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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 V, PiBurn Grip 2, or PiBurn Omni 2 to help take your engraving projects to new heights.  Happy PiBurning!  

Last weekend, the team at LensDigital met in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas to participate as a vendor during The Next Level Laser Conference, hosted by Mark Collier from Big Blue Laser Designs and Will Louie from Crazy Laser Dad! Over 200 makers were in attendance for a three-day weekend of learning, networking, sharing knowledge, and having a great time doing so! The weekend flew by, but we want to give a huge shoutout to the entire NLLC team for throwing one heck of a conference! It was a blast meeting so many members of the laser world—and so many of our own LensDigital customers.

Let's celebrate our latest PiBurner Spotlight Tabitha Richardson Owner at Laser Llama Today, we have the great honor of writing about someone who has given the greatest gift of all -- to not one but two families. The gift of Life. About Tabitha This PiBurner Spotlight features Tabitha Richardson, owner of Laser Llama. How did she come up with that catchy name? She wanted an animal in the name, llamas were all the rage, and -- come on -- Laser Llama just rolls off the tongue. We love it. Tabitha lives in Rocklin, California, married to her high school sweetheart, with three wonderful kids. She was also a surrogate for two families -- giving them the precious gift of life. The Laser Journey After her first surrogacy journey, Tabitha wisely set a little money aside and bought a Glowforge -- taking the plunge just 4.5 years ago. Now she has a thriving business. If you've read the PiBurner series before, you'll know what a common path this is. The Glowforge really is the "gateway" laser! And like so many successful PiBurners, Tabitha was not afraid to save and invest. Rewards only come after taking measured risks. When COVID hit, she was pregnant with a second surrogate baby and helping her three kids with online school -- and that's when her business really boomed. "I started hosting online painting classes using barn quilt files from Welcome Home Custom. I found that time was precious, and I bought an 80W OMTech to help handle the demand." OMTech lasers are solid machines -- and did you know that LensDigital and OMTech are partners? OMTech even sells PiBurns on their website. "Later, hats became the bread and butter for my shop so I added another laser so I could cut down my time on hat patches." Why the PiBurn Rotary? When Emily Caroline posted her review of the PiBurn, Tabitha knew she needed one to step up her game. While it was a big learning curve, she figured it out quickly with support from the PiBurn community! Her Business Today Today, Tabitha's shop focuses on wholesale to other businesses and fundraisers for schools and sports teams. "We added the PiBurn a year ago and have been able to raise so much money for schools and teams in our community. Our customers love seeing their logos on tumblers!" Businesses of every type love their logos on tumblers, and people love their names on water bottles and mugs. This is part of a massive personalization trend powering this business to new heights. 32 million US businesses need to connect with their customers. 125 million US families want tumblers with their names on them. That is your market. Favorite Projects Some of Tabitha's favorite laser projects include hats for the FBI (whoa!) and water bottles for a local soccer league where they raised over $700 in funds for their club! Advice for People Starting Out "Don't be afraid, and don't give up! Also, check out YouTube for tips and tricks on using the PiBurn -- you'll find so much great information plus get great ideas for projects!" We couldn't agree more. There is so much great content out there and so many people who want to see you succeed. You have to do your part -- but always remember, you are not alone. Find Tabitha Online ✉️ Email: calaserllama@gmail.com 📸 Instagram: @calaserllama 👍 Facebook: facebook.com/calaserllama 🌐 Web: laser-llama.com 🎵 TikTok: @calaserllama We hope you enjoyed this feature! Check out Tabitha's website and swing by PiBurn Labs to ask her a question. Happy PiBurning! Len and Stan LensDigital -- Where Makers Succeed Your story is worth sharing too! Contact us to become our next PiBurner!

