CO2 laser engravers are highly precise instruments used to inscribe, decorate, or make custom logos on acrylic, wood, paper, metals, plastics, and an array of other materials. They have democratized the personalization of items and have given artisans the power to create impressive designs through laser engraving.
These high-powered machines are able to etch patterns into glass and cut wood into highly precise shapes. Their laser beam engraving technology guarantees excellent precision, making them darlings amongst designers and decorators.
However, when purchasing a CO2 laser engraver, you should consider your specific needs. For example, knowing which materials you will be engraving and your own skill level will help you determine which machine might serve you better. You should also think about whether you will be using it for professional or personal purposes.
These questions are crucial in decision-making, especially since laser engraving can be a costly affair. Money aside, you also need to consider other factors such as performance, strength, speed, maintenance, and ease of use.
In this article, we’ve put together a list of some of the top CO2 laser engravers on the market to help you narrow down your options. Let’s take a look!
Ten-High 40W
The Ten-High 40W is considered a mid-range machine with plenty to offer. The manufacturer includes easy-to-understand videos to guide installation and promises local technical support for USA-based customers.
This CO2 laser engraver comes with its own software, but you can also use other platforms like CorelDraw or LaserCRWe. You may want to stick to the default GRBL high-performance software, though, as it makes the machine simple to manipulate.
The 40W supports G-code and free cornering. It also features controls such as temperature, water temperature, electric lift, red light positioning, communication monitoring, and flame retardant systems.
It’s one of the best appliances for its cost and engraving area. Moreover, the resolution ratio of 0.026 mm (or a resolution of 1,000 dpi) makes it easy to engrave almost any design without sacrificing precision. This engraver uses a water cooling system and operates within 5-45 °C. Its maximum cutting and engraving speeds are 3,600 and 30,000 mm/min, respectively.
- Applicable industries: Toys, advertising, garments, printing, art, engraving, packing, gifts, DIY, and small enterprise
- Engraving area: 400 x 300 mm
- Materials: Non-metal materials such as leather, PVC, plywood, paper products, density board, acrylic, non-woven fabrics, cortical, PET, and solid wood
- Weight: 50 kg
- Price: ~$2,460
OMTech 40W
The OMTech 40W has a box-like construction that makes it user-friendly for most home users. It’s excellent for non-metal materials and comes with predrilled holes for those anticipating future upgrades. (You can add the 50-W or 60-W laser tubes later). For increased safety, the machine also has water-break protection.
This CO2 laser engraver comes with a ventilation fan for extracting smoke and fumes and has quality CNC parts for durability. The resolution is 1,000 dpi, with a working temperature between 4-40 °C. It’s one of the best engravers under $1,000 – perfect for hobby projects.
- Applicable industries: Home, small business
- Engraving area: 300 x 200 mm
- Materials: Non-metal and most organic materials, including rubber, glass, leather, paper, film, acrylic, cloth, crystal, bamboo, stone, and wood
- Weight: 27 kg
- Price: ~$540
Mophorn 40W
The Mophorn 40W Laser Engraver is an affordable 40-W non-metal laser engraver that any beginner will love using. It comes with an impressive engraving speed of 0.04-11.81 inch/s. The engraver also comes with two LCDs: one for temperature and another for laser power.
Alongside the engraver, the buyer gets CorelDraw, which is a pretty solid tool for inputting your designs. CorelDraw includes NewlyDraw and NewlySeal, and can be used for cutting and carving tasks. It supports all graphic formats recognized by CorelDraw, like BMP, PLT, AI, and JPG.
With the Mophorn 40W CO2 engraver, you’re assured top-of-the-line speed and accuracy.
