Best Laser Cutters and Engravers For Small Business 2023

The best laser cutters for small businesses can pay for themselves tenfold, in a variety of ways.

Maybe you’re looking to capitalize on charging more for personalized products, or simply boost brand awareness by adding your own logo? Either way, these devices are incredibly useful.

For a budget choice, you’ll want a diode laser – I recommend the xTool D1 Pro. I own the 20W version, and it cuts far more powerfully than you might expect for the price.

If you have a bigger budget, I recommend the Glowforge Pro as the best laser cutter for small businesses overall. This CO2 cutter is super user-friendly and easy to train your staff on – a true productivity machine!

In this guide, I’ll compare the best laser cutters I’ve tested across all the key factors for a small output – like work area, ease-of-use, material compatibility and price.

Each has its own strengths and limitations, but I’ll cover everything you need to know to make a confident decision.

We’ll also touch on a few profitable ideas for your business to help you get you off to a successful start.

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Best Diode Lasers For Small Business (Under $1000)

You don’t even have to spend a lot to get quality laser cutters nowadays. For under $1,000, you can buy a laser engraver capable of cutting through wood and acrylic, and mark metal, and some more premium machines can mark stone, and cut through thicker leather.

xTool D1 Pro – Best Diode Laser for Small Business

• Price: $699-$1,199 (10W or 20W) — Available at xTool here / Amazon here
• Work area: 432 x 406 mm
• Laser power: 10W (5W and 20W also available)

Built with a sturdy metal frame and with steel rods and wheels for smooth laser movement, the xTool D1 Pro is one of the best lasers for the price, with mid-range professional features and accuracy in a lower-priced diode laser.

Makeblock, who make the xTool D1 range, also produce CO2 lasers, so they’ve infused the D1 Pro lasers with the same quality and feel as they do with their more industrial lasers.

For basic business projects it’s perfect: the 10W laser can cut 3mm basswood in a single pass, can cut acrylic sheets, it can engrave coated metals such as stainless steel and anodized aluminum (proof below), and with the rotary roller you can engrave best-selling goods like beakers, bottles, glasses and mugs. It even supports color metal engraving!

If you want to just engrave, consider saving your money by buying the lower-power 5W version, or if you want to cut thicker acrylic or basswood sheets, upgrade to the 20W D1 Pro, which is currently available for pre-order.

Other variations available include:

Model	Where to buy
xTool D1 5W	Available at xTool store here
xTool D1 20W	Available at xTool store here

I purchased the 20W over the 10W, because I’m a power-crazed fanatic. The results are noticeable: you can cut thicker, and cut faster, which will earn you money getting through more jobs. For example, here’s a half-inch thick piece of wood we cut during my xTool D1 Pro 20W review below:

It’s accurate and smooth when engraving (0.01mm precision, 0.08 x 0.06 mm spot size) for any detailed contrasting portraits on basswood or other similar materials. It’s also safe, with an easy-to-press emergency stop button, and safety features that automatically stop if the machine this tipped or jogged, or if it detects fire.

The software that comes with the xTool is also really user-friendly, and better than the likes of Snapmaker Luban in our opinion, but you can also use it with LightBurn instead. There’s also the Laserbox iOS app for connecting via iPad or similar device.

In our opinion, this is the best laser engraver under $1000, and ideal for starting a CNC business selling engraved signs or images, as well as cutting coasters, jewelry, or other fun projects.

Get the RA2 Pro rotary add-on for easy money-making engraving metal beakers and the like.

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Ortur Laser Master 3

• Price: $699 — Available at Amazon here / Available at Ortur here
• Work area: 400 x 400 mm
• Laser power: 10W

The Ortur Laser Master 3 builds on the Laser Master 2 and 2 Pro’s success, doubling the power to 10W and improving the chassis to a sturdily built metal frame.

Most interestingly for small business owners, the Laser Master 3 is fast, with speeds of up to 20,000mm/min possible (though not as fast as the xTool D1 Pro). This drastically cuts down on time required to engrave a portrait or similar project, so if your business relies on quick production, this could be perfect.

