Is Laser Engraving Hard to Learn?

[Fonlandlaser]

Many beginners think laser engraving is difficult because it involves complex software and a wide variety of materials. In reality, the core principle is simple: a focused laser beam etches or cuts material according to preset parameters. Compared to CNC milling, which requires mastering toolpaths and cutting forces, or 3D printing, which depends on layer adhesion and print speed, laser engraver is much easier to get started with.

Tools Make Learning Easy

Popular control software like LightBurn, RDWorks, and EZCAD provides preset settings for common materials such as wood, leather, acrylic, and metals. LightBurn, in particular, is widely favored for its versatility, affordability, and ease of use. For design, free tools like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape are available. Beginners can also find numerous tutorials on YouTube, making it easy to quickly learn how to operate a laser engraver.

Quick Start for Beginners

With just a few hours of practice, beginners can complete their first laser engraving project. Mini laser engraver is an ideal choice for newcomers, they usually offer simple parameter settings, can connect directly to a phone, and are generally low-cost, making them a practical option for anyone starting out.

[chuck123wapati]

With just a few hours of practice, a monkey can do it!! You will be so proud of yourself. Just think you can steal everyone else's hard work and artistic abilities off the internet and not even use one brain cell doing it or even attempting to further your own skillsets. 

[Ferg]

Sorry, I do not agree with your assessment. 🤪

[fredk]

How much would a basic laser engraver cost?

Just one to burn simple things into the leather. Not too deep or anything

[CdK]

On 8/26/2025 at 9:28 PM, fredk said:

How much would a basic laser engraver cost?

Just one to burn simple things into the leather. Not too deep or anything

A basic laser can be relatively inexpensive but it is but a subset of what is required, IMHO.

I use different lasers for various tasks in my workshop but I rarely burn images or text directly into leather for decoration as it degrades it too much for the items I make. YMMV.

That being said, I do use a large diode laser extensively to cut card stock templates/jigs and marking the flesh side of leather for cutting etc. Marking the leather this way saves a lot of time as I don't need to scribe or trace the patterns onto the leather. The charring of laser cut leather can be a pita and cleaning it up takes longer than just using a knife or such.

I strongly recommend having your laser in an enclosure to allow good fume extraction and prevent possible eye damage from laser light.

[CdK]

On 8/25/2025 at 7:58 PM, Fonlandlaser said:

Many beginners think laser engraving is difficult because it involves complex software and a wide variety of materials. In reality, the core principle is simple: a focused laser beam etches or cuts material according to preset parameters. Compared to CNC milling, which requires mastering toolpaths and cutting forces, or 3D printing, which depends on layer adhesion and print speed, laser engraver is much easier to get started with.

Tools Make Learning Easy

Popular control software like LightBurn, RDWorks, and EZCAD provides preset settings for common materials such as wood, leather, acrylic, and metals. LightBurn, in particular, is widely favored for its versatility, affordability, and ease of use. For design, free tools like Adobe Illustrator or Inkscape are available. Beginners can also find numerous tutorials on YouTube, making it easy to quickly learn how to operate a laser engraver.

Quick Start for Beginners

With just a few hours of practice, beginners can complete their first laser engraving project. Mini laser engraver is an ideal choice for newcomers, they usually offer simple parameter settings, can connect directly to a phone, and are generally low-cost, making them a practical option for anyone starting out.

I use Lightburn extensively, not only to drive my lasers but as my premier pattern design tool. I don't use or recommend any Adobe tools. For CNC milling and 3D printing Fusion is my product of choice.

[Dwight]

My first laser engraver (of 3) came from a wonderful friend on here whom I'll leave nameless so people don't bug him for one or other stuff.

He offered me a 3000 Mw machine for 50 bucks plus shipping.  I love that little rascal.

I also have a 10 watt . . . and another one is somewhere in the "in transit" stage.

I have no problems with the 10 watt . . . cutting anything leather I want . . . and I even cut 1/4  or  3/16 plywood with it . . . engrave the plywood and do all sorts of funky stuff.

I use an air assist which makes the edges look like they were cut with a super duper sharp but hot knife.

One of my favorite things to do with it is cut out left over leather scraps for key fobs.  It cuts the fob . . . pops the holes for the rivet . . . in two passes.  I could do it in one . . . but backing off on the power conserves the life of my laser head and makes for a slightly better looking product.  If I'm adding a name or logo or something . . . I do it first . . . then do the cut out.  Logo and cut out are in the 3 minute category from blank hunk of leather in my hand . . . to the finished product in my hand.

My 2 present machines sit on a 10 dollar second hand door  about 24 inches wide and 6 ft long . . . 1 by 12's form the sides . . . and some of the top  . . .  plexiglass windows cover each machine . . . a fan is on one end pulling out the fumes . . . to a dryer vent hole in the side of my shop that leads outside . . . at the other end of the box is a hole slightly larger than the fan hole.  There is no stink in my shop.

I don't have my phone or I'd pop the pictures up here.  I only have this one of the setp showing it from the end where the hole is.  It is covered by the square of plywood with the drawer handle . . . and you can see the two machines inside.

Basic corrugated cardboard it a good medium for practice to check your settings.  I'll then do a cut out of one of the important areas of the burn . . . run it thru the machine on a piece of scrap . . . adjust as needed . . . an run it.

All in all . . . laser engraving is not as easy as falling off a cliff . . . but each person has to learn on their own.  One machine . . . using one piece of leather . . . and one program . . . will produce different results than whatever part of that equation changes.

May God bless,

Dwight

Edited 11 hours ago by Dwight