LONGER Laser Engraver Ray5 5W Higher Accuracy DIY Laser Engraving Machine with 3.5" Touch Screen,Offline Usage Laser Cutter,400x400mm,0.08mm Laser Spot, CNC Laser Cutter for Wood Metal Acrylic Glass

I bought the LONGER 5W laser engraver a few weeks ago as a total beginner to laser engraving, and I’ve already completed several small projects that turned out better than I expected. This machine has been an amazing introduction to the hobby — it works well for beginners but still has enough features to grow with you as you learn more. 📦 Packaging & Delivery: The machine arrived on time and very securely packaged. All the parts were protected, nothing was missing, and the included tools made assembly easy. It even came with sample materials to practice with, which I appreciated as a first-timer. 🛠️ Assembly & Setup: Assembly took about 50 minutes. The instructions were clear, and there are helpful video tutorials online. Everything fit together perfectly and felt sturdy once assembled. I used the MKSLaser app on my phone for the first few test engravings, and it was incredibly easy to use. I later installed LaserBurn on my laptop for more control and customization. Both apps work smoothly with the LONGER engraver, and it’s great to have the option to start simple and move up to more advanced features. ⚙️ Performance: I’ve engraved wood, leather, cardboard, and black acrylic so far — and the results have been great across the board. The detail on text and images is crisp, and with a little trial and error on speed and power settings, you can get very professional-looking results. The laser can cut thin wood (around 2–3mm) in a few passes, and it handles engraving with no issues. 💻 Software Experience: • MKSLaser: Simple and mobile-friendly — perfect for quick, easy jobs. • LaserBurn: More advanced with tons of options for layers, speeds, and design work. Both are compatible and responsive, and they make the learning process a lot easier. 🔒 Safety: Safety goggles are included, and there’s a protective shield around the laser head. I still recommend using it in a well-ventilated space or building a small enclosure — especially when engraving materials like acrylic or leather that release fumes. ✅ Pros: • Works well for beginners, but still powerful enough for advanced use • High-quality engraving on multiple materials • Easy assembly and straightforward setup • Compatible with both beginner-friendly (MKSLaser) and advanced (LaserBurn) software • Great for hobby projects, gifts, and DIY work ❌ Cons: • No built-in enclosure or air assist • Slight learning curve on settings (expected) • Can get a bit noisy during longer jobs 💬 Final Thoughts: If you’re new to laser engraving like I was, the LONGER laser engraver is a perfect starting point. It’s affordable, reliable, and versatile. I’ve already made custom coasters, keychains, and even some engraved gifts for friends — all from my home setup. Whether you’re looking to explore a new hobby or just make cool things for yourself and others, this machine delivers. Highly recommended for beginners and casual makers!

This is a solid entry-level UV laser engraver for beginners who want to get into laser engraving without spending a fortune. The LONGER 5W strikes a great balance between affordability, ease of use, and decent engraving quality. Pros: - Good engraver for beginners – super approachable even if you've never used one before. - Easy setup: took me under an hour from unboxing to first burn. - the 400x400mm workspace is generous and perfect for small to mid-sized projects. - Compatible with Lightburn, which makes design and control smooth. - Engraves wood and acrylic cleanly, and with proper settings can cut through thin plywood. - Come with a free safety goggle, must have to safe laser operation. - Comes with helpful extras: a microSD card, free data cable, and a touchscreen that supports offline use - this is a huge plus if you don’t want to tether it to your computer. - Acceptable noise level: the fan and movement sound are noticeable but not disruptive. I can comfortably run it in my garage. Cons - Doesn’t engrave on metal directly. You’ll need to spray a black coating or use anodized metal. - 5W laser is a bit underpowered for cutting thicker materials or engraving at high speed. Great for hobby use, but not industrial level. As shown in the pics uploaded, it handled detail well - engraving the "LONGER" logo on wood came out clean and crisp. I also decreased the cutting speed and increased power to 100%, and I managed to cut out a plywood and engrave a cartoon cat on the same wood. Great results for the price and laser power delivered. Overall: If you're new to laser engraving and want something affordable but capable, the LONGER 5W is a smart buy. Just know its limits with metal and thick materials.

The learning curve is pretty steep but once you get the hang of it the things you can engrave is almost endless. I contacted Longer customer support twice via email and they got back with me in less that 24 hours and they were very helpful. LightBurn software is pretty well a must have and it takes a bit to learn that as well. Overall, very pleased with the product and support. Update, here are some of the items that I am trying to see what can be burned/etched. (See pics.) Takes a little experimenting to see what speed and percent of power to use. Impressed with all the items it will etch. I also etched Stainless Steel with good success. The main thing I purchased it for was to use on vegetable tanned leather and it is very sharp and crisp. Surprised it did denim as well (use low power for demin). I created the grid pattern on the main board, it is mounted on, with Lightburn. If you don’t need to cut through wood, a 5-Watt laser seems to have plenty of power. I recommend ordering and installing the limit switches if you chose this model. Great new hobby I just found!

No one to talk to about technical difficulties. Something about they do not keep a customer service in order to keep prices low. I was told there was a FB group. Spoke with someone two times and then ghosted after that. Got it installed but something is wrong with the homing. It is also larger than I anticipated and does not fit on my desk. However I did find a solution to that. However it has never actually done any work because I cannot get the homming to work correctly.