Another major selling point for business owners is safety. The emergency stop is easy to use and clear (more so than the xTool D1), and you can turn the Ortur LM3 off with a turnkey so that it isn’t accidentally turned on.

The RA2 rotary roller is one of the cheapest rotary attachment add-ons for a laser you can buy. It costs $99 (sometimes $79 during a sale), and takes around 45 minutes to build, allowing you to laser engrave metal beakers and flasks, glasses, mugs, and many other rounded objects that sell amazingly well on Etsy.

It is less user-friendly than the xTool RA2 rotary chuck, but it’s a third of the price, and I still found it relatively easy to use. If you’re on a budget, it’s a fantastic laser engraver for tumblers and yeti cups: and then once you’ve made lots of money with these, you might want to upgrade to a more premium machine and kit. You can also read my full Ortur Laser Master 3 review.

It’s fast, safe, and has a large 400 x 400 mm work area for even the largest cuts and engravings, so it’s an ideal laser for a small business under $1,000. I do not recommend going for the older version, the Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro, anymore. I sold mine when I got the OLM3, as it just doesn’t keep up anymore.

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Best CO2 Laser Cutters for Small Business

OMTech 40W CO2 Laser Cutter

• Price: $549 — Available on Amazon here
• Work Area: 320 × 200 mm
• Laser Power: 40W
• Materials: cuts wood, MDF, acrylic, cardboard, paper, leather, plastic, glass, foam, and rubber. Also engraves steel, coated metal, ceramics, and more.

With 40W of power and an attractive price point, OMTech has created a worthy entry point for anyone looking for a laser cutter for small businesses.

Its solid metal construction is pre-assembled and feels stable. There is a decent weight to it despite there being a few plastic parts — helping provide accurate cuts. 

The 320 x 200 mm work area is fine for small crafts, and will be ideal for engraving family memories on photo frames that fit. Other well-suited smaller include engraving and cutting jewelry. Put it this way, you’re not going to start using it with cutting boards any time soon — it just doesn’t have the work area capacity.

Cutting speed always depends on the material and its thickness, but it will mostly work in a single pass. The OMTech 40W laser can be used to cut wood, paper, leather, cardboard, and acrylic, which covers a lot of bases for most small businesses. 

The internal fan helps with ventilation and pushes smoke out of a port to the back. Flexible tubing is included, making it easy to vent it out of a nearby window so your workshop will be safer. You’re not going to get external fan-like machines that are triple the price, but the internal fan is sufficient for most needs.

We like the laser pointer, which helps to make prints accurate. This is especially important when using a laser cutter to personalize things like photo albums where getting the measurements and placement is key, otherwise you may end up with a lot of products you can’t use. 

The laser pointer saves money on an integrated camera and allows you to line up your materials in advance. For the low price point, you are getting plenty of value.

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FSL Muse

• Price: $3,499 — Available at Matterhackers here
• Work Area: 305 × 508 mm
• Laser Power: 40W to 45W
• Materials: cuts wood, MDF, acrylic, cardboard, paper, leather, plastic, glass, foam, and rubber. Also engraves steel, coated metal, ceramics, and more.

Muse Core and 3D lasers are potent competitors for the Glowforge Plus and Pro. Much more than Glowforge lasers, you can pick and choose your accessories with Muse lasers. For example, you can pay an extra $250 for a higher-power, longer-life 45W laser, and you can also choose the laser’s lens, cooling system, rotary, and more.

The basic machine costs $3499, but add on $750 to this since you’ll need the Muse Coolbox for your laser business. 

You won’t get the camera and autofocus with Muse Core as you would with Glowforge. On the other hand, Muse Core offers a rotary upgrade, which Glowforge doesn’t offer, and you get larger working area with the Muse Core. You can read more about the differences beween Muse and Glowforge in our Muse vs Glowforge comparison.

However, Muse’s rotary is a bit expensive, at $1395. Also, if you’re adding the rotary to Muse 3D, you’ll have to buy the 5” lens ($150) to allow room for its passthrough slot.

For the upgraded Muse 3D laser, it’ll cost you more – $6499 with the 40W laser. But, it has a passthrough slot, a camera, and autofocus.

FSL’s in-house software RE3 (RetinaEngrave) is web-based but doesn’t require an internet connection. You can run it on Windows, macOS, and Linux. 

