TwoTrees TS1: review of this small-format laser engraver with a reasonable price

At 3Dwork we have explored everything from the most robust 3D printers to the most powerful laser engravers, but always with an eye on the democratization of those technologies that allow us to help each other in our maker projects.

This time we analyze the TwoTrees TS1, a mini desktop laser engraver that has caught our attention for being very compact, light and, above all, for its attractive price.

Is this the ideal equipment for those interested in getting started in laser engraving without the need for a steep learning curve or a high initial investment?

Join us for this in-depth review to find out more about the TwoTrees TS1.

As always, before continuing with the article, remind you that you can join 3DWork on our Telegram channel full of 3D printing deranged, or on our social networks: Instagram, , YouTube, , TikTok, , Twitter and Facebook.

TwoTrees TS1

The TwoTrees TS1 is a small-format desktop laser engraver with a set of specifications that position it in the entry-level and small-business segment.

• Laser Power:
  According to the specifications the TS1 has a 3W laser (with a wavelength of 455 ± 5nm) and an engraving accuracy of up to 0.01mm on certain materials.
  This power significantly limits its use for cutting tasks for many materials, making it more suitable for use as an engraver than as a cutter.

• Engraving Area:
  80 x 80 x 30 mm. This is a determining factor in its use that although it is sufficient for small decorations and customization of compact items, it implies that the TS1 is not suitable for large projects or productions in large batches. The maximum height of the supported object is also limited to approximately 0-35mm.

• Compatible Materials:
  The versatility of the TS1 in terms of materials is remarkable for its size and power.
  It can successfully engrave on materials such as wood (plywood, MDF, etc…), paper/cardboard, lacquered metal, leather, plastic, bamboo, slate and cork… to give a few examples.

• Connectivity:
  We have Bluetooth (for the mobile application) and USB type B (for PC connection) which will allow us a wide range and opportunities for use. Unfortunately, it does not support Wi-Fi or external memory that can sometimes be very useful in certain scenarios.
  With its GRBL compatibility, it will allow us to use different applications for the management of our projects, which is excellent news.

• Weight and Dimensions:
  Its compact size (157 x 157 x 167 mm) and lightnessmake it ideal for easy use anywhere.

Below you can review the complete list of specifications:

Name	TS1mini Laser Engraving Machine	Housing Color	Silver Grey
Engraving Technology	Laser Etching	Housing Material	Injection Molding + Aluminum
Product Size	157 x 157 x 167mm	Engraving Area	80 x 80mm (Supports Object Height 0-30mm)
Laser Power	3W, Adjustable Focus Distance 2.5-6.5CM	Compatible Materials	Plywood, MDF, Solid Wood, Paper, Coated Metal, Kraft Paper, Leather, Plastic, Bamboo
Net Weight	Approx. 1025.7g (±100g)	Gross Weight	Approx. 1229.7g (±100g)
Packaging Size	203 x 210 x 196mm	Power Supply	Integrated Adapter
Power Parameters	12V/2A (USA), 12V/2A (China)	Input Voltage Control Board	12V
Operating Power Consumption	17.5W	Firmware Type	GRBL Open Source
XY Driver	A4988	Bluetooth	Supported
TF Memory	Supported (Built-in)	USB Port	Supported
WiFi	Not Supported	USB Stick	Not Supported
Screen	None	Motion Structure Type	XY
XY Motor Model	SM1567A	Home Position	Top Left Corner
XY Axis Position Accuracy	0.1mm	Engraving Accuracy	0.1mm
Max Engraving Speed	3000mm/min	Max Acceleration	320mm/min
Compatible Software	Lightburn, LaserGRBL, MKSLaser (Mobile App)	Supported Systems	Windows, iOS
Software Languages	Chinese, English, Spanish, German,Italian, Japanese, Korean

TwoTrees TS1 unboxing and commissioning

The TwoTrees TS1 comes in a compact, well-protected packaging. When we open the box we find a few components that require a simple assembly, which is undoubtedly appreciated since in just 5 minutes we will have our device ready to use.

What exactly do we find in the kit? The contents of the kit include the basics and necessary to start the machine, start performing some tests and some basic tools for maintenance.

• TwoTrees TS1: The heart of the equipment, with its compact and lightweight design. Its housing is made of a plastic material and with a set of controls on the top in addition to the data and power connections on the back and has a sleek design.

• Front Shield: A crucial element for security, it protects physical access to the laser beam engraving and viewing area to prevent any damage.

• USB Cable and Power Supply: The TS1 connects to our computer through a USB port and uses an external 12V/2A adapter to power the device.

