While both machines offer excellent features and the versatility of a diode laser, they have distinct characteristics that make it clear which applications they are best suited for. Let’s take a closer look.

Work Area

The working area of the Creality Falcon2 Pro is 400 x 415 mm, housed in a see-through Plexiglas cabinet. This configuration allows for cutting relatively large pieces and makes it easy to add an air filtration system to the closed cabinet, providing FDA Class 1 safety protection. The Falcon2 Pro also features a built-in camera for positioning assistance and a drawer to retain small parts. Its built-in Air Assist feature can be manually or automatically adjusted during a job and the cutting plate can be positioned in a flat or raised fence orientation.

In contrast, the Ortur LM3 has a standard working area of 400 x 380 mm, which can be expanded to 400 x 830 mm with extension kits. It includes a Wi-Fi module to eliminate wires and an Air Assist system to keep the working medium cool and reduce burn marks. Additionally, it has optional folding feet to increase the height of the machine. There is no enclosure included, although one can be purchased separately.

Laser Head

The Creality Falcon2 Pro comes with a standard 22W laser module that has a resolution of 254 DPI and a laser spot size of 0.1 mm. It can also operate with power modules up to 40W for precise and deep cuts as well as a 1.6W module for high-resolution engraving with a more delicate laser spot (0.08 x 0.08 mm). The laser head has LED indicators for safety sensors that measure airflow, dirt on the lens, and flame detection. The Air Assist can be operated both manually and automatically to regulate airflow.

On the other hand, the Ortur LM3 is available in versions with 10W and 20W laser modules. The 20W module is capable of high-resolution engraving, achieving a perfect square spot size of 0.08 x 0.08 mm, and can impart up to 380 different color tones on stainless steel. There’s a knob adjustment for the Air Assist to set the airflow during cutting and engraving.

All those specs sound nice, but what does it actually translate to when it comes time to use the device? Let’s find out!

Engraving Compatability

The engraving capabilities of the Creality Falcon2 Pro range from common woods such as basswood and bamboo to more specialty materials such as colored paper, leather, and acrylic. The recommended working speed is consistently high (6,000 mm/min for most materials), which facilitates rapid production of detailed work. The Falcon2 Pro’s versatility is evident in its ability to engrave more difficult materials like anodized aluminum and brushed stainless steel, making it a robust tool for industrial and artistic projects.

On the other hand, the 20W Ortur LM3 stands out in speed and precision when engraving a wide range of materials, including more challenging materials such as glass, rubber, and stone. Its ability to engrave at extremely fast speeds (up to 20,000 mm/min for MDF, cardboard, and leather and 10,000 mm/min for glass and ceramics), combined with a precise laser point, allows for remarkable productivity and quality. The Ortur LM3 is especially effective on a wide range of wood and coated metals and can engrave more than 380 colors in stainless steel.

Cutting Compatability

The Creality Falcon2 Pro can efficiently cut up to 10 mm of basswood and 5 mm of hardwoods, such as walnut and rosewood, in a single pass, as well as materials such as kraft paper and felt. For acrylics, the machine is capable of cutting 3-mm thick materials in 1 to 3 passes, depending on the color and finish.

The Ortur LM3 also offers impressive cutting capabilities, blasting through 8 mm of plywood in a single pass and up to 15 mm with two passes. Thick slabs of other woods, such as MDF, pine, and paulownia, can also be cut with a few passes. This device is particularly effective for precise cuts in thin and delicate materials, such as paper, knit, leather, and ABS plastic, requiring no more than one pass following the recommended settings. However, this doesn’t stop it from cutting up to 30 mm of black acrylic in 12 passes.

We’ve covered the essential specs of both machines and considered their cutting and engraving capabilities, but there’s more to a device than the essential features. Let’s now take a look at how the additional features of these machines stack up.