Another cool feature is Muse’s removable floor. You can remove its floor and place the machine on large materials, and engrave them out the machine’s bottom.

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Glowforge Basic – Great for more professional small business laser cutter projects

• Price: $2,495 — Available at Glowforge here
• Work Area: 279 × 495 mm
• Laser Power: 40W
• Materials: cuts wood, MDF, acrylic, cardboard, paper, leather, plastic, glass, foam, and rubber. Also engraves steel, coated metal, ceramics, and more.

The Glowforge Basic is Glowforge’s basic model, coming in at a lower price than Glowforge’s other two laser cutters. The main difference between this and the Glowforge Pro is the 40W laser included in the basic and the 45W of the Pro. To upgrade to Glowforge’s most powerful laser cutter, you will have to jump from $2,495 for this model, to almost $6,000. 

With the appearance of a home printer, its 8.3” x 38” x 21-inch frame fits nicely onto a countertop or in a craft space so your laser cutter for home business doesn’t have to take over the house.

It can take pieces of 304 mm x 518 mm material, making it one of the larger laser cutters for a home business. This gets you closer to being able to cut and engrave large custom signs in wood and acrylic. The cutting area measures 280 mm x 495, which is far more generous than many competing laser cutters, even those at a higher price point.

To the rear of the Glowforge, there is an exhaust vent. This connects to a duct tube which is included. Said tube will need to be pointed out of a window unless you can fork out an additional $995 for the compact filter for safe exhaustion.

We find the Glowforge web app to be a valuable resource for setting up the laser for cutting. Getting the measurements and sizing for different projects is as simple as dragging and dropping, so it is user-friendly if this is your first laser cutter.

To help you maintain accuracy when cutting that custom bottle opener or keepsake, there is a camera under the lid. This gives a wide view of the workspace, making it easier to monitor your ongoing projects.  It’s also compatible with Glowforge’s range of Proofgrade materials. These offer a range of advantages, including an attached QR code that automatically identifies the correct laser cutter settings for the material.

The Glowforge Basic is one of the best laser cutters for any small business that wants a more reliable machine that can work faster and more accurately than the budget options.

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Snapmaker 2.0 – Laser cutter for small business that also CNC cuts and 3D prints

• Price: $1,100-$1,700 — Available on Snapmaker store here / Available on Amazon here
• Work Area: 320×350mm (A350 version)
• Laser Power: 1.6W (also 10W high-power option)
• Materials: 10w cuts wood, MDF, dark acrylic, cardboard, paper, fabric, and leather. 1.6W version cuts thinner materials – not suitable for leather.

This is a laser cutter for small businesses that can do it all. On top of 3D printing, and laser cutting and engraving, it can also CNC carve wood, epoxy, and more. There are 3 models available that cater to different budgets: the A150 is $1,199, the A250 is $1,499, and the A350 costs $1,799 — the only differences between them are their build area sizes, and you require different sized enclosures for smaller models, with the 4-axis rotary attachment only available for the A250 and A350.

It’s easy to assemble (we built it from scratch in around an hour) and use, with Snapmaker Luban software to seamlessly switch between laser cutting, CNC and 3D printing — all in one program.

The versatility is going to open up plenty of projects for any small business as it can be switched from the 3D printer head to the laser head or the CNC router in a matter of minutes and just four screws (you’ll also need to change the work bed).

Read the full review: we tested the Snapmaker 2.0 CNC and laser toolheads

As a laser cutter, the standard laser toolhead is relatively powerful, and was able to cut through the 1.5mm-thick wood as shown in the box above. However, you can also buy Snapmaker’s new high-power 10W laser add-on for a more powerful laser cutter that works far quicker and can cut much thicker (up to 8mm) material.

As well as laser cutting, it engraves very accurately, and we were very impressed with the results. We used the 4-axis rotary module add-on, which basically turns your laser into a 360-degree lathe-style machine. Using a cylinder gift box, we engraved a variety of designs and were impressed with the contract, but this could also be used for cutting and CNC carving.

