Thanksgiving Day is a very heartfelt holiday in America, especially in the USA and Canada, and has very ancient roots of about 4 centuries. In ancient times, the purpose of this festival was to thank God for the agricultural harvests obtained during the summer, and therefore the holiday fell at the beginning of winter, i.e. the second Monday of October in Canada and the fourth Thursday of November in the United States. Nowadays, although the original purpose that connects the holiday to the harvests has been somewhat lost, the holiday of Thanksgiving Day continues to be very important for the people of North America, and mainly on the fourth Thursday of November there are many families who gather to spend a day of celebration together.

When receiving guests for lunch on Thanksgiving Day, it is always a pleasure to welcome everyone with delicious dishes and table decorations that increase hospitality. By using Laser Engraver such as Longer Ray5 and Longer B1 it is possible to create beautiful decorations and useful objects that will make all guests feel even happier and more welcome.

1.Decoration of the exterior entrance of the house

Starting from a piece of plywood or wood, it is possible to engrave and laser cut a sign that says "Happy Thanksgiving Day" decorated with motifs of turkey, pumpkin, leaves, and so on, all symbols historically linked to ancient Thanksgiving Day. Once made, just hang the sign outside the front door, so as to create a festive atmosphere even before entering the house.

2.Decoration of the interior entrance of the house

The interior entrance of the house can be decorated with animals engraved on wood, especially animals related to autumn and Thanksgiving Day; More skilled users can also process the engravings, adding hooks to hang jackets, bags, scarves, and other personal items of the guests. The engraved animals can also be cut, and at the end of the lunch they can be given to the guests as a souvenir of the beautiful day of celebration together.

3.Table decoration

As a decoration of the table, it is possible to make wooden coasters and placemats with the name of each guest, so as to make all the guests at lunch feel really welcome. If the piece of wood is not perfectly round or square, in addition to engraving the name, it is also possible to proceed with laser cutting, so as to make everything more uniform. In addition to protecting the tablecloth from stains, this is a highly personal item, and therefore will make all guests happy

4.More table decorations

Through a system of joints, it is possible to make a wooden napkin ring in the shape of a pumpkin on the two main sides. Once ready, it can be painted with the colors of autumn, such as orange, yellow, red, etc. This item is stylish and functional, and you can use it to spruce up your table.

5.Fun with friends

After lunch it is nice to spend time with friends, for this reason making a wooden puzzle with images dedicated to the holiday, such as a turkey or a pumpkin pie, or to the advent of Christmas, is certainly a great idea. The complexity of the puzzle can be freely chosen at the time of creating the cutting file, and online you can find ready-to-use patterns with a Laser Engraver.

6.Gifts for guests

As a gift for your guests, you can create wooden bookmarks with a thank you phrase or a famous quote. Just use a thin piece of wood and engrave the phrase or quote with the laser. This object is simple and meaningful, and will surely be a welcome gift that will allow guests to remember the beautiful day spent together for a long time.

7.More gifts for guests

Using the Longer Rotary Roller you can customize curved objects, such as a cup. As with bookmarks, you can create very meaningful gifts for your guests as a reminder of the day of celebration.

Making these items is really easy using a Laser Engraver such as Longer Ray5 and Longer B1. Also, if you don't know how to engrave and cut at the same time, you can find many articles in the Longer Academy that explain how to do it, as well as many tutorials for Lightburn and how to use your Longer Laser Engraver. In particular, to realize the ideas shared in this article, you can refer to these two lessons to learn how to do a test of the materials to be engraved or cut, as well as learn how to make engravings and cuts at the same time:

• Material Testing for Longer Ray5 10W & 5W – LONGER (longer3d.com)
• Engraving & Cutting with Lightburn and Longer Ray5 – LONGER (longer3d.com)

Longer Black Friday

If you don't have a Laser Engraver yet or if you want to buy a new model to be able to carry out many useful projects like these proposed above, for Black Friday Longer has many news and offers to offer you! Stay up to date and don't miss out on all the great bargains reserved for you.

Christmas is just around the corner and it’s time to find the perfect gift for cat lovers.Personalized customized gifts are the most popular, so I suggest that your gift list must have special gifts made with a laser engraving machine.

1.Cat photo frames

If you want to preserve unique memories between cat lovers and your feline friends, Cat Photo Frames can help you do it. You can design the picture frame pattern and use LONGER Laser B1 20W to cut and engrave it on 3mm thick wood board. When your friend receives this Christmas gift, I believe she will be moved by your sincerity.

2. Personalized cat woodblock print

A cat woodblock print is a meaningful and beautiful gift that any cat lover will love. You can ask a friend for a photo of a cat and use a laser engraving machine to make a perfect woodblock print. I believe the cat owner will love this gift very much.

3.Cat portrait mug

Imagine how happy you would be if you received a mug with a furry face on it! Using a laser engraving machine and a rotary roller upgrade kits, we can easily print cat heads on ceramic mugs or glasses. Not only is a custom mug a practical gift, it's also a romantic gift that will make cat lovers think of their best pet friend every time they use the mug.

4. Cat-style decorations

Using acrylic sheets and some other pendants, you can make cat earrings, cat necklaces, cat bracelets, and more. This is a very cute gift for cat lovers.

