Laser enraver Z1 10W

These are my thoughts about the Comgrow Z1 laser engraving machine from the time it arrived, to me writing about it. I do not know why, but I was expecting a larger box, but I am glad it was not too big because there is less trash to throw away.AssemblyThe assembly was simply especially with the bags of screw that were clearly labeled, BUT ignore the STEP NUMBER, because it does not reflect the same steps in the manual. I am not a big fan of reading the manual, so I went directly to YouTube and followed a video instead. After assembling it, I made some minor adjustment to the eccentric nut on the laser module gantry (X axis), because there was a little bit of play on it. If you look behind the lower POM wheel you will see a hex nut, slowly turn it with the wrench that was included with the kit to either direction and the POM wheel will either get tighter or loose. These are offset nut, so you do know which direction you turn until you try it. So, turn slowly and you can see the X axis will get tighter or looser.SoftwareI am using a Windows 10/11 Machine, so I installed all the drives as it was included on the Micro SD card. Then I installed the software Laser GRBL v4.4.1 (also included on the SD card). This software is limited to what you can do, but still works as intended and it is FREE. I did all the cutting and engraving as shown in the pictures in my review with this software. I am planning to use the free trial version of LightBurn soon. Initially I has trouble connecting because I previously used this same software with a different laser engraver but it and user error on my part. I was connecting with the wrong baud rate, make sure you select 230400 when connecting to it. Like with all software, once you figure out how to use it, Laser GRBL is simple to operate.Cutting/EngravingNear the end of the user manual v1.6 there is a page called “Engraving Parameter,” I find it a good starting point when setting up your machine. Based on the material you are working on, you will need to pick the correct speed and power. Make sure you adjust the height of your laser will the included clear/frosted plastic tool (flat plate that is 2mm thick). The laser needs to be a specific distance from the top of the material you or working on to have the optimal focus. From the very bottom of the laser (clear red plastic guard) you need a 2mm gap from the material. Once that is set, you should be able to start cutting or engraving. Make sure you use the include safety google to protect your eyes! That is it, so far the machine is working great for me.Pros:Large working area with dual Y motors.Included Riser and a large adjustability on the laser module. Why this is important? Because if you work with different size material, you do NOT need to physically prop your machine higher to accommodate it. Especially, if you plan to use a rotary roller.Compatible to other Laser modules, Rotary roller, Air assist air pump, and Honeycomb working Table. They are using parts that are universal to many other brands, so it is easy to share accessories, so you and not limited to only their brands.The laser is Compressed Spot, so it has a fine and more focused compared to other 5w lasers. Just for fun I mounted a 10w laser from a different company and it worked flawlessly. It was just plug and play.It even has Wi-Fi, so you can control it with your phone. But currently, I do not plan to use this feature. I did download the app and connected to it, but that was pretty much the extent of me using this feature.This machine is a big step up from the previous engraver that I had, so it is difficult to find any negatives. Everything so far has been positive, but if anything changes, I will post an update to my review.ConsIf I had to say something bad, I will say they should update the labels on the packaging for the screws, so the “Steps #” are the same as shown on the manual. And it would be nice if the allen wrench included in the kit was a little longer. It would have made the assembly a bit quicker and easier.

Dabbling in the world of 3d printing I wanted to get a laser engraver/cutter that was affordable. I remember using them during ym college days. I settled on a Comgrow based on the printer that I have and the previous interactions with Comgrow, I knew that it would be a good printer for a decent pricePros:Easy Assembly, if you look up YouTube videos you will see many saying how easy this is to set up. They are totally true! This does not contain Ikea directions. I think it took less time than setting up my Ender 5.Compatibility, you will need to use software to create and send the information to the laser engraver. Being compatible with Lightburn and laserGRBL is a plus. Comgrow also has an app you can use from your phone.Accessories, I think this is another area the printer shines, it has an air assist module to help keep wood cleaner from the burns, a hex plate to use as a backer while cutting, an enclosre to keep fumes more contained, and lastly probably the coolest one; a rotary roller for engraving mugs, cups, baseball bats, and whatever round items you can come up with.Dual Y axis stepper motors, this helps keep the printer aligned as it moves back and forth and having a stepper on both sides increases the accuracy.Cable routing, some thought was given into some of the cable routing as it is run through the extruded aluminum instead of outside it. This limits the chance of disconnect a motor.Cons:V Groove wheels, these feel cheap and will wear down. Dealing with a 3d printer you know that eventually you will have to replace them and are always dreaming of something slightly better.Connectivity, this connects directly to your computer with USB or to your phone with wifi. Unfortunately the wifi module used does not allow you to connect to your network and only to your phone. This I view as a con, I couldn't wait to get my 3d printer worked up to the network so I didn't have to sit right by it to use it. The same goes for this laser engraver, I would prefer to put it somewhere else and not have to sit right next to it. I believe there are some ways to get it to connect with other devices, but I have not tried them.SD card access, although you may not need to use this often, to use it you have to unscrew one of the motherboard box mounts and then rotate it to get access.USB connection, I'm not sure if this is prevalent in the laser engraver / cutter world but not seeing a USB-C or Micro USB on the motherboard end was a little shocking. Again in the world of 3d printing almost all newly released boards use USB-CHex Cutting Plate, I do not know how much this would adjust the price but I feel like this should be included in the base set.Reality Check:Is this anything like what I used in college? Eh, no. There is a huge difference between CO2 laser devices and this LED type laser. Don't expect to cut through thick pieces or faster cutting or engraving times.This is a 'hobby' laser cutter, and if you step into the ring thinking about it this way then for the price and features it is a good machine to get your feet yet.I would recommend springing for the 10w version as it can cut thicker materials than the 5w.

This was my purchase to break into the world of laser engraving. I was not the biggest fan of the software lasergrbl that comes with it just due to tye fact that it ONLY controls the laser, any sort of manipulation has to be done in a different program, BUT it is cool how it specifically shows you what part it's on when looking at the computer screen. I have had great results with this machine. It is a large learning curve but easy for beginners.