Overall, as a 3-in-1 machine it’s a great laser cutter to have for your small business. Not only can it cut your best designs to sell or for providing business services, but you can also use it to 3D print and CNC should you need it — and it only takes up the space of one machine.

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Glowforge Plus – Best Overall

• Price: $3,995 — Available at Glowforge here / Available on Dynamism here
• Power: 40W
• Work Area: 279 x 495 mm

The Glowforge Plus is a CO2 laser cutter that boasts a 40W laser capable of cutting through 0.5 inches of hardwood, and has numerous features to write home about.

The most notable is the software. It allows you directly import your drawings for cutting or engraving onto the material. This means those craft projects are highly customizable, and you can take on just about any commission.

The Glowforge Plus scans the drawing and gets to work, engraving directly onto the material. If you are the artistic type, this will be a major plus point. This means you can turn any drawing, sketch, or handwritten note into a piece of art that will have customers coming back for more.

The $3,995 price is a costly commitment for most small business owners, but this is a high spec machine with a wide range of applications that expands your capabilities.

It has a print area of 11 x 19.5 inches, meaning it can take on numerous projects such as engraving printed models and photo albums for personalized presents.

As a small business owner, time is money, which is why the 30-minute setup time is appealing, as is the easy application, onboard cameras for a live preview, and autofocus technology that helps make precise cuts.

The engraving speed is the only difference between Glowforge Basic and Plus. Glowforge Plus has improved mechanics over Glowforge Basic, so it can move twice as fast. This makes engraving much faster than with Glowforge Basic. Though, it’s up to you to evaluate whether this enhanced productivity for your business is worth the extra $1000.

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Glowforge Pro – Best Over $5,000

• Price: $5,995 — Available at Glowforge here / Available on Dynamism here
• Work Area: 279mm × 495 mm (one setting) / 495mm × ∞ (multiple settings)
• Laser Power: 45W
• Materials: cuts wood, MDF, acrylic, cardboard, paper, leather, plastic, glass, foam, and rubber. Also engraves steel, coated metal, ceramics, and more.

An elite laser cutter capable of opening up a plethora of opportunities for any small business, the Glowforge Pro can do it all.

What it boasts that other models do not is a large feeder that can take materials measuring longer than the standard 19.5 x 11 inches that you expect from cheaper Glowforge models. This means you can print on those custom door signs and make products that other businesses without a Glowforge Pro cannot.

The 19.5-inch width is still the limit, but there is a lot you can do with the length. Because it engraves the materials by burning them, the four-inch exhaust and duct hose is a vital inclusion. This means those fumes can be ventilated safely out of the window. Alternatively, you can upgrade to a $995 compact filter.

It shares many of the same features as the Plus model such as hand drawing capability but what sets it apart is its speed. Because of the 45W CO2 laser, it can engrave 50% faster than the Glowforge Plus, and cut 20% faster. Those extra 5 watts can make all the difference when the orders are stacking up.

It allows you to make etchings with photos to make a photo album cover stand out, and this can be done via the easy-to-use software on the app. The Glowforge website provides plenty of useful information on how to prepare photos. This is especially useful when it comes to sharpening the image on that wooden board. However, it’s expensive, and if you’re looking for a cheaper option, we have also written on the best cheap Glowforge alternatives.

Best Fiber Lasers For Small Business

OMTech Fiber Laser

• Price: Check latest price on Amazon here
• Laser Power: 20W / 30W / 50W options
• Work Area: 109 × 109mm (20W) / 175 × 175mm (30W) / 201 × 201mm (50W)
• Materials: aluminum, steel, gold, silver, brass, zinc, and other metals

The OMTech fiber lasers are excellent for small businesses laser engraving on jewelry, and creating bar codes and logos on medical equipment, parts, and appliances — you can also engrave phones and cases with them. What’s more, they only cost around the same price as a desktop CO2 laser.

OMTech fiber lasers can mark metal at blazingly fast speeds. The machines can move up to 7000 mm/sec (420,000 mm/min). 

The work area gets bigger if you pick a more powerful option. You can also print multiple times on larger materials, since the lasers don’t have enclosures.