5. Custom engraved cat keychain

Engraving your cat's face and name on your keychain is not only fashionable, but also unique. Cat lovers can hang it on their bags or keys, which helps them share the beautiful moments between themselves and their cats with others anytime, anywhere.

6. Unique cat food can wooden lid

As a cat lover, you definitely want your pet’s snacks to be delicious and fresh. We can make wooden bottle caps and engrave cat portraits and expiration dates on them. This not only absorbs moisture and inhibits the production of bacteria, but also reminds you of the expiration date to prevent cats from accidentally eating it after the expiration date.

7.Special cat name strap

For cat lovers, they want to be able to see their furry children anytime and anywhere. Personalized cat watch straps can not only have a beautiful effect for them, but also relieve their thoughts of cats when they go out. You can customize the strap with your cat's face and name, making it a perfect gift for cat lovers.

8. Storage box with cat avatar

We can make a storage box and carve a cat's head on it. The storage box can be large or small, and is suitable for daily necessities or stationery. It can be placed at home or on your desk. It can make cat lovers feel happy whenever they see their pets.

9. Warm cat avatar beanie hat

It is also a very good idea to carve cat heads on hats. Adding cat elements to beanie hats will make cat lovers pay more attention to keeping warm in winter. This is not a warm idea and creativity.

10. Cute cat feeding bowl

Would it be funny if a cat saw his own image on his feeding bowl? We can carve the cat’s face and date of birth on the feeding bowl, everyone will find it interesting!

Conclusion

Gifts for cat lovers are one way to make Christmas more meaningful. To make a bigger holiday impression on your cat lovers, you should consider making them personalized cat gifts in advance. If you are a DIY enthusiast, you may consider using a LONGER laser engraving  to create unique gifts for them.

Are you an artist, a designer, or even simply a hobbyist who wants to improve hi work? If yes, this review is for to make best decision for choosing valuable product. The LONGER Laser B1 40W is the best option for you to consider if you are seeking for a laser engraver which is the cutting edge of technological advancement. Crafting will never be the same again as in past with this innovative laser engraver, which you can buy it from Longer3d at best price. Lets dive into this review to explore the functions and features of Longer Laser B1 40W:

Remarkable Features of Longer Laser B1 40W:

Ultra-high Power Laser (44-48W): This engraver's ultra-high-power laser (44-48W) makes quick work of cutting through a wide variety of materials, from soft wood to hard stainless steel. It's a great resource for a wide range of artistic endeavors.

Bigger Working Frame: Because it measures 17.72 inches by 17.32 inches (450 mm by 440 mm), the larger working frame is suitable for A3 panels and other requirements of a similar sort. This more expansive space provides you with more room to work in, allowing you to achieve even your most ambitious and intricate concepts.

High-Speed Precision: Accuracy while Being Required to Perform at Breakneck Speeds the LONGER Laser B1 40W can cut at a rate of 36,000mm/min, which is four times as fast as regular machines. The Smart Air-Assist System raises the bar for cutting precision and performance to heights that have never been seen before.

Ease of Use: An amazing time may be had throughout both the process of setting up and utilizing the LONGER Laser B1. A comprehensive set of instructions is offered, and members of the active community, who come from a wide variety of professional and personal experiences, are on hand to offer support as needed.

Personalization and Adaptability: The combination of this engraver with software systems such as LaserGRBL and LightBurn allows you to exercise exact control over the designs that you generate, allowing for greater personalization and adaptability. You are free to experiment with the settings in order to fine-tune them to the particular specifications of the project you are working on.

Software Compatibility and Design Capabilities:

The LONGER Laser B1 40W Engraver is compatible with a wide variety of software packages. Customers have additional options available to them in terms of layout and functionality because to this inter-operability.

LightBurn is a well-liked option among those who appreciate laser engraving due of its intuitive user interface and extensive collection of tools and settings. LightBurn gives you the versatility you need to achieve stunning results, whether you're engraving detailed patterns into wood or cutting intricate designs from acrylic sheets.

Material Compatibility and Limitations:

It is absolutely necessary to have a full knowledge of the limitations that the machine imposes. Because of the restrictions of its power, it is believable that the LONGER Laser B1 is not suited for engraving or cutting thick metals. On the other hand, because to its versatility, it is a perfect choice for a wide number of applications, ranging from leather and glass to acrylic and wood. These materials are just some of the many that may benefit from its use. It is recommended to use metal engraving equipment designed specifically for metals, especially harder metals.

Value for Money:

An search on how cost-effective the LONGER Laser B1 is to use this for your project and it is the best value for money. Despite the fact that it is not the most powerful laser engraver that is now available on the market, it offers an outstanding balance of power and precision at a cost that is not overly pricy.

Anyone who has a laser cutter and uses it for their hobbies, crafts, or even a small company should seriously consider investing in the LONGER Laser B1. It is a fantastic opportunity for financial gain. Because of its high build quality, user-friendly design, and capacity to interoperate with a number of other software, it may be utilised for a broad range of different jobs.

