LaserPecker contacted me to ask if I would be interested in reviewing their LaserPecker 2 laser engraver. This is the first galvo laser engraving machine  I've had the chance to review, so I'm ecstatic! I wish I could review their upcoming LaserPecker 3 machine. It is the same type as the galvo, but is designed for metal and plastic.

Package
The main unit and swivel unit are packaged in their own retail boxes. They all come in a sturdy little cardboard box. There was no damage to the case or product, and nothing was missing.

Assembly
Two Allen screws attach the bottom plate to the standoffs... and that's it. Everything else that screws together uses very large thumbscrews.

Features of LaserPecker 2
LaserPecker 2 has many great features. First, it's very easy to set up. 5 watts of laser power is perfect for wood, paper, leather, fabric and more. The mobile app for controlling the LaserPecker 2 is easy to use and very intuitive. It allows you to create laser engraver jobs very quickly and easily.

The application has all the basic required functions. You can use the built-in clip art library, import pictures, use the camera, create text, create barcodes and QR codes. You can tweak the sculpt settings if you want, but I found that I mostly just stuck to the stock settings and got good results.

The only exception is when carving corks. The base setup wanted the laser power at 30%, but I changed it to 50% for a better mark. In addition to the main laser unit, I also received the swivel attachment. Calling it a swivel attachment wouldn't be fair, as it does so much more than that. You can use it not only as a standard rotary unit for round objects like cups, but also for moving longer materials under the laser in a so-called slab mode.

I find that heavier and narrower materials work better in this mode. The last mode is the cart mode (my favorite). In this mode, the swivel is flipped upside down so the scroll wheel is on the bottom. The laser head is then attached to a special bracket, which is then attached to the bottom of the rotator.

This turns it into a wheel laser, allowing the laser to travel through the material and make longer marks than standard 100x100mm or 4x4in marks. The included magnetic riser blocks clip into the square holes in the front of the swivel unit and act as support wheels to keep the unit from tipping over.

Very impressive to say the least. Some other notable features are the fan shrouds. Not only does it exhaust smoke from the engraving area, it adds extra eye protection and acts as a focusing tool. When mounted on a laser head, the bottom edge of the light shield is the focal point of the laser. If you are using the LaserPecker 2 without the hood attached, there is a focus rail on the stand that folds down, or you can use the included ruler to measure 110mm from the bottom of the laser head to set the focus.

It can be raised and lowered electrically using the 2 smooth touch buttons on the side of the stand. If the up or down buttons are touched, the stand will raise or lower the head by 1mm respectively. If you touch and hold the button, the head will move continuously until you touch the button again. The last feature I want to mention is probably the first one I noticed, and that is the build quality of the main unit and swivel.

The fit and finish of every component including the cables and power supply is the best I've seen so far. Touch buttons, anodized aluminum, ports, fan grills, carrying handles, electronic lift stand, swivel mechanism, rubber feet, magnetic riser with ball bearing slides, each component has a quality and attention to detail that make it They are a joy to use. left a deep impression on me.

Safety
The manual also covers the very important security aspects and doesn't repeat them enough. Although small, this is a laser that can cause serious damage. Read and follow all safety warnings. Wear safety glasses whenever possible and keep shields in place. As a basic rule, don't look at the laser at all, make sure what you're engraving doesn't emit toxic fumes (such as PVC, ABS, epoxy, etc.), only use it in a well-ventilated space and don't stare into the beam. Safety is your responsibility.

Smoke exhaust
I set up a basic smoke extraction system with a 6" inline fan, some 6" ducting, and a 6" blast door. I am very happy with how it works. Fans are drawn from the laser working area and ventilated to the outside. Another part of my shop uses open blast doors to let fresh air in from the outside so the fans can pull freely.

Software
The software used was the LaserPecker app from the IOS app store. I run all test jobs from my phone. A version of the LaserPecker app is expected to be available for Windows and Mac in late July 2022.

Wishlist
I hope to see LaserPeacker 2 add something in a future release. The first one is at least a 10w laser power head. This will help the LaserPecker 2 work on metal and also help with cutting. I also want the laser preview to use a low power laser pointer type laser for the preview task rather than the actual engraving laser. This is more of a safety concern, as laser pointer lasers are generally low powered and not potentially hazardous to the eyes.

Summarize
This machine is an absolute joy to use. It's intuitive, well-designed and compact. You can tell a lot of thought went into its development, including all the unique features and usage modes. Although it has a smaller work area, it somewhat makes up for that when you use it in cart mode. It also has the smallest footprint. It's a welcome change, most of the machines I've tested take up ten times the space in my shop. Laser preview is a great feature, and I hope we see more of it in the laser engraving machine space. All in all, I am very happy with the LaserPecker 2. It's of excellent quality and a joy to use.