# What (cheap) Laser to use?

**URL:** <https://community.inventables.com/t/what-cheap-laser-to-use/50615>\
**Category:** Upgrades\
**Created:** [February 11, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-cheap-laser-to-use/50615 "2018-02-11T12:38:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Testaccount](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/testaccount/32/84003_2.png) [@Testaccount](https://community.inventables.com/u/Testaccount)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 12:38pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-cheap-laser-to-use/50615/1 "2018-02-11T12:38:18Z")

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Hi guys!

I know there are some topics about lasers, but I couldn’t find some current (feb '17) topic about my question.  
I would like to upgrade my X-Carve (new version with X-Controller) with a laser. Mainly for engraving, maybe some cutting.  
What is the cheapest way to do it? I live in Germany, importing from the US results in a lot of toll fees :-/

Kind regards

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**Author:** ![JkWestphal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/jkwestphal/32/53751_2.png) [@JkWestphal](https://community.inventables.com/u/JkWestphal)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 2:34pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-cheap-laser-to-use/50615/3 "2018-02-11T14:34:35Z")

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It really depends on your definition of “cheap”. What might be affordable for one person is outrageous for another. All said and done I will have probably 450-500 dollars into a laser upgrade on my machine.

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**Author:** ![LarryM](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/larrym/32/51450_2.png) [@LarryM](https://community.inventables.com/u/LarryM)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 3:04pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-cheap-laser-to-use/50615/4 "2018-02-11T15:04:57Z")

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> [@Testaccount](#):
>
> I live in Germany, importing from the US results in a lot of toll fees :-/

How many fees?

Do you pay fees for importing from Poland? There is a laser producer there that sells higher priced lasers, but if the fees are lower than importing from the states, then you might get a better overall price there.

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**Author:** ![HalfNormal](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/halfnormal/32/35048_2.png) [@HalfNormal](https://community.inventables.com/u/HalfNormal)\
**Post date:** [February 11, 2018, 3:09pm UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-cheap-laser-to-use/50615/5 "2018-02-11T15:09:30Z")

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The laser itself is not the real cost. It is finding a good controller board that you can control the current and also have pwm control. Those are the two items that you really want to look at when trying to source a laser.

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**Author:** ![Testaccount](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex009/user_avatar/community.inventables.com/testaccount/32/84003_2.png) [@Testaccount](https://community.inventables.com/u/Testaccount)\
**Post date:** [February 12, 2018, 9:04am UTC](https://community.inventables.com/t/what-cheap-laser-to-use/50615/6 "2018-02-12T09:04:57Z")

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I thought about 250€, at the Moment is the L-Cheapo my favourit