When comparing Glowforge Pro Plus vs Full Spectrum Lasers Muse, the Slant community recommends Glowforge Pro Plus for most people. In the question“What are the best laser cutters?” Glowforge Pro Plus is ranked 4th while Full Spectrum Lasers Muse is ranked 5th. The most important reason people chose Glowforge Pro Plus is:
Even though this is not an industrial-grade machine, it still has decent production capabilities. Due to its high versatility and proper precision (up to 1/1000"), this device is perfect for repetitive applications in small production runs.
Specs
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Pros
Pro Ideal for small business needs
Even though this is not an industrial-grade machine, it still has decent production capabilities. Due to its high versatility and proper precision (up to 1/1000"), this device is perfect for repetitive applications in small production runs.
Pro Good cutting capacity
The machine has enough power to cut through ½ inch hardwood.
Pro Enclosure protects the operator from harm
The enclosure protects the operator from the harmful laser beam, fumes, and smoke.
Pro Durable and sturdy
The body of this machine is made from high-quality metal, glass, and plastic. All the parts are both durable and professional looking. Everything is CNC machined.
Pro Cross-platform software
The software is capable of running on almost any iOS, Android, Windows and Linux machines.
Pro Build space is large enough for most home/small business needs
The build area of this laser cutter is 11.5" x 20". This is more than enough for regular home needs, as well as small business needs. The pass-through feature allows you to cut or engrave very long sheets of material.
Pro Can blow fumes away
The cutter uses an air compressor to blow fumes away from the laser beam. It prevents ignition and accidental damage to the lens.
Pro Built-in water cooling
A closed-loop water cooling system is built into the machine. There is no need for an additional external water pump or a water cooler.
Pro Efficient, easy-to-use software
The software provided by Glowforge is fantastic. It is entirely cloud-based, meaning that all the work happens on the server side. The user interface is very intuitive and all the features are user-friendly. Additionally, you will not need to track and install the latest software updates manually, which is an important advantage about cloud-based applications.
Pro Comes with a custom laser tube
This 45W laser cutter is, in fact, more powerful than the overwhelming majority of 45W CO2 laser cutters available in the market. The thing is that Glowforge developed their own CO2 laser tube. The given tube is extremely efficient due to its 'Mode 0' design (it provides greater power density).
Pro No need for manual adjustments
The manufacturer permanently adjusts all the optical equipment. When required