Atomstack A5 Pro (5 W diode)
Unverified starting points - test on a scrap first. These are rough estimates, not yet burned and verified on hardware; diode output varies with lens condition, focus and material batch. A verified, community-voted database (real burns, photos) is on the roadmap - it isn't built yet.
The machine
The A5 Pro is a budget open-frame diode engraver: roughly 5 W of optical output from a single 455 nm diode (the "40 W" on the box is electrical input, not laser power), a 410 × 400 mm work area, and a belt-driven aluminum-extrusion frame you assemble yourself. The module is fixed-focus - you set the height with the supplied spacer - and it carries an acrylic shield around the beam path. It runs GRBL, so LaserGRBL and LightBurn both drive it fine.
| Material | Dithering | DPI | Speed | Power | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basswood, solid | Jarvis | 254 | 2500 mm/min | 60% | untested |
| Plywood, birch 3 mm | Stucki | 254 | 2800 mm/min | 55% | untested |
| Slate coaster | Jarvis | 318 | 1800 mm/min | 85% | untested |
| Painted white tile (NWT) | Stucki | 254 | 1200 mm/min | 90% | untested |
Every row is an unverified starting point, not a proven setting - burn a test grid on the same material batch before running the real photo. No verified community data yet; the submit-and-vote database is on the roadmap. Files made with: Dithering Lab · Test Grid Generator.
Prepare the photo with EngraveBot
Open Photo to Laser, load your photo and pick the material preset (wood, slate or tile) - it applies the dithering algorithm and DPI from the table above. Export a PNG at that DPI and import it into LaserGRBL or LightBurn, or export a .lbrn2 project with the layer pre-filled - then overwrite speed and power with whatever your own test grid proved. Finer control over the algorithm: Dithering Lab.
Quirks worth knowing
No air assist out of the box, so expect smoke staining on light woods - mask the surface or wipe with a damp cloth after. No limit switches either: home the head manually and mark your origin before every job. Focus is fixed - loosen the module and set the height with the spacer resting on the material. And at ~5 W, slate and painted tile are slow work: a coaster-sized photo can easily run 30-60 minutes. The acrylic shield helps, but wear rated goggles anyway and never leave a burn unattended.
Gear for this machine
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Related guides
Photo on wood → Photos on slate → Dithering settings → Norton White Tile →