iKier K1 Pro Max Review: Power Switching for Optimal Engraving and Cutting

1 week ago

The iKier K1 Pro Max intends to connection an all-in-one package for those looking to get started aliases upgrade their laser engraving and cutting. With adjuvant usability features and an aerial assistance system, it presents an breathtaking introduction constituent for those looking to turn a business aliases grow their worldly exploration.

iKier K1 Pro Max

$1450 $2000 Save $550

For those looking for a robust group of options from their laser engraver, nan iKier K1 Pro Max offers features to streamline your workflow. With a 32-bit motherboard, a switchable 24W aliases 48W laser power, and an included aerial assist, there's plentifulness of power erstwhile choosing really champion to attack an engraving aliases laser job. To thief position everything optimally, nan K1 Pro Max besides offers a motorized Z-axis, infrared cross-positioning, and nan action to attraction automatically. Linear bearings besides thief support faster engraving speeds, pinch nan iKier K1 Pro Max hitting up to 900 mm/s. In addition, iKier offers a assortment of information features hinging astir nan information lock, gyroscope, limit switches, and occurrence detection.

Brand iKier

Laser Power Switchable (24/48W)

Working Area 410 x 410 mm (~16.1 x 16.1 inches)

Screen 4.3-inch touch surface

Software Lightburn, LaserGRBL, iKier app

Positioning Camera None

Pros

Variety of information protection features
Automatic focusing
Included aerial assistance allows for amended power and safety
Switchable cutting power
Infrared crosshair helps pinch positioning
Automatic sinking cutting

Cons

Magnetic touchscreen doesn't ever connect strongly
No measurements connected instrumentality for transverse referencing
Occasional bugs and glitches pinch software
Offline engraving isn't optimal

Setting up nan iKier K1 Pro Max

As a higher-priced laser engraver, nan iKier K1 Pro Max requires immoderate assembly, but it's not truthful onerous and tin beryllium typically beryllium completed successful nether an hour. This offers plentifulness of clip to group up immoderate of nan optional accessories, too, specified arsenic a honeycomb laser furniture or iKier's protective box.

However, owed to nan instrumentality size of 25.6 x 29.5 x 8.7 inches (650 x 750 x 222mm), you'll astir apt want immoderate assistance for nan process, on pinch capable array abstraction for set-up.

The included manual will service arsenic nan astir meticulous guide, but nan linked installation video is bully to cross-reference. While mostly straightforward, you'll request to visually cheque what has already been done for you compared to nan video. But overall, erstwhile you've settled nan X-axis obstruction and installed nan laser module, nan mostly of nan activity is done.

iKier K1 Pro Max wrong pinch laser attached

Another group of hands will thief make nan last wiring a spot smoother; you tin negociate pinch a spot of fiddling. When mounting up and installing nan aerial assistance system, nan linked video proves invaluable.

iKier K1 Pro Max Technical Specifications

The iKier K1 Pro Max offers a sizable engraving area of 16.1 x 16.1 inches (410 x 410mm). But what's much absorbing is nan adjustable laser power, which tin beryllium swapped betwixt 24W and 48W via a move connected nan laser module. Depending connected nan existent mode, nan laser spot size will set to either 0.08 x 0.1mm astatine 24W aliases 0.1 x 0.15mm astatine 48W power, truthful you tin optimize for greater item aliases higher power.

For cutting purposes, nan K1 Pro Max tin usage automatic sinking cutting, which tin summation cutting extent up to 25%. Additionally, its linear bearings and mobility algorithms let for engraving astatine speeds of up to 900mm per second. With respect to its functionality, nan linear bearings usage a sliding creation for its X-axis and a screw creation for nan Y-axis.

A 32-bit motherboard powers nan instrumentality and its offline engraving done its attached 4.3-inch touch screen. The included aerial assistance strategy tin beryllium controlled via Lightburn, and nan travel tin beryllium tweaked via nan travel regularisation switch. Additionally, nan motorized Z-axis offers nan action to pat a single-button autofocus by allowing nan laser to judge its region from nan material.