• Aluminum Focus Plates (black): These plates will be of great help to achieve a precise focus on the material to be recorded. Remember that the correct laser focus, which is manual, is going to be very important for the quality of the engraving of our pieces.

• User Manual: In our case it arrived in perfect German only anyway we have the online documentation that we can find on their wiki.

• Tools (screwdriver and Allen wrench): The basic tools for manipulating the TS1..

• Safety Glasses: A non-negotiable safety component for the protection of the wearer. As we always remember at 3Dwork, safety comes first.

• Test Materials: Some samples of materials, so you can make your first recordings from the first moment.

Once unpacked and assembled, basically place the TS1 on the aluminum stand, we can get going to carry out our projects.

The TS1 features auto-homing using mechanical endstops for accuracy, which means that the laser head automatically moves to its point of origin when powered up, making it ready to use.

As we already mentioned, we have a set of buttons at the top to move the laser head and control the pause or resumption of a recording. Which is very useful for certain adjustments.

On its back, we find the on/off button, the USB port and the power input.

As you may have seen the TwoTrees TS1, the start-up is extremely simple. Below is a video of TwoTrees with the unboxing of this TS1:

Safety and maintenance

In laser engraving, safety is not an option… it is mandatory.

From 3Dwork we want to remind any user of this type of machine to read and thoroughly understand the implications and obligations when using these technologies.
Ignoring these guidelines can result in serious injuries.

Focusing Process

Focusing is undoubtedly one of the most critical steps in ensuring the quality of any laser engraving. On the TS1, this process is manual, although we have the focus card supplied in the kit that will help us… It is important to review the process as the finish and quality of our projects will depend on it.

1. We will place the material to be recorded directly on the work area, making sure that it is firm and level. The optimal distance between the object and the laser should be between 25-65mm.

2. Using the black focus card (aluminum) provided, we will place it on top of the object we want to record.

3. With safety glasses on (always!), the focus ring of the laser head is adjusted, turning it to the left or right, until the point of light emitted by the laser is as small and precise as possible.

Software

One of the most important aspects for this type of machine is the control and project management software. In this aspect the TwoTrees TS1 has left us halfway in some aspects and where we see an important point of improvement for those users who mainly want to manage the TS1 from mobile devices.

The TS1 offers Bluetooth connectivity for mobile devices and USB connectivity for computers.

MKSLaser: a dichotomy of functionality and frustration

The great promise of the TS1 is wireless operation from a phone or tablet via the MKSLaser app. It’s certainly a really attractive feature, the freedom to control the recorder without relying on a PC.

The connection process is quite simple:

1. The application can be downloaded through a URL or by scanning a QR code that we can find in the manual itself, being compatible with Android and iOS devices.

2. Once installed, Bluetooth is enabled on the mobile, the app is opened and the device is searched for (the Bluetooth name of the TS1 is Laser-XXXXX). The connection is “simple” once the device appears.

3. The app interface includes icons for displaying coordinates (X, Y), laser head output power (S), and controls for XY axis movement, as well as movement speed and distance. It also allows you to return to the starting position (soft zero), set the current position as the starting point and turn the laser on/off.

Project creation and engraving: 

The app allows you to “Create” projects where you can incorporate different objects or components.

You can import images from the camera or albums, or make basic drawings and add simple text. It offers filter functions and brightness and contrast adjustments to enhance the image.

Subsequently, parameters such as the name of the job, size, speed and laser power are configured.

A crucial step is to move the engraving head to the desired starting point and “set as start coordinate”, and then use the “engraving edge” function to preview the engraving area.

Finally, the file is loaded and recorded on our TS1. In the following screenshots of the TwoTrees documentation you can see the whole process step by step.

Usability/Comfort in MKSLaser… Despite the comprehensive list of features and controls, the implementation of the MKSLaser app is, according to our assessment at 3Dwork, its primary Achilles’ heel.

It has been noticed that it is not properly translated and, we have tested Spanish and English, it presents sometimes serious usability problems and making it practically unusable on certain occasions in which the components of our project disappear having to start from scratch.

Although it is quite complete in options, it misses better control and usability. This translates into an experience that can be basic and unstable.

For more complex jobs we will be forced to resort to PC programs both for the creation of components of our project and in options and management of engraving.

In summary, while wireless connectivity is a plus and the app allows for basic operations, its limited usability and design capabilities are an important factor to consider if exclusive mobile use is your main expectation.

PC Software… the true power and control

Fortunately, the TwoTrees TS1 is fully compatible with GRBL-compatible PC software such as LightBurn, LaserGRBL, or our favorite Meek40t. This support is great news for users, as it mitigates the shortcomings of the mobile app and offers more powerful options for using the TS1.