Laser B1 40w Durability and Maintenance:

It is imperative that one has resiliency. The LONGER Laser B1 will continue to perform well so long as the laser path and fans are cleaned thoroughly on a regular basis.

The ease with which the machine may be maintained provides the opportunity for its useful life to be extended. Because of its modular construction, the LONGER Laser B1 is capable of having its capabilities enhanced and its size increased in response to changes in demand. As your projects progress, you may need to install additional laser modules, replace the existing cooling system, or add new features.

Overall Pros and Cons of LONGER Laser B1 40w

Pros:

• For a desktop device, the laser engraver's output power is remarkable.
• The broad space available for engraving is sufficient to accommodate a wide variety of projects of varying complexity.
• The dependable performance and accurate execution are both guaranteed by the construction's durability.
• The reduction in anxiety that results from the careful inclusion of safety features is a desirable outcome.
• It is possible to boost a software's usefulness by ensuring compatibility between its many versions.

Cons:

• It does not have high power so sometime tough metals cannot be engraved.
• Because in-depth purchase assessments might be difficult if specifics are not easily accessible.
• LightBurn and other software of a like sort are not included in the purchase price of the apparatus, it means you have to pay additional costs to purchase them

Final thoughts:

In the industry of laser engraving, the LONGER Laser B1 40W is head and shoulders above its rivals in terms of power, precision, and the range of applications it can serve. It is considerably better to the other products that are now available on the market. Think of it as an expense that will pay off in the form of improved creative endeavors and the beginning of a voyage into the universe of infinite laser engraving possibilities.

The LONGER Laser B1 40W  is your dependable companion in the field of laser engraving because to its extensive feature set, user-friendly design, and robust community support. Don't pass up the chance to use this remarkable equipment for laser engraving. Your creativity may run free as you bring your ideas to reality by utilising high-quality materials and labourers that are accomplished in their craft.

In today's society, personalized customized products have become a trend, especially in the market for gifts and daily necessities. People's demand for unique products is increasing day by day. Therefore, laser engraving machine entrepreneurship has also ushered in huge opportunities.

Let’s take a look at the market demand. One-size-fits-all products are no longer enough to meet consumer needs. Users are increasingly inclined to choose products that are personalized and reflect their own taste, whether for daily use or as gifts for relatives and friends. This includes a series of products such as customized jewelry and personalized mobile phone cases.

The laser engraving machine is a powerful tool that can meet this demand. It's capable of fine engraving and cutting on a variety of materials, whether it's wood, plastic, leather or metal, with ease. This means that as long as you are creative and have ideas, you can use a laser engraving machine to design ever-changing products.

After confirming that the laser engraving machine has sufficient market potential, what we need to consider is the business method. Should we choose to open a shop or set up a stall?

First, we have to talk about the benefits of setting up a stall. Low cost is one of the most attractive aspects of setting up a stall. You don't need to rent an expensive store, just a small stall to start your business. Moreover, it’s up to you to set up your stall however you want. Let’s talk about high liquidity, which is another trump card for setting up a stall. You can change places at any time according to changes in the flow of people, and you can always find the most suitable location. When festivals are here, go to places with a lot of people; during normal times, find a place with a steady flow of people. In short, you decide your business.

Of course, we cannot fail to mention the role that laser engraving machines play in this. Now that we have chosen to set up a stall, we must choose a laser engraving machine that has good performance and is easy to carry.

Here I only recommend LONGER RAY5 20W. This guy is lightweight, portable, and easy to operate. It doesn’t require you to have any advanced skills at all. You only need simple learning to get started and start your creative carving.
Even though the price of RAY5 20 watt laser engraving machine is cheap, it has all the functions it should have.

5 Personalized Christmas Gifts to Make with LONGER Laser Engraving

Christmas shopping can be stressful, but, with LONGER laser engraving and some creativity, you can be stress free this holiday season. Using the LONGER RAY5 and some of our ideas below, you can create and customise festive gifts for your family. 

1. Customized Christmas Mug

A mug of hot chocolate on a cold Christmas evening is one of winter’s simplest delights. But, since mugs are low effort and impersonal gifts, many people don’t give their closest friends and family mugs.

Using laser engraving, however, you can make and customise an original mug so your finished product will be just as unique as your friend. As long as you choose a style that isn’t festive, your loved one can sip from this mug for the rest of the year, making it a practical and thoughtful family gift.

How to Make an Engraved Christmas Mug…

Select a white or colored ceramic mug and clean the surface thoroughly with rubbing alcohol. Design your engraving using your chosen graphic design software. Load your design into the laser engraver. Using a LONGER laser rotary roller, it will take no time at all for your LONGER RAY5 to engrave your mug. Don’t forget, to make sure your design is perfect, you should run a test first and then position the mug meticulously in your laser engraving machine.

Tip: The fun doesn’t stop with mugs as long as you have the LONGER RAY5 laser cutter by your side. You should try engraving and decorating some tumblers, water bottles, champagne glasses and cafetières. Or, why not make use of the LONGER RAY5’s capabilities as a wood engraving machine so you can make personalized chopping boards and other kitchen utensils?

