If you’re considering investing in a Glowforge laser cutter, you might be wondering what other machines are out there that can compete with it. In this blog post, we’ll take a look at some of the other options available and see how they stack up against the Glowforge.
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Epilog Zing 16 30W CO2
Epilog Zing 16 30W CO2 is a great laser for those looking for an entry-level machine. It’s a great choice for those looking to cut or engrave acrylic, wood, and a variety of other materials. It’s a versatile machine that can grow with you as your needs change.
Specs
The Epilog Zing 16 30W CO2 is a great small engraver/cutter. It has a 16″ x 12″ bed and an overall footprint of 27.75″ x 20.25″ x 9.5″. It will engrave on a variety of materials including wood, acrylic, glass, marble, fabric, and more. It has a USB 2.0 port for connecting to your computer and an SD card slot for stand-alone engraving/cutting. The maximum material thickness is 0.5″, and it has a engraving/cutting area of 16″ x 12″.
Pros
-It can be used for both thin and thick materials
-The touch screen interface is very user friendly
-The Zing 16 comes with a rotary attachment, making it a versatile tool
-The price is very reasonable for a laser cutter of this quality
Cons
The Epilog Zing laser cutter is the best bang for your buck. With a price tag of less than $7000, it is about half the price of the Glowforge Pro. But it still has some features that set it apart from the Glowforge.
First, the Epilog Zing can engrave and cut metal. The Glowforge can only engrave metal. This means that if you want to cut a design out of stainless steel, you’ll need to use the Epilog Zing.
The Epilog Zing also has a larger work area. The bed size is 12″ x 20″, which gives you more room to work with larger projects.
Finally, the Epilog Zing has a higher power output. The 30W laser is twice as powerful as the 15W laser on the Glowforge Pro. This means that you can cut through thicker materials faster with the Epilog Zing.
Trotec Speedy 400
The Trotec Speedy 400 is a high-speed laser engraving and cutting machine that is significantly faster than the Glowforge. It is also more expensive, so it may not be the best option for those on a budget. However, the Trotec Speedy 400 has a smaller footprint than the Glowforge and offers a higher engraving speed and accuracy.
Specs
The Speedy 400 from Trotec is one of the fastest and most powerful laser engravers on the market. With a speed of up to 100 mm/s and an engraving area of up to 40 x 30 cm, this machine can handle even the most challenging projects.
In terms of power, the Speedy 400 can reach up to 120 watts, making it one of the most powerful laser engravers on the market. This machine also comes with a built-in rotary attachment, allowing you to easily engrave cylindrical objects.
Pros
The Trotec Speedy 400 is one of the fastest lasers on the market, with a speed of up to 40 meters per second. This laser is also very versatile, with the ability to engrave and cut a wide variety of materials. The high speed and versatility make the Trotec Speedy 400 a great choice for businesses that need to produce large quantities of products quickly and efficiently.
Cons
The only con of the Trotec Speedy 400 is that it’s not as widely available as the Glowforge. While the Trotec is available in North America, Europe, and Australia, the Glowforge is only available in North America.
Full Spectrum Laser Hobby Series 20×12
If you’re looking for an affordable, high-quality laser cutter and engraver, then the Full Spectrum Laser Hobby Series 20×12 is a great option. It’s one of the most popular lasers on the market and it’s easy to see why. It has a huge engraving area, making it perfect for large projects, and it’s very user-friendly.
Specs
The Glowforge Pro is a 40W CO2 laser cutter and engraver. It has a cutting area of up to 12×20 inches (30.5×50.8 cm) and can engrave items up to 0.125 inches (0.3175 cm) thick. The machine accepts both vector (line art) and raster (bitmap images) input, and can connect to your computer via USB, Wi-Fi, or an Ethernet cable. The Pro model also features an upgraded cooling system and upgraded software for increased speed and accuracy.
The Glowforge Plus is a 30W CO2 laser cutter and engraver. It has a cutting area of up to 12×20 inches (30.5×50.8 cm) and can engrave items up to 0.125 inches (0.3175 cm) thick. The Plus model also includes an air filter, exhaust fan, crumb tray, and honeycomb bed insert for increased safety and convenience.
