The Creality CR-Laser Falcon Engraver is reviewed by the 3D Printing Industry Engineering Team.
Creality is a Chinese company that specializes in 3D printer production. They are well known for the CR & Ender range, which are very successful printers in the desktop and prosumer market due to their low price and overall quality.
Creality has not yet released a laser cutter called the CR-Laser Falcon Engraver. They have also previously released a laser accessory for the Ender 3S1 3D printer.
The company wants to make a mark in the laser cutting market, so it is aiming at individual users rather than large industrial customers. The machine is manufactured in China along with Creality’s other machines and is made to the same standard. It ships to Europe from China and is well-packaged with foam insulation made-to-fit.
The Laser Falcon was introduced early in the year and received positive reviews. There are two product variations, a 10W version & a 5W version. Current prices are $493 (10W) and $322 (5W). We received the 10W model for review.
For anyone who is looking to express their creativity in a new way, the Falcon is an excellent choice. Combining 3D printing and laser cutting can produce new products. The machine’s price is significantly less than those on the market with similar workspace and power. It’s very simple to use as long as you keep your hands off of it while it is being used.
Creality Creality Creality Laser Falcon 10W. Dymaxion Plywood Globe. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
If the machine is misused, it could prove to be dangerous. For example, when engraving stainless steel or shiny materials, the laser could reflect off the surface and enter your eyes.
The standard and product do not include an air compressor. This is a problem as the air compressor is not included with the product. Without it, cutting quality is decreased and wood smoke is greatly increased. You should consider purchasing additional accessories for your laser to improve your experience with the cutter. These items currently cost extra and are available on Creality’s website.
We were initially positive, but we were apprehensive about the machine’s performance compared to more powerful laser systems. To determine which combination of power and speed cut/engrave material best, we have tested speed, power, as well as passes. Lightburn software was used because it was the best choice that Creality recommended. Multiple materials were used in order to determine the effectiveness of the laser under different circumstances.
In this article, we will discuss the above points and briefly describe the features of CR-Laser Falcon.
Creality Creality CR Laser Falcon 10W. Air-assisted lens & Compressor. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
Creality CR–Laser Falcon Engraver
You can control the CR-Laser Falcon in one of two ways. Either by pressing a single button on the machine, or connecting to a computer with Lightburn laser software. You can manually level using a leveling tool in tandem with the two bolts on the side.
This is a simple, but very effective way to offset the laser at the right distance from the material.
The laser frame itself is made of aluminum extrusion. It’s assembled using long M3 bolts. This structure is very stable and doesn’t get damaged by the inertia created by the laser module.
Maximum build space is 400mmx415mm. This is slightly larger than an A3 piece of paper. The cellular board that you will need to purchase as an extra is 320x320mm. If you need the entire workspace for a piece, this is not enough.
The laser module itself contains a single Class 2 10W laser with a wavelength of 455±5nm. The laser module has a 254 dpi resolution and 0.06mm compressed engraving spot. The laser can cut soft wood up to 18mm and can engrave up to 10mm depending on the material. Among other materials we tested, the laser cut stainless steel and polypropylene as well rubber, ceramic, bamboo, and plywood.
Creality Creality Creality Laser Falcon 10W. Examples of engraving projects Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
The machine’s simplicity makes it a great choice for both beginners and more experienced users. This machine has a huge creative potential and is easy to use. There is no barrier to accessing the hardware as in other areas of manufacturing. Creality opens up new opportunities for DIY builders and DIY makers where before you would need an industrial machine, large ventilation system, and workshop to operate.
The Laser Falcon is also very affordable, given the quality of what you get.
First Impressions and opening the Creality CR-Laser False Engraver
The Laser Falcon was shipped in foam, which protects it against external damage. Because the laser module is the most sensitive component of the machine, it was protected very well. Other contents included the bolts for assembling the falcon, the legs and the chassis.
Additional items were placed in a separate box and well-protected. These included the extended legs for printing, the air compressor and the lens fixture. The Laser Falcon was very easy to assemble. It also featured clever use of t slot nuts to tension the belts. The time it took to put the Laser Falcon together and to get started was just 5 minutes.
Creality Creality Creality Laser Falcon 10W. Unboxing separate parts Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
Software options for the CR-Laser Falcon Engraver
The laser has limited software options. There are two main programs, these are laserGRBL & Lightburn. Creality doesn’t own these programs or its own software. These third-party software programs are very different. LaserGRBL is an older program and has a limited number of options and parameters. While we tested this software, we quickly switched over to Lightburn. Lightburn is more advanced. The Laser Falcon’s profile can be downloaded onto these programs for an accurate workspace.
Lightburn was chosen because it can be used to alter the speed, passes, power, and speed of the design. This is done by allocating a certain color to a line or shape. Even for those with little laser cutter knowledge, the software is easy to use and intuitive. Lightburn also offers a derivative tool that allows users to scale and create designs with line tools and compound shapes.
The laser can also be used to frame your design onto your material. This is extremely useful for cutting precise designs.
