Atomstack A24 Pro – Hands-on Test

If you’re in the market for a powerful and affordable laser engraver, you’ve likely come across the Atomstack A24 Pro.

The A24 Pro is a 24W diode laser, with a unibody frame that eliminates your time for assembling. It offers 600 mm/s engraving speed with material compatibility of wood, acrylic, rubber, silicone, and leather/ However, the Atomstack A24 Pro cannot perform metal marking due to the non-availability of an infrared laser diode.

Whether you’re a hobbyist, a small business owner, or someone looking to upgrade from a basic model, the Atomstack A24 Pro promises a lot. But does it deliver on its promises?

In this hands-on review, we’ll examine its performance, power, speed, material versatility, precision, upgradability, and portability. Let’s see if it lives up to the hype.

Key Takeaways:

• The 24W laser power of the A24 Pro cuts through thick materials with ease.
• Offers 600 mm/s engraving speed with its 24W diode laser head.
• Easy to install and operate.
• Provides impressive engraving precision with a spot size of 0.06 x 0.06 mm.
• Versatile enough for various materials like wood, acrylic, and glass.
• Compact design with limited work area expansibility.
• Affordable pricing compared to similar models.

Here’s how the Atomstack arrived in a pretty nice compact packaging.

How Powerful is the Atomstack A24 Pro?

The Atomstack A24 Pro comes with a robust 24W laser, a significant upgrade from typical 10W lasers found in many entry-level models.

This power allows it to cut through materials like 12mm pine wood and 8mm black acrylic efficiently. We found this laser very good while engraving leather wallets.

In our tests, we set the speed to 90 mm/min with 100% power and cut through 13mm pine in one pass, although the edge had some charring. Cutting 10 mm acrylic at 120 mm/min in two passes resulted in a clean edge with minimal melting.

This laser power is ideal for those needing to work on thicker materials without multiple passes.

Check the price and specifications from Atomstack’s official website.

What is the Engraving Speed and Quality Like?

Speed and precision are crucial for any laser engraver. The A24 Pro excels in both areas. With a maximum resolution of 423 DPI and a small laser spot size of 0.06 x 0.06 mm, it can produce highly detailed engravings.

Even though, the 0.06 mm laser spot is significantly higher than the diode lasers of xTool, the A24 pro still engraves well due to long beam waist laser.

For instance, engraving a design on glass at 80% power and 1000 mm/min speed produced clear, white results. Engraving a greyscale image on wood at speeds of 500 mm/sec with power ranging from 3% to 32% yielded detailed images, where even fine details like whiskers were visible.

Here is a glass engraving we did with the Atomstack A24 pro:

How Does It Perform on Different Materials?

The Atomstack A24 Pro is versatile, handling a variety of materials including wood, acrylic, and glass.

For wood, it can engrave intricate designs and cut through thick pieces effectively. For acrylic, it cuts and engraves cleanly with minimal melting.

Engraving on glass is smooth, producing clear, detailed results. This flexibility makes the A24 Pro suitable for a range of projects, from detailed engravings to cutting thicker materials.

We wanted to test the Atomstack A24 with leather engraving. We used 60% power with 300 mm/s engraving speed.

With the help of air assist and smoother gantry movement, the A24 pro produced amazing leather engravings.

We again tried the same job using its full power and here’s what the A24 pro engraved:

We engraved a few metal tumblers using temporary laser coating to test the diode laser of the A24 pro.

We really liked the rotary attachment of Atomstack that integrated well. We had the rotary attachment of Atomstack in our workshop, which is why we tested the older rotary kit to explore if that fits with the A24 Pro.

Here are the tumbler engraving results we found with the Atomstack A24 pro:

Is the Atomstack A24 Pro Easy to Upgrade and Portable?

One of the standout features of the A24 Pro is its upgradability. It supports various accessories like rotary attachments, air assist, and offline controllers.

This means you can enhance its capabilities as your needs grow. The assembly is straightforward, taking about 15 minutes, thanks to the pre-assembled frame and clear instructions.

Its compact design makes it portable, though the work area is somewhat limited at 365 x 305 mm. This might be a constraint for larger projects, but for most hobbyist and small business needs, it’s sufficient.

You may also order the enclosure of the A24 Pro separately from the Atomstack store. Even if the enclosure is eye-protective, you still need to invest in smoke exhaust for working in less-ventilated areas.

How Does the Atomstack A24 Pro Compare to Other Laser Engravers?

When compared to other laser engravers in the 20W to 24W range, such as the xTool D1 Pro, the Atomstack A24 Pro offers superior value.

The A24 pro’s gantry is much faster than the xTool D1 pro. However, xTool D1 pro’s laser is upgradeable with an IR laser diode which the Atomstack A24 pro still lacks.

While the xTool D1 Pro is a strong competitor, the A24 Pro’s pricing is more attractive, making it accessible without sacrificing performance. Currently, the A24 pro is priced under $550 whereas the xTool D1 pro still holds a price tag of around $1200.

Furthermore, the xTool D1 pro offers bed extension which the Atomstack still needs to work on.

Notably, we are happy with Atomstack A24 pro’s laser engraving result that strongly competes with prominent diode laser manufacturers like xTool at even one-third price.

Hat’s off!

The Atomstack a24 Pro also features a smaller spot size than the xTool D1 Pro, allowing for more precise engravings. However, it falls short in terms of work area expansibility, and laser diode upgradability, which might be a consideration for those needing larger workspaces.

Final Thoughts: Is the Atomstack A24 Pro Right for You?

The Atomstack A24 pro is a versatile unibody diode laser engraver, suitable for DIY crafters. It effectively engraves wood, glass, acrylic, and leather.

It’s an excellent choice for hobbyists and small businesses looking for a reliable laser engraver that can handle a variety of materials and projects.

While its work area is limited, its upgradability and ease of use make it a strong contender in the market. If you’re looking for a powerful, affordable, and versatile laser engraver, the Atomstack A24 Pro is worth considering.

Frequently asked questions