Laser Source

JPPlus’ Aaron Stout joins the crew to connect apparel roots with laser work, then maps out what is selling right now. The talk lands on tri-layer patches, signage that survives the elements, why the Rowmark swatch book closes deals, and how free appointment-based support helps small shops move faster. The team also breaks down CO2, UV, and sublimation acrylic in plain terms, with realistic starter...

Alex breaks down why “percent speed” is useless without the real mm/s behind it, and how converting those numbers makes shared settings actually work. Rhiannon’s shortcuts video lands its first thousand views, and the crew shows off new database upgrades—cleaner settings pages, quick filters, multi-fill support, and the rebuilt projects library with simple, one-click downloads. Live questions turn...

This episode centers on material safety and the debut of our community material database. We demonstrate the new status system, hazard tags, and search, then dig into why vinyl/PVC is a hard no, why some woods are not as harmless as they seem, and how coatings change the risk profile. We talk practical shop safety, ventilation that actually works, what “caution vs dangerous vs critical” really mea...

The teaser sets the tone: if you are still bouncing back to EZCAD, stop. LightBurn now covers the entire galvo workflow so you never need to reinstall drivers or juggle two apps. From there the crew drops a beta release of the UV parameter library, then gets practical about why UV sources behave so differently, how pulse width direction can invert between INGU and JPT, and why lens size matters fa...

Alex is trying to pee in peace when someone yells “Laser guy!” from the hallway. A painter’s assistant wants a nine-foot plywood Sasquatch cut out on the spot, and that launches the entire episode into a chaos spiral of shop stories, sick-day confessions, and sunburn complaints. From there the crew catches up on Q&A success from the golf-club training episode, how simple coaching questions can...

The teaser opens with Anthony dropping a small revelation about F-theta lenses: the number printed on the lens is a theoretical value, and in real life your focal height is often wildly different. That sparks a full discussion about what F-values actually mean and why autofocus often lands nowhere near the measurement stamped on the glass. From there the guys jump into a huge pile of new blanks fr...

The teaser clip sets the tone: this is where the pros separate from the churn-and-burn crowd. Once the show kicks in, the crew jumps straight into the breaking news of 104% tariffs on Chinese goods and how that hits every maker in the United States. They steer past doom-scroll panic and start laying out real strategies: buying used inventory, tapping secondhand wholesale groups, bartering with oth...

The team opens with chaos, April Fool’s jokes, and a fresh upload about ColorShop Woods that shows cutting techniques across multiple CO₂, diode, UV and fiber machines. That turns into a deeper chat about how color-drenched the material really is, why it’s better suited for cutting than marking, and how layered projects get their contrast. From there the conversation shifts to client work: Walnut...

The crew starts with pudding-pack chaos and sponsor jokes before sliding into real shop talk. Everyone admits they hoard leftover material, especially those dreaded “L” pieces of acrylic and Romark, and they compare how scraps constantly bail out last-minute jobs. That leads into practical advice about engraving coins, good sources for quality blanks, why cheap “poo-tier” zinc coins are best for a...

This episode starts with the crew comparing beam combiner setups before Alex admits he’s officially done aligning red dots and is moving to SPT TR tubes with built-in combiners. Matt works on brass nameplates live and breaks down his batching workflow - why repeatable templates, grouping, and frame previews save hours. From there, the group dives deep into ammo can engraving (CO₂ vs fiber, smoke m...

The crew checks in after a brutal dad-day at the trampoline park, which leads into a surprisingly deep small-business segment about profitable micro-orders - leatherette flasks, real-brass name badges, flexi-brass plastics, and margin stacking on fast, shippable work. From there: the slow winter slump finally breaking, slate video reactions, a teaser for the upcoming ColorShop Wood experiment, and...

The crew opens with some light chaos (cat talk and missing-Matt jokes) before digging into a real small-business dilemma: a client cuts a bulk engraving order in half after finding a public maker space. They debate how to handle contracts, bulk pricing, and keeping relationships intact when customers try to DIY - and why many eventually come back. That rolls into a bigger conversation about maker...