2. Beautiful Christmas Beanie

Your loved ones need some stylish and fashionable winter outfits to combat Christmas time’s cold weather. Beanies are a super simple personalized family gift that you can make using your laser engraver. You can add their name, a festive message, or a cute image of a tree or snowman, but whatever design you put on the beanie, one thing is for sure, this gift is going to be a big hit.

There is no more versatile and appropriate for all ages gift than a personalised beanie, making them a superlative gift for all of your loved ones. If your family is very close and loves to go on Christmas outings forever, it’s a sweet idea to create a matching set for your whole family. Remember what your loved one’s fashion sense is like so you can choose a beautiful beanie that they will love to wear and keep forever.

How to Make a Personalized Christmas Beanie…

3. Customized Christmas Jewelry

Jewelry has always been a special and thoughtful gift at Christmas time. Personalized Christmas jewelry is also great to commemorate a special event, especially if you add a date or a sweet message to your pendant. Your loved ones can even use this gift as a home decoration.

Just like the beanie, if your recipient has a special sense of style, it’s easy to customize jewelry that will fit right into their wardrobe. Necklaces, bracelets, engraved rings and earrings are all possible with the LONGER RAY5 laser engraver.

How to Make Personalized Christmas Jewelry…

You can choose your favorite acrylic sheets and metal accessories. Design your favorite Christmas ornaments using some software connected to your laser engraver. Snowmen, Christmas trees and snowflakes are all beautiful to look at. Remember, you need two earrings. Use your LONGER RAY5 with a 20w attachment to cut out the shape. Attach the shape to the chain, hooks or ring - use a longer chain for a necklace and a shorter chain for a bracelet.

Tip: Decorate your personalized Christmas jewelry by incorporating gemstones. Take note of what kinds of gems, diamonds and jewels your loved one likes to wear. Simply glue these onto the final piece for a sparkling necklace or bracelet that’s full of festive cheer. You can even use a laser cutter to form the gems in your desired shape.

 4. Engraved Christmas Picture Frames

Christmas is a special time of year and one of the only times the whole family can get together. Create lifelong Christmas memories by gifting your loved ones a Christmas frame made with a laser engraver. Include a special photo to complete this family gift.

This personalized gift is great for those who are new to laser engraving. It also offers a huge range of options for designs - you can engrave names, dates, messages and even images into your Christmas picture frame.

How to Make an Engraved Christmas Picture Frame…

You will need a wooden frame of any size for this home decoration. Take the frame’s measurements and create a design that fits the edges. Place your frame in the wood engraving machine and add the design. This process shouldn’t take long, so be sure to do a test beforehand to make sure the design works well. Once your frame is completed, add your photo and you’re all done.

Tip: If you use the same laser cutter you used to create personalized Christmas jewelry to add embellishments to your frame, your frame will undoubtedly be taken to the next level. All you’ll need to do is to simply cut out some Christmas shapes from acrylic with your laser engraver and then use some good quality glue to stick them to your frame.

5. Laser Engraved Christmas Bauble

Finally, no Christmas is complete without some beautiful baubles to decorate the tree. Thankfully, it couldn’t be easier to engrave a bauble ornament and make stunning family gifts with a laser engraving machine. Be sure to make a note of the kind of baubles and home decorations your loved ones like to hang, so your gift doesn’t look out of place.

Whether you want to engrave an existing bauble or make your own acrylic home decoration and then customize it, the possibilities are endless. The best part about gifting a laser-engraved Christmas bauble is that your loved ones can use it every year and be reminded of you.

How to Make a Laser Engraved Christmas Bauble…

You will need a bauble of any shape and color. Create your design using your design software and load it into the LONGER RAY5. Remember to use your LONGER laser rotary roller to hold your bauble in place. Engrave the design and then add some glitter or a glossy finish to complete your home decoration.

Tip: Why not take this family gift to the next level with a unique addition like a QR code? When your friends or family are scanning this code, it will lead them to a video montage or photo album of all your special memories together that you have made separately. It couldn’t be much easier, when you have the help of LONGER laser engraving, to upload a perfect QR code to your RAY5 machine which will then engrave it onto your beautiful Christmas bauble.

The LONGER RAY5 10W Is Your Little Helper This Holiday Season

Why should you be choosing the LONGER RAY5 as your go-to laser engraver:

Delicate Detailed Designs For Everyone - The LONGER RAY5 has an unbetable combination of an ultra-fine 5.5W optical output and the 0.08 x 0.08mm FAC compressed laser, and this coupling means for you that the LONGER RAY5 will always allow you to create a huge amount of gorgeous, detailed designs, so if you can dream it, then the RAY5 desktop laser engraver can certainly achieve it for you.

You Won’t Find Better Ease of Use - The LONGER RAY5 is the best and most loved option for those who are new to laser engravers and the art of laser engraving this Christmas. The LONGER RAY5 is what is known as a desktop laser engraver, so this means that it can be set up and getting to work in no time at all and it even works hand in hand with a range of your favourite design software. The machine is equipped with perfect offline cutting capabilities, and this means that you don’t even need to connect the RAY5 to your computer or the internet to get creating some incredible designs. All you need to do is simply to use the 3.5-inch touchscreen to locate your design file and get started with engraving.

