
FEATURES Ultimate Tools Redux
My New (Not Quite) Ultimate
(But Near Enough) Toolbox:
LASER CUTTER (BLUE DIODE), $370
1
Elegoo Phecda 20W, us.elegoo.com
Yes. A sub-$400 laser cutter with a rotary axis!
It can’t cut thick materials, it isn’t fast, but it
is cheap and dangerous and runs very well on
lightweight software from Lightburn.
I have found that I can prototype everything I
want on this machine in cardboard or 2–3mm
thick plywood, and can engrave on most things.
The cardboard and plywood cutouts can be used
as templates for cutting out anything using
jigsaws, scroll saws, and other tools. It’s so cheap
that it can be used only occasionall ...