Ladies and gentlemen welcome to the main event. In the first corner weighing in at 106 pounds, we have... the Flux Beambox Pro. In the second corner weighing in at 96 pounds, we have... the Makeblock Laserbox! But wait... we have a third contestant! In the third corner, weighing in at 55 pounds we have... the Glowforge Plus.
In today's showdown, we'll see some of the best laser cutters and engravers in the desktop weight class go head to head. We'll compare design, software, materials, safety, and price for a total of five rounds in the ring. So without further ado, let's get ready to rumble!
Round 1: Design
Flux Beambox Pro
The FLUX Beambox Pro CO2 Laser Cutter & Engraver is the largest of the three, measuring 990m x 670m x 250mm and weighing a total of 48 kg. Much like the Makeblock Laserbox Rotary, this 3D printer requires a minimum of two people for lifting and moving around.
Because of its size, the Flux Beambox Pro can accommodate a larger work area measuring 600m x 375m x 80mm and has a more powerful 50W CO2 laser. This is 25% more powerful than the Makeblock Laserbox Rotary and Glowforge Plus so keep this in mind if a large working area and higher cutting capacity are what you are seeking.
This large desktop laser cutter can support a rotary attachment, but it's not included as standard. The FLUX Beambox Rotary Add-On can be purchased separately and installs easily.
The Flux Beambox Pro does not have autofocus, meaning that the laser focal distance must be adjusted manually which is not overly difficult and needs to be done again only when you change the thickness of your material.
The Flux Beambox Pro has an ace up its sleeve, or even two! Unlike the other laser cutters, it has a touchscreen display and onboard memory for saving projects which comes in handy if you often repeat projects, avoiding having to upload projects repeatedly.
Makeblock Laserbox Rotary
The Makeblock Laserbox Rotary is a large desktop laser cutter & engraver that measures 958mm x 528mm x 268mm and weighs a total of 43.5 kg. For this reason, a minimum of two people is required for lifting and moving this laser cutter around.
The Makeblock Laserbox Rotary has a 40W CO2 laser and a work area measuring 500m x 300m x 150mm.
As the name suggests the Makeblock Laserbox Rotary includes a rotary attachment which means that in addition to using your machine for 2D projects, you can take your creativity to the next level and engrave cylindrical objects as well.
Glowforge Plus
The Glowforge Plus is similar in design and size to our first two competitors the Flux Beambox Pro and MakeBlock Laser Box Rotary . It measures 965mm x 527mm x 210mm, but is considerably lighter with a total weight of only 25 kg.
This laser printer has a standard 40W CO2 laser and a smaller work area measuring 515mm x 455mm x 50mm. This is similar to what the competition has to offer and it ultimately comes down to the work area size that best suits your needs.
Unfortunately, the Glowforge Plus does not have a rotary option meaning the machine can only work on 2D projects, so you must keep this in mind when making your choice.
A key advantage of this laser engraver is that it has both autofocus and manual focus. This allows you to experiment with a variety of different techniques, as you are not bound by the autofocus.
Round 2: Software
Flux Beambox Pro
The Flux Beambox Pro comes with free desktop and mobile software that does not need to rely on an internet connection to work.
Just like the other two 3D printers, the Flux Beambox Pro does not support LightBurn, but it can import designs from it. This is amazing news if you work on LightBurn and don't want to switch software.
Like all the machines on this list, the Flux Beambox Pro also has a camera for live preview and aligning designs. But unlike the others, this laser cutter has software that includes a material library with preset power and speed settings for commonly used materials. These settings are also customisable for advanced users. What a knockout punch from the Flux Beambox Pro!
Makeblock Laserbox
The Makeblock Laserbox comes with free desktop software that is available offline. This comes in handy because you don't need to rely on an internet connection for the laser printer to work.
Unfortunately, the Makeblock Laserbox is not compatible with LightBurn, so you will be forced to use their software. This might be a knockout punch for those that are currently using Lightburn which has become the industry standard laser cutter and engraver design and control software package.