Let’s celebrate our latest PiBurner Spotlight. Alexander Caprilozzi, aka Cappy Owner at 7 Point Laser LLC We are thrilled to feature Cappy in our latest PiBurner Spotlight! Meet Alexander "Cappy" Caprilozzi, a retired Deputy Sheriff and SERT Team Commander from Syracuse, NY, now living in Artesia, New Mexico. About Cappy Cappy, together with his wife of 42 years, Cynthia, has raised four girls and has three granddaughters. He is a cancer survivor a former long-haul truck driver. You could say he has been through a lot, and doctors thought he'd never be able to work again. Boy, did he prove them wrong! Cappy has a passion for rebuilding and restoring cars and motorcycles, and more recently, has discovered his entrepreneurial spirit with a laser engraving business. In this blog post, we'll explore how his Boss Laser and the PiBurn rotary attachment helped Cappy take his business to new heights. Cappy's Laser Engraving Journey Cappy began his laser engraving journey when he was looking for a home-based business opportunity. He purchased a Boss 1420 laser and started a small but steadily growing business, primarily focusing on custom tumblers and glassware. Through local events, craft shows, social media, and joining the local Chamber of Commerce and Better Business Bureau, Cappy's business gained traction, and he started receiving orders from local businesses and the law enforcement community. One of Cappy's most significant achievements was securing a 900-tumbler order that was showcased at The American Jail Association Conference in Omaha, Nebraska. His laser-engraved tumblers have been well-received, and he working on securing another order for 1,000 tumblers for a client. He also has repeat customers that keep coming back for the quality he offers and the care he shows his customers. He just got a call from a former customer to do another 50 shot glasses and tumblers. With plans to expand his business through Etsy and Shopify, Cappy's laser engraving venture is poised for even more growth. My Business is growing; especially in brand recognition. Word of mouth has been a big help in local NM communities. Since I have only been here a little over 5 years, a lot of people still do not know me with the exception of my clientele in the jail ;) After I did a few jobs; word of mouth started and I began getting calls. Getting involved in local events and craft shows helps Cappy grow his following. I do local events and craft shows when I can again getting my products out there to at least be seen as to what I can do Cappy is also leaning on social to spread the word. I also use Facebook quite a bit; posting a lot of my work; messaging businesses and individuals about my work and what I offer. How the PiBurn Transformed Cappy's Business Cappy discovered the PiBurn rotary attachment through a referral from his friend and mentor, Ben Gonzales. After using his Boss Rotary for his first 200-tumbler order, Cappy purchased the PiBurn V3 and found it to be an indispensable tool for his business. The PiBurn V3 offered exceptional repeatability, smooth operation, and allowed Cappy to engrave various items, including shot glasses, wine goblets, and even an urn. With plans to add the PiBurn Grip and mega clamp accessories to his PiBurn, Cappy can further streamline his workflow, allowing him to focus on delivering high-quality, custom-engraved products to his clients. Cappy loves attempting new things on the PiBurn. He has called me up on several occasions to ask how to do some really unique items. Check this out: Testing phase: And burning the final product on the Pi! Cappy has done many other interesting items as well. https://youtube.com/shorts/kS7mFxCrlsc Cappy's Drive for Success Cappy's motivation for success is rooted in his desire to provide excellent quality work, maintain his integrity, and ensure customer satisfaction. Inspired by other successful makers, Cappy aspires to become the go-to engraver in New Mexico and beyond. He is driven to build a steady income that will allow him to enjoy his retirement and provide a financial safety net for him and his wife. Conclusion Cappy's laser engraving business is a testament to his determination, hard work, and passion for craftsmanship. We are proud that The PiBurn rotary attachment has played a crucial role in helping Cappy streamline his workflow, improve his product quality, and ultimately grow his business. If you're considering starting a laser engraving business or looking to enhance your existing one, PiBurn could be the game-changing tool to help you to achieve your goals and be successful in the laser game. Check it out! We hope you enjoyed this feature, and please check out his business page at 7 Point Laser LLC and then swing by PiBurn labs and say hi! Happy PiBurning! Len and Stan LensDigital Where Makers Succeed Your story is worth sharing too! Contact us to become our next PiBurner!

Engraving wine glasses has never been easier with Boss Laser and the PiBurn 4.0   Take a look at this video showing you the correct process to set up and engrave a wine glass on the PiBurn 4.0 using the Boss LS1630 Laser.  The foot of the glass is between the o-rings Use both stoppers Adjust the height so its level Get the clamp nice and snug Frame Fire! Simple as that. Did you know that LensDigital has partnered with Boss Laser ? You can get your PiBurn directly from Boss, or just add one to your Boss Laser machine at checkout! Boss machines are reliable and powerful. We have two LS 1630s in our shop and just recently purchased the hybrid servo version. If you haven't already, check them out: www.BossLaser.com 