Versatile Compatibility for Lots of Different Materials - It doesn’t matter whether you might be looking for a wood engraving machine or a laser engraver that can engrave acrylic, ceramic, leather, glass or some other material you can dream up because the LONGER RAY5 has always got your back no matter what you want to design. The 400mm x 400mm (15.75’’ x 15.75’’) workspace is definitely big and large enough to fit a sheet of whatever material you are choosing, and this is great for allowing you to create designs that are much bigger because bigger is always better. The laser is upgradable to 10W/20W laser modules, so if you want to do something different, don’t be afraid to test your creativity with the LONGER RAY5 and an upgraded laser by your side.

Always Putting Your Safety Above Everything - Just the same as all our LONGER laser engraving and cutting machines, the RAY5 comes to you with 5 built-in safety protections to ensure you have a fun and safe time when creating Christmas gifts. These are thermal protection, which ceases cutting if there is a danger of fire and alerts you with an alarm, move protection to stop cutting if the machine is out of place, motionless protection to turn the laser off if there is a motion issue, an acrylic laser cover to protect your eyes, and an emergency stop button.

Conclusion

And there you have it - 5 unbeatable family gift ideas to make this Christmas with the help of the LONGER RAY5 laser engraving machine. With just one laser engraver, you open the door to endless gifting opportunities for your loved ones, friends and colleagues. No matter what your loved ones like, there’s a way to decorate it with laser engraving. So, now you have everything you need, it’s the time to unleash your festive spirit and get engraving with your new laser engraver to create some gifts this Christmas season.

There is a place for comments on this post, so if you want to, you can share your laser engraving machine creations and any tips with us and other laser engraver lovers. Or, if you’ve made some Christmas gifts with your machine, you must tell us which gift you made with your LONGER RAY5 that you are the most proud of?

Remember, if you maybe need some help with your creations or if you might have some questions about LONGER laser engraving, we are always available for you to get into contact with us. You can either email our expert team with the email sales@longer3d.com, or check out our other contact information here. A member of our LONGER team is always available and more than ready to assist you with any enquiries or issues you might come across when making your Christmas gifts.

As an emerging processing technology in the 21st century, laser technology has been widely used in various industries due to its many characteristics. It occupies a place in all aspects from food, clothing, housing and transportation to social and urban construction. Laser engravers are everywhere; there are countless materials used for laser engraving. Today LONGER will take stock of several common materials and their laser engraving technologies for your reference.

Acrylic (plexiglass)

Acrylic laser engraving Acrylic is particularly widely used in the advertising industry. Laser engravers are available in a variety of shapes and sizes and are relatively inexpensive. Generally speaking, plexiglass adopts back carving method, that is, it is carved from the front and viewed from the back, which makes the finished product more three-dimensional. When back engraving, please mirror the graphics first. The engraving speed should be fast and the power should be low. Plexiglas is easier to cut, and an air blowing device should be used when cutting to improve cutting quality. When cutting plexiglass larger than 8mm, large-size lenses should be replaced. (Note: Operators are not allowed to leave when cutting plexiglass, as there may be flames during cutting.)

Wood

Wood is one of the most commonly used materials for laser processing. Light-colored woods such as birch, cherry, or maple take advantage of laser vaporization well, making them more suitable for engraving. Each wood has its own characteristics. Some are denser, such as hardwood, and require more laser power when engraving or cutting. The depth of laser cutting wood is generally not deep, within 20mm. This is because the laser has less power. Slowing down the cutting speed can cause the wood to burn. For specific operations, you can try to use large-size lenses and use repeated cutting methods.

Density veneer panel

Double color board

Double color board is an engineering plastic composed of two or more layers of colors specially used for engraving. Its specifications are generally 600*1200mm, and a few brands have specifications of 600*900mm. The effect of laser engraving will be very good, with obvious contrast and clear edges. Be careful not to be too slow and don't cut through it in one go. Just three or four times is enough so that the edges of the cut material are smooth and there are no traces of melting. When engraving, the power should be just right and should not be too high to avoid melt marks.

Galvanized copper plate

Microfiber

The most common types of microfibers are made from polyester, polyamide (nylon), and/or a combination of polyester and polyamide. It is a durable laser engraved fabric that produces beautiful results. Using high speed and low power, users can quickly burn off even the slightest layer on top, resulting in engravings with tremendous contrast. To avoid completely burning the fabric layers, we recommend testing various samples until you find the right settings.

Leather and synthetic leather

Synthetic or "faux" leather has proven to be an excellent fabric for carving. When laser engraved, this material creates an almost dimpled look that is very classy and sophisticated. Leather is flexible and durable. It is a material that can definitely withstand laser engraving. And many leathers have back stickers. After laser engraving and cutting, they can be placed directly in many places as exquisite decorations.

Cotton cloth

100% cotton, tightly woven to create a subtle yet elegant sculptural effect. It's important to note how tight the threads are - the tighter the threads, the better the engraving will be. Make sure the cotton is tight enough to withstand the power of the laser. Generally speaking, we can engrave the desired pattern on pure cotton clothing, which requires:

• Generally speaking, higher speeds and lower power settings are required. The idea is simply to quickly burn off the top layer of fabric to create sculptural contrast.
• Use strong materials that are tightly bonded. Loose knits, such as those in terry cloth, are more susceptible to scorching than engraving.
• Fabrics that do not engrave well include terrycloth (robes, towels, etc.) and stuffed animals (bathroom rugs, toys, etc.). In most cases, the threads are not tightly woven and tend to burn rather than burn. Sculpture.

