Cubiio Is a Laser Engraver That Fits in the Palm of Your Hand

Laser engravers are nothing new, they’re a hallmark of hackerspaces around the world and many makers reading this probably have one sitting on their workbench. But, they’re traditionally large, bulky devices that take up a lot of room. What’s a maker with limited desk space to do?

That’s where Cubiio comes in. Currently in the funding stage on Kickstarter, Cubiio is a portable laser engraver/cutter that fits in the palm of your hand. The key to the compact design of the Cubiio appears to be an internal mirror galvanometer. Instead of physically moving the laser itself (like a conventional gantry setup), the beam of the laser is moved using a small mirror.

This design means the Cubiio can be very small, and can be oriented in any direction. When mounted on a small tripod, the laser engraver can work on materials that are positioned vertically or horizontally. It’s capable of engraving on a wide range of materials, and even cutting some. Thin paperboard and even wood and leather are possible to cut. However, the laser is fairly low in power, so don’t expect it to cut anything metal.

While the Kickstarter campaign just recently launched, it’s already up to more than four times the original goal of $25,000. The funding stage is continuing until September 20, 2017, and Early Bird specials are still available. They claim units should start shipping by November 2017.

There is certainly always inherent risk when backing Kickstarter campaigns. But, the Cubiio appears to be well-sorted, and the detailed videos of functional prototypes working are definitely encouraging. If you’re in the market for a laser engraver, but want to keep your desk uncluttered, the Cubiio looks like a nice option.