those who occasionally need to complete a quick project. It simply means that, given my workflow and the heavy usage of both laser engraving and 3D printing, I don’t have the time to clean up after laser engraving or cutting before I start 3D printing. Additionally, with even light-duty laser usage, soot can accumulate in hard-to-reach places, eventually causing a lingering smell that may absorb into the filament.
Returning to my initial point, if you can afford the cost and want the convenience of an all-in-one device, it’s a great option. However, if you plan on engaging heavily in laser engraving and want to focus on learning that craft, a dedicated laser engraver is the more cost-effective choice. I hope this helps!
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Also, take a look at Fiber lasers as opposed to the Diode laser on the H2. Not sure that will stay within your budge, but there are different lasers for different tasks, so ask yourself what your goal is, then pick a laser that meets that goal.
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What would I use the H2x + laser for?
- for occasional use
- preferably metal engraving
What I definitely wouldn’t buy the H2x + laser for again:
- wood engraving / wood cutting
I just cut 7 panels with the H2D + 40W laser. It smokes profusely, and there’s also a massive buildup of deposits in the machine, especially on the laser plate. These deposits can only be cleaned with dish soap, a brush, and hot water, and they have to be cleaned. These deposits pose a fire hazard during subsequent use.
I have the H2S Laser Combo and love it. I haven’t used other lasers, so take whatever I say knowing that.
Things I sort of knew going in but are way more reinforced now; a few things I had no idea about:
- I have avoided smoke producing materials. I’ve engraved/cut/etched acrylics, tumblers, glass, packing foam, hardboard, etc. I’ve mostly avoided wood other than engraving an image or two on cutting boards. I haven’t cut any wood and don’t really plan to. I know everything produces gas/soot/etc, but I haven’t seen much actual smoke with the items I have used the laser on.
- I’ve used the laser for prob 40hrs or more. I’ve cleaned the inside 3 times and nothing has been on the cloths I’ve used. There is no residue, ash, char, etc. probably because I avoid wood. I will keep cleaning (takes about 5min) every 10 or so hrs just in case. I think the exhaust system also helps a lot in keeping it clean.
- The largest frustration by far is that Bambu Suite is a beta at best. It has lots of quirks and requires lots of trials/test. From my extensive research, this is true for lasers in general as there is a wide range of material variants. Although Bambu Suite doesn’t make the process any easier, it will get better as they develop it. I haven’t ruined anything, but I’ve definitely had initial mediocre results and after a tweak or two, solid results. Don’t expect to use the laser on a family heirloom and get it right the first time.
- While it is smart and has so many sensors, it is amazing how often the stupid laser head knocks into anything higher than 10mm. My new process for tall materials is to set the heigh to 200mm initially and then use the targeted measuring tool with the door open so I can stop the dumb thing before damage is done.
- I don’t have the room nor do I want a dedicated laser. It is nice to be able to engrave/cut things every so often between 3d printing tasks. If I had a laser, it would sit in the garage 99% of the time and collect dust. I would also use it more infrequently because I would have to go through the rigamarole of setting it up and getting another exhaust system working.
- Their recommendation of just throwing the exhaust tube out a window and you’ll be fine, is BS. I was setting up my exhaust system and figured I’d try the window thing to get a before/after. Needless to say, my office stunk for a day after just 10min of cutting acrylics. I have a 200cfm exhaust system now and it is awesome. The only time I smell anything is when I first open the door, but that goes away very quickly. BTW: My setup is in a 15x12 room next to the kitchen/living area. My family hasn’t complained in anyway about smells or even noise.
I can’t quite understand why people are so against the combo. It is amazing how many posts say “DON’T GET THE LASER COMBO, YOU’VE BEEN WARNED!”. Of course all of those posts are by people who haven’t touched the unit, just projecting their laser experience. I’ve looked at a few dedicated units just out of curiosity and I truly think for my use case, the 10w (no FOMO for 40w) diode laser is great. If I had or wanted to start a laser engraving business, I would get a dedicated unit. For my home hobby use, this seems like the right solution for me.
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Your options here are very limited. You can engrave anodized Aluminum, and slowly engrave stainless steel. In the case of anodized Aluminum, it’s actually engraving, removing the coating material (note: you can do this with other coated/painted metals, as well). In the case of stainless steel, it’s not engraving anything, it’s changing the color of the metal with heat. In both cases, you’re not removing metal.