Non-woven fabric (felt)

Nowadays, more and more people are using laser engraving machines to cut felt to create exquisite decorative objects. For example, the Christmas bag below was cut using LONGER B1 30W. In the eyes of young people, this is as fashionable as Christmas stockings. To make a beautiful felt bag, take advantage of the laser's color mapping feature. You can set up various vector lines to cut the two lasers into the fabric, or just kiss-cut the fabric to reveal the color underneath. After cutting the fabric, you can DIY this ornament.

Conclusion

Have you tried cutting or engraving these materials? Using laser engraving machines to turn ordinary raw materials into exquisite handicrafts one after another is what we are all doing. I look forward to seeing what you post!

Remember, if you maybe need some help with your creations or if you might have some questions about LONGER laser engraving, we are always available for you to get into contact with us. You can either email our expert team with the email sales@longer3d.com, or check out our other contact information here. A member of our LONGER team is always available and more than ready to assist you with any enquiries or issues you might come across.

Halloween is coming! You will definitely need some unique decorations. Using a laser engraving machine can efficiently help you create small decorations. In the following sections, we’ll discuss some of the most amazing Christmas themed laser cut crafts that will bring joy this upcoming Halloween.

1.Laser-Cut Elegant Masks
When you go to a party or invite others to your party, you must have an elegant mask. With a laser engraver, you can create a variety of laser-cut masks.

2. Wooden Signs
People love to stick Halloween wooden signs on doors, houses, and inside offices. It's a great gift for anyone. There are hundreds of ideas and designs to make unique and spooky Halloween wooden signs that will surprise the receiver. You can use wood or acrylic to create these.

3. Vintage Skull Halloween Invitation

The vintage skull invitation is one of the best laser engraving ideas for Halloween. If you want to invite people to your Halloween party in a unique and thrilling way, you can make a skull Halloween invitation with spiders, spider webs, and other ghostly creatures. All you need is a piece of wood and then engrave the whole invitation on it. It will be unique, extraordinary. The recipients will be thrilled to join the party.

4. Spooky Halloween Jewelry
Jewelry is a woman's first love, even on Halloween. You can wear some ghostly jewelry, such as pumpkin, spooky bat, skull, witch hat, spider, raven shaped earrings. Rings and necklaces can also be made of wood. If your machine can engrave metal, you can engrave any spooky thing on a metal band.

5. Skull Rock Glass
Halloween wouldn’t be complete without a skull rock glass. Add a rotary attachment to your laser engraver, and you can engrave any design on any glass. We can use the skull rock glass to welcome guests - I believe that everyone will love this idea.

6.Halloween Party Banners
Banners can be used for decorating houses and party venues. They are usually made of cardstock or similar material. We can use a desktop laser engraver to engrave party banners with Halloween slogans and good-looking candies, which will make your Halloween party the most creative in town.

7.Halloween Light Box
The light box is another good idea for Halloween. It looks very attractive and is one of the appealing decor ideas. Making a Halloween light box is not so difficult. All you need to do is make four pieces of engraved and cut wood and then connect them to form a rectangle. You can also provide a lamp with the box; it will be a complete set. People will love this surprising item and will be more willing to come to your party.

8. Halloween Cupcake Toppers/Decorations
People gift cupcakes on Halloween and decorate them with toppers. The cake decorations are made of acrylic, paper, or wood. With a laser machine, making cupcake toppers becomes easier. There are hundreds of designs for Halloween cupcake toppers. You can make different types of toppers and package them in dozens on this special day.

9. Homemade Candles/Candle Holders
Halloween is incomplete without candles. People light candles at home to make the environment even scarier. Using candle holders can make candles more attractive. When you put a candle into the holder, the shadows from the spooky design look more appealing. You could use your laser machine to make various Halloween candle holders. It's a simple project, and people love to put them on candles. Holders can be made from wood, acrylic, or card stock.

10. Various Halloween decorations
Once you have a Halloween mask, don’t forget to make a few accessories for yourself. I suggest you carve acrylic into the shape of a skull and turn it into earrings, or carve weird patterns on stainless steel jewelry. So you have the perfect set of Halloween ornaments.

With a laser engraving and cutting machine, anything is possible because you can make almost anything you like. You can seize the opportunity of Halloween to make some relevant items that families can use. To make it easy for you, we've shared some astonishing ideas. You can make these items and then share them on social media. I believe all viewers will love these crafts!

Happy Halloween!

As seen in previous articles, a Hotend is composed of a Nozzle that takes care of depositing the molten material, a Heatblock that takes care of melting the material and a Heatbreak that keeps the hot zone separate from the cold zone of the Hotend. In particular, the PTFE tube is installed at the stop with the Nozzle, so that the filament reaches the Nozzle directly from the PTFE, without intermediate zones. However, if there is even a slight gap between PTFE and Nozzle, then the molten filament will come out of the intended path and will clog the melting area, thus causing obstructions and blockages that prevent the correct execution of the print.