You can get a rotary for OMTech fiber lasers for about $400. This makes for an ideal setup for jewelers working on rings and bracelets, and anyone engraving on cups and cylindrical surfaces. Beyond just laser engraving tumblers, you can also easily engrave metal beakers and yeti cups.

These lasers come with EZCad 2, which is a good software for engraving. But, the lasers are also compatible with Lightburn.

Buying Guide – Factors to Consider When Picking a Laser for Your Small Business

Price

You don’t want to overspend on a machine that’ll take longer to pay itself off, but also don’t cheap out and buy a $250 laser that reduces what you can make, and takes way longer to finish each project.

The laser type greatly affects the price. Diode lasers are cheaper, like the xTool D1 Pro, which starts at about $600, and are excellent for small businesses.

Another option is to go for a desktop CO2 laser, which will likely cost you upwards $3000, though you can get a K40 for about $500 with a small 300×210 work area. Fiber lasers are more expensive, but if you want to do serious metal engraving, they’re by far the best.

Laser Cutter Model	Price Range
xTool D1 Pro	$699 – $1,199
Ortur Laser Master 3	$699
OMTech 40W CO2 Laser Cutter	$549
FSL Muse	$3,499
Glowforge Basic	$2,495
Snapmaker 2.0	$1,100 – $1,700
Glowforge Plus	$3,995
Glowforge Pro	$5,995
OMTech Fiber Laser	$3,599

Materials

Small laser businesses usually work with various wood, MDF, acrylic, ceramics, and glass. But, jewelers and product markers will work with gold, silver, platinum, still, copper, brass, and other metals. 

For metals, you’ll need a fiber laser, but diode and CO2 lasers are compatible with other materials. Still, other lasers can engrave a few metals too. CO2 lasers have the widest material compatibility overall.

Check that the laser is compatible with materials for your business before purchasing.

Laser Cutter Model	Compatible Materials
xTool D1 Pro	Plywood, composite, paper, cardboard, cork, acrylic, leather, and more
Ortur Laser Master 3	Wood board, paperboard, black acrylic, leather, food, stainless steel, powder coated metal, and more
OMTech 40W CO2 Laser Cutter	Wood, paper, cardboard, plastics, acrylic, leather, fabric, and other non-metallic materials
FSL Muse	Wood, acrylic, fabric, leather, stone, glass, and more
Glowforge Basic	Wood, fabric, leather, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Delrin (acetal), mylar, rubber, Corian, foods, and more
Snapmaker 2.0	Wood, leather, plastic, fabric, paper, non-transparent acrylic, and more (being tested)
Glowforge Plus	Wood, fabric, leather, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Delrin (acetal), mylar, rubber, Corian, foods, and more
Glowforge Pro	Wood, fabric, leather, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Delrin (acetal), mylar, rubber, Corian, foods, and more
OMTech Fiber Laser	Metals and hard plastics

Laser Power

It’s key to find the balance between price and laser power for your small business. Generally, higher power is better: you can cut thicker materials, and cut and engrave faster.

CO2 lasers are more powerful than diode lasers. Diode lasers are typically under 10W (though xTool now has a 20W and a 40W version of the D1 Pro). CO2 lasers for small businesses are about 40W, but can vary greatly still.

Laser Cutter Model	Power (Watts)
xTool D1 Pro	10W (5W, 20W, or 40W also available)
Ortur Laser Master 3	10W
OMTech 40W	40W
FSL Muse	40W to 45W
Glowforge Basic	40W
Snapmaker 2.0	1.6W
Glowforge Plus	40W
Glowforge Pro	45W
OMTech Fiber Laser	20W / 30W / 50W

Work Area

The work area limits the size of the materials you’ll engrave. For example, if you’re making signs with your laser, you’ll need a machine large enough for the sign material.

Some lasers, like Glowforge Pro, have a passthrough slot for processing unlimited-length materials. Others lasers, like those by Muse, have a removable floor for engraving on large material blocks.

Overall a larger work area is better, but also more expensive.