Some advantages of using PC software:

• They offer a much more granular level of control over engraving and cutting parameters, allowing for finer and more consistent results.
• These programs are designed for the creation and manipulation of complex designs, something that the mobile app is very difficult to achieve… even more so if we add the problems mentioned.
• They allow you to manage larger, multi-element projects, streamlining workflow.

From the wiki we can find direct links for the download of these programs and guides for the installation and commissioning of our TS1 with Lightburn and LaserGRBL. Connecting the TS1 to your PC is as simple as using the USB cable, although in some cases it may require the installation of specific drivers.

As we have already mentioned before, in our case we prefer to use MeerK40t, which is a laser machine management software with a wide compatibility of machines… and as non-GRBL compliant.

Another reason for its use is because LaserGRBL seems to us to be a basic tool when creating projects and on the other hand Lightburn, which is an exceptional tool, has a high license cost that taking into account the approach of the TwoTrees TS1 may not be aligned with the needs of the average user of this machine.

On the other hand, it has quite active development and compatibility with Windows, Mac OSX and Linux (even apparently Raspberry Pi). You can download the installers from their Github in the Assets section of each available version.

Once installed, we advise you to check their Wiki where you have information on getting started and use of their different options.

The first essential step will be to configure our machine, which is quite simple. Following the following screenshot we advise you to go to the Interface tab to indicate the COM port where our TS1 has been detected, then we will adjust the parameters of Dimensions, Flip Axis and we will use the two Auto-Configuration buttons to load the settings directly from the TS1… simple!!!

We are not going to go into too much detail about the use of MeerK40t but we would like to give you importance to the tool for creating test patterns for different materials.
Basically, it will perform a test for different types of operations (cutting, engraving, raster, images, etc…) where it will adjust the two important values that affect the result in the material… the speed and power in the case of the TS1.
On the other hand, it is important that the number of tests, as well as the size of these, do not exceed the work area of the TS1, otherwise we will see an error when processing the test.

In conclusion, although the mobile app is an attractive feature for quick and timely use with simple projects, to make the most of the precision and potential of the TwoTrees TS1, connecting and using PC software such as LightBurn, LaserGRBL, MeerK40t are practically indispensable for any design that goes beyond the most basic.

User experience and tests

In our tests we have obtained a precise engraving quality and a very correct result considering the characteristics and price of this TwoTrees TS1.

The finishes in “soft” materials such as wood, leather and lacquered aluminium have been a good contrast. On the other hand, the lack of power, only 3W, limits engraving on “harder” materials as well as making it unfeasible to cut most materials or those that have a very, very thin thickness.

A material that works great with this TwoTrees TS1 is EVA rubber or light foam, in a simple way we can obtain very sharp results in addition to being able to make cuts.

In our case it is a material that we usually use as a base for our projects and figures and thanks to laser engraving/cutting we can customize these to give them a unique and exclusive touch.

Another similar material with which we can obtain great results is leather/leather, with adjustments similar to the previous one we can carry out interesting projects.

As we have been telling you, the TwoTrees TS1 behaves sensationally with soft materials and working with paper/cardboard is very easy… and with sensational finishes.

Although it is not fully appreciated in the image, with a good adjustment of intensity speeds in our application and depending on the material we can obtain certain shades of color.

The TwoTrees TS1 can also work with different types of wood if we make engravings, with very good finishes, but depending on the type and thickness we have to rule out making cuts.

In our case it is a compacted softwood of about 3mm that with several passes we were able to make the cut although the cutting and engraving areas due to the type of material were not as clean as in previous materials… but it was possible to cut it off!!

We have carried out tests with different materials and projects where the TwoTrees TS1 has worked really well for us… We are not going to share all of them but we would like to share the engraving on tinted/lacquered aluminum as it will allow us to create engravings on metallic materials, business cards, etc… which can be very useful for your projects.

The engraving speed and power are fully adjustable in the settings, allowing the user to experiment and find the optimal parameters for each desired material and effect. In addition, it is quite quiet in operation, which is always appreciated.

We would like to emphasize again the importance of the approach that we mentioned in more detail before, also the “horizontality/leveling” of both the machine and the material to be worked with and finally it is more than advisable to carry out speed/power tests to find the optimal values for the material and finishes that we are looking for in our projects.

It is important and advisable to use some pieces as a test to find or experiment to find the optimal values to put directly, if we do not have a previous reference of a similar material, to record since we will probably spend less material and time.

In addition to the manual, TwoTrees offers additional information and resources for users on its Wiki such as:

• Quick Start Guides.
• Assembly videos (although the TS1 comes pre-assembled, it can be useful and we share it with you in the unboxing section).
• Software connection tutorials.
• Calibration guides.
• Information on motherboard diagrams.
• Engraving settings and file options.
• Information on troubleshooting common problems and component replacement.
• Machine maintenance guides.
• Instructions for updating firmware (both motherboard, machine and TF card).

