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One of the best parts of the maker community is how often the people building real businesses are the same people giving back and pulling others up with them. That’s exactly why the Michigan Maker Summit feels so authentic.   The summit is hosted by Blake Sandborn, one of our LensDigital Innovators and affiliates. Blake isn’t a conference organizer who stepped into making. He’s a maker who built something real and then decided to create a space where others could learn faster and avoid some of the hard lessons. Blake runs Great Lakes Laser Supply, a business many engravers already know for its hat clips and blanks. If you’ve ever engraved hats at scale, you understand why that niche matters. His products solve very practical problems makers run into every day, and that practical mindset shows up all over the Summit. Check out the Summit, everything is very interactive. Machines are running. People are looking around setups, asking real questions, comparing machines, techniques, and learning by doing. This isn’t a sit-back-and-listen kind of event. It’s hands-on, shop-floor learning, the kind that actually sticks. Also, make sure you catch the Fox 17 Morning Mix segment covering the event. We loved seeing the Grip 2 on display, set up and working the way makers actually use it in their shops. No polish for the sake of polish. Just tools being used in the real world, which is exactly what events like this should highlight. The Michigan Maker Summit is at an intersection of tools, technique, and business strategy. You’ll see lasers and engraving systems in action, but you’ll also hear the conversations that matter just as much. Pricing, workflow, material choices, scaling production, and finding products and gift ideas that actually sell. Those random conversations are often where the biggest breakthroughs happen. If you’re anywhere near Michigan and serious about laser engraving, fabrication, or building a maker business that lasts, this is worth your time. And if you want to learn more about the event Blake has put together, you can find all the details here: https://www.michiganmakersummit.com/#about-us    

Looking for the best laser engraver for tumblers? VertiGo is a new and revolutionary vertical laser engraver built specifically for cups, tumblers, and cylindrical objects. Faster, more consistent, and more versatile than traditional rotary setups.

We poked around the internet to find people posting their thoughts about PiBurn rotaries. Here are just a few of the reviews we found on the PiBurn Labs group:

Learn how to start a profitable tumbler engraving business from home. A step-by-step guide for side hustlers using lasers, rotaries, and smart marketing.

Discover the best laser fume extractors for your engraver. Compare top air filtration systems under $5,000, learn about health risks, and find the perfect solution to protect your workspace.

