Hold on tight, the excitement is coming soon.
Build It. Engrave It. Share It.
Turn your PCB idea into a real project.
Whether you already own a laser engraver or have PCB design skills, you can join the em-smart PCB Challenge 2026. Create an original PCB project, show how it works, and share your work with the community.
Choose the track that fits you best and compete for cash prizes, machine discounts, certificates, and more.
All challenge times are based on Pacific Daylight Time (PDT).
Open to owners of any laser brand. Create an original PCB project, from copper art to working circuits, and share your process and results.
No lasers required. Submit a practical PCB design for rolling technical review. em-smart may select up to ten designs for official engraving and livestream display.
Join the em-smart Discord for challenge discussion, technical resources and official online Q&A.
1 Winner · Creator Track Only
- 50% off Dual 2 MSRP or $1,000 off Basic MOPA 60W
- 20% off AXI Series MSRP
- $300 Cash Prize
- Grand Champion Award Certificate
*If the winner purchases a machine, a physical trophy and certificate will be shipped with the machine.
1. Only eligible Creator Track entries can compete.
2. Choose one machine benefit only.
3. Machine discounts are based on MSRP.
4. The machine benefit cannot be combined with another machine discount or prize machine offer.
5. The cash prize and machine benefit are separate rewards.
6. The physical trophy is provided only when the winner purchases a machine.
7. The Grand Champion Award cannot be combined with another official award.
2 Winner · 1 Creator Track + 1 Designer Track
- Up to 15% machine discount
- $100 Cash Prize
- Champion Award Certificate
*If the winner purchases a machine, a physical trophy and certificate will be shipped with the machine.
1. One Creator Track winner and one Designer Track winner.
2. This machine discount can be stacked with the 10% Technology Month promotion discount.
3. 15% machine discount applies only to the listed models(AXI Series, MOPA 30W / 60W and Dual 2 / SE), 10% machine discount applies to Nova 1/2, 5% discount applies to Basic 20W/30W.
4. Machine discounts are based on MSRP.
5. Official awards cannot be combined.
4 Winners · 2 Creator Track + 2 Designer Track
- Up to 10% machine discount
- $50 Cash Prize
- Excellence Award Certificate
*If the winner purchases a machine, a physical trophy and certificate will be shipped with the machine.
1. Two Creator Track winners and two Designer Track winners.
2. This machine discount can be stacked with the 10% Technology Month promotion discount.
3. The 10% discount applies only to the listed models (AXI Series, MOPA 30W/60W and Dual 2 / SE), 5% machine discount apples to Basic 20W/30W and Nova 1/2.
4. Machine discounts are based on MSRP.
5. Official awards cannot be combined.
10 Winners · Creator Track + Designer Track
There is no fixed number of winners for either track.
- $50 OFF coupon, valid on orders over $300 across em-smart store.
- Outstanding Entry Award Certificate
1. 10 winners will be selected across both tracks.
2. Winners are selected based on standardized overall scores.
3. There is no pre-set allocation between Creator Track and Designer Track.
4. The coupon is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued.
5. The coupon may be combined with other store promotions where stacking is allowed.
6. Official awards cannot be combined.
For Every Valid Entry
Everyone who completes a valid submission and passes the basic eligibility review receives:
- $20 OFF coupon, valid on orders over $300 across em-smart store.
- Certificate of Participation
* Official award winners receive their corresponding award certificate instead of the standard participation certificate.
1. Available to all valid participants, including award winners.
2. The coupon is valid for 30 days from the date it is issued.
3. A minimum purchase of $300 is required.
4. The coupon may be combined with other store promotions where stacking is allowed.
5. Participation rewards do not affect judging scores.
How to Enter
The form generates your entry ID. Your actual work is submitted later from the same registered email.
Complete the registration form. Your registration creates your unique Entry ID and confirms your participation track.
Your unique entry ID connects registration, work submission, judging and prize redemption. Keep your Entry ID and use it for your entire participation.
Pick your track: build and test your PCB with your own laser engraver, or submit your design files for judging.
Send your complete submission to social@em-smart.com from the same email address you used for registration.
em‑smart verifies all submission requirements (ID, email, track, originality, materials, social links, and rules) and moves valid entries to judging.
Creator and Designer entries are evaluated independently. Suspected fake engagement or bot activity results in disqualification.
All eligible social engagement is frozen at 14:59 AM PDT on September 20, 2026.
Declared Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts data can be combined. Only one selected entry per declared platform counts.
Official engraving quality and social interaction are not counted. Selection for official making does not provide bonus points.