Eye Protection and Safety

Beyond nan much modular protective acrylic shield astir nan laser, nan iKier K1 Pro Max comes pinch a assortment of information features to trim threat during operation. If you opt for iKier's laser engraver enclosure (not included successful our reappraisal model), there's further dust-proofing and fire-proofing alongside an exhaust instrumentality to vent odors and fume quickly. To floor plan nan progress, it besides features aggregate viewing windows, truthful you tin protect your eyes and not usage laser glasses.

For those going pinch nan basal K1 Pro Max package, laser glasses are included, but it would still beryllium advised to acquisition immoderate much comfortable OD5+ glasses since nan included ones tin put other unit connected your ears, which becomes noticeable aft aggregate jobs aliases extended use.

iKier K1 Pro Max beforehand information options

With nan included aerial assistance system, nan chances of a occurrence popping up are importantly diminished, particularly erstwhile utilized appropriately pinch nan group laser powerfulness percentage. iKier advises keeping nan aerial assistance flowing astatine 80% powerfulness aliases little to maximize its lifespan. If a occurrence does look beneath nan laser head, occurrence discovery will trigger erstwhile enabled; nan laser will return to its root and sound an alarm.

In summation to viewing protection, nan iKier comes pinch further features to limit danger. If tilted, nan on-device gyroscope will notify nan device, cease operation, and activate its alarm. Limit switches forestall immoderate overreach, truthful caller users needn't interest astir crashing nan laser caput into nan sides erstwhile previewing their design.

In addition, nan instrumentality has a information fastener pinch a beingness cardinal to forestall operation.

Using nan iKier K1 Pro Touch Screen Controller

iKier K1 Pro Max mounting up offline work

The K1 Pro Max tin beryllium operated independently of a machine acknowledgment to offline cognition via nan 4.3-inch touch screen. By inserting a USB thrust pinch supported cutting aliases engraving files, you tin proceed pinch nan occupation aft immoderate insignificant setup, specified arsenic attraction adjustments. Until you've practiced pinch nan record beforehand, it's still advisable to effort it retired first via desktop software, arsenic nan controls are overmuch much constricted for offline mode and deficiency nan further bits of ocular reference.

The touch surface offers a basal group of controls pinch a mostly of setup commands connected nan left, whereas activity controls beryllium connected nan correct broadside of nan screen. If you're readying to engrave connected immoderate irregularly sized objects, utilizing nan included fixed attraction artifact is advised alternatively of choosing autofocus. Once you've started nan job, there's a basal completion process barroom and a ample region aliases extremity button.

iKier K1 Pro Max offline occupation unrecorded example

Minor adjustments tin besides beryllium made to nan powerfulness aliases velocity of nan in-process screen. However, if you do tally into immoderate awesome flubs, it's apt champion to deed nan powerfulness fastener owed to nan deficiency of immoderate emergency extremity button. Otherwise, nan flimsy hold successful stopping nan occupation via nan touch surface directly.

If you do tally into immoderate powerfulness nonaccomplishment during an operation, nan K1 Pro Max's resume engraving action tin only beryllium utilized erstwhile moving offline aliases via nan app. You'll conscionable request to guarantee there's nary activity of nan engraver aliases engraving aboveground if that does hap to debar immoderate correction erstwhile you resume. Additionally, you'll request to make judge auto-home astatine start-up isn't enabled.

Software and App Considerations

iKier K1 Pro Max lightburn sample project

The iKier K1 Pro Max is compatible pinch either LaserGRBL aliases Lightburn. If you're utilizing macOS, Lightburn is your only option. While Lightburn does travel pinch a free trial, you'll request to acquisition a licence aft that play to proceed utilizing nan K1 Pro Max, truthful facet that costs into your decision. The licence costs $60 and grants updates for a twelvemonth (it'll still activity aft a year; you conscionable won't get immoderate much updates).

While your package prime will travel down to penchant and your operating system, Lightburn offers a much streamlined and user-friendly action to group up your jobs and power galore of nan K1 Pro Max's secondary features. You'll beryllium capable to alteration autofocus, sinking cutting, and auxiliary positioning pinch a fewer elemental steps.

With Lightburn, you tin customize a task via aggregate furniture types that allows you to create a overmuch much analyzable engraving pinch minimal hiccups. And pinch nan switch-based strategy for nan laser power, you tin easy switch powerfulness during a multistep occupation that intermixes engraving and cutting.

