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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, and the NEW PiBurn LITE are roller rotaries. 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 2: 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. PiBurn LITE: The Low Profile, High‑Performance, Affordable Laser Rotary. Starts at $499 Elite engraving on a budget, the PiBurn Lite allows anyone to jump in the rotary game with a high quality, affordable machine backed by the most respected brand in the business. PiBurn Lite delivers almost all the power and precision of our flagship rotary in a smaller, budget‑friendly package perfect for hobbyists and small businesses. 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!  

One of the most common questions we get is:    “I bought a PiBurn rotary for my [Brand A] laser — will it work with my [Brand B] laser?”    Or sometimes: “Can I just get an adapter to make it work with a different machine?”   The answer is: it depends — both on the PiBurn model you have and the type of laser machine you're using.   Understanding Motor Types   We currently use three types of motors:   1. Two-Phase Stepper Motors   The most common and cross-compatible type. Many laser brands use these motors, including:   Boss Laser LS-1420 Aeon OneLaser OMTech Generic Chinese CO2 lasers Galvo lasers (fiber, CO2 galvo, UV)   While connectors may differ, the motor type remains the same, allowing us to typically provide an adapter for easy cross-compatibility.   Tip: While these are similar in appearance to 3-phase motors, they will have a minimum of 4 pins on the plug and will have a model name that starts with "57CM"   2. Three-Phase Stepper Motors   Less common but used by:   Boss Laser (models above LS-1420) Laguna Certain AP Laser models   If your PiBurn rotary and new laser both have 3-phase motors, we can usually offer an adapter. However, a rotary with a 2-phase motor cannot be used on a 3-phase laser without replacing the motor.    Tip: 3-Phase Motor might look just like a 2-Phase motor and even have the same type of plug (usually 4 or 3-pin) ! Look for a sticker on the motor that has a model number. If it starts with "573S".    Note: Motor replacement isn't possible on all PiBurn models (see below).   3. Hybrid Servo Motors (Closed-Loop Steppers)   Exclusive to Thunder Laser machines. These motors have built-in drivers, offering precision and higher cost but no compatibility with other laser types.   A PiBurn rotary originally designed for 2-phase motors (e.g., OMTech) cannot be adapted for Thunder lasers without motor replacement, and only certain PiBurn models allow this.   Can Your PiBurn Motor Be Swapped?   Motor Swapping Supported (and what's involved):   PiBurn V3, V4, and V (Roller Type): Replace the original motor Guide belt through pulley system (particularly PiBurn V) Adjust belt tension PiBurn Grip 2 (Chuck Type): Partial disassembly New motor installation and wiring   Motor Swapping Not Supported:   Original PiBurn Grip 1: Not designed for motor replacement   Wait, what about Piburn OMNI?   OMNI is a combination of Roller and Grip, so in Original OMNI, you'll be able to replace the motor on the roller side but not on the Grip side.   Motors, Adapters, and Cables   So, I have a compatible motor, will I need an adapter? Probably not, unless your laser port has a different number of pins, a different type of socket, or is wired differently.   You can conveniently purchase compatible replacement motors directly from our website: lensdigital.com.   We also offer a variety of cable adapters and extension cables to assist in adapting your PiBurn to different laser brands and setups.   Quick Compatibility Guide   Your PiBurn Has... Your New Laser Has... What You Need 2-Phase Motor 2-Phase Motor Adapter (or most likely it will work without one) 2-Phase Motor 3-Phase Motor Motor swap (if supported) 2-Phase Motor Closed-Loop Motor (Thunder) Motor swap (if supported) 3-Phase Motor 3-Phase Motor Adapter (or most likely it will work without one) Other combinations Incompatible motor Usually not possible   Still Not Sure?   Contact us with your current PiBurn model and the laser you want to use. We're here to help you ensure your rotary attachment setup is optimized and functional across your equipment!