The Full Spectrum Laser Hobby Series 20×12 is a 40W CO2 laser cutter and engraver with a cutting area of 20×12 inches (50.8×30.5 cm). It can cut through materials up to 1/4 inch (0.64 cm) thick, making it well-suited for thicker materials like wood or leather. The machine includes an air assist pump and remote control for increased safety and convenience, as well as an auto-focus feature for greater accuracy when engraving or cutting intricate designs
Pros
The US $2,499 machine is capable of engraving and cutting wood, leather, fabric, canvas, and other materials up to 1/2″ thick. It can also engrave stone, glass, anodized aluminum, coated metals, and plastics.
Cons
While the Glowforge is one of the most popular laser cutters on the market, it does have some drawbacks. One of the biggest issues with the Glowforge is that it is only compatible with a limited number of materials. Additionally, the machine is not particularly fast, and it can be quite noisy.
Universal Laser Systems VLS 3.50
The 3.50 is a great entry level machine that is very similar in ability to the Glowforge Pro. It will do everything the Glowforge Pro will do except engrave glass. If you want to cut and engrave wood, acrylic, fabric, paper, or cardboard- the 3.50 is a great choice.
Specs
The VLS 3.50 is a 40-watt CO2 laser system with a 12″ x 8″ engraving area. It’s capable of engraving and cutting wood, acrylic, glass, fabric, and more.
Pros
The VLS 3.50 is a powerful and versatile laser engraver that is perfect for both home and small business use. It is easy to use and can engrave a variety of materials, including wood, glass, metal, and plastic. The VLS 3.50 also has a number of safety features, making it a safe and reliable choice for your laser engraving needs.
Cons
The machine uses a lot of energy when it’s running, and it has to warm up for about 45 minutes before you can start using it. The fan is also very loud, so you might want to invest in some earplugs if you plan on using it for extended periods of time.
Epilog Legend EXT 40W CO2
The most popular hobby laser on the market, the Epilog Legend EXT 40W CO2, is a great machine that will allow you to do everything from simple engraving to complex sign making. It has a large engraving area and a powerful laser that can cut through a variety of materials.
Specs
Technical Specifications:
-40 watt CO2 laser
-20″ x 12″ bed size
-Works with Windows, Mac, and Linux computers
-Can cut and engrave materials like wood, leather, fabric, glass, and more
Pros
There are several compelling reasons to choose the Epilog Legend EXT 40W CO2 over a Glowforge — especially if you’re looking for a high-quality, professional laser cutter. Here are just a few of the advantages that the Legend EXT has over the Glowforge:
-The Legend EXT is a true 40W machine, while the Glowforge is only 30W. This means that the Epilog will cut through materials faster and with more precision.
-The Legend EXT has a larger work area than the Glowforge (24″ x 12″ vs. 20″ x 11″), so you can work with larger projects.
-The Legend EXT comes with an exhaust fan and ducting system, so you can vent fumes away from your workspace. The Glowforge does not come with an exhaust system, so you’ll need to purchase one separately.
-The Legend EXT comes with a rotary attachment, so you can engrave on cylindrical objects (like mugs, glasses, and vases). The Glowforge does not have a rotary attachment, so you’ll be limited to engraving flat surfaces.
Cons
The Epilog Legend EXT 40W CO2 is one of the most popular hobby lasers on the market. It’s a great machine for anyone looking to get into laser engraving and cutting, but it does have some drawbacks.
The main con of the Epilog Legend EXT 40W CO2 is its price. At around $7,000, it’s one of the most expensive hobby lasers on the market. It also has a smaller engraving area than some of its competitors, at only 18″ x 12″.
Another downside of the Epilog Legend EXT 40W CO2 is that it’s not as versatile as some other lasers. It can only engrave and cut non-metallic materials, so it’s not a good choice if you’re looking to work with metal.
Overall, the Epilog Legend EXT 40W CO2 is a great machine for anyone interested in getting into laser engraving and cutting. However, its high price and limited versatility are worth considering before making your purchase.