In this episode, we sit down with Cheryl from Resin Dragon to dive deep into the world of resin printing, molding, and 3D printing. From beginner tips to advanced techniques, Cheryl shares her experience, insights, and advice for makers looking to explore the resin side of the creative world. Whether you’re just curious or already experimenting with resin, this episode is packed with valuable info...

In this episode, we’re answering questions and catching up with Boyce, who drops in for a chat! We dive into some fun topics, including getting black on steel, creative Easter project ideas, and troubleshooting inconsistent engravings on acrylic. Plus, we break down how to set your line interval correctly and answer a question about where to find the best laser settings—whether on Patreon or the L...

In this episode, we break down why UV lasers are the best choice for engraving glass (even though fiber technically works), dive into the latest drama with Bamboo 3D printers and their software, and troubleshoot why your rotary engravings might be coming out a little… squished. Plus, we chat about UV resin printing, rusting issues, and answer a ton of your burning laser questions. All this and mor...

In this episode, we tackle several laser questions, dive into the effects of inflation and tariffs, and debate the real value of tumbler engravings—how much should you charge? Plus, what’s causing Champagne bottles to explode while being engraved, and how can you prevent it? And to top it all off, Alex has a chat with ChatGPT! All this and more on today’s episode of the Laser Source Podcast!

In this episode, Anthony shares that he’s in the process of making a deep-dive video on lenses, we talk about catching up on editing and posting Podcast episodes, and we break down why UV lasers—like the ComMarker Omni 1—may be the best choice for any laser shop and are now more affordable than ever! Plus, learn how to order shapes or objects by priority in LightBurn. All this and more on today’s...

There’s so much information out there about marking tumblers with a fiber laser, but if you had a choice between that and a CO2 galvo which would be better? (it’s a CO2 galvo btw - listen to find out why) PLUS: we’re over due for Emergency Stop, INFRARED CAMERAS and tumbler laser absorption. ALL of this and so much more on this episode of the Laser Source Podcast!

Let’s talk about the past year, the year ahead and everything we hope to accomplish moving forward. Feels like year over year things change here. We’ve made amazing progress in some areas and completed things I never though possible. On the other hand some things have been shelved or moved to the backburners and left to collect dust. What did you enjoy from LE? What do you want us to tackle in 202...

A very surprising tool showed up in the mail—a 3D scanner we were supposed to review. In this episode, we brainstorm how it could potentially elevate or evolve our workflow, from engraving prep to design applications. But in the end, we later realized it was way too large-scale for what we do and ended up sending it back. Still, it was a cool piece of tech that sparked some great discussion—so let...

Not just blanks, lasers, laser accessories, shop accessories, tools, you name it - it’s on the list - because this is our Black Friday / Cyber Monday stream! Even if you’re here after the deals have ended listen up: there’s great stuff every engraver needs in their setups and shops in our list this episode so submit to the affiliate propaganda and brace your butt for some premium influencer market...

How do you balance customer expectations, profitability, and personal standards for your engraving work? Kyle shares his thoughts on getting that balance just right. We also talk about tariffs and their impact on the laser industry, coin engraving, and the challenge of accepting custom jobs. Plus, a look at UV spot sizes, custom engraving plates, and Anthony’s YouTube channel.

Think UV lasers are always safe for plastics? Think again. In this episode of the Laser Source Podcast, we kick things off with a full Q&A session before diving into UV laser safety myths, the Longer Nano PRO, air vs. water cooling, and even cutting gold. We also give you a behind-the-scenes look at the shop’s latest updates—including a new POS system and a very revealing showroom setup (yep,...

Ever feel like you’re running on fumes? You’re not alone. In this brutally honest episode of the Laser Source Podcast, we dive into the emotional and mental toll of running a laser engraving job shop. From rebuilding our Google My Business from the ground up to juggling customer projects, slat walls, websites, and content creation—we cover what it really takes to keep things moving when you’re com...

Not everything in a laser workshop is just about the laser! In this episode, we talk about some of our favorite non-engraving tools that make life easier—like calipers for precision, button batteries (handle with care!), and Anthony’s Beam It Up Laser Tape. Plus, Alex shares why he highly recommends the Elegoo Resin Printer. Whether it’s measuring, marking, or improving workflow, these tools are g...