3d Laser Cutting Machine TS3 Review

3d Laser Cutting Machine TS3 Review By Meg Reichenbach

More and more people love a good kickstarter in the DIY world, which is how the Two Trees enclosed 3d Laser Cutting Machine got its start.

Two trees laser engraver machine factory offers some of the most popular laser engravers around, specially TS3, with a sturdy aluminum casing and hinged acrylic lid enclosure that keeps all the smells within, which was perfect for me in my apartment.

I’ve tested and reviewed TS3 laser machine, and if you’re looking for an affordable 3d laser cutting machine at home that’s built for shared spaces, then look no further.

Read on for a complete test and review of:

Set up and Assembly
Useability
Connectivity
Size
Safety

The TS3 is a cost-effective laser engraver with gorgeous accuracy and all the safety bells and whistles you could ask for.

While it took me a while to get the hang of the machine (and still getting the hang of it) and there are some connectivity glitches between the machine, wifi, and mobile app due to being a Mac user, I truly believe this engraver has what it takes to impress serious hobbyists and potentially small businesses.

However, if you are a Mac user, be prepared for a far more complex setup, as we experienced connectivity issues with Lightburn, and LaserGRBL isn’t an option if you’re not on Windows.

It is a good ideal laser engraver for beginners at home with enlosed build, out-of-the-box assembly, and ventilation hose.There is a learning curve that could turn people off, it is special for those who want to get perfect.

If you want to start your business at home, make cool DIY laser engraver/cutter projects out of Plastic, Wood, Leather, Sponge paper, Alumina, Spraying layer, etc and this machine can even engrave stainless steel.And if you want a a safe, affordable machine to add to your workshop or household, then this is for you.

In one sense, the setup and assembly were phenomenal – how could it not when it came preassembled out of the box.

Set-Up & Assembly

Setting up the machine required slight patience when it came to removing all the zip-tied foam from the inside, but it was easy to do.

The honeycomb plate is a bit clunky to get in and out since it clips into position at the front, but you still have to wedge it in at the back.

Given my workspace is my living room, I was eager to ensure odor control. The process requires:

Taking off the back
Removing the air filter
Reversing the fans so it pushes the air out instead of cycling it through the machine
Replacing the back with different parts that accommodate the hose
Securing the hose to the opening at the back with an O-ring

No specialty set up needed, just put the end out of an open window and it virtually eliminates all smoke, debris, and odors.

Build & Stability

Being an enclosed laser engraver, stability and durability are two things you won’t have to worry about.

There’s at least an extra 10kg of weight on this compared to Two Trees’ other open cutter engravers, and the acrylic lid guarantees the laser and the materials stay right where you put them throughout the whole process.

Even when the hose was situated outside the widow and massive gusts of wind were blowing in, nothing deterred this machine.

As long as it’s on a sturdy tabletop, you can expect world-class stability.

Safety & Odors

One of the main selling points of this machine to me was the emphasis Two Trees put on safety when designing the TS3.

Living in a city in a small apartment, health and safety are a top priority for me, as it is for those with families or pets around your workshop or where you may be working (in my case the living room).

The TS3 comes with an air filter, which depending on the use you’ll need to replace fairly quickly, around once a month.

I opted for the ventilation hose, and I’m glad I did.

The fans and hose truly capture everything – debris, smoke, odors. The inside stayed spic and span after multiple tests and there was very minimal smell left over.

The only time there was a smell was when I opened the lid after the test from the plywood being engraved, but if you shut the lid all the smell goes away.

I’d also like to touch on noise here.

Sensory difficulties can play a huge role in a household, but I can genuinely say the noise level on this machine is very doable.

I’ve previously tested the Toybox, a 3D printer that’s built for children, and the humming drove me mad, but I easily worked around the noise of this engraver without issue, so it shouldn’t affect your family or neighbors.

Useability & Connectivity

Useability and connectivity really go hand in hand with one another, especially with WiFi-enabled connections and mobile apps entering the CNC space.

I found using and connecting the machine to be complicated – but it’s not entirely the TS3’s fault.

Two Trees says the TS3 supports MacOS with Lightburn, but the whole experience is very much geared towards LaserGRBL – and therefore Windows.

I ended up switching to LaserGRBL on the Windows computer I borrowed and scrapping Lightburn altogether.

So, if you’re a Windows user it’ll work perfectly. Literally, the responsiveness was instantaneous between Windows, LaserGRBL, and the laser.

There’s also the problem of the TS3s wifi compatibility.

To use the mobile app to control the TS3, you need the laser engraver to connect to your wifi.

I stuck with the memory card and USB plug as that was more convenient.Luckily, the LCD touchscreen on the engraver is really user-friendly and responsive.

Size & Working Area

200mm x 300mm isn’t the most generous working size, especially if you’re into sign making or furniture making. It’s smaller than other engravers like the Two Trees TTS range, but these are open-air engravers and therefore don’t have the enclosure the Two Trees TS3 has.

But for small businesses and hobbyists specializing in small to medium-sized detail-focused engravings, it’s perfect.

I was able to comfortably fit a 13mm 20cm/30cm plywood slab in the machine with no issues.

But something to be aware of, the edge goes all the way to the edge.

There were also issues stated by other reviewers about using any material bigger than an A4 setting off soft limits on the machine, but I only had that issue when attempting to engrave a file that came preset on the mobile app.

The included engraving files on the mobile app

Test Results

The manual says to run the included TS3 test run on “craft paper” which I’m guessing is a stiffer paper than typical A4.

I struggled to create a detailed impression on the craft paper, but when I tried it on 9mm plywood it made a world of difference.

The accuracy and detail are truly mind-boggling and this took approximately 10 minutes. Go ahead and try out the QR code yourself.

Either way, once I stopped faffing with the cardstock I was seriously impressed by the laser. This was definitely the safest laser I’ve ever tested that would thrive on doing detailed work like images, intricate designs, and scripts.

Here are some other test results:

Smiley faces cut out of a 9mm plywood board in a single pass

An engraving of an animal skull. The outline and inside detailing were a bit off, but can be fixed with calibration.

The sample 9mm plywood we tested on

What really impressed me was the single-pass laser cutting on a 9mm plywood board. It was a little sticky to remove, but overall the laser cut through the plywood like butter.

The calibration was a bit off on the engraving, but for just plugging in and going right into a test, it’s a fairly precise job.

I would say no matter what your focus is on, laser cutting or engraving, the TS3 has enough power and precision to do both satisfactorily.

It also comes with a rotary module installed on the floor of the enclosure, just unscrew the floor plates to get to it. I thought this was a really clever storage strategy.

Is the TS3 for you?

if you’re looking for precision and accuracy, safety, and prefer ready-to-buy over DIY but still want a hint at tinkering – I recommend this 3D Laser cutting engraver machine strongly. There’s a good balance between user-friendliness and learning curve.

There’s enough intuitiveness that you’ll find your way around most things, but just enough challenge to really dig your hands into this engraver and learn its tweaks. You’ll walk away feeling like you have hands-on control and ownership over this beast.