Our crafting journey is evolving! We started with scrapbooking and evolved into mastering cutting vinyl and cardstock. We’ve also dabbled in embroidery, white laser toner transfer printers, and dye-sublimation. But the next phase is super exciting – cutting and engraving wood and acrylic. If you follow us on YouTube, you can actually watch our journey and see how we’re evolving – it’s kinda like an ongoing biography!
We began by partnering with a few hobby laser companies. Check out our unboxing and first project views for xTool and WeCreat. These machines are very cool, but we quickly found we wanted to do MORE. We wanted to cut thicker materials, complete things faster, and work with acrylics and make bigger things.
So about a year ago, we began investigating the BIG lasers – the CO2 and RF laser options. We spoke with people from the big laser companies including Epilog, Trotec, and more. After attending CES 2024, we were 90 percent sold on the Epilog Fusion Pro – we were just about to complete our order – when we heard about Aeon and their new Redline series. We were like – HOLD THE BUS! Redline is faster and more innovative than Epilog.
Ironically, Aeon is located right here in our hometown of Melbourne, Florida. We didn’t know that at first! After chatting with them via email, they invited us to the ISA tradeshow in Orlando. We’re like, “cool, that’s about 45 minutes from here!”
It’s been a love affair ever since.
We just got back from Camp Aeon 2024, held at their newly remodeled showroom. The engineers, techs, and top dogs were all there demonstrating the latest innovations in laser engravers AND we got hands-on experience with the machines. They have competitor machines from Thunder, OMTech, Boss, Epilog and Trotech along with all their Aeon lasers in this one showroom. To our knowledge NO ONE does this. It really was impressive.
We saw all these machines in action from cutting wood and acrylic to engraving pens and tumblers. We even had an opportunity to see how easy it is to replace a glass tube AND it was SO easy that Felicia was able to remove one and put it back in just over a minute and a half.
The sheer fact that the machines are mostly toolless sets them apart. The inside is fully enclosed and the lenses are sealed, keeping the internal components clean and free of debris. There are actually electronic sensors on the lenses, but they never activate because they’re always clean and cool! The water chiller is built into the machine along with the exhaust fan and an air assist pump. AND the CO2 tube is SO easy to swap out without tools.
We can tell you that after what we saw all this firsthand, NO ONE can touch the quality and capabilities of Aeon lasers.
Glass CO2 Laser Tubes versus RF Metal CO2 Laser Tubes
The laser is the heart of any laser engraving and cutting machine, and there are several factors that directly affect the performance, especially in small to medium power equipment. The most important thing we learned is there is a big difference between glass CO2 and RF Metal CO2 laser tubes. Both use CO2 gas, but their delivery mechanisms are very different. CO2 gas lasers are a popular choice due to price and capabilities. But is CO2 the best choice for you? Here’s the takeaway.
CO2 Glass Laser Tubes
CO2 glass laser tubes are primarily used for cutting non-metallic materials such as paper, acrylic, and even some rubber. The thickness of the material that can be cut depends on the machine, the laser power, your selected cutting speed and the quality desired. Generally, slower cutting speeds allow for cutting thicker materials, but this can result in a slightly melted edge. Lower power tubes, like the 25W, are more suitable for engraving rather than cutting, whereas higher power tubes (80W, 100W, 130W, 150W) are better for cutting tasks.
Since glass tubes can be very long, upwards of 48″ in some cases, it takes the laser more time to arrive at its destination. Unlike diode lasers, where the laser is generated directly by the moving head, CO2 laser beams originate from the glass tube, and are then reflected via three very accurate mirrors before they arrive at the material you’re working with. Pulsing a laser, used typically for engraving, is challenging for glass CO2 laser tubes due to the long distance the laser has to travel.
Disadvantages of CO2 Glass Laser Tubes:
While traditional glass CO2 laser tubes are relatively inexpensive, they come with several drawbacks:
- Must be continually water cooled (additional maintenance)
- Larger beam (resulting in thicker cutting lines)
- Slower response speed due to longer assemblies
- Limited power adjustability, making consistent performance across different materials challengingHigh failure rate in manufacturing
- Shorter lifespan than RF CO2 tubes
- Shorter shelf life than RF CO2 tubes
- Large size of the tube (affects shipping costs and storage)
- Complete realignment typically necessary upon replacement
Typically, a glass CO2 laser tube lasts around 6,000 hours, and when a tube fails, it can impact production. Replacing a glass CO2 tube can be a time-consuming disaster that could ruin your whole day. Since they have a shorter shelf life than RF tubes, inventory levels are typically low, and shipping direct from the manufacturer can be costly. With most manufacturers, once you finally get your glass tube replaced, then begins the tedious process of realigning the tube and the three mirrors. Fortunately, Aeon Laser USA engineers figured out how to streamline this process so it only takes minutes.
CO2 RF Metal Lasers
CO2 RF metal lasers have gained popularity in the industrial laser market and are considered the best alternative to sealed glass tube CO2 lasers. These lasers offer the lowest output cost per watt and higher efficiency. They are used primarily for engraving, but can also perform cutting. The cost can seem daunting – replacing a RF tube can cost up to 10 times more than a glass tube at comparable power.
Advantages of CO2 RF Metal Lasers:
- Excellent modulation and beam quality (3x smaller than glass tubes)
- Long service life (generally over 20,000 hours)
- Variable cooling options (water or air)
- Convenient output power adjustment
- Excellent power stability and reliability
- Less maintenance
- Lower operating cost
- Reusable after refilling
As market demands grow and diversify, traditional glass CO2 laser tubes are being supplemented or replaced with RF metal lasers due to enhanced technical performance.
AEON Laser USA offers Both Glass and RF CO2 Options
We found out that AEON’s Redline and Redline Signature machines are built with better components including parts made right here in Florida. The software used is industry standard, not proprietary, and the cost is very competitive and even cheaper than some of the most expensive competitor models and Aeon machines are just easier to use. We wouldn’t have believed it if we hadn’t been at Camp Aeon and had the opportunity to see all these machines in one place.
Aeon offers 2 series of lasers – Mira and Nova. If you’re a hobbyist or looking to start a side hustle that may grow into a full time gig, then the Mira lasers are probably what you want to go with. They can engrave 2-3 times faster than competitor models and can cut thicker materials on a larger scale than hobby grade machines.
The Nova lasers are bigger and more powerful. They have higher precision and shorter cycle times than any comparable laser. They’re great for batch engraving or for cutting large materials. The Nova S series can achieve even faster engraving speeds and higher resolution. These machines can hold not only a CO2 tube BUT an RF tube as well. That’s just amazing.
At the end of Camp Aeon, we were invited to see the warehouse where the development and assembly magic happens. Every machine that comes in goes through a rigorous quality control process. Everything is checked and signed off by a tech before it is delivered to the end user. As a matter of fact, the technician actually AUTOGRAPHS each Signature series machine!
Their English-speaking Florida-based customer support is by far the best we’ve heard of. We follow their Facebook groups and they have reps answering questions or directing users to contact support. If needed, their techs will get on a facetime call with you and walk you through troubleshooting issues. We’ve heard they’ve actually sent techs to people’s homes and workshops for repairs when necessary! It’s beyond impressive.
Aeon USA has made laser engraving easier, more accessible, and more affordable.
If you’d like to chat more about these machines, reach out to us. We will share all we know and put you in contact with Aeon so you can explore the opportunity to grow your business with one of their machines.
