<p>I would love to start a small engraving business without having to purchase expensive hardware. </p>

<p>Using scrap parts at home, or parts from broken CD players, are there any ways to make a laser engraver at home? My cousin managed to make one of his own from scraps.</p>

[{'answer_id': 6669, 'author': 'Davo', 'author_id': 4922, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/4922', 'pm_score': 1, 'selected': False, 'text': "<p>I have a printer and a diode laser head which will etch aluminum for under $4k, but you're going to have to manage potentially noxious fumes based on what material you're lasering. It's safe if used safely: the focal distance is 15-20mm from the lens, but all present should wear PPE.</p>\n\n<p>Note: I work for Hyrel3D.</p>\n"}, {'answer_id': 6676, 'author': 'amra', 'author_id': 75, 'author_profile': 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/75', 'pm_score': -1, 'selected': True, 'text': '<p>If you do not have knowledge about the electronics then consider buying a cheap etching machine instead.</p>\n\n<h1>Build</h1>\n\n<p>Take a look on <a href="https://hackaday.com/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">https://hackaday.com/</a> and search for laser engravers.</p>\n\n<p>I have found following articles in few seconds:</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2013/05/06/dvd-laser-diode-used-to-build-a-laser-engraver/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: DVD LASER DIODE USED TO BUILD A LASER ENGRAVER</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2016/03/14/laser-pcb-exposer-built-from-cd-rom-drives/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: LASER PCB EXPOSER BUILT FROM CD-ROM DRIVES</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2017/10/31/homebuilt-laser-engraver-using-salvaged-parts/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: HOMEBUILT LASER ENGRAVER USING SALVAGED PARTS</a></li>\n<li><a href="https://hackaday.com/2017/11/27/entry-level-3d-printer-becomes-budget-pcb-machine/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Hackaday.com: ENTRY-LEVEL 3D PRINTER BECOMES BUDGET PCB MACHINE</a></li>\n</ul>\n\n<h1>Cheap laser engravers</h1>\n\n<p>And this one is about 2018 list of laser cutters/engravers: <a href="https://all3dp.com/1/best-home-desktop-laser-cutter-engraver-aio-machine/%20It%20lists%20machines%20around%20100$" rel="nofollow noreferrer">15 Best Laser Cutters, Laser Engravers &amp; AIO Machines of 2018</a>. It lists machines around 100$</p>\n\n<ul>\n<li>Meterk Laser Engraver ($125)</li>\n<li>NEJE DK-8-KZ ($70)</li>\n<li>QIILU Mini Laser Engraver ($130)</li>\n<li>SuperCarver K2 ($160)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h1>Safety</h1>\n\n<p>Laser could damage your eyes (imagine laser reflection or if the machine falls from table when it\'s working). Take a look on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laser_safety" rel="nofollow noreferrer">wikipedia</a>.</p>\n\n<p>The best option is to use <em>acrylic cover</em> in same color as your laser, so you can observe the etching process and the laser beam is always blocked. For example take a look on orange cover of <a href="https://formlabs.com/3d-printers/form-2/" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Formlabs Form 2</a> 3d printer (it uses laser for printing).</p>\n\n<p>Another protection is to wear <em>laser protection glasses</em>. Again the glasses must have same color as your laser. </p>\n\n<p>Using laser for cutting or engraving means to burn material away. You should have good ventilation in the room.</p>\n\n<p>Buy a <em>smoke detector</em> if you use cheap electronics with higher power consumption.</p>\n'}]
['https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/questions/6661', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com', 'https://3dprinting.stackexchange.com/users/12637/']