Laser Benchmark testing of the CR-Laser Falcon Engraver
Before we cut or engraved any of the detailed pieces, we first ran some tests to gauge the Falcon’s ability. These basic tests involved using custom engraving and cutting parameters.
The first thing we tested was the engraving’s level of detail. We used a simple monogram consisting of descending circle sizes. This was a great job for the cutter and produced a high-resolution engraving.
We were more interested in the next tests. 3DPI logos were cut out and engraved on a piece plywood. This was chosen as the medium for laser cutting projects because it is widely used. These results were fascinating and showed a spectrum of speed vs. strength. For a precise, complete cut in one pass, the perfect ratio was 3 mm/s speed and 100% power.
Creality Creality CR Laser Falcon 10W. Laser & Engraving capability test. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
It was also possible to engrave at different distances from wood. This was to verify the focus of the leveling device.
It was possible to cut and engrave using the air-assisted instead of the regular nozzle. To avoid flames and burn marks, the air-assisted nozzle cut at the ideal distance of 3mm. The optimum distance for engraving is 3mm. However, to achieve the best results, either the standard lens or the air must be removed.
Compared to Creality’s parameter sheet, these results match up. It is a good idea to test your machine and materials, as they might behave differently from what Creality has sourced.
We have also tried the laser cutter with different materials. These experiments produced very good results.
Framing using different methods
The framing functions, which help to position your workpiece, are one of the major advantages of software over the button on a machine. Lightburn allows you to do this in two ways. Either you frame the design with a square, or draw an abstract shape around the edges. You can adjust the speed depending on how small your design is. If it’s a small piece, you will want to use a slower speed to get better visual feedback. The power options for this mode should not exceed 1-3%. This will allow for better visibility without burning your material prematurely.
LaserGRBL has a framing function, but it is more abstract than Lightburn. The UI should be improved and the visual display for the laser-cut file should be more attractive and clear. Lightburn offers more control than the button on the button. It is easy to use and intuitive. The software allows you to pause and restart the cut with different settings. You can edit the file or reload your SD card by pressing the button. You can use the button to move your computer so that it is near the laser cutter. However, these applications are very limited.
Lightburn is the best choice as it includes all the options and features you would need to use the laser cutting machine.
Creality Creality Creality Laser Falcon 10W. Here are some methods of sending files to your machine. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
How can you improve the CR–Laser Falcon Engraver
As with all systems of this nature, this machine ships without a protective covering. Fumes are an issue because there isn’t any ventilation equipment. This can be an issue when cutting materials such as MDF, which are carcinogens. You should have an effective system for cutting any material. Creality informed us that a protective layer to remove soot from the cutting surface will be available in 2023.
A small, but potentially frustrating, issue with this product that is also seen on similar systems is the fact that the cellular boards must be purchased as an extra. They are not large enough to cover your work area and are smaller than an A3 piece paper. It could be interpreted that the honeycomb board was added to reduce costs and make it more accessible to users who might already have the required honeycomb boards in their workshops. Creality states that the majority of users require a work area of 300 x 300. By meeting these requirements, product and shipping costs can be kept low.
Final verdict on the CR-Laser Falcon Engraver
The Falcon is a very efficient machine, and build quality is a high standard equal to Creality’s other machines currently on sale. It is affordable and will appeal to desktop users and small workshop owners.
We were impressed by the Falcon’s resolution when engraving hard materials. This allowed us to create some beautiful designs using ceramic and stainless steel. One thing we noticed is that engraving plywood requires a more precise and faster process.
The process of leveling is simple. This is a major advantage, since laser cutters used in the past provided a more difficult method to level the head. You must do this step correctly, as the laser will not work properly if it is offset incorrectly.
The size of this laser cutter makes it stand out among other models on the market. The majority of desktop DIY laser cutters feature small build volumes and simple structures. Creality Falcon’s build volume is comparable to an industrial cutter. The safety features of high-end cutters are often more extensive, including fume extraction systems and protective casings. This raises the cost of the units. To achieve a lower price for consumers, Creality has removed some safety features.
When used responsibly with the right safety measures in place, this laser cutter isn’t unsafe, but a certain level of maturity is required.
This laser cutter exceeded our expectations and we are extremely pleased with the results. This laser cutter/engraver can etch hard materials with impressive precision and is also capable of cutting plywood with precise accuracy. The laser guard prevents most of the laser beams from leaving the work area. It is important to exercise caution when engraving textural materials, as they are more susceptible to being reflected back past the guard.
Overall, we are pleased with this product. We recommend it to all hobbyists and designers who are looking for an affordable way to create custom-made products.
Creality Creality CR Laser Falcon 10W. Engraving & Cutting Projects. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.
The CR-Laser Falcon Engraver is available direct from the company here, use the code “Falcon3dp” to get $30 off.
Creality has several Black Friday deals available to customers only. Up to 30 November Code-FA80 will be $363.70. This is a $80 discount
The CR-Laser Falcon Engraver is also available direct from Creality, use the code “Falcon3dp” to get $30 off. Valid Until 30th November.
Featured image: Creality CR-Laser Falcon 10W. Photo by 3D Printing Industry.