Best Holiday Gift: LONGER RAY5 Laser Engraver

Are you looking for a unique gift to give someone? They are probably getting bored of getting socks, t-shirts, or candles from you, am I right? Well, A laser engraver can be used to create intricate personalized cuts for arts and crafts. However, you need a well-designed engraving device to produce engravings of high quality, and that is where Longer RAY5 Laser Engraver comes in.

Most people think of metal when they think of engraving. But in reality, you may engrave on virtually any material. You can engrave wood, plastic, rubber, acrylic, and other materials with a suitable laser. This would be the perfect gift for those friends or family members that have a knack for art and crafts.

About Longer RAY5 Laser Engraver machine

A portable laser engraver, the Longer RAY5 was created with hobbyists and home enthusiasts. As anticipated, it is not really appropriate for production uses, mainly because the used hardware was not actually designed to withstand industrial strain and circumstances (it also comes disassembled, and it needs to operate in the open due to fumes and potential fire hazards). Additionally, it appears that the Longer RAY5 is the first laser engraver with an integrated touch screen.

Having said that, a few design features on the Longer Ray5 are often found on more expensive DIY laser engravers. The previously mentioned integrated touch screen enables simple control of the engraving process without needing a separate device (you also get to adjust the values after slicing the model). Other features include the 32-bit motherboard (which runs at 240MHz) and the safety protections (yes, the laser can be very harmful if mishandled). Longer claims that the device is quite fast, reaching up to 6,000mm/min, which is surprisingly good for the price tag.

There’s a whole lot to say, so let’s delve into the full review

Converting the Ray5 5.5W to 10W

You do not need to buy the entire 10W laser engraving machine if you already own the Longer Ray5 5.5 laser head. Instead, simply purchase the 10W laser head separately and upgrade your engraver with it.

The update procedure is easy to complete and takes only a few minutes. To do this, unplug the old module’s plug, remove the two knurled screws on the front and the two guide screws on the rear, and then screw the mounting plate from the old module onto the new module before re-screwing the screws. After that, simply connect the cable to complete the task.

You will need to make a few adjustments in LightBurn or any other laser software you might be using after installing the new 10W laser head. The only adjustment was to either slightly reduce the performance or increase the speed. Apart from this, everything else stays the same.

The conversion is rapid, simple, and hassle-free

Performance Features:

Performance-wise, the Longer Ray5 10 W does not fall short. The device is solidly built to guarantee that you receive accurate cuts and engraving on different materials. The features include

1. 10W Light Power Module with 50mm Focal Length:  The 10W laser head has dual beam technology, which enables it to cut 20mm thickness solid wood board and 30mm acrylic. This implies that you can utilize this device to do more craftwork and produce finished products. However, you should not depend on the acrylic cover for safety. It is advised only to use the device while donning safety eyewear made for 450nm blue laser diodes.
2. Precise engraving capability: The laser engraving machine is notable for its precise cuts. The device boasts the most recent, ultra-fine compression point, measuring 0.06×0.06mm, twice as tiny as what regular lasers can achieve. There are fewer burns during procedures due to the clean and accurate cutting.
3. Powerful Chipset: The RAY5 10W is built with an ESP32 chipset that runs at 240MHz. This modern chipset is faster and more powerful than the 8-bit chipsets found in other entry-level, low-cost laser engraving machines that can engrave at a pace of 10000mm per minute.
4. Anti-Shake Engraving: This engraving machine is well made and operates steadily. As a result, you can engrave materials at maximum speed without worrying about accuracy problems. The lines are clear and smooth, and there is less sawtooth

Design Features

Convenient features on the Longer Ray5 10W offer a top-notch engraving experience. The features are:

1. Touchscreen: The device has a 3.5-inch color touch screen, which makes using it very simple. The intuitive touchscreen features easy and self-explanatory menus that anyone can understand. For instance, you can transmit data via Wi-Fi, a USB cable, and a high-capacity TF card (Offline Use) on the touchscreen.
2. Broad software compatibility: The entry-level, low-cost laser engraver works with both LaserGRBL and LightBurn, among other engraving software. The unit works with Windows 7+ computers, MacOS, and Linux. The supported file formats include JPG, PNG, BMP, G-code, GIF, SVG, NC, GC, and more.
3. Air-assisted accessories: Using a laser engraver to cut materials or engrave typically produces toxic fumes. Air diffusion accessories on the Longer Ray5 10 W help to lessen the smoke produced while cutting or engraving.
4. Large engraving area: The operating area of the laser engraver is 400x400mm. For the majority of do-it-yourself home décor projects, this size is adequate.