Sometimes, overseas bugs will hap regarding connectivity aliases positioning of nan K1 Pro Max, but these tin typically beryllium resolved by restarting nan instrumentality aliases sending nan laser home.

iKier K1 Pro Max Lightburn relationship via USB

Overall, if you're spending this overmuch connected nan pricier K1 Pro Max, it makes consciousness to return advantage of its integration pinch Lightburn. It'll besides make it easier to nutrient files for offline engraving.

If you do task into trying nan iKier smartphone app, connectivity issues and bugs tin besides hap depending connected your phone. Even connected a newer phone, nan strategy upgrade via nan app grounded contempt an established connection. I wasn't really capable to trial a people from nan app, owed to an correction that would popular up astatine last export shape backmost to nan K1 Pro Max. However, it did observe nan cognition of nan instrumentality and alert notifications would popular up.

As pinch astir smartphone engraving apps, there's a very minimal interface to activity pinch and a mini magnitude of image editing too.

Engraving With nan iKier K1 Pro Max

iKier K1 Pro Max engraving mini multi-layer card

In position of quality, nan iKier K1 Pro Max features an engraving accuracy of 0.01mm, and offers a 2K solution mini ray spot erstwhile utilizing 24W laser power. Depending connected your package integration, image engraving options tin beryllium fine-tuned to get nan desired effect and finish.

You'll request to research erstwhile first moving pinch an image, since darker images aliases those pinch much achromatic tin extremity up arsenic much subtle alleviation works. Try different image presets and settings, particularly erstwhile moving pinch different materials.

iKier K1 Pro Max shield photograph engraving texture focus

When utilizing nan 24W laser powerfulness and thinner wood, you tin typically trim retired your creation without switching to 48W power. These mixed engraving jobs usually scope betwixt 20 minutes to an hour, depending connected their item level.

iKier K1 Pro Max engraving sample results

When sizing up, a 10 x 10 inch image astatine a velocity of 1700mm per infinitesimal took nan iKier K1 Pro Max astir 2 and a half hours. Comparatively, an astir 11 x 11 inch image pinch a akin level of complexity took astir 3 hours astatine 2000mm per minute.

Cutting Power connected nan K1 Pro Max

To trial nan cutting spot of nan K1 Pro Max, I pulled from 2 different sizes of scrap softwood pinch different thicknesses (3/8 inch and 11/16 inch) utilizing nan 48W laser powerfulness mode. If you intend to trim deeper than that usually suitable for a honeycomb laser bed, you'll want to raise nan K1 Pro Max. Its legs aren't adjustable, truthful you'll request to raise each of nan 4 feet up pinch thing adjacent successful height, but it is possible.

iKier K1 Pro Max cutting extent tests via hexagon shapes

At 3/8 inch thickness, it could trim done pinch 6 passes astatine 90% laser powerfulness and 900 mm/minute cutting velocity connected a honeycomb bed. For 11/16 inch thickness, that went up to 16 passes astatine nan aforesaid 90% laser powerfulness and 900 mm/minute cutting speed. At 16 passes, it took a small effort to push retired nan trim piece, whereas astatine 20 passes, it popped retired connected its own.

With nan included aerial assist, charring was importantly reduced, and location was nary flames. If you're moving pinch nan much modular trade wood types and thicknesses (up to 3mm balsa aliases MDF), nan K1 Pro Max tin easy trim through, particularly pinch a honeycomb bed.

Should You Buy nan iKier K1 Pro Max?

iKier K1 Pro Max aggregate pieces cutting

At astir $2000, nan iKier K1 Pro Max isn't cheap, but it bridges nan spread betwixt lower-power diode lasers and prices CO2 models. It offers a larger engraving area and further features aimed astatine simplifying some nan setup and activity style. But for those not already acquainted pinch engraving package and seeking a simplified personification experience, immoderate of its benefits whitethorn beryllium unnecessary.

However, if you're looking to fine-tune aliases mass-produce pinch much frequency, nan premium features adhd other information and control. The iKier K1 Pro Max will entreaty much to knowledgeable laser engraver users aliases those looking astatine much extended usage cases. There are a fewer hiccups to nan process, but nan switchable powerfulness constituent of nan K1 Pro Max makes it worthy of information for those looking for much elasticity pinch their diode laser.