.Introduction
If you only have a small workspace, if you only want a portable laser machine, if you want a laser machine that is 100% designed and manufactured in the US, the Epilog’s Zing 16/24 laser machine is a good choice.And I think they are very professional in the field of small laser machines. In their product list, there are small laser machines in the zing series, mini series and helix series. It can be seen that careful laser machines play an important role in the epilogue laser, and the largest area in the working area is 24″ x 18″ ( 610 x 457 mm), The desktop laser cutter for everything from home use to starting a business, of course, this does not mean that all small laser machines have to be purchased at the epilogue laser. After all, not everyone likes small laser machines, and The factors that affect the purchase of laser machines are not so unique.
.Zing16/24 Laser machine Technical Specifications
First, let’s take a look at the specific parameters of the zing series laser machine. These parameters can basically grasp the general situation of the laser machine.
| Laser System | Zing 16 | Zing 24 |
|---|---|---|
| Engraving Area | 16″ x 12″ (406 x 305 mm) | 24″ x 12″ (610 x 305 mm) |
| Maximum Material Thickness | 4.5″ (114 mm) | 7.75″ (197 mm) |
| Laser Wattage | 30 or 40 watts | 30, 40, 50, or 60 watts |
| Laser Source | State-of-the-art, digitally controlled, air-cooled CO2 laser tubes are fully modular, permanently aligned and field replaceable. | State-of-the-art, digitally controlled, air-cooled CO2 laser tubes are fully modular, permanently aligned and field replaceable. |
| Intelligent Memory Capacity | Multiple file storage up to 64 MB. Rolling buffer allows files of any size to be engraved. | Multiple file storage up to 64 MB. Rolling buffer allows files of any size to be engraved. |
| Air Assist | Attach an air compressor to our included Air Assist to remove heat and combustible gases from the cutting surface by directing a constant stream of compressed air across the cutting surface. | Attach an air compressor to our included Air Assist to remove heat and combustible gases from the cutting surface by directing a constant stream of compressed air across the cutting surface. |
| Laser Dashboard | The Laser Dashboard™ controls your Epilog Laser’s settings from a wide range of software packages – from design programs to spreadsheet applications to CAD drawing packages. | The Laser Dashboard™ controls your Epilog Laser’s settings from a wide range of software packages – from design programs to spreadsheet applications to CAD drawing packages. |
| Red Dot Pointer | Since the laser beam is invisible, the Red Dot Pointer on Epilog’s Zing Laser allows you to have a visual reference for locating where the laser will fire. | Since the laser beam is invisible, the Red Dot Pointer on Epilog’s Zing Laser allows you to have a visual reference for locating where the laser will fire. |
| Relocatable Home | When engraving items that are not easily placed at the top corner of the laser, you can set a new home position by hand with the convenient Movable Home Position feature on the Zing Laser. | When engraving items that are not easily placed at the top corner of the laser, you can set a new home position by hand with the convenient Movable Home Position feature on the Zing Laser. |
| Operating Modes | Optimized raster, vector or combined modes. | Optimized raster, vector or combined modes. |
| Motion Control System | High-speed micro stepper motors. | High-speed micro stepper motors. |
| X-Axis Bearings | Shielded Roller Bearing Assembly on a Ceramic Coated Aluminum Guide Rail. | Shielded Roller Bearing Assembly on a Ceramic Coated Aluminum Guide Rail. |
| Belts | Advanced B-style Kevlar Belts. | Advanced B-style Kevlar Belts. |
| Resolution | User controlled from 100 to 1000 dpi. | User controlled from 100 to 1000 dpi. |
| Speed and Power Control | Computer or manually control speed and power in 1% increments to 100%. Vector color mapping links speed, power and focus to any RGB color. | Computer or manually control speed and power in 1% increments to 100%. Vector color mapping links speed, power and focus to any RGB color. |
| Print Interface | 10 Base-T Ethernet or USB Connection. Compatible with Windows® XP/Vista/7/8/10. | 10 Base-T Ethernet or USB Connection. Compatible with Windows® XP/Vista/7/8/10. |
| Size (W x D x H) | 28.75″ x 22.125” x 11.75” (730 x 562 x 298 mm) | 38″ x 27.25″ x 15″ (965 x 692 x 381 mm) |
| Weight | 95 lbs (43 kg) | 140 lbs (64 kg) |
| Electrical Requirements | Auto-switching power supply accommodates 110 to 240 volts, 50 or 60 Hz, single phase. | Auto-switching power supply accommodates 110 to 240 volts, 50 or 60 Hz, single phase. |
| Maximum Table Weight | The Zing 16 and 24 have a static table weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) and a lifting table weight of 25 lbs (11.5 kg). | The Zing 16 and 24 have a static table weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) and a lifting table weight of 25 lbs (11.5 kg). |
| Ventilation System | 350 – 400 CFM (595-680 m3/hr) external exhaust to the outside or internal filtration system is required. There is one output port, 4″ in diameter. | 350 – 400 CFM (595-680 m3/hr) external exhaust to the outside or internal filtration system is required. There is one output port, 4″ in diameter. |
.Zing 16/24 laser machine advantages
Through practical operation, we can visually see the effect of the laser machine and compare it with other machines to find its advantages.