Software

Both devices are compatible with the user-friendly and free LaserGRBL software as well as the more advanced and costly Lightburn software. Only Ortur has its own Inspiraesth mobile app, suitable for beginners and professionals, that can be used to upload files, set parameters, and for device control once configured for the device. If you’d like to primarily use your mobile phone to operate the device, Ortur’s Inspiraesth is available on Apple and Android devices.

UI & Control

The Falcon2 Pro needs to be connected to a computer via USB, but it also offers the option to engrave or cut directly from the TF card, providing the user with additional flexibility. It doesn’t have an LCD panel, so when operating via TF card, you’ll be limited to a small control panel that has a few directional buttons, a pause/execute button, in addition to a Home and a Frame button, which take you to the starting point and uses the laser head to trace a preview of the cutting area of the currently loaded project, respectively.

The Ortur LM3 also doesn’t have an LCD panel either and can be operated via USB connection to a device or with an SD card, in addition to wireless connectivity via Wi-Fi or mobile app, where the user can configure files and control the machine. The device itself lacks control buttons, but it may be a fair trade-off considering the wireless control options available.

Safety

From this point of view, both machines have great features. Among those common to both, we have the safety lock, emergency stop button, and tilt detectors, which are vitally important for equipment of this type. The Falcon2 Pro features a closed enclosure and FDA class 1 “glasses-free” protection as well as an exhaust fan and optional air filter module. The monitoring system on the laser head indicates issues with airflow, flames, or blockage of the lens.

The Ortur LM3 does not lag behind, as it also protects the equipment through other valuable features such as a Host Computer Watchdog, exposure time limit, and a voltage and current safety control system.

Now let’s get down to business! The Creality Falcon2 Pro is available for $1,300, although often discounted, and add-ons like a rotary roller for curved objects bump the price about $200 more. Of course, there’s also the option to go for the 40W laser head for an extra $600, which comes with the more precise 1.6W module as well. A version with an incredible 60W laser head is available for preorder, which can be adjusted to 22W, 40W, and 60W at the touch of a button.

For the Ortur LM3, you’ll find the 20W module available for $1,100, which comes with an air pump for the Air Assist for free, and opting for the longer, foldable feet is just ~$50 more. The 10W laser module knocks the price down by ~$400 if you’re only interested in engraving possibilities. Separate accessories such as the Extension Kit, Enclosure 2.0, YRR 3.0 Rotary Roller, and Y-axis Rotary Chuck can also be purchased through the Ortur store for under $200 each.

Creality Falcon2 Pro

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Ortur Laser Master 3

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Overall, the set of features presented by the Creality Falcon2 Pro delivers a complete and carefully designed solution to guarantee a great and safe user experience. However, it does not allow you to extend your work area like the Ortur LM3, which is capable of expanding to almost double the initial size. The Ortur also stands out for its 0.08 x 0.08 mm square spot resolution, which allows for impressive quality in engraving.

Both machines have a safety lock and emergency button for avoiding accidents, but the Falcon2 Pro includes a closed cabinet, while the Ortur LM3 sells an enclosure separately for just under $200. Perhaps conveniently, the Ortur is $200 cheaper than the Creality device. If wireless connectivity is important to you, only the Ortur is capable of remote control via Wi-Fi or mobile app.

Both the Creality Falcon2 Pro and the Ortur LM3 are excellent options for cutting lighter materials and color engraving on stainless steel. The limitations of the Falcon2 Pro make it depend on a separately sold 1.6W module to perform engraving with extra high resolution on certain materials, and it doesn’t promise the same material versatility as the Ortur. However, the Creality device can do a little bit of everything with great professionalism.

When it comes down to it, if your priority is more focused on cutting and your environment is not well-ventilated, the Falcon 2 Pro could be the way to go. If, on the other hand, what you need is a laser capable of doing both light cutting work and fantastic engraving on larger pieces, the Ortur LM3 may be the right choice for you. Honestly, you can’t go wrong with either.

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