Thanks to its ease of installation and different design technology, a Hotend such as the Hotend Trianglelab TCHC TR6 Model B can efficiently solve the problem, as it is a Hotend with Bi-Metal thin wall Heatbreak; in this way the PTFE tube is not in contact with the hot Nozzle, but stops high in the Heatsink, where the temperature is cold. Therefore, the filament passes from PTFE to Bi-Metal thin wall heatbreak while it is still solid, and so no leakage of molten material can occur. In addition, the Bi-Metal thin wall Heatbreak is welded inside the Nozzle already at the factory, and therefore it is not possible for molten material to leak between the Bi-Metal thin wall Heatbreak and the Nozzle.

This means that once out of the PTFE tube, the filament must first pass through a metal area in order to reach the nozzle. This means that heat is transmitted to the filament more optimally, as there is no PTFE tube to act as an insulator, and therefore the filament melts more smoothly  effectively, which is a huge advantage when printing technical filaments such as PETG and ABS that require high printing temperatures. On the other hand, due to the improved heat transfer with Hotbed All Metal, compared to printing via Hotend with PTFE it is necessary to adjust some parameters in the slicer.

One of the first parameters to change might be the retract parameter. In fact, due to the increased heat diffusion, too high a retraction value could cause the molten filament to clog in a cold area of the Hotend. Therefore, compared to printing via PTFE Hotend with PTFE, it is preferable to reduce the retraction value by at least 2 points (e.g. from 6mm to 4mm) by using an All Metal Hotend Press.

Another parameter that you may need to change is the print temperature. In fact, thanks to the increased heat diffusion, reducing the printing temperature by about 5°C could provide benefits, especially in the case of printing with PLA.

Heat dissipation in the Heatbreak area is also very important, as due to the increased heat diffusion it is necessary to prevent the heat from rising up the Hotend. Therefore, it is necessary to install a high-performance fan that can effectively and quickly cool the Heatbreak, and therefore the installation of the Longer Dual Blower is absolutely recommended if you are using an All Metal Hotend such as the Hotend Trianglelab TCHC TR6 Model B.

Once the changes have been made in the slicing software, you can finally proceed with the first test print. Surely further corrections may be necessary in case of printing with PLA, but as far as filaments such as PETG and ABS are concerned, there will certainly be an improvement from the first print. In particular, the Test Benchy in white was made of PLA, while the one in red was made of PETG; although generic parameters have been used, as indicated above, the print quality has certainly improved compared to that previously obtained through Hotend with PTFE.

Laser is produced by the process of stimulated radiation and is the abbreviation of "Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation". Stimulated emission was proposed by Einstein in 1917, and Dirac first experimentally proved the existence of stimulated emission in 1927. Laser is another major invention of mankind since the 20th century, after atomic energy, computers and semiconductors. It is a kind of artificial light and is known as "the fastest knife", "the most accurate ruler" and "the brightest light". . A laser is a laser generating device with three major functional components: pump source, gain medium, and resonant cavity. The pump source provides the light source for the laser. The gain medium (also called the working material) absorbs the energy provided by the pump source and amplifies the light. The resonant cavity is the loop between the pump light source and the gain medium. The resonant cavity oscillates in a selected mode to output the laser. 

Laser processing is a technology that uses high-intensity laser beams, focused by an optical system, to process materials (including metals and non-metals) through the relative movement of the laser beam and the work piece. It is widely used in cutting and etching. , welding and fine micro-processing and many other industrial production fields. Laser processing has significant features such as wide range of processing objects, small deformation, high precision, low energy consumption, low pollution, long-distance processing, and automated processing. It has become a new manufacturing technology and method.

Different lasers use different laser media or structures, oscillation wavelengths, excitation sources, etc. Laser media is a substance containing atoms that can convert the energy of excitation light into laser light. The types of lasers are classified according to the type of the medium, and can be roughly divided into four types. That is, solid lasers, semiconductor lasers, gas lasers, and fiber lasers.

Wavelengths of commercially available lasers

Semiconductor lasers, also known as laser diodes, are lasers that use semiconductor materials as their working material. Semiconductor lasers take electric injection semiconductor lasers as an example. GaN, GaAS and other materials are usually added to the semiconductor material to make a semiconductor junction diode. When a large enough current is injected into the diode, the electrons (negatively charged) in the middle active region It will spontaneously recombine with holes (positively charged) and release the excess energy in the form of photons, which will then be amplified by multiple reflections in the resonant cavity to form a laser.

Basic structure of semiconductor laser

CO2 gas laser is a laser that uses CO2 gas as the medium. In the tube filled with CO2 gas, electrode plates are arranged to generate discharge. The electrode plate is connected to an external power source, allowing it to input high-frequency power as an excitation source. Plasma is generated in the gas due to the discharge between the electrodes, and the CO2 molecules are converted into an excited state. When the number increases, stimulated emission begins.

