A rotary attachment adds 4th axis rotational functionality to your laser engraver so you to work on a wider range of projects and geometries. However, with there being many different engravers and attachments out there, you need to choose carefully to ensure you find the right laser engraver with rotary attachments for you.
To help you out, this guide covers everything there is to know about rotary laser engraver machines. First, we’ll explain what they are, how they work, and what you can do with them.
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Great Budget Laser w/ Low-Cost Rotary
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Best Diode Laser
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Top 3 in 1 Pick
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$599.99
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$629.99
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$1199 ($600 off!)
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Description: Ortur's YRR Roller add-on is under $100 for low-cost beaker or glass engraving, and the laser itself is great value for 10W power. |
Description: And if you need even more power, go for the 20W version (we did!). The rotary add-on costs $279, but is a higher quality chuck rotary (rather than Ortur's roller). |
Description: Want to 3D print, CNC cut, and laser cut and engrave all in 1? Snapmaker machines are the best 3-in-1 machines around. And you can turn it into a 4-axis rotary with the 4-axis add-on, which costs a few hundred dollars extra. |
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Ortur's YRR Roller add-on is under $100 for low-cost beaker or glass engraving, and the laser itself is great value for 10W power.
And if you need even more power, go for the 20W version (we did!). The rotary add-on costs $279, but is a higher quality chuck rotary (rather than Ortur's roller).
Want to 3D print, CNC cut, and laser cut and engrave all in 1? Snapmaker machines are the best 3-in-1 machines around. And you can turn it into a 4-axis rotary with the 4-axis add-on, which costs a few hundred dollars extra.
Then we’ll review the best laser engravers with rotary attachments on the market, detailing all the important factors you need to consider before making a purchase.
What are the best laser engraver rotary attachment combos?
Having tested a number of laser engravers, including the Ortur Laser Master 2 and Laser Master 2 Pro, as well as the Snapmaker 2.0 with its 4-axis rotary add-on, we recommend the following as our top pick in each price range:
- Atomstack A5 Pro with Atomstack R3 Roller
- FoxAlien Reizer with R42 Rotary Attachment
- Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro or LM3 with Ortur Laser Rotary Roller: Good budget option
- xTool D1 Pro with RA2 Pro rotary chuck: Our TOP PICK overall
- Snapmaker 2.0 with 4-axis Rotary Module Add-on: Best overall if you have the budget
What is a Laser Engraver with Rotary Attachment?
A standard hobbyist laser engraver comes with 3 axes – the X, Y, and Z axes. These enable the laser to move left-to-right, front-to-back, and up-and-down, respectively. This is fine if you’re working on flat 2D pieces of material — such as wall decorations or signs — but if you want to work in 3D with 360-degree functionality, you need a 4th axis.
You can engrave in 4 axes by adding a rotary roller attachment to your machine. This adds a rotational movement around the Y-axis, meaning it essentially operates in the same way as a CNC lathe. The 4th axis means you can laser engrave tumblers, glasses, mugs, bottles, vases, and other cylinder items, vastly increasing the range of projects you can work on.
The best rotary rollers are adjustable, so you can quickly and easily engrave differently sized objects at different angles. Whether you’re a hobbyist or a small business owner, the right module can be a valuable addition to your laser engraving setup.
The Best Lasers and Rotary Attachments
1. Atomstack A5 Pro + Atomstack R3 Rotary Roller
- Atomstack A5 price: $339 — Available on Amazon here
- Atomstack R3 Roller: $139 — Available on Amazon here
Atomstack A5 Pro
The Atomstack A5 Pro is a popular laser engraver that can be upgraded to 4th axis functionality with the Atomstack R3 Rotary Laser Roller.
This machine is one of the best out there in terms of value for money. For starters, it’s really well built with an all-metal structure and anodized coating, so it’s extremely sturdy, robust and durable, offering precise engraving and long tool life.
The fixed focus laser means you don’t need to manually adjust it, improving consistency by reducing human error. It uses an ultra-fine compression laser, which allows you to accurately carve a variety of materials, including stainless steel and ceramic.