Which Laser Rotary Should You Get?   Here is a question we get a lot: With all the options out there, which laser rotary should I get? At LensDigital, we understand the importance of choosing the right equipment to ensure the success of your laser engraving business.   That's why we offer different laser rotaries designed to cater to a variety of customer needs. In this post, we'll compare two of our popular products - the PiBurn V and the PiBurn Grip 2 - as well as introduce you to our innovative multi-purpose rotary, the PiBurn Omni 2.   Types of Laser Rotaries: Chuck and Roller Styles   There are two styles of laser rotaries: Chuck and Roller styles. The PiBurn Grip 2 is a chuck-style rotary, while the PiBurn V is a roller. The PiBurn Omni 2 is Both! Roller rotaries rely on friction to spin your object. To increase the friction between your cup and the motorized wheel, the PiBurn V uses an innovative clamp. It works great for most items and is very easy to operate. Chuck rotaries do not rely on friction, rather they firmly grasp the object with chuck jaws. The PiBurn Grip is a brand-new chuck rotary designed and built just for laser engravers. Want more info on Chuck vs Roller Rotary Attachments? Read this.   What do they look like and how much do they cost?   PiBurn V: The Classic Roller - Starts at $1,049.   This is a user friendly yet powerful rotary that uses motorized wheels and a clamp to rotate your objects securely so that your laser can engrave on it.     PiBurn Grip2: The Chuck-style laser rotary made for laser engraving - Starts at $1,439 This rotary has a chuck system with interchangeable jaws. It is a bit more complex to use than the PiBurn but it is extremely precise and versatile. You can swap out the jaws to accommodate many items.           PiBurn Omni: Best of both worlds - Chuck AND Roller (Two rotaries in one) Starts at $1,979 This rotary has BOTH roller wheels and the chuck jaw systems AND they both come with their own dedicated motors so you always have a back-up. Customers love the versatility this rotary gives them.           Pros and Cons of Each Style Laser Rotary   PiBurn V (Roller Style): PRO: Ideal for simple straight tumblers, large batches of identical tumblers, and beginners in laser engraving with rotaries. The PiBurn V is easy to use and allows for future expansion. You can add the Grip2 Addon later, giving you the OMNI. CON: Since the PiBurn V relies on friction, it may slip with items that have a very heavy handle. You cannot frame at high speeds. You cannot use the "scoring method" to engrave. Full wraps are tricky to get perfect. PiBurn Grip 2 (Chuck Style): PRO: Perfect for engraving odd-shaped items like pens, rings, and dog bowls, the PiBurn Grip offers advanced users precision and no-slip engraving for full wraps and large-handled mugs. You can "score" engrave on items. There are many different types of removable jaws to fit any object. Do full wraps with ease! CON: More of a learning curve to master. A complex system with interchangeable jaws and moving parts. Adjustments may take more time than the PiBurn V. PiBurn OMNI 2 (Both chuck and roller) PRO: You have the ability to use BOTH roller and chuck systems. You have two motors, so like having two separate rotaries your business has a backup. CON: The Omni is fairly heavy and bulky for smaller laser machines. It has a larger footprint that other rotaries   Introducing the PiBurn Omni 2 Laser Rotary Attachment   If you're looking for the best of both worlds, the PiBurn OMNI 2 is an innovative multi-purpose rotary combining Chuck and Roller systems into one state of the art rotary attachment. The Omni 2 consists of the PiBurn V roller and then the Grip 2. It builds on the success of the original OMNI and takes engraving to a whole new level.   The OMNI 2 is like having two rotaries in one. It will let you handle anything from high volume production to ad hoc and odd shaped specialty items like rolling pins and dog bowls.   Who Should Choose Which Rotary?   PiBurn V: Ideal for those starting out, running simple tumblers or large batches, and wanting to ease into rotary work with the option to expand later. PiBurn Grip 2: Recommended for advanced users who need the precision of a chuck for scoring and engraving odd-shaped items. PiBurn Omni 2: Best for those who want the ease and speed of a roller, the power and precision of a chuck, and the ability to quickly swap between the two systems.   Upgrading Your PiBurn V If you purchase the PiBurn V and later decide to add the Grip functionality, you can do so! This is a popular option for those starting out with rotary work and looking to expand their capabilities in the future.   What if I have a Galvo Laser like a Fiber, UV or CO2 Galvo?   Just for Galvo applications we have a special rotary that helps you engrave on ANY Galvo style machine. We call it the Gavlo Grip Starting at $799   To help make sense of all of these options, Emily, That Mom With A Laser has made a great explainer video:     Still have questions? We want to hear them! Join us at PiBurn labs, our online community on Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/piburn   Ready to take the plunge? Grab yourself a PiBurn!   At LensDigital, we're committed to helping you make the right choice for your laser engraving business.   Whether you're a beginner or an advanced user, our range of rotary options ensures you'll find the perfect fit for your needs. Consider the PiBurn 4.0, PiBurn Grip, or PiBurn Omni to help take your engraving projects to new heights.    Happy PiBurning!      

LensDigital announcement We are delighted to announce that we are now working with FiltraBox to help distribute their filters in the US! We have long loved our FiltraBox Micro as it performed wonderfully through the years of testing the VertiGo with all its prototypes. Now we run it for production! The FiltraBox Micro pairs perfectly we with the VertiGo and, more importantly the makers of FiltraBox, PAT technologies are aligned with our vision of serving the maker community and helping makers succeed!   From FiltraBox: We Refine Air, They Revolutionize Engraving: LensDigital Becomes Filtrabox Distributor We're excited to announce a partnership that brings together two companies dedicated to maker success and continuous innovation. LensDigital has officially signed on as a distributor for Filtrabox by PAT Technology fume extraction systems, creating a powerful synergy between air purification excellence and cutting-edge laser engraving solutions. A Partnership Built on Shared Innovation This partnership makes perfect sense. LensDigital is the maker of the world-famous PiBurn rotary attachments. Now they're revolutionizing the industry again with VertiGo™—the world's first vertical laser engraver designed specifically around a rotary. Just like PAT Technology, LensDigital believes in putting customers above profits, quality above hype, and community above ourselves. We share a creative passion with our customers and take pride in helping them succeed—values that align perfectly with our mission of refining air since 1998. What's Next This partnership represents more than distribution—it's about empowering the maker community with complete solutions from companies that never stop improving. When you purchase Filtrabox systems through LensDigital, you're getting them from people who understand the evolving landscape of laser engraving, from traditional horizontal setups to revolutionary vertical systems. Whether you're using a PiBurn rotary on your existing laser, planning your next steps with the groundbreaking VertiGo vertical system, or running any laser setup, small or large, proper fume extraction isn't optional—it's essential for safe, productive operation. Because clean air and revolutionary engraving technology shouldn't be separate considerations—they should work together seamlessly. Learn more about Filtrabox fume extraction systems through info@lensdigital.com - LensDigital, or contact PAT Technology directly at +1 888-655-8455 or info@pattechnology.com.

