The Ortur Laser Master 3 is the latest laser engraver offering from Ortur.
This article is a detailed test and review of the Ortur Laser Master 3.
I test it for engraving and cutting on several materials including plywood, wood, glass, aluminum, ceramic, and acrylic.
I’ve also included a review video of everything I tested with Ortur Laser Master 3 in this article.
In the end, I compare how it fares against other laser engravers in the same category.
If you decide to buy the Ortur Laser Master 3, use our exclusive discount code “80FORJAS” to get an $80 discount over the sale price.
Quick pros and cons of Ortur Laser Master 3.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Excellent engraving quality | 20W laser upgrade not available |
| 0.8 mm laser focus depth | |
| Fast max speed of 20,000 mm/min | |
| On/off key like in industrial machines |
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Testing Ortur Laser Master 3 on Different Materials
I tested Ortur Laser Master 3 by engraving and cutting different materials. The results are given below.
| Material | Job Type | Speed | Power | No. of Passes | Air assist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plywood | Engraving | 6,000 mm/min | 50% | 1 | off |
| Plywood | Engraving | 12,000 mm/min | 100% | 1 | off |
| 3mm Plywood | Cutting | 600 mm/min | 100% | 2 | 30 psi |
| 10mm Pine | Cutting | 100 mm/min | 100% | 2 | 30 psi |
| 10mm Pine | Cutting | 300 mm/min | 100% | 6 | 40 psi |
| Glass | Engraving | 1500 mm/min | 70% | 1 | off |
| Aluminum Card | Engraving | 5,000 mm/min | 100% power | 1 | off |
| Ceramic Tile | Engraving | 3,000 mm/min | 100% power | 1 | off |
| 2mm Black Acrylic | Cutting | 600 mm/min | 100% power | 5 | 30 psi |
Engraving on Plywood
You can get good engravings on plywood at 50% power and 6,000 mm/min speed. If you want quick jobs, you can use 100% power at 12,000 mm/min for engraving on plywood.
The small module and low center of gravity design prevent vibrations at high speeds.
When you are engraving on wood or ply, do not use an air assist as it causes the smoke to spread out and stain the wood surface.
Cutting 3mm Ply
When you are using a laser to cut plywood or wood, it is better to do it with an air assist.
Ortur Lasser Master 3 cut 3mm ply at 600 mm/min in 2 passes with a 30 psi air assist. I got clean edges with fewer burn marks.
You will not get clean edges if you do not use an air assist.
Cutting 10mm Pine
I was able to cut 10 mm thick ply in about 2 passes going at 100 mm/min using a 30 psi air assist. However, the laser didn’t cut through completely at places with hard grains.
To get a clean edge finish you need to run it at 300 mm/min and go for 6 passes to cut 10 mm pine. I used 40 psi air assist pressure.
Engraving Glass
I engraved a piece of glass after giving it a coat of black spray paint. I used 70% power and engraved at 1500 mm/min.
The engraving turned out good, with no chipping, and had good contrast.
Engraving Painted Aluminum Business Cards
I was able to engrave on a painted aluminum business card to reveal the metal underneath. After wiping it off with a clean cloth, the engraving had a good and shiny finish.
I did the engraving at 5,000 mm/min at 100% power.
Engraving White Ceramic Tile
I engraved an image on a white ceramic tile after coating it with white paint. The Ortur Laser Master 3 was able to engrave tile at 3,000 mm/min speed and 100% power.
I did the engraving with 0.1 mm line spacing, and it took me around 48 minutes to engrave a 6” x 4” photograph.
The image had good detailing except for some dark areas, and that is because I used the image directly without any editing to bring out the details.
Cutting 2mm Black Acrylic
I tried cutting 2mm thick black acrylic using the settings recommended by Ortur and was able to cut it at 100 mm/min in one pass with an air assist.
I tried some tests and figured out that you get the best edge finish when you cut it at 600 mm/min speed in 5-6 passes. Using this setting also gives you a smaller kerf width.
Review of Ortur Laser Master 3: Hands-on
Video Review of Ortur Laser Master 3
Quick Facts: Ortur Laser Master 3
| Parameter | Ortur Laser Master 3 |
|---|---|
| Work Area | 15.74″ x 15.74″ |
| Footprint | 23.1″ x 25.9″ |
| Laser Type | Diode |
| Laser Output Power | 10W |
| Laser Focus | Manual |
| Laser Spot Size | 0.05 x 0.1 mm |
| Compatible Materials | wood, paper, leather, plastic, foam, fabric, acrylic, coated metal, etc. |
| Linear Drive | Belt-driven |
| Stepper Motor | NEMA 17 |
| Transmission Support | Linear rails and rollers |
| Maximum Speed | 20,000 mm/min |
| Limit Switches | No (uses TMC2209 stepper driver system) |
| Rotary Support | Yes |
| Connectivity | WiFi, TF card, and USB |
| Memory Card | Provided |
| Software | LightBurn, LaserGRBL, and Laser Explorer |
| Accessories | Tools, WiFi antenna, air assist nozzle, a USB cable, test materials, a card reader, a memory card, and a laser safety glass. |
| Assembly | ~45 minutes |
| Color Options | Dark gray (No options) |
| Weight | 14.33 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Upgrades | Air assist kit Honeycomb worktable Enclosure with smoke extractor Rotary attachment Foldable feet |
| Price | Amazon Ortur (Save $80 using the code “80FORJAS”) |
Size and Build
The Ortur Laser Master 3 has an open-frame design with a dark gray color. It uses unique extrusions that are powder coated to provide a better finish.