The Atomstack A5 Pro is also a very safe machine that’s ideal for hobbyists, with a protective cover that filters 97% of the UV light, meaning you don’t need to wear goggles while engraving.
Atomstack R3 Rotary Laser Roller
The Atomstack R3 Rotary Laser Roller is similarly impressive and is really simple to use, as it comes pre-installed so you can get started right away after unpacking.
There are eight angle adjustment options and you can choose from a wide range of engraving diameter sizes, from 4mm to 100mm, so it’s a really versatile attachment suitable for a wide variety of different projects.Â
It’s also very well made, with a closed design in which the motor is not exposed, so it’s safe even for beginners to use. The all-metal structure makes it very stable and durable, while the coaxial design means there’s no need to adjust the belt, improving accuracy.
Another benefit of going for this laser engraver with rotary attachment is the large 410x400mm working area, which provides plenty of room for working with larger cylindrical objects.
The Atomstack R3 rotary attachment is also somewhat of a universal laser engraver rotary attachment as it can be used with machines from several other manufacturers. These include popular laser engravers such as:
2. xTool D1 Pro + RA2 Rotary Add-on
- Price: $699 — Available at xTool here / Amazon here
- RA2 rotary: $299 — Available at xTool here
- Work area: 432 x 406 mm
- Laser power: 10W (5W and 20W also available)
Built with a sturdy metal frame and with high-quality steel parts for the smoothest laser movement, the xTool D1 Pro is one of the best lasers with a rotary add-on for under $1000 total, with mid-range professional features and accuracy in a lower-priced diode laser.
Not only is it a powerful and accurate laser, but xTool also offer one of the best-quality rotary attachments around. Rather than the roller style that Ortur offer, xTool sell a chuck rotary add-on that grips your material better for turning and engraving.
I own both the xTool D1 Pro 20W, and the Ortur LM3, and while I have had hands-on experience with the YRR 2.0 with the Ortur, I haven’t had a chance to test out the xTool version yet.
But, having tested the similar Snapmaker rotary module, I recommend if you’re on a budget, go for the lower-priced LM3, and cheaper YRR 2.0 rotary, and if you’re more interested in making money as a small business (for example engraving metal beakers for big profit), go with the xTool and xTool RA2 Pro rotary.
The downside is that it’s more expensive than Ortur’s roller by about $200, but you save time in easy assembly (rather than a very DIY kit), and the metal parts are higher quality overall. The different tools mean you can engrave glasses by holding the thin neck of the glass, spheres like baubles, mugs, beakers, and more.
It’s one of the most powerful diode lasers around at 10W power, and you can even upgrade to a 20W version if you’re willing to pay extra. For a combined laser and rotary attachment, it’s our top pick under $1000.
Other variations available include:
- xTool D1 5W — Available at xTool store here
- xTool D1 20W — Available at xTool store here
Read our full review: we reviewed and tested the xTool D1 Pro
And if you need even more power, go for the 20W version (we did!)
3. Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro + Ortur Laser Rotary Roller
- Price: around $500 — Available at Ortur here / Available on Amazon here
- Ortur Rotary Roller: $129 — Available at Ortur here / Available on Amazon here
Another great option if you’re looking for a laser engraver with rotary attachment is the Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro with the Ortur Laser Rotary Roller.Â
You can use this rotary roller with Ortur’s cheaper models like the original Laser Master and Laser Master 2, but having tested both the Laser Master 2, and the Laser Master 2 Pro, it’s the Laser Master 2 Pro that offers the highest quality engraving.
It uses a 0.08×0.15mm light spot, which is smaller than the 0.23×0.23mm that’s standard for many similarly priced machines, resulting in higher accuracy and the ability to easily cut thicker materials. For example, it can cut 3mm plywood and 6mm pine board with no issues whatsoever.
Ortur claims its compressed light spot allows you to engrave objects in half the time it takes with lower quality machines. Another benefit is the well-designed mechanical structure that’s optimized for fast cutting and stability while providing a long service life. The OLM-PRO-V10 motherboard ensures smooth engraving, while the Ortur 1.5 firmware enables cutting speeds up to 10,000mm/min.
