LONGER Ray5 mini Laser Engraver, 32-Bit High-Speed 12000mm/min, 0.04mm Compressed Spot, WiFi APP Control, 130×140mm Engraving Area, Eye Protection, for Wood, Acrylic, Paper (3.5W)

Just print on painted wood

Very good starter machine for the money

I got this engraver because I have always had an interest in them. This one seems affordable and though basic, it looked as though it might be easy to setup, install and use. It was anything but. The quick install guide is all it comes with. That guide is 25 pages and refers to multiple software and apps. I was finally able to figure out how to set the app up – took 45 minutes to get that far because they don’t do a good job of telling you how to turn the device on at all. The on switch isn’t all you have to do – you also have to pop the orange button which looks like a quick kill switch if it becomes necessary. You have to release that to get power to setup the wifi. The quick guide explains you have to set the provided block under the lens and tighten that down at that height. It never does explain how to set the device up for your material you plan to engrave. Do I set the height for the material? I have no idea. It’s the most confusing mess I have ever tried. Never got it to work.

I bought this compact laser engraver to personalize small wood and acrylic projects without the footprint of a larger machine. The size fits on a work desk, and the 130 by 140 millimeter area is enough for simple signs and gift tags. It came mostly pre-assembled, so I could get started in minutes rather than hours. In daily use I connected through WiFi on my phone, and I could also run tasks offline if needed. It worked with both free and paid software options, which made sending a design straightforward. The safety features stood out as reassuring the anti laser protective cover and the glasses help when I am testing a new material, and the emergency stop button stays within reach. What impressed me most was the level of detail achievable on wood and acrylic without a long setup. The engraving feels fast and the lines stay crisp, which is nicer than I expected from a small device. Controlling it via an app and having a dependable offline mode gave me flexible options for quick creative projects. One small note is that getting perfect results does require a little experimentation with focus and material thickness, so I started on scraps to tune the settings. Aside from that learning curve, the experience is straightforward and satisfying. Overall, it earns five stars from me for how reliably it handles simple personalization tasks and fits on a desk.