1.High quality engraving
a.More types of engraved materials
Zing 16/24 is a low-power small laser machine, but it does not seem to affect the engraving to engrave more material. We can compare it, and for fairness we chose the same working area and the same power. Laser machine, the comparison is trotec’s Speedy Laser Engravers.
| Laser System | Zing 16/24 | Trotec Speedy Laser Engravers |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic | ✔ | ✔ |
| Glass | ✔ | ✔ |
| Laminates | ✔ | ✔ |
| Leather | ✔ | ✔ |
| Metal * | ✔ | ✔ |
| Paper | ✔ | ✔ |
| Plastics | ✔ | ✔ |
| Stone | ✔ | ✔ |
| Textiles | ✔ | ✔ |
| Wood | ✔ | ✔ |
| Ceramic | ✔ | |
| Delrin | ✔ | |
| Matte Board | ✔ | |
| Melamine | ✔ | |
| Mother of Pearl | ✔ | |
| Anodized Aluminum | ✔ |
The materials in the above table are from official data. We think that the trotec laser machine data should not be so small. It may be that the official testing of the materials is not so important that the list of materials listed is rare, but we can still see a trend. That is, under the same power conditions, epilog has more materials to be used than other small laser machines.
b.Good quality of engraving products
In the machine we tested, the zing16/24 laser machine did a good job of carving. Like Thunderlaser’s nova24 small laser machine, the engraving effect was amazing!Let’s take a look at some of their sculpted samples.
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In addition to the samples, we also used a laser machine to compare the effects of engraving. The engraving material was wood. The design was from a third party, avoiding other influencing factors, engraving, and the epilog laser machine on the left, another brand. The same power laser machine is on the right, let’s see the effect.
Due to factors such as the limitation of the photo level, it may affect the picture viewing, but we can still see that the quality of the engraving on the left is significantly higher than the right. Whether it’s carving details or three-dimensionality.And to improve its engraving level lies in its features
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In order to improve the engraving quality of laser machines, epilog has continuously optimized and upgraded from hardware to software to achieve the high quality engraving effect.
2.Small size and light weight
Epilog’s smallest laser, the Zing 16 laser machine, features a 16″ x 12″ (406 x 305 mm) work area.The entire body is 28.75″ x 22.125″ x 11.75″(730 x 562 x 298 mm).while the Zing 24, provides a larger 24″ x 12″ (610 x 305 mm) work area.The entire body is 38″ x 27.25″ x 15″ (965 x 692 x 381 mm).We compare it with the Nova24(1070x810x610mm(42.1″ x 31.9″ x24″)), which is also a small laser machine, and can visually see the size. It can be said that the epilog laser is the ultimate in terms of Laser machine size.and The machine weighs 95 lbs (43 kg) and 140 lbs (64 kg), and I believe an adult can lift the laser.
3.Lower cost
Yes, I think the Zing series is relatively low cost. Of course, this may only be reflected in the production cost. The price of the laser machine is higher than the same type (small body, low power), but if the cost of the laser machine is not counted Into, the production cost is relatively low.
Long-Life Lenses Rated to 500 Watts
Lenses rated to 500 watts can last the entire life of the system, saving you time and money.
CO2 Waveguide Laser Tubes by Epilog
All-metal tube design provides higher beam quality and longer life with low recharge costs.
In addition to the above two reasons, their laser machines are available in 30, 40, 50, and 60-watt laser options. Customers can choose the most cost-effective laser tube according to their needs, because it can be compatible with a variety of power laser tubes for future lasers. Machine upgrades save a lot of cost.
4.Other features
a.Network Your Laser Across Your Business
The Zing Laser series features built-in Ethernet, USB, and a new wireless connection for more options for networking your laser.The mention of networking features reminds me of the glowforge laser machine, which can only be connected to wifi on their machines, causing dissatisfaction among many customers. Therefore, various networking functions are beneficial to greatly enhance the user experience.
b.Visible Red Dot Pointer
The Zing’s Red Dot Pointer provides a visible laser beam for setting up projects and to see exactly where the laser will fire. Project layout has never been easier!I think this is a very good function, and it also reflects a company’s respect for details. This red dot allows you to clearly know the position of the laser spot. Before cutting the material, you can adjust the position of the material as much as possible. Maximize material savings and avoid wasting materials too much.
.Inadequacies of laser machines
1.No platform lift function
The epilog laser also abandoned the lifting function of the laser platform in the design of the machine, maximizing the space occupied by the laser machine to a minimum. I think this is unwise because the working area is too small, which has greatly limited the cutting and The size of the engraving is lost, and the lifting function of the laser platform is lost. When the material with a relatively large thickness is carved, the adjustment of the laser head cannot be performed, and the laser machine cannot complete the engraving and cutting work. I think this is also a limitation. Of course, it is also possible that the designer of the laser machine believes that in the case of low power, there is no need to consider engraving or cutting objects of relatively large thickness, because the power itself has been limited.
2.High-Speed Stepper Motors Instead of high speed servo motors
High-speed stepping motors are fast, but for high-speed servo motors, they are a bit inadequate. Ordinary high-speed stepper motors can only reach 500mm/s, while high-speed servo motors can reach 1000mm/s for engraving and cutting. The speed can be greatly improved to meet the customer’s demand for speed.
3.Laser power is too small, low efficiency
For this shortcoming, I think it is inevitable. After all, it is a small laser machine. Many factors have caused him to work inefficiently. Therefore, the consumption object of this type of machine is everything from home use to starting a business, low work efficiency. It also achieves a low cost effect. Strictly speaking, it can not be regarded as a shortcoming, but objectively speaking, low work efficiency can not satisfy customers. How to achieve high-power laser machine miniaturization can only rely on great machine designers.
.conclusion
The Epilog Zing Laser starter series is Epilog’s small format, high-quality engraving line. The perfect desktop laser cutter for everything from home use to starting a business, the Zing Laser provides high-quality engraving and cutting, at a low cost.In the field of small laser cutting machines, epilog’s laser machines are indeed worth considering, but their high price may be an important reason for the prohibition. However, the price is determined to a certain extent to determine the quality of the product and the quality of after-sales, so for more affluent individual buyers, it can be selected.
