LaserPecker LP5 – The Dual Laser With Endless Possibilities

While you could have multiple laser engravers and cutters for different materials, the LaserPecker LP5 handles most projects easily with its dual laser design. Featuring powerful diode and fiber lasers, you no longer need separate machines for metal and wood. I recently had the pleasure of testing LaserPecker’s latest release to see how well it performs.

This is a sponsored article and was made possible by LaserPecker. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author, who maintains editorial independence even when a post is sponsored.

Capable Of Handling Most Materials

The first thing that impressed me about the LaserPecker LP5 Laser Engraver is the endless possibilities. Unlike many laser engravers, you can switch seamlessly between the 20W 1064nm fiber laser and 20W 450nm blue diode laser within the software, with no physical parts to change out.

Of course, with the dual laser design, it’s easy to jump between cutting basswood to engraving stainless steel in seconds. The fiber laser handles gold, silver, aluminum, brass, plastic, stainless steel, and more with ease. It can even cut up to a 1mm brass sheet.

Want to engrave wood, glass, leather, acrylic, ceramic, stone, paper, and even some metals? The diode laser has you covered. Plus, it can cut up to a 20mm piece of basswood or a 15mm piece of acrylic.

Incredible Speed and Clean Lines

To work with most materials is nice, but I also don’t want to wait for hours for a simple project. The LaserPecker LP5 features engraving speeds of up to 10,000mm/s. As an example, I engraved and cut a snowflake using basswood in about a minute. And, that was a single pass.

Considering it was only one pass to do this, I couldn’t believe how clean the lines were. And honestly, on every project I tried, I always achieved clear, clean engraving and cutting.

The LP5 is designed for deep engraving to create better details in a single pass. Even with metal, it’s the same results. I used a 0.6mm aluminum sheet just to see how well the engraver cut thicker pieces of metal. It did take multiple passes, but the edges were perfect. I cut out a heart with a simple engraving on it.

The LP 5 also features:

• Desktop and mobile apps and compatible with LightBurn
• Connection via USB and Wi-Fi
• Rectangle, center point, and outline previews
• Weighs just over 13lbs.
• Conical protective cover
• Supports multiple file formats
• Physical security key (won’t turn on without it)
• Plug-and-play USB engraving
• Batch customization
• Color engraving
• 3D grayscale embossing
• Portable design that angles for custom projects

Simple Assembly to Get Started in Minutes

The LaserPecker LP5 doesn’t come fully assembled, and the unit I was sent didn’t include a user manual. However, all the instructions, including videos, are available on LaserPecker’s website, and I was impressed at how well everything was packaged.

I loved the included toolkit, which was in a nice case, along with a SanDisk USB drive, two USB locks, and a leveler for the rotary tool. The device also comes with safety goggles. For reference, I was sent the Ultimate Bundle, which included the LP5, slide extension, rotary extension, air purifier, and even a durable cutting plate.

Something else that surprised me is that not only were all necessary USB cables included, but a generous box of sample materials were also included. This means you can get started with the laser engraver even faster. I started my first project within five minutes of assembly.

It took about 10 minutes to put together the main unit, slide extension, and rotary extension. Then, I just had to download LaserPecker Design Space (mobile app) and LDS (desktop app). Both let you connect to the LP5 to create your designs. Both apps are free.

The slide and rotary extensions were no trouble to assemble either. While not required for every project, they’re nice additions for larger and rounded projects. Each extension is powered by USB cables (included) that connect to the main unit.

The rotary extension includes wedges and studs to accommodate different sizes.

The LaserPecker Air Purifier is perfect for engraving and cutting indoors. The compact size with a handle features extendable input/output hoses. Just place the unit near a window to run the output outside to prevent any nasty wood-burning smells.

Using the LaserPecker Design Studio Apps

I honestly don’t have enough wonderful things to say about the LaserPecker LP5 itself. However, while the apps are nice, they’re not perfect. Personally, I preferred using the mobile app, as it gave me better previews. For more advanced settings and to make it easier to design complex projects, the desktop app is a must.

What I loved about both apps:

• Easy-to-understand menus
• Built-in clipart
• Easily choose between laser types and settings
• See an outline preview (depending on the type of design)
• Monitor project progress
• Create layered projects with different settings
• Import images

However, I did have some issues pop up, such as:

• Randomly losing the Wi-Fi connection
• I could adjust the design position/size while in preview mode on the mobile app, but not the desktop app
• The mobile app always showed a square preview outline on my project material, but the desktop only showed a preview outline in line or g-code mode
• There’s no option to view LPB (LaserPecker’s exported file for USB) after exporting, so you can’t edit the project or view any parameters before starting
• No option to choose the material type to get suggested settings (custom is the only material type)

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed using both apps. I just feel they could use a little work. Having some suggested settings for material types would be a huge improvement, especially for beginners.

Incredibly Easy to Use

LaserPecker sent me some suggested parameters for different materials, which helped immensely. But there are quite a few blog posts on LaserPecker’s site to help guide you through using various materials. Of course, always test settings with a sample of a material to get the best results for your own projects.

Getting the focus just right involves using the top buttons to raise or lower the laser unit. Adjust the height until the two red focal dots line up into one single dot. It’s that simple. Plus, a blue outline shows you the project size and position.

The unit also features a pause button and emergency stop button to quickly stop a project. All ports are located on the back for easy access.

All that’s left is to input your design into the desktop or mobile app, set your parameters, and let the machine go to work. The conical protective cover is magnetic and removes easily to see preview lines and remove project materials without having to raise or lower the laser head. For safety reasons, the machine won’t start a project without the cover attached, though there is a setting to override this. I don’t recommend overriding it.

I tested a variety of materials with the LP5, such as the wood and aluminum projects earlier in the review. My favorite is probably the stainless steel necklace, which completed in less than 30 seconds.

The USB drive that shipped with the device holds several projects, including a stone coaster and a bronze coin. These were much longer projects due to all the layers involved, but they turned out extremely well. The only downside to the USB drive is that you still have to stay connected within one of the apps to use it.

I also did a few cats, one on basswood with a 3D effect and one on card stock.

I didn’t have many round materials to test with the rotary extension, but I used a wooden chime off a broken wind chime to try it. It worked perfectly once I got the settings just right.

I also engraved a walnut keychain, which was one of the sample materials included.

Thanks to the cover being translucent, you can see your project’s progress at any time. Of course, still wear the safety goggles as well.

The Perfect Laser Engraver for Hobbyists and Professionals

Overall, the LaserPecker LP5 is a dream to use, though more details on settings and some improvements in the apps would make this machine better. The portable size makes it perfect for use at home or in a business. You could even take it with you to craft fairs. Between the dual lasers and speed, there’s not much you can’t do. As long as the material fits under the laser head, you’re all set.

The LP5 isn’t the cheapest on the market, but it is powerful. The Basic Bundle is $3,299, and the Deluxe Bundle is $3,999. The LP5 Ultimate Bundle also includes the Air Purifier and costs $4,399. Use the code MTE100 to get an extra $100 off.