This type of initiative on the part of manufacturers, extending the information and resources of their machines through Wikis as in this case, is something that we at 3Dwork value very favorably.

Where to buy the TwoTrees TS1?

TwoTrees has the TwoTrees TS1 in its online store where you can buy it directly, accessories, spare parts and consumables.

In any case, we provide you with some links to their and other reference stores:

TwoTrees TS1

TwoTrees TS1 3Dwork review

The TwoTrees TS1 is a laser engraver focused on a very specific and well-defined niche market… Users who are looking for an engraving device, economical and easy to use for mainly “soft” materials… for which it fulfills perfectly.

As aspects to highlight or strengths of the TwoTrees TS1:

• Compact size and portability: without a doubt, it is one of its most important features.
  It is a very compact and light machine that you can place anywhere, taking into account the safety measures for this type of machine of course, and in the same way you can easily store it when we are not using it.

• Ease of use: very interesting aspect for users who are not looking for major complications.
  Coming pre-assembled, extremely simple assembly that is practically plugged in, turned on, downloaded the application and assembled our project. The fact that it has a simple button interface for manual adjustments as well as its auto-homing system make it accessible from the first moment.omento.

• Attractive price: A crucial aspect for many, the Twotrees TS1 is in a very affordable price range.
  With a small investment we can start to enter the world of laser engravers to expand our creativity and projects.

• Wireless handling: something very useful for certain users/uses.
  The possibility of controlling it from the mobile phone or tablet via Bluetooth is a very interesting option that attracts many users. Although the MKSLaser app has usability and translation problems, the function is there and depending on the use or future improvements by TwoTrees it is a functionality to take into account that we hope we can use from PC computers.

• Engraving precision: important and a pleasant surprise for a machine in this price range.
  Despite its size, the engraving quality is quite accurate offering very pleasing contrast results on various materials.

• Quiet: it has a fairly quiet operation, which avoids disturbance in certain situations or in shared environments… Although, on the other hand, and as we mentioned in the safety section, the generation of vapours/gases during engraving is something to take into account in certain environments of use.

But the TwoTrees TS1 is not a perfect machine and we found some negative points or points to be taken into account:

• Work area: it is very limited!!
  The work area is about 80 x 80 mm which will limit the projects to be carried out either by size or by the number of pieces to be engraved.

• MKSLaser: the mobile app to operate the TS1.
  Ignoring that MKSLaser has limitations to carry out the design of certain projects, in our case we have seen problems in its use sometimes serious or very annoying. In the end, it “forces” you to use PC software for a more powerful and reliable experience.
  We hope that TwoTrees will try to work more on this aspect since it is a more than interesting and powerful functionality in this type of machine.

• Power: its other great burden.
  With a laser power of 3-3.5W it is an excellent “soft” material engraver, and we emphasize the word engraver because cutting is not one of its star functions… Yes, we can cut soft or very soft materials and with a very small thickness.
  If you are looking for a laser cutting machine, the TwoTrees TS1 may not be the right one for you.

Finally, and from our point of view, we would like to recommend this TwoTrees TS1 for those who do and do not:

Who DO we recommend the TwoTrees TS1 to?	Who do we NOT recommend it to?
Absolute beginners, looking for an affordable and hassle-free way to get started in laser engraving.	Users who expect a complex and seamless design experience exclusively from a mobile app. MKSLaser can be a problem.
Occasional users who want an engraver for small projects, personalization of gifts or to add a unique touch to personal items.	For those looking for or needing to engrave or cut large objects, the TS1 is not the most suitable machine.
Entrepreneurs with a low budget who are looking for a team to customize products and sell them, for its price it will not require much investment and profits can be quickly obtained.	Professional users who require a high production volume, the use of the TS1 can be a problem due to its limited engraving and construction volume.
Anyone who doesn’t have a large workspace or needs a machine that can be easily stored.	People who need an engraver that is also a laser cutter compatible with certain materials and thicknesses, the TS1 is probably not their ideal machine.

To sum up, and again from our 3Dwork point of view, the TwoTrees TS1 is not the most powerful machine, nor the most versatile in working size and also its mobile application needs to be polished quite a bit… But for the niche market it is aimed at — simple and accessible engraving for beginners and occasional users at an unbeatable price — it is a highly recommended option that provides great value for the cost it has as long as it matches your needs for use.

If you are thinking of taking your first steps in laser engraving without large investments, the TwoTrees TS1 is undoubtedly an option to consider.