【3-in-1】Snapmaker Artisan Hands-on Review — Laser Cutting & Engraving Features

Following our previous article, "Snapmaker Artisan Hands-on Review — 3D Printing," in this installment, we will introduce the laser cutting and engraving functions of the Artisan. Just like the previous article, this is based on hands-on tests by All3DP and Tom's Hardware, with the addition of 3DPrinting.com, which tested the newly released Artisan - Premium (40W Laser Module). Let's take a look at the results!

Previous Articles
1. 3D Printing
2. Unboxing Review
3. CNC Machining

While installing the laser module is very simple, some details require attention. This module must be securely fastened to the machine's toolhead mount, and for optimal results, the workspace must be perfectly level. To achieve clean cuts and precise engravings, calibrating the laser focus is crucial. This involves adjusting the Z-axis height of the module to focus the laser beam precisely onto the material surface. Snapmaker provides a manual on how to calibrate it, making the process easy to follow, but it still requires some patience and precision.

Additionally, the air assist pump is connected via a flexible hose, blowing air onto the cut surface to remove debris generated during cutting and reduce burn marks. While the connection itself is straightforward, routing the hose properly is important to avoid interference during operation. The enclosure’s ventilation system effectively handles smoke, ensuring a safe and clean working environment.

10W Laser Cutting & Engraving Hands-on Test

Snapmaker's 10W laser module for the Artisan combines two 5W laser diodes to deliver powerful performance. It can cut and engrave a variety of materials, from walnut to cardboard, and can also engrave metals such as copper, tin, and aluminum, as well as glass, stone, leather, fabric, and dark-colored acrylic. For cutting, it can process materials like wood, leather, fabric, and paper.

To use the laser toolhead, you must install the included aluminum grid build plate. This plate comes with plastic screws to secure your material; alternatively, you can use tape. The Snapmaker Artisan's 10W laser output is capable of engraving and cutting thin materials.

The laser mode includes several interesting safety features. Once the laser module is attached, the Artisan will require you to close the enclosure door and enter a password. The default password is found on the bottom of the controller, but it can be changed at any time. This prevents unauthorized users (such as children) from operating the laser, even if the Artisan is set up in a home workspace. The toolhead is also equipped with a camera, which is useful for focus adjustment and positioning engraving or cutting designs at specific locations on the material. Every time the laser toolhead is installed, laser calibration is required. To do this, you place the included calibration block on the build plate, and the Artisan uses the camera on the toolhead to scan it.

All3DP and Tom's Hardware used a ruler and a square, which are test files provided by Snapmaker. Looking at the results, there were inconsistencies in the millimeter scale intervals, and some burn marks were visible. While this might not be a particularly persuasive test, they achieved better results in their own laser projects. Of course, using the included calibration plate to set up the Artisan’s laser is the more convenient method.

The Artisan measures the thickness of the test plate through triangulation and adjusts accordingly. This process is completed entirely automatically. Next, calibrate the camera using a piece of white paper larger than 150×150mm. The machine lightly engraves a square onto the paper, which serves as a reference for positioning materials with the laser. This process is very fast, taking only 11 minutes to complete.

You can also use the multi-function baseplate to secure materials. The Camera Capture mode makes it relatively easy to position work. Although you may need to manually adjust the camera's preview position, you can quickly obtain a rough location to align your work. Among all the modules, the laser function is the easiest to use and can quickly improve production efficiency. You can select materials from a dropdown menu and rapidly set up vector-based toolpaths or more time-consuming bitmap-based relief engravings.

New Feature!! 40W Laser Cutting & Engraving Hands-on Test

In Luban software, you can use layers to perform cutting and engraving in the same operation.

The 40W laser module can cut 8mm thick wood in a single pass with smooth edges and almost no burn marks—it is truly impressive. For engraving, you can process fine details with uniform depth across various materials. The air assist feature significantly improves cutting quality, especially when cutting delicate materials like paper and fabric. However, for optimal results, you must carefully adjust the speed and power settings according to the material's thickness and type.

3Dprinting.com tried the Luban software and was quite impressed by how easy it was to set up engraving and cutting tasks for various types of wood.

The difference between the 40W laser module and the 10W model is that the 40W version can cut 15mm thick basswood plywood in a single pass, and it features an upgraded cooling and exhaust fan!

Next time, we will cover the final function: the CNC machining test. See you in the next article!