Get a POP out of your engravings by inverting the image: Invert Images like a Pro with this simple guide! Engrave on Tumblers with this simple step-by-step guide. Video included. 

Is the World Ready for a Vertical Laser? What’s the first thought that comes to mind when you hear the term laser engraver? Probably a large bulky machine resembling a refrigerator on its side. They are powerful, capable jacks of all trades and have given thousands of families and small businesses a way to make consistent revenues. At the same time, they are huge, difficult to transport, set up and operate. And, if you really think about it, engraving has been stuck in the same horizontal lane much too long. This is especially true for cylindrical engraving like tumblers, mugs, and bottles – or those items that were designed to stand upright not lay flat down. Makers have had to bend, twist, jig, tweak, dial in the rotary, and adjust steps, just to engrave a simple tumbler. Sure, the PiBurn rotaries make the process much easier, but what if it were easier still? What if engraving didn’t have to fight gravity? What if gravity actually helped? And what if the laser and the rotary were ONE DEVICE? VertiGo from LensDigital and OneLaser is the answer to these questions. It is the world’s first vertical laser and the first with a built-in rotary. No more complicated setups. Just place your cup, bottle, urn, or bucket upright, lock it in and let gravity and the laser do the rest. The PiBurn Grip2 powers the whole process with a self-centering jaw designs that eliminates all guess work. Makers spoke out. We Engineered. From hundreds of interviews with high-volume tumbler engravers (including those clearing $100K+ annually), we kept hearing the same pain points: Setting up a rotary takes too long each time. Taking the honeycomb and blades out breaks rhythm. Most lasers can’t handle oversized or weirdly shaped items. They do not fit. They do not want to be laying down. We invented VertiGo to fix all of that. Why It Works: 1. Gravity makes setup easier.VertiGo flips the game by going vertical. Instead of trying to secure something sideways, let the object stand upright naturally. Gravity does the stabilizing, the chuck jaw self-centers the object, and you get perfect alignment every time. Just push the button to engrave perfectly each time. 2. Built for fast, mobile, and high-margin workflows.At markets and events, the real money comes from on-the-spot engraving. It needs to be fast, clean, and portable. VertiGo was made for this. It sets up in minutes, fits on a countertop, and turns curious shoppers into customers in seconds. You do not need a chiller or water cooler as the 38 Watt RF tube is fan-cooled. 3. One machine, endless possibilities.Tumblers make up over 25% of most engravers’ income, but that’s just the start. VertiGo’s innovative design means you can engrave tall bottles, buckets, huge dog bowls, anything that stands up. No hacks or workarounds. Just plop it in, tighten the Grip and engrave. 4. No more fiddling with fixtures.For the first time, the rotary is not an add-on—it’s the heart of the machine. VertiGo combines PiBurn’s industry-leading Grip 2 rotary with OneLaser’s built-in autofocus and firmware tuned for rotary jobs. You get speed, simplicity, and reliability in one unit. 5. Smarter workflows are hereOur goal was to make VertiGo the easiest way to engrave anything that wants to stand upright. Makers who tried it became instant believers. There is only one problem with this machine. Once you engrave a tumbler upright, you’ll never want to fight gravity again. Built Different by Design with a Partnership that Makes Sense. VertiGo is the result of a deep collaboration between LensDigital, creators of the PiBurn, and ONELASER, a U.S.-based laser engineering firm that doesn’t outsource innovation. In fact, they helped design the product in the US. From the first sketch in 2022 to the production-ready prototype in 2025, we’ve made design decisions to improve the user experience for makers, not cut corners, because that’s how you build something truly new and valuable. The VertiGo Verdict Laser engraving is overdue for a new form factor. One that works with gravity, not against it. With VertiGo, gravity becomes your ally. Portability becomes another profit channel. And every tumbler becomes a canvas for your creative outlet, breaking down the barriers of complexity and confusion. You ready to go vertical?  VertiGo ™ — Engrave Upright. Learn more at lensdigital.com/vertigo-laser Back the KickStarter and be the first to engrave upright: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/lensdigital/vertigo-the-vertical-laser-engraver