Laser Cutter Model	Work Area (mm)
xTool D1 Pro	432 x 406
Ortur Laser Master 3	400 x 400
OMTech 40W CO2 Laser Cutter	320 x 200
FSL Muse	305 x 508
Glowforge Basic	279 x 495
Snapmaker 2.0	320 x 350
Glowforge Plus	279 x 495
Glowforge Pro	279 x 495 (one setting) / 495 x ∞ (multiple settings)
OMTech Fiber Laser	109 x 109 (20W) / 175 x 175 (30W) / 201 x 201 (50W)

Ease of Use

An easier-to-use laser saves you and your business time and makes you more productive and efficient. 

One accessory that helps is a laser camera and autofocus. The best laser manufacturers like Glowforge, Muse 3D, and Makeblock have their lasers come with cameras.

An LCD screen, easy manipulation of the laser head, and easy-to-use laser software also help you a lot.

Laser Cutter Model	Assembly Time
xTool D1 Pro	30 minutes
Ortur Laser Master 3	30 minutes
OMTech 40W CO2 Laser Cutter	Comes pre-assembled
FSL Muse	30 minutes
Glowforge Basic	Comes pre-assembled
Snapmaker 2.0	90 minutes
Glowforge Plus	Less than an hour
Glowforge Pro	Less than an hour
OMTech Fiber Laser	Less than an hour

Accessories

Accessories add to your laser’s capabilities. Do you need to engrave on mugs, beakers, rings, bottles, or other cylindrical objects? Then, get a laser that supports a rotary add-on (hint: no Glowforge). 

Risers can improve your laser’s Z-height. Honeycomb beds, air assist, exhaust fans, and air filters are other accessories that lasers may support which can help with your projects.

Laser Cutter Model	Main Accessories
xTool D1 Pro	Extension kit, Honeycomb working panel, Air assist, Safety set, rotary attachment, and a smoke purifier
Ortur Laser Master 3	Enclosure, air pump, rotary attachment, smoke purifier, extension kit
OMTech 40W CO2 Laser Cutter	Rotary attachment, fume extractor, water chiller, laser alignment
FSL Muse	Rotary attachment, water pump, riser, pre-filter, exhaust fan, fume extractor, water chiller, air compressor, and a coolbox
Glowforge Basic	Dust cover, riser, air filter, filter cartridge
Snapmaker 2.0	10W laser upgrade, rotary attachment, enclosure, air purifier, emergency stop button
Glowforge Plus	Dust cover, riser, air filter, filter cartridge
Glowforge Pro	Dust cover, riser, air filter, filter cartridge
OMTech Fiber Laser	Rotary attachment, fume extractor, water chiller, laser alignment

Speed

Higher speed translates to more productivity and more customers served per hour. For diode lasers, focus on laser power, not the laser speed. But for CO2 lasers, also consider laser speed, since some are much faster.

Laser Cutter Model	Max Engraving Speed (mm/s)
xTool D1 Pro	400
Ortur Laser Master 3	330
OMTech 40W CO2 Laser Cutter	255
FSL Muse	Not listed
Glowforge Basic	1x (relative to Glowforge machines)
Snapmaker 2.0	60
Glowforge Plus	2x (relative to Glowforge machines)
Glowforge Pro	3x (relative to Glowforge machines)
OMTech Fiber Laser	7000

What Can I Make and Sell With a Laser Cutter?

Small business laser cutters are super versatile: they can be used to engrave stationery for promotion, keepsakes such as photo albums, and even etch glass to sell as a paperweight gift.

You can let your imagination run wild, and come up with creative things to make with your laser. But, here are some more ideas that I know sell well:

• Wood signs and acrylic signs
• Tumblers, beakers, yeti cups, and mugs (requires a rotary)
• Laser-engraved t-shirts
• Name tags
• Bookmarks
• Coasters
• Engraved pens, mugs, flashlights, glasses, and more
• Jewelry
• Marked cutlery
• Logo and brand-marked parts
• Raster images
• Your personal custom artistic designs

Is Laser Cutting Profitable?

Yes, laser cutting and engraving can be lucrative, due to the increasing demand for personalized and customized products. However, you’ll need to work hard and market your business well. Laser businesses have been around for a while, so there is competition for customers.

FAQs

Other laser buyer guides:

• Best laser engravers for metal
• Acrylic laser cutters
• Best wood laser cutters
• Best laser cutters for leather crafts
• Best jewelry laser cutters