PiBurn in a Thunder Laser makes a powerful combo! Why are hundreds of Thunder Laser owners flocking to the PiBurn? The PiBurn rotary offers them incredible versatility, precision, affordability and perfect compatibility with Thunder Laser. One of Thunder Lasers most respected influencers, Rober Kofoed of Computer Creations, has been a long-time customer of LensDigital and loves to help other makers with their Lasers. He has created an incredible treasure trove of content. He has helped thousands of people do better work on their Lasers. This is one of the reasons why he has been selected as a PiBurn Grip Beta-tester and featured in a PiBurner Spotlight! Take a look, and you will agree, he is a laser rock star. Here we share some of his best tutorials for the PiBurn 4 and PiBurn Grip. PiBurn Grip 2 and PiBurn V Tutorial for Thunder Laser: Engrave Tumblers Like a Pro! This video has great tips on how to price for large orders, how to set up your designs and how to swap tumblers like a pro in BOTH rotaries.  PiBurn Grip Laser Rotary  Tutorial for Thunder Laser Great for getting started engraving on your PiBurn Grip and Thunder Laser. Here, Robert uses the Grip addon kit mounted on his older PiBurn 3 model to make the PiBurn Omni, the world’s best rotary. PiBurn Grip Laser Rotary  Tutorial for Thunder Laser: Miniature Bats Project Awesome miniature bats done on the PiBurn Grip. Check out this incredible guide by Robert. PiBurn Rotary used to do a full wrap on Thunder Laser: A Tutorial on making full wrap tumbler design. OK, ready for a real monster? Here is Robert engraving a huge 1 Gallon RTIC Jug on his Thunder Laser and PiBurn 4.0 Did you know Robert is a LensDigital Affiliate? He may be able to help you get a discount on the PiBurn. If you found out about the Grip or PiBurn from Robert and want to thank him, please reach out and ask for his coupon. YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@computercreationz Facebook Business page https://www.facebook.com/computercreationz Want to see more? Check out more of Robert’s incredible projects in this private group: PiBurn Labs Don’t forget to visit our shop and see the PiBurn in action for yourself: www.lensdigital.com

Let's celebrate our latest PiBurner Spotlight Jeff Gorwitz Chief Laser Officer at Custom Laser Engraving About Jeff Jeff Gorwitz is the Chief Laser Officer (love that title!) at Custom Laser Engraving Inc. He lives in South Florida with his wife and they have three grown kids. For his laser business, Jeff uses his Mira 9 and relies on his trusty PiBurn for drinkware engraving and etching lots of glass. The Laser Journey Before getting into the laser business, Jeff was in advertising and marketing, helping personal injury attorneys tell their story efficiently and compellingly. He understood the value of relationships -- knowledge he would carry directly into his laser journey. As Jeff "stumbled down the laser rabbit hole," he invested in his new passion and in no time the side hustle became a second career and a significant income source. Then COVID hit in March 2020. "My clients pulled back on their spending, and with the explosion of TikTok and Instagram Reels, creating content became more of a 'Do It Yourself' opportunity. Many of my clients thought they could do it themselves and put out content quickly." Perception matters, and it changed the game. Jeff knew he needed to adapt. "I was looking for opportunities with a higher entry barrier, so there would be less competition. I stumbled into the laser community, and thanks to Emily Caroline -- That Mom with a Laser -- I wound up purchasing a Mira 9." His Aeon Mira 9 laser arrived in June of 2022, and it has been going non-stop! Favorite Projects on the Mira 9 and PiBurn "I enjoy doing any project with the laser, and each item is its own unique category. Yetis are a lot of fun, cutting boards make a great impression, and I am looking forward to doing a lot more glass with my new UV laser." Jeff has a simple philosophy when it comes to growing his business: "My business philosophy is 'The Answer is Yes; what's Your Question?'" He jumped into the deep end with both feet -- and even though he went all in, he was NOT ALONE. He relied on the laser community to get up and running, and it's been a wonderful and deeply rewarding experience. The laser community is both vast and very helpful -- you are not alone if you decide to take the leap. The Business of Laser Engraving Jeff will take on any project -- including monster orders like this one for glasses: How does he land orders like that? He makes connections, nurtures relationships, and takes care of his clients. "I was picking up some glasses from a restaurant warehouse and mentioned that I was a laser engraver. Wherever I go, I always say what I do. This time was the same, and it produced a corporate account for a local restaurant chain that needs about 1,000 glasses every couple of months. That restaurant contact also introduced me to his massive supplier, and I will be doing all of their glasswork." His marketing background definitely helps. He has optimized his website and set up his Google Business Profile for both locations. "I get calls every day from people Googling 'Laser Engraving.' Once they see what lasers can do, they keep returning for more." "I love solving problems for my clients and solving the issues that naturally arise when attempting to dial in the correct laser settings." Advice for People Starting Out "My only advice is that the laser and all materials take up A LOT of space. If you have an empty garage or can find inexpensive warehouse space, that is the best way to work." Important Links 📸 Instagram: customlaserengravingusa 👍 Facebook: facebook.com/customlaserengraving 🌐 Web: customlaserengraving.io 🛒 Promo Products: merch.customlaserengraving.io We hope you enjoyed this feature! Check out Jeff's shop, swing by PiBurn Labs and ask him a question. Happy PiBurning! Len and Stan LensDigital -- Where Makers Succeed Your story is worth sharing too! Contact us to become our next PiBurner!