Ortur vs. Neje Laser Engravers...

[jrista]

Does anyone have experience with Ortur and Neje laser engravers? I've been trying to get a Neje with a particular kind of pen engraving jig...although have been having trouble due to the jigs not being in stock. I started looking around again, and found this amazing direct drive pen engraving jig from Jafweb:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzMQiNGxLaQ

This one seems to be exactly what I am looking for. The mentions that it is for the Ortur (and Neje) made me start looking into the Ortur, which seems to use a 32-bit processor rather than an 8-bit. Sounds like the Ortur should do a better job engraving fine details and the like, but before I actually pull the trigger, I wanted to ask and see what people's experiences were with either brand.

I seem to have found fairly equal reports of lasers failing with both. A lot of people complain about these not being much more than a "toy", but I honestly am not sure what anyone expects from 3, 4, 5 watt laser engravers...they aren't going to be heavy duty machines. I just want to make sure I get something that will allow me to engrave fine details in wood, and support a reliable, viable rotary pen engraver.

 

[jrista]

Anyone? Someone out there has to have done some engraving...

 

[leehljp]

Almost all of the personal engraving here (but not 100%) has been done on the NEJE. This is the first I have seen on the Orator, but it does look good.

 

[SteveJ]

I've got both the small neje which I think is the 1500. I've also got the Ortur "15W". I used a rotary jig on the Neje with good success but wasn't satisfied with the limited engraving area so went ahead and got the Ortur. I have not yet sprung for the rotary unit for it. I do really like the increased power and engraving area.

With it I have successfully engraved a logo on finials, names and designs on pens (no need for the rotary unless engraving all the way around) as well as wood business cards, and designs on flat work. Later today I will surprise my son with an engraved pen stand and matching pen.

"Gielinor, like it used to be"

 

[RGVPens]

Awesome! I can see a new toy in my future...and less money in my pocket lol.

 

[jrista]

Awesome! I can see a new toy in my future...and less money in my pocket lol.

I figure...buy now, while your money is still worth something! With the rate of inflation as it is...better to convert those dollars into tangible assets. With inflation up around 6.2% or so, and significantly more for a lot of the kinds of things we buy, our money is being devalued at ~1% or so every month...

I've been spending like a drunken sailor lately, finishing out my workshop. I figure in 6 months, the bandsaw I just bought will be $400 more expensive, and lead times will probably be measured in months.

 

[jrista]

I've got both the small neje which I think is the 1500. I've also got the Ortur "15W". I used a rotary jig on the Neje with good success but wasn't satisfied with the limited engraving area so went ahead and got the Ortur. I have not yet sprung for the rotary unit for it. I do really like the increased power and engraving area.

With it I have successfully engraved a logo on finials, names and designs on pens (no need for the rotary unless engraving all the way around) as well as wood business cards, and designs on flat work. Later today I will surprise my son with an engraved pen stand and matching pen.

"Gielinor, like it used to be"

I've researched a lot more, and Ortur seems to be king of this class of engraver at the moment. They have some intriguing safety features, and their new version of the Ortur 2 Pro with the 1.8 firmware, seems to be able to engrave at 10,000mm/min, which is a lot faster than any other laser engraver of this class and price range that I've found.

It is a little tough comparing Neje with Ortur, as they use different terminology to describe things like the smallest detail that can be engraved, or the speed of engraving. Neje has this concept of burn time, which I don't think is a speed thing, but more of a "burn at this "pixel" for this long to go this deep", whereas Ortur clearly specifies their engraving speed in mm/min. The Ortur 2 Pro has an area of 400x400mm, which is about 15 3/4" square. That should accommodate the largest bowls I can turn, to engrave in the bottom of the bowls, so I think it'll suffice. The Neje Master 2 seems to have an area up to 400x810, but I don't know what I would engrave that might be 30 inches long...

 

[SabertoothBunny]

I have a small NEJE laser and an happy with it overall, no complaints. Got a jog to go with it for engraving small items like pens, bottle stoppers, ornaments, etc and like it. Simple to use, strait forward.