You need pretty high power to actually cut metal. 10W is nowhere near enough. 40W laser wouldn’t be enough.
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Dead on. Spent too much time trying to do this. Laser marking sprays allows you to put a semi-permanent design on stainless, but at some point it will fade.
It’s worth mentioning, you can get anodized Aluminum blanks in a wide variety of sizes and shapes and colors, and lasers do a beautiful job of removing the anodization. You get clean, sharp shapes.
I have been making some awards for my wife’s hobby, cyclocross racing, with dog tag shaped blanks. Even the “clear” anodized tags engraved great (which surprised me. but the lased Aluminum turns matt white, so it stands out even against a polished silver background).
This is a business-card sized blank I engraved on my laser.
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Anodized + laser is a god send. Even blue laser can do great marking.
Here I present, the Paul Allen’s card but in black:
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what do you exactly use?
thanks for your answer!
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It depends on what you want to use it for—I definitely wouldn’t use it for woodcuts and a lot of wood engraving.
Yesterday I worked on seven wood panels, some engraving, lots of cuts, and that leaves a huge amount of residue on the laser plate that can only be removed with dish soap, hot water, and a brush. I don’t use wet cleaning wipes anymore; you need too many of them.
And yes, I simply have the exhaust hose out the window; it works very well. I’m sometimes a bit worried that a neighbor might call the fire department because there was a lot of smoke again yesterday.
Same as @user_775130548 I want to know which exhaust system you all use for your printer/laser combo.
I have my current P1S in the Basement of my house and in front of a window which leads to an open garage (no garage doors) for the cars.
But in my case I have my Smarttrainer for my Roadbike (Zwift) in the same room and I train a lot there in winter. Of course the laser will be not running when I do my training and ride for 2 hours but window or not I need some kind of exhaust system to have clean air for my training in the basement.
When it comes to printing I make sure I have only a PLA print going on when I do my training and the printer is running, with other materials I do not ride inside there during a print. But most of the time my printer is not running during my training, maybe 1 out of 25 times or so the print finishes after 30min of riding or so… (also door of the basement is open and I have ventilators for my training in there so there is some air circulation in the room).
I am thinking of upgrading form my P1S because of the bigger build volume and I am waiting for the Vortek because I do a lot of multicolor printing. The Laser is an awesome feature for me because I think i will use it occasionally. A XTOOL Laser or something like that would be too expensive/overkill for me and my usage, not worth it so the combination for me as a hobby maker is perfect.
Interested to see how much the H2C will cost in the end with the Vortek and if we see a price drop for the H2D and H2S in the beginning of 2026, maybe I am going to upgrade then.
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I am the same with my thoughts. I dont want to buy Xtool laser since its to expensice (I have some voachers from BL, so buying a BL Printer/Laser is convinient).
And yes vortex is great I hope I can get it sooner or later combined with the laser!!
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I started with a $50 4" inline blower from Amazon. I connected the printer to the blower with the hose that came with the printer and that connected to a window vent (like for portable AC units) with a cheap 4" vent hose. That worked great, but was pretty loud in my small room.
I built a new setup as I happened to have a 120x38mm 8,000rpm 12v fan (Arctic 12038-8k) available. I 3d printed a waterproof enclosure for it and mounted it outside the window. I replaced all the inexpensive tubing with heavier tubing to cut down the sound. Now the noise will just bug the neighbors.
Here’s a look inside the laser at the fan, showing the amount of debris that’s accumulated after just two days of woodcutting and some wood engraving.
Most of it ends up on the laser plate, where a sticky resin deposit builds up that can only be removed with dish soap and a brush.
The 40W laser has now left its first marks on my plate, burning away parts of the coating – you can clearly see the outlines of the figures I cut.
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When you cut or engrave wood there will be debris, completely normal. When you print ABS there also will be debris.
For us hobby users, when you use the laser maybe once in a week for some small projects you give it a quick wipe and you are good to go.
Also for comparison an XTOOL Laser also gets dirty after usage, the mechanical parts and rails do not get destroyed by that.
I would clean everything up every once in a while (as I do with my current P1S) and I am good to go, i can live with that. And I also think the 10W Laser is good enough for us beginners and also better for wood engraving.
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wise words! I see it very similiar to you!
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