It has integrated most electronic components within the frame providing a futuristic design with minimal components.
The frames of the machine are of aluminum. Other components are made using steel, brass, plastic, etc., and have an overall weight of 14.33 lbs.
You can even get Ortur Laser Master 3 with foldable feet. It’ll be helpful when using a rotary chuck attachment.
The machine offers a work area of 15.74″ x 15.74″ (400 x 400 mm), and the footprint measures 23.1″ x 25.9″ x 5.9″ (588 x 660 x 150 mm).
The design is where the Ortur Laser Master 3 stands out amongst other lasers.
It has a sleek design with a low profile and concealed controller and wiring. The only thing that sticks out is the cable that runs from the controller to the laser.
Laser Module
The laser module on Ortur Laser Master 3 uses two 5.5W diode lasers to provide a combined output of 10W.
It is one of the smallest 10W laser modules out there and is smaller than some 5W modules. Interestingly Ortur has managed to fit two cooling fans inside the small module.
This means the lens and laser receive adequate cooling during long hours of operation.
Also, it uses a special lens setup to provide a compressed laser spot size of 0.05 x 0.1 mm and a focus depth of 0.8 mm.
Unfortunately, the focus spot has a rectangular shape. This affects the details in fine engraving jobs as it produces darker engraving along an axis (X or Y) than the other.
Air intake tubes are pre-installed on the laser module, and it goes through the laser module. So you don’t have to worry about it getting in the way of the laser beam or transmission.
The module also has a pull-down focus liver, all you need to do is, flip it down, lower the module till it touches the material, and flip it back up.
Ortur had made no changes here. The autofocus setup is similar to the 10W modules they use on their other machines. But it’s better than using their old aluminum cylinder block.
Material Capability
The 10W laser module of Ortur Laser Master 3 is powerful enough to work on wood, paper, leather, plastic, foam, fabric, acrylic, anodized metal, stone, rubber, etc.
In addition, the lens’s 8mm depth of field allows the laser beam to stay in focus for a longer distance, making it suitable for cutting jobs.
If you cut in multiple passes, you’ll be able to cut up to 20mm thick workpieces.
But cutting thicker materials with multiple passes causes dark char along the cut path that will require further processing.
If you try to cut such workpieces in a single pass to avoid char, you’ll have to cut at slow speeds, which causes flare-ups due to heat buildup.
Working on thin sheets at high speeds can minimize char development on the cut surface.
The laser beam produced by the 10W laser module has a wavelength of 455±5nm. It’s not very effective at working on reflective bare metal surfaces.
But you’ll be able to make decent engravings on painted or anodized metal surfaces.
Interestingly it can make good engravings on bare steel surfaces. Also, by using the dynamic engraving mode on the software, you can work to make professional engravings with gradients.
In dynamic engraving, the software automatically adjusts the laser’s output power and speed based on the dark contrasts in the image.
Ortur has listed out laser settings (cut and engrave) for most materials on its website. It’ll be a good starting point for any of your projects.
OLM 3 also supports rotary attachments. When working with rotary attachments you’ll have to turn off the Y-axis motor using the flip switch next to the rotary port.
Transmission/Linear Drive
One major feature that differentiates Ortur Laser Master 3 from other laser engravers in the market is its transmission speed.
It can achieve a maximum speed of 20,000 mm/min, while its competitors only offer a 10,000 mm/min max speed.
Practically you wouldn’t run Ortur Laser Master 3 at its maximum speed as it’s not powerful enough to make dark engravings or cuts at such speeds. But it helps in faster positioning of the laser head.
The machine has a belt-driven transmission along the X and Y axes, providing an accuracy of 0.01 mm.
Controller and Electronics
Stepper Motor
Ortur Laser Master 3 uses NEMA 17 stepper motors to drive the machine transmission.
For driving the belt drive on the X-axis, it uses a 42 x 40 stepper motor. For the Y-axis, it uses a 42 x 60 stepper motor.
Limit Switch
Unlike other laser engravers, Ortur Laser Master 3 doesn’t use a mechanical limit switch. Instead, it relies on the TMC2209 stepper driver that allows for sensorless homing.
It’s not any better than mechanical limit switches, but it works fine. Whenever the gantry hits the frame there is a sudden increase in load on the motor.
When the load on the motor increases it draws more current from the driver. The controller detects this sudden increase in current and understands that the limit has been reached.
All of this happens in a very short time so there is no unnecessary grinding of the motor.