Sep 5, 2026 · 9:00 AM PDT
Event Start
Oct 20, 2026 · 11:59 AM PDT
Submission Deadline
Oct 20, 2026 · 2:59 PM PDT
Social Media Data Freeze
Oct 20–22, 2026 (PDT)
Internal Audit & Scoring
Oct 22, 2026 · 2:59 PM PDT
Winners Announced
Oct 22–31, 2026 (PDT)
Prize Redemption Period
* Please note that all prize winners (Grand through Third) receive e‑certificates, and a physical certificate is provided with machine purchase. All participants, irrespective of award tier, will also receive a technical package.
Anything you'd like to explore about PCB Challenge, please email social@em-smart.com.
Take a look at PCB projects created for the challenge and see what is possible with laser engraving and PCB design.
Yes. Register for Designer Track instead — you submit design files and em-smart may select yours for official production.
Yes. Register for Designer Track instead — you submit design files and em-smart may select yours for official production.
No, each participant may register for only one track. If you're unsure which one fits you, ask in Discord Q&A before registering.
No, each participant may register for only one track. If you're unsure which one fits you, ask in Discord Q&A before registering.
No. Registration only collects your basic info and gives you a unique Entry ID. You'll need this ID when submitting your project materials by email later.
No. Registration only collects your basic info and gives you a unique Entry ID. You'll need this ID when submitting your project materials by email later.
Submissions must be sent from your registered email before September 20, 2026, 11:59 PM PT. Entries received after this deadline are not counted.
Submissions must be sent from your registered email before September 20, 2026, 11:59 PM PT. Entries received after this deadline are not counted.
No, each participant may register for only one track. If you're unsure which one fits you, ask in Discord Q&A before registering.
No, each participant may register for only one track. If you're unsure which one fits you, ask in Discord Q&A before registering.
Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts — up to one official entry per platform and up to three entries total.
Instagram Reels, TikTok, and YouTube Shorts — up to one official entry per platform and up to three entries total.
Tag or @ the official em-smart account for that platform, and include both #emsmartPCBChallenge2026 and #emsmart.
Tag or @ the official em-smart account for that platform, and include both #emsmartPCBChallenge2026 and #emsmart.
Only to the registered submission email (Gerber files, schematic, BOM, functional description, and preview image). Design files are not accepted through the website form or Discord.
Only to the registered submission email (Gerber files, schematic, BOM, functional description, and preview image). Design files are not accepted through the website form or Discord.
Sorry, the Grand Champion Award is only awarded from Creator Track. Designer Track has its own Champion, Excellence, and Outstanding Entry awards.
Sorry, the Grand Champion Award is only awarded from Creator Track. Designer Track has its own Champion, Excellence, and Outstanding Entry awards.
No, official awards aren't stacked. Everyone who completes a valid submission, including winners, still receives the base participation reward.
No, official awards aren't stacked. Everyone who completes a valid submission, including winners, still receives the base participation reward.
The winners will be announced on September 22, 2026 at 2:59 PM PDT. The redemption of the prize or the choice of the purchase benefit is possible from September 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT until September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT.
The winners will be announced on September 22, 2026 at 2:59 PM PDT. The redemption of the prize or the choice of the purchase benefit is possible from September 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM PDT until September 30, 2026 at 11:59 PM PDT.
Yes, in most cases. Our main site campaign already offers category discounts (10% off AXI, 12% off Dual series, 5% off Basic and Nova series, 10% off MOPA series). Challenge winners, except for the Grand Prize winner, can stack their challenge reward on top of these main campaign discounts for an extra discount.
Challenge rewards by tier:
Grand Prize: choose one of the following: 50% off a Dual, a $1000 coupon toward a MOPA 60, or 20% off an AXI at full price. This reward cannot be stacked with the main campaign discount.
1st Prize: $100 cash, plus choose one purchase discount: AXI 15%, MOPA 30W/60W 15%, Basic 5%, Nova 1/2 10%, or Dual 2/SE 15%. Stackable with the main campaign discount.
2nd Prize: $50 cash, plus choose one purchase discount: AXI 10%, MOPA 30W/60W 10%, Basic 5%, Nova 1/2 5%, or Dual 2/SE 10%. Stackable with the main campaign discount.
3rd Prize: a $50 site wide coupon, valid on orders over $300.
Participation Reward: a $20 site wide coupon, valid on orders over $300.
Only to the registered submission email (Gerber files, schematic, BOM, functional description, and preview image). Design files are not accepted through the website form or Discord.
