Written by Leo Wrobel (a member of SainSmart Genmitsu CNC User Group)
This year, I have found my new favorite hobby after purchasing the Sainsmart 3018-Prover and laser engraver. I started joining various groups on social media for advice, to see what others have been making, and to share my own projects. This led to an offer to try out the new Jinsoku LE-1620 Laser Engraver. Of course, I jumped at the opportunity. Here are my thoughts after a week of use.
Setup:
The Jinsoku LE-1620 was by far the easiest setup I have ever had on a machine. It took only 6 screws and plugging in the X-Axis motor. From opening the box to assembly took about 5 minutes.
First Impression:
The machine is light, easy to move around, and visually appealing. I really like the ease of setting the laser height with the included 20mm cylinder and the knob on the laser carriage. The play is a bit spongier compared to my 3018-Prover, but it is not a major concern for me. The holder on the Prover is definitely more rigid, but it has to withstand routing. I also appreciate the button to turn the beam on and off, which is more convenient than using my laptop.
First Run:
I was very excited to get started but encountered a few problems right away. The origin is not in the same spot as my other machine, so when I started Lightburn, I was running in the wrong direction. However, there is a large yellow sticker on the black frame that clearly indicates where the origin is located. After realizing my mistake, I was ready to go. I decided to do a quick job on one of the test squares of MDF provided with the machine, and it went great. I was blown away by how quiet the machine is—it is surprisingly quiet. My job finished without any issues, as shown below.
I ran at 1000mm/min at 25% power for the QR Code and 1000mm/min at 50% power for the text for comparison on MDF. Although 50% power was too high, I was pleased with the result.
Further Testing:
I then tested some painted tiles using the Norton White Tile Method, which is worth checking out. First, I ran a basic power test on Lightburn to establish a baseline for speed and power, as seen below.
I determined that 600mm/min at 50% produced the fullest and darkest black, so I used that setting to do a photo on the tile. This was my first attempt.
It wasn’t bad for a first attempt, so I ran a detailed power vs speed test. After gaining a better understanding of maintaining detail, I ran two more jobs using Lasergrbl. While I need to improve my preprocessing of images, I was very happy with the outcome and blown away by the detail this machine can achieve.
Using the same method as with the tiles, I was also able to etch a glass bottle, which I had never tried before. To get extra height on my Prover, I usually have to remove the bed and adjust the height to reach the laser. The Jinsoku makes it very easy to adjust height without any issues due to its design.
Final Thoughts:
I love the Jinsoku LE-1620. It was easy to assemble, simple to operate, and I am excited to explore its full potential as I learn new techniques. It is definitely my go-to machine for engravings.
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