This is also a really secure machine that’s one of the safest laser engravers on the market. It has an automatic stop function that kicks in if the machine is knocked, if the transmission fails, or if the motor hasn’t moved for a while, helping keep you, your machine and your workpiece safe.
There’s also an emergency stop button you can use to manually halt working, and the upgraded 24V circuit system means it packs high power into a lower current for increased safety.
Another great thing about the Laser Master 2 Pro is that it has a modular design that makes it really simple to assemble, even if it’s your first time building a laser engraving machine.Â
The Ortur rotary laser engraver attachment is also super easy to use, has seven different gear positions for width adjustment, and is made of aluminum, steel plating, and acrylic for optimum durability.
Ortur's YRR Roller add-on is under $100 for low-cost beaker or glass engraving, and the laser itself is great value for 10W power.
4. Snapmaker 2.0 A350T + Snapmaker 2.0 Rotary Laser Engraver BundleÂ
- Price: from $1,849 — Available at Snapmaker store here / Available on Amazon here
- Rotary module add-on: $649 — Available at Snapmaker store here / Available on Amazon here
Snapmaker 2.0 A250 or A350
The Snapmaker 2.0 with its rotary bundle package is the most expensive combination on our list by some distance, but it’s a really fantastic laser engraver with rotary attachment that offers very high engraving quality.
This machine is one of the most unique on the market, as far from being a mere laser engraver it’s in fact a 3-in-1 3D printer, CNC router, and laser engraver.
Read the full review: we tested the Snapmaker 2.0 with 4-axis rotary module
It’s easy to use, as the autofocus feature means the optimal laser height is selected automatically without you having to manually test different heights. There’s also the impressive camera capture, which automatically takes a picture of your material and uploads it to the Snapmaker Luban software for you to work on, and you can then engrave the final design with a single click.
Snapmaker 4-Axis Rotary Module
The Snapmaker rotary module is one of the best we’ve seen. It has a 100:1 speed reducer that converts the power to a lower output speed, allowing the 3-jaw chuck to rotate with a  0.1° minimum angle. This means you can work on uneven surfaces with increased accuracy.
It offers very fast rotary sculpting, thanks to the precise 360° continuous rotation with a maximum angular speed of 45° per second. You can easily adjust the rotation precision control between 0.2, 1, and 5° on the touchscreen control panel.Â
The rotary laser engraver module applies to both the CNC carving and laser engraving functions of the Snapmaker 2.0, so you can easily work on 3D projects using both methods within a single tool. It only takes a few minutes — four screws plus the different print bed — to change each toolhead out, and excels in laser engraving, cutting, CNC carving and 3D printing.
Snapmaker’s Luban CAD and CAM software is well suited to 4-axis functionality, with 4-axis linkage support that allows each axis to move simultaneously for full control.
There are two different versions of the Snapmaker 2.0 – the price we’ve quoted is for the A350 which offers the largest build volume of 320x350x300mm. You can save around $300 by going for the smaller A250 with a build volume of 230x250x235mm.
Want to 3D print, CNC cut, and laser cut and engrave all in 1? Snapmaker machines are the best 3-in-1 machines around.
Buying a Rotary Attachment Module for your Laser Engraver
So, how do you go about finding the right laser engraver with rotary attachment for you?
Firstly, it’s important to know that while there are laser engravers that come complete with 4 axis functionality, these are generally more expensive, professional machines. Most budget laser engravers come with 3 axes as standard and are compatible with 4th axis rotary attachments that are sold separately.
Some manufacturers have rotary attachments designed specifically to fit their own machines. However, many rotary rollers are compatible with a variety of machines from different manufacturers, so there’s no reason you can’t mix and match so long as you do your research.
So, firstly you need to find a high-quality laser engraver, considering the usual aspects like laser quality and spot size, safety features, engraving speed, durability, usability, working area, and so on.Â
In terms of the rotary laser engraver module, you should look at factors like the number of angle adjustments, the diameter adjustment options, and durability. You should also consider how easy it is to set up and use, especially if you’re a beginner, as while some come preassembled, others don’t.