- Applicable industries: Advertising, packing, printing, crafting, gifting, sealing, and stamping
- Engraving area: 300 x 200 mm
- Materials: Fabric, wood, various plastics, rubber, acrylic, crystal, film, paper, bamboo, leather, and stone
- Weight: 28 kg
- Price: ~$575
Gweike Cloud Pro
The Gweike Cloud Pro Laser Engraver is a high-end DIY cutter, and you really get what you pay for! It’s only second to Gweike’s Cloud RF, which has a higher-quality tube. The all-metal Cloud Pro comes with a host of great monitoring features thanks to its advanced cloud connectivity. It’s also a 50-W laser, so there’s plenty of power to cut right through whatever you may need. It has a maximum cutting depth of 1 mm and can engrave up to 0.5 mm deep.
The live camera preview lets you track the design’s progress. It also features a handy rotary attachment for engraving round objects. With this, it’s possible to engrave objects like cups, mugs, and anything else you can think of.
- Applicable industries: Home/office
- Engraving area: 510 x 200 mm
- Materials: Plastic, wood, paper, leather, and fabric
- Weight: 42.6 kg
- Price: ~$3,500
FLUX Beamo 30W
The Flux Beamo has become a popular choice in the world of home laser cutters, and for good reason. It comes with advanced connectivity and even its own mobile app. It fits perfectly on a desk too – A4 size!
You’ll be able to monitor it when you’re away using its built-in camera, which is a lifesaver if things go wrong. The Beamo comes with some pretty good auto-alignment settings, too. The company, Flux, is well-known for its high-quality products, so don’t worry about being stuck with a cheap copycat!
- Applicable industries: Home/office
- Engraving area: 300 x 210 mm
- Materials: Wood, leather, acrylic, fabric, cardboard, stainless steel, anode metal, glass, and cement
- Weight: 22 kg
- Price: ~$2,800
Glowforge Plus
If you’re in the market for a DIY laser cutter, chances are you’ve seen (or at least heard about) Glowforge. They make one of the most popular laser cutters for hobbyists. Compared to other options on this list, the Glowforge Plus has one of the largest communities, which makes troubleshooting a breeze.
The machine is easy to set up, accurate, and can cut through a wide range of materials. It also comes with built-in ventilation, which is a nice feature if you’re cutting certain materials or working in small quarters. These awesome features come at a cost, though. The Plus has a hefty price tag, hovering at around $5,000.
- Applicable industries: DIY, home/office
- Engraving area: 279 mm x 495 mm x 50 mm
- Materials: Fabric, cardboard, mylar, sandpaper, leather, plexiglass (acrylic), rubber, and foods
- Weight: 22 kg
- Price: ~$5,000
FSL Muse Titan
The FSL Muse Titan is quite literally what it sounds like: a titan! Rocking a powerful 100-W laser, it should be able to cut almost everything you throw at it. It’s compatible with several accessories and upgrades, such as a rotary attachment, better cooling, fume extractors, and even more power!
It comes with dedicated software, making the workflow a seamless process. However, all of this power comes at a cost, with a price tag close to $6,000. Keep in mind that the Titan isn’t really geared toward hobbyists and is better suited for professional users.
- Applicable industries: Desktop, professional
- Engraving area: 122 cm x 60 cm
- Materials: Acrylic, coated metal, fabric, glass, leather, paper, rubber, stone, and wood
- Weight: 80 kg
- Price: ~$6,000
Makeblock Xtool 40W Laserbox
Makeblock’s Xtool 40W Laserbox is quite the machine. Specially designed for education and creative purposes, it offers a wide variety of features. To start, it’s compatible with many different materials, all the way from acrylic to food!
Like many other options on this list, it comes equipped with a camera and other benefits like ventilation. However, the Xtool stands out for its smart capabilities. For example, it uses artificial intelligence to autofocus and smart path planning for better cuts. In addition, it uses visual identification, material thickness settings, and material recognition to achieve the best results. The rotary engraving attachment allows you to engrave on cylindrical objects.
- Applicable industries: DIY, home/office, small business
- Engraving area: 500 mm x 300 mm
- Materials: Acrylic, wood, glass, leather, cardboard, paper, metal, stone, rubber, food, and fabric
- Weight: 43.5 kg
- Price: ~$4,000
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