The laser is giving completely crap, inconsistent results. I’ve gone through an in-depth focusing given four test files by rustyssjones and I got some good initial results, but later cuts have proven to be hugely disappointing. This laser seems to not be able to consistently cut through anything thicker than paper.
The CNC module works somewhat more nicely, but only through Fusion 360. The Luban toolpaths are completely wasteful and overly time-consuming compared to the native pathing through Fusion.
I haven’t even tried 3D printing given I have another printer and there seems to be a ream of topics on trouble 3D printing.
I’m not looking for this to be without growing pains given it’s 1/5th the price point of other options, but the underpowered, underperforming laser is a joke–unless mine is defective–the CNC is nearly useless given the cutter diameters unless you’re willing to abide by double-digit-hour cutting times for nearly any work, and the 3D printing doesn’t seem to work for a good segment of the buyers.
Yes, I’m complaining, but that’s just a symptom of two months of frustration regarding the lack of efficacy Snapmaker brings. I didn’t expect the sun, moon, and stars with this, but I certainly expected it to be able to consistently cut cardboard FFS. (70mm/s, 3 passes at 1 mm step, 2.8 mm material thickness).
I’m hugely disappointed, and I didn’t expect the world to begin with.
The 1600mw laser isn’t designed for very much cutting. It can cut a few materials in limited fashion. That said, it can cut things if you do multiple passes. Is it practical? No. Keep in mind there is a more powerful laser that they’re going to release that will be for cutting, just be patient. As for CNC I use Vectric it works really really well. Professional program so it’s a bit of a learning curve but they have very detailed tutorials, it’s got a trial version that doesn’t expire for hobby/non-commercial use.
Edit: Wanted to add that as far as Luban goes… it’s not a very good program even on entry level standards, it’s improving but they’ve got a long way to go.
I can’t understand why you would want to complain about it.
On top of that, a lot of people use LightBurn for laser processing, and it seems to make them happier than Luban in no small part.
If you haven’t tried LightBurn yet, you can try it with the 30-day trial version.
Laser cutting does not apply to the composition that laser = can cut because the laser power is low to begin with.
There are things that can be cut and things that can’t, so trial and error is inevitable.
Snapmaker is planning to sell high power laser modules on their roadmap, so let’s hope for the best.
In the meantime, please play with CNC and 3D printers:)
I floated the product around to a few friends and acquaintainces before purchase, and the general consensus was “that laser is only going to be useful for stuff you’re not interested in, like etching designs onto leather or wood” and “there is no way that CNC router is going to hold up to serious work”.
Bought it with the intention of having a well-designed 3D printer with a CAN bus. Well, it’s not blowing me out of the water with its 3D printing, let’s put it that way. The other two functions I haven’t tried yet.
I like the platform and I think it can be made into a pretty useful machine, but it just isn’t there yet.
I am planning on using Lightburn, and I really appreciate the advice.
I get I’m on a bit of a frustrated rant, but why I’m complaining is that the device was marketed as having a laser capable of cutting materials up to 3mm plywood, as well as a page on the website showing settings for cutting materials–and it just flat cannot cut anything thicker than cardstock with consistent results. Also, Luban is buggy and produces inefficient toolpaths (A recent CNC cut wanted 14 hours and traversed the entire material surface where the same cut toolpathed through Fusion 360 took 90 minutes and stayed only in the pocket I was carving). I’m hoping that by posting the team recognizes that, addresses the issues and perhaps a prospective buyer also sees this and understands that the module is really for engraving and not cutting. If all I’m doing is CNC cutting with this, there are much higher quality machines at this price point and use a 1/4" rather than 1/8" bit.
Thanks again for your fair response, it would have been easy to troll me on my rant, but you took the high road and that’s not something one sees to much in internet forums. Kudos!
Definitely agree with almost everything.
It’s definitely more of a hobbyists machine than I’d hoped.
But it’s been great to learn on and figure out what I care about.
It’s also paid for itself between making some repair parts and gifts and selling a few things (I did pay KS backer price though)
I’m not sure why some people have more problems than others with laser. Definitely underpowered but mine has no problems with anything up to 3mm plywood. Then it takes too many passes (12 or so) and some plywood just won’t cut due to whatever glue they use. I wish I knew whether there was some difference/variation between people’s lasers or if it’s a setup/user issue. Unless the new laser upgrade is unreasonably priced I will probably be getting that.
If you get a set of er11 collets you can use up to 1/4" bits. I use them a lot for clearing passes and contours. Also no problem spinning a 1" surfacing bit.
It has made me want to get or build a real cnc though.
I don’t really have room for more than the one machine right now, so for that it’s been perfect and price wise and capability wise nothing else comes close. If you only need two of the functions though I wouldn’t recommend it.
Hopefully Luban will improve but fortunately Fusion and Cura do everything I need and do it well. I still use Luban for laser.