With the Longer Ray5 10W, you can cut a variety of things, including:

• 10mm basswood
• 14mm pine
• 6mm (black) acrylic
• 4mm bamboo

Additionally, you can engrave up to 100 different materials, such as rubber, glass, kraft paper, leather, acrylic, etc.

Safety Features

Both beginners and experts can benefit from the LONGER RAY5 10W laser’s built-in safety features. These features are:

1. Flame Detector & Buzzer Alarm: Sending work to the engraver for completion while you attend to other tasks is typical during laser engraving. The risk with this is that flames can occasionally break out for various reasons, including faulty configuration, subpar materials, etc. The Longer Ray 5 10W laser engraver will immediately stop and beep when it senses flame. This prevents your workshop from being razed down by any potential fire hazards.
2. Tilt Shift Protection: A G-sensor on the motherboard of the engraving machine keeps track of its position while it is in use. For your safety, the sensor will stop off operations if it notices that the engraving machine has been moved or slanted (for instance, if it has fallen off your work table). This eliminates the possibility of the laser light interacting with something it is not intended to.
3. Motionless Protection: Motionless protection is another available safety feature. The engraver automatically shuts off if the laser module freezes for a period of time exceeding 15 seconds. This is essential to avoid mishaps in the workshop that would have happened if the laser had been on but inoperative.
4. Fireproof Acrylic Cover: The Longer Ray5 10 W laser head is protected by an acrylic cover that can rapidly stop burning in the event of an accident.

Accessories

If you decide to purchase the RAY5 10W engraver, you might also want to add a few extras to your bundle. For instance, you can purchase an additional 5.5W laser head module. The weaker laser head will be useful for engraving delicate materials, such as cutting complicated paper shapes.

The 77-piece engraving kit is an additional accessory you may want to purchase. This kit is essential for beginners to get started with minor engravings and learn the machine’s fundamentals. The kit consists of metal tags and small wooden blocks.

The kit also includes several metal plates and larger wood boards, perfect for making larger, more intricate engravings.

All Round Support

Finally, Longer’s after-sale service is something to be jealous of with their products. Longer goes above and beyond to ensure you have a wonderful experience with their products, whether you are a beginner laser engraving enthusiast or already have some working expertise.

For instance, the company provides a 30-day exchange option or a 7-day free return policy if you receive a defective unit. The company will cover even the postage cost, so you will not have to.

The company’s online platforms, including its website, social media accounts, and email, all offer service around-the-clock. You can contact the business by email at support@longer3d.com if you have any questions about your product.

Finally, both beginners and experienced users will value the company’s YouTube channel’s video tutorials.

Pros:

• Easy to learn and use
• The unit is very powerful compared to competitors in its class
• The unit has a large working area of 400x400mm
• The 10W laser head is very powerful
• The unit has a touchscreen that you can control either offline or online.

Cons:

• Requires some assembly
• It may be a little expensive for anyone on a very limited budget

Product Specifications:

• Laser Technology: Diode Laser
• Laser Wavelength: 450nm
• Working Area: 410 x 410mm (16.14 x 16.14inch)
• Spot Size at Optimal Focus: 0.08 x 0.08mm
• Optical Output Power: 5.5W
• Z Axis-Height Range: Up to 65mm
• Engraving / Cutting Speed: 40 – 10000mm/min
• Engraver Output: DC12V 5A
• Engraver Input: AC110 – 240V
• Focus Type: Fixed Focus – 30mm Focal Range
• Software: LaserGRBL, compatible with LightBurn
• Connection: USB / TF Card / Wifi
• Laser Engraver Size: 61 x 67 x 20cm (24 x 26 x 0.79inch)
• Carving Objects: All wood, paper, plastic, leather, PCB board, aluminum oxide, non-reflective plating, and lacquered metal
• Cutting Objects: Cardboard, non-woven fabric, light wood, Acrylic material, thin plastic board
• Package Weight: 6.5 kg
• Package Size(L x W x H): 59 x 30 x 12.7cm

Where to Buy The Longer RAY5

The Longer RAY5 Laser Engraver machine is best purchased on one of the leading e-commerce platforms in the world, geekbuying.com. Geekbuying has a local warehouse in about five countries across Europe, and it’s a platform that puts customers first. They prioritize customer satisfaction over other things, and any product purchased from them is dispatched within 48 hours. They also offer competitive pricing for their products compared to what’s obtainable on other platforms. This Longer RAY5 Laser Engraver sells for $299 on Geekbuying; it is that cheap because they currently run a 25% discount on the product.