Wiring
The wires that go to the stepper motor from the controller are well hidden within the frames.
But the wires that connect to the laser module are still exposed. If you properly wire them with cable ties, they won’t interfere with the machine’s working.
Controller
Ortur Laser Master 3 uses an OLM-ESP-PRO-V2 motherboard. It’s flashed with their V2.0 Series Smart Laser Firmware. You can run it offline.
Connectivity
Ortur Laser Master 3 supports WiFi, TF card, and USB connectivity. Before establishing the first connection, you’ll have to install the firmware on the machine.
The firmware is available on the memory card provided with the machine.
If your Ortur Laser Master 3 keeps on beeping after turning it on it is probably because you do not have the memory card plugged in.
Software
Ortur Laser Master 3 works with LightBurn, LaserGRBL, and Laser Explorer software.
Laser Explorer is an application you can use on mobile or tablets. It is available for Android and IOS platforms.
If you are a beginner starting your way around laser machines, you can consider working with Laser Explorer. It only has basic features.
To take more control over the job, you’ll have to work on LightBurn or LaserGRBL. Both support WiFi connection.
LightBurn is a paid software available for Windows, Mac, and Linux OS. LaserGRBL is free to use but is only available for Windows OS.
Recently, Ortur introduced OLM3 Web Control, a web-based control software. You can access it through an internet browser to send jobs and control Ortur Laser Master 3.
Laser Safety Features
Working with laser machines is dangerous as exposure to the laser beam can damage your eye and skin cells.
So laser manufacturers put many safety features on their machines.
Laser protective acrylic shields, E-stop, gyroscope sensors, and flame detection are the standard setups that most manufacturers offer.
Unfortunately, Ortur Laser Master 3 doesn’t have a flame detector installed.
Interestingly, OLM 3 has an on/off lock integrated into the machine frame. This requires you to use a physical key to turn on the machine.
It helps prevent unauthorized use. It’s especially helpful when you have kids around.
Ortur Laser Master 3 is the only diode laser machine with such a feature. You can only find similar on/off locks on large CO2 laser machines and industrial CNCs.
Laser Master 3 also has an auto power-off feature that turns off the laser module if it stays idle for a long time.
Also, it is equipped with a gyroscope to provide tilt protection. It turns off the laser when the machine is tilted up to an angle.
Assembly
Ortur Laser Master 3 comes in a single box. All the parts are properly packed with hard foams.
The user manual provided with the machine has the assembly details. However, it is not well explained, but, you can find enough assembly videos online to help you put the machine together.
You can assemble it in about 45 minutes.
Once the machine is fully assembled, you can directly connect it to the software. You’ll have to install the drivers if it doesn’t automatically detect the machine.
Accessories
With the machine, you’ll get a set of tools required for assembly, a WiFi antenna, pressure adjustable air assist nozzle, a USB cable, test materials, a card reader, a memory card, and a laser safety glass.
Upgrades
Ortur offers many upgrade options for the Ortur Laser Master 3 machine. You can either get them separately or can be bundled with the machine.
Some of the upgrades include
- Ortur YRR 2.0 Rotary Roller
- Ortur Y-axis Rotary Chuck
- Ortur Z-Height Adjuster
- Ortur Foldable Feet
- Ortur Laser Engraving Platform
- Ortur Enclosure 2.0
When buying accessories from Ortur’s website, use the code 10FORJAS to save an extra 10% over the sale price.
Support
Ortur provides a 1-year warranty and a 30-day return guarantee for the Ortur Laser Master 3 machine.
For support, you can contact them through email or by raising a support ticket on their website.
They have community groups on Facebook.
Final Thoughts – How it compares to other lasers?
At around $700, Ortur Laser Master 3 is priced similarly to other high-end 10W diode laser engravers like xTool D1, SCULPFUN S10, Two Trees TS2, etc.
Comparatively, Ortur Laser Master 3 has a much more modern design with minimal components. It also features a safety lock that adds an extra layer of protection.
Compared to Ortur’s Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro, their latest Ortur Laser Master 3 has simplified its design and increased its speed. Almost all other features, including the laser module, are the same.
Since the diode laser components are contained in one unit, replacing them is easy compared to a CO2 or fiber laser. Ortur sells replacement parts through its website and Amazon.
When buying Laser Maser 3 from Ortur’s website, use the code 80FORJAS to save an extra $80 over the sale price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ortur a good laser?
Yes, laser machines from ortur are good for laser engraving and small cutting jobs. Ortur Laser Master and Aufero are their most popular laser series. Aufero machines come under the lower price range, while the Ortur Laser Master series has machines under both low and high price margins.
Which laser engraving machines are the best?
Some of the best laser engraving machines include xTool D1 Pro, FSL Muse Core, Comgrow Z1, Atomstack X7 Pro, Glowforge Basic, etc.
Can Ortur laser cut clear acrylic?
Ortur laser can’t cut clear acrylic as the laser beam from diode lasers passes through the acrylic material, but you’ll be able to cut acrylic of darker colors like black, green, etc.