Structure of CO2 Laser

YAG laser solid laser is a solid laser that uses YAG crystal as the laser medium. YAG refers to the crystallization of Yttrium Aluminum Garnet with the addition of neodymium. The laser is configured such that excitation LDs are arranged on both sides parallel to the axis of the YAG crystal. A pair of mirrors is used to form a resonator, and a Q-switch is placed between them. Used for marking, cutting, engraving, and welding metal.

Structure of YAG solid Laser

Fiber laser uses optical fiber as the medium and is the product of the development of interrupt amplification technology for long-distance communication into high-power output laser. Optical fibers consist of a core that transmits light in the center and a metal cladding that surrounds the core in concentric circles. Fiber laser uses this core as the laser medium to amplify light. The fiber laser is generally composed of pulsed light called a seed light source (Seed Light) generated by a laser diode (Seed LD), and then amplified by more than two fiber amplifiers. The excitation LD is equipped with multiple single-tube emitters (one for the light-emitting layer). Each LD has a low power output, so it has the advantage of small thermal load and achieves a long life. In addition, the greater the number of LDs, the more high-power output laser can be achieved. Fiber laser oscillation efficiency is high, and compared with solid laser and gas laser, it has the characteristics of lower power consumption.

Structure of Fiber Laser

The optical fiber for amplification (preamplifier, main amplifier) has a three-layer structure, including a core and two metal cladding layers. The excitation light enters the inner metal cladding (inner cladding) and the Yb-added core, causing the atoms inside the core to transform into an excited state. The laser is enclosed in the core and advances, and then amplified by exciting atoms. The further it advances in the medium, the stronger the intensity. Unlike solid-state or gas lasers, the light goes in one direction and does not go back and forth.

Optical fiber structure for amplification

Taking the blue laser as an example, its wavelength is 450nm and it is a semiconductor laser using GaN as the working material. Thanks to the high absorption rate of blue light with wood, metal, ceramics, organic matter, etc., and with the mass production and power increase of blue light semiconductor lasers in recent years, it has become possible to apply it to consumer-grade laser engravers and greatly reduces the cost. Compared with CO2 consumer-level engravers of about $5,000, the price of entry-level blue laser engravers, such as LONGER RAY5 5W, is only about $200, while the price of high-power 40W blue laser engraving machines is just $1,399, such as LONGER Laser B1 40W, but can cut depths up to 40mm basswood and 50mm acrylic.

The development of industrial laser technology has always followed the roadmap of production technology and new social requirements. Over the past 60 years, laser technology has made great contributions to solving important tasks in the future of mankind, from digital economy and society, to sustainable energy, to healthy life. Among them, blue-light laser refers to a laser with a wavelength in the range of about 400nm-500nm. Industrial-grade blue-light laser is generally a semiconductor laser.

Semiconductor lasers, also known as laser diodes, are lasers that use semiconductor materials as their working material. Semiconductor lasers take electric injection semiconductor lasers as an example. GaN, GaAS and other materials are usually added to the semiconductor material to make a semiconductor junction diode.

When a large enough current is injected into the diode, the electrons (negatively charged) in the middle active region It will spontaneously recombine with holes (positively charged) and release the excess energy in the form of photons, which will then be amplified by multiple reflections in the resonant cavity to form a laser.

Basic structure of semiconductor laser

Among them, in addition to the common characteristics of lasers, semiconductor lasers also have the advantages of small size, low driving power current, high efficiency, long life, easy optoelectronic integration with various optoelectronic devices, and compatibility with semiconductor manufacturing technology for mass production. They are favored by extensive attention and research from various countries. It has become the fastest growing, most widely used, the first to be commercialized out of the laboratory and the largest output value of lasers.

In terms of optical storage optical discs, because the possible recording and reproducing capacity is inversely proportional to the square of the light source wavelength, for example, an optical disc prepared using a 650nm red light semiconductor laser can record 4.7GB, while using 430nm blue light can store 4.7GB. The capacity has been increased to 15GB, so to achieve high density of optical storage, it is necessary to shorten the wavelength of the laser light source. In addition, blue-ray laser has the characteristics of short wavelength, small diffraction effect, and high energy. It has broad application prospects in material processing, optical information storage, display technology, communication technology, laser medical treatment, etc. The radiation wavelength of the semiconductor laser is determined by the bandgap width of the active area material.

Therefore, in order to meet the needs of miniaturization, low power consumption, high reliability and low cost, the use of GaN semiconductor materials has become the best choice for preparing blue lasers.

Therefore, at the 1997 GaN International Conference held in Japan, Nichia announced that the working life of the room-temperature continuous lasing blue laser had exceeded 10,000H. Major companies and powerful universities and research units in the world have invested in research and have successively achieved major achievements. breakthrough. In October 1999, GaN laser was commercialized with output characteristics of 5mW, wavelength of 400nm, operating current of 40mA, operating voltage of 5V, and a lifespan of 10,000h at room temperature, becoming a milestone in the development of GaN. In 2001, Nichia prepared a 150mW laser.

Early bluet lasers were low-power and did not gain much attention. Until recent years, with the marketization of single-tube blue TO packages, prices have been reduced, power has been increased, and various industrial manufacturing and fiber coupling technologies have been continuously enriched. People have realized the feasibility of developing high-power blue lasers.