Well, that’s really good to know about 1/4" collets. I read somewhere that the Snapmaker lacked power enough to cut effectively with a larger diameter cutter. I’m glad to see that you had a different experience. I may try my next CNC cut with a 1/4" up-spiral bit. Even if I have to slow the feed rate down considerably, it may be a time saver.
I’m with you regarding the laser. It’s more that it’s inconsistent than anything. I calibrated it through a very lengthy process thanks to some .nc files another user uploaded, and sometimes it will cut through fine, and for others, it just seems to smolder through the last layer. I’m wondering if it’s a pathing issue, that perhaps it dwells in some areas too long and other areas not long enough. Hopefully, Lightburn can address that. I’d hate to think the laser is unintentionally varying its output.
And this is what I mean by inconsistent. It’s not that I’m getting good results on one piece then bad on another. This is on the same cut. One section is completely burned through to the point the cardboard layer is gone, then within one-eighth of an inch, there is a section that hasn’t cut through completely. I get corrugated cardboard undulates, but the total thickness of the material is roughly constant–I get at a point in the corrugation since it’s at a steep angle to the laser there is marginally more material. Plus, the section that’s bombed-out encompasses several curves of corrugation.
So it really seems to me to be either a dwell problem or greatly varying laser output. The material is too uniform in thickness and the lack of warp in that small of an area for it to be something with the material. Plus, sometimes, cutting the exact same thing on the same material using the same speed, passes and z-axis steps will be completely fine. I have the laser set to 100% constant power as well.
It definitely takes more passes to cut something with curves than a straight line but I definitely haven’t had the amount of variance that I see in your picture.
Maybe there’s a cable/connector issue?
One thing that some higher end lasers have is a fan or blower or some way of increasing airflow around the laser. This both increases combustion by adding oxygen and reduces smoke from blocking laser. I built my own enclosure and I have the fan as close in line as possible with the x-axis. Not sure if or how much this helps.
One thing to keep in mind about plywood as well, the fact that even same thicknesses can vary greatly in the lasers ability to cut, there is no set standard for plywood manufacturing, for example the different bonding agents used by each manufacturer. That alone can decide the difficulty for the laser, especially when talking about a lower power one, 1600w isn’t much for a laser.
I’ve pretty much given up on plywood just given the low output and the amount of soot it generates. I agree there are many variables in plywood that can cause inconsistent results.
I don’t expect the world from a 1.6W laser, my main frustration is with the inconsistent results given easier materials. Just yesterday I did a cardboard cut using another section of the exact same cardboard I showed poor results above and this cut was perfect. This still makes me very concerned my laser module is wonky. If I can only cut cardstock or paper consistently, I have better, cheaper, and faster options.
Again, I want to thank everyone who has chimed in, the advice is helpful and the support admirable.
You have to create a new post-processor config file to support the Snapmaker, I use Vectric Aspire directly to control the machine for CNC, If I have some time I’ll post a detailed instruction on how to do this. In the meantime if you do not know how to do so you can actually contact Vectric and they will help with creating a file. Aspires adaptability and overall capability is immensely vast, and am ecstatic to be able to use it with my a350
I am using a trial version of vcarve desktop. I did write to the company. They did send a link to snapmaker. But I am computer illiterate, and need a cut and paste, that’s about all I know about doing this sort of thing. I will c&p what they sent to me. Perhaps you could explain what it all means. Thank you so much.
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@ |
| - | - |
This is snapmaker’s post-processing configuration file for aspire software. |
Including tool configuration files and post-processing files. |
| How to add the snapmaker post-processing to the aspire software? |
Copy the Snapmaker_cnc_mm.pp to the PostP path; |
The PostP folder can be reached from within the application, by clicking “File > Open Application Data Folder” from the main menu of the application. |
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By clicking “Toolpaths > install PostProcessor…” from the main menu of the application. |
| How to add the Snapmaker 2.0 CNC Tools to the aspire software? |
By clicking “Toolpaths > Tool Database” from the main menu of the application to open Tool Database,then clicking the import a tool database. |
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Warn !!! |
If you are using the tool provided by Snapmaker 2.0 but not the Snapmaker 2.0 CNC Tools.vtdb, then the “Feed rate” is preferably less than 600 mm/min or 22 inches/min, and the “Pass Depth” is preferably less than 0.4mm. |
Thank you so much for the time and counsel you have already given to me. I appreciate it. I am retired, and am just getting into a hobby. Aspire looks perfect, but I cannot justify the purchase, as it will produce no income!
Perhaps, but I’ve used other lasers and my experience is much different. I’ve been able to cut through 3/16" ply with one pass using others. Plus, my main complaint is that Snapmaker gives out settings that detail cutting through multiple materials such as plywood, leather, acrylic, and the like that, in my experience, it can’t do.