A key feature of this laser cutter is the camera which allows for live preview and aligning designs. And if this wasn't enough, the Makeblock Laserbox can also extract images off any object’s surface for even more creativity.
Glowforge Plus
The Glowforge Plus comes with free cloud-based software with a premium paid version available. This means you need a constant and reliable internet connection to use this laser cutter.
Just like the Makeblock Laserbox, the Glowforge Plus does not support LightBurn, so you must rely on their cloud-based software for your projects. This machine also has a camera for live preview and aligning designs.
Round 3: Cutting and Engraving
All three laser cutters can pretty much cut and engrave the same materials because of their similar laser power levels of 40W and 50W. Having said that, the engraving capabilities will be somewhat determined by the options available in each machine's software.
Below is a list of different materials that all three machines can commonly cut and engrave.
|
Material |
Cut |
Engrave |
|
Wood |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Acrylic |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Leather |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Fabric |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Cardboard |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Bamboo |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rubber |
No |
Yes |
|
Anodised Metal |
No |
Yes |
|
Glass |
No |
Yes |
|
Cement |
No |
Yes |
|
Stone |
No |
Yes |
|
Stainless Steel |
No |
Yes with spray |
Round 4: Safety
Flux Beambox Pro
The two key safety features of the Flux Beambox Pro are a smart lid sensor that automatically pauses the laser cutter if the lid is opened during a project and an emergency power switch. In the unlikely event of an emergency, users can shut down their machines immediately with a single switch.
Made from predominately steel and aluminium there is very little that is flammable in it's construction.
Makeblock Laserbox
The Makeblock Laserbox has a wide range of safety features but the two most important are the hydraulic lid for safety when closing and early warning alarms. This laser machine has built-in sensors that will sound an alarm to warn you of any safety risks it detects, such as issues with the temperature, cooling system, laser head, camera, filter cartridge, and more.
Glowforge Plus
The Glowforge Plus boasts a wide range of safety sensors that ensure a safe user experience. Among these are sensors that alert in case of bumps or unplanned movement, sensors that warn in case of overheating, and sensors that notify when fan performance changes.
Round 5: Price
It's the final round and everyone is on the edge of their seat! The 3D printers' price could be the knockout punch that decides the match.
Flux Beambox Pro
Last but not least, the Flux Beambox Pro comes with a price tag of $7,199 inc GST. Let's revisit this 3D printer's key features:
- Larger work area measuring 600m x 375m x 80mm
- 25% more powerful laser
- Onboard memory for saving projects.
- Free desktop and mobile software that is available offline.
- Can import designs from LightBurn.
- Includes a material library with preset power and speed settings for commonly used materials.
Makeblock Laserbox
The Makeblock Laserbox can be yours for $9,349 inc GST. So let's revisit the key features that justify this price tag:
- Included rotary adjustment for engraving both 2D and 3D objects.
- Free desktop software that is available offline.
- Can extract images off any object’s surface for more creativity.
- Certified with the highest fire-resistance rating.
Glowforge Plus
The Glowforge Plus is not currently available in Australia:
- Both autofocus and manual focus.
- Safety sensors for unplanned movements, overheating, and changes in fan performance.
And the Winner is…
The time has come! After a five-round head-to-head fight, or to be more accurate, a laser head to laser head fight, the winner is the Flux Beambox Pro.
It ultimately all comes down to value. The Makeblock Laserbox Rottray does include the rotary attachment but this may be an unnecessary tool for you. In our view the Flux BeamBox Pro with a larger working area, 25% more power, touch screen, onboard project storage, some compatibility with Lightburn and lower cost presents the best value for money.
At CD-Soft we supply the Flux Beambox Pro. If you need any help choosing the right laser cutter and engraver or have any questions our team will be happy to help you! Get in touch today either by phone on 1800 634 050 or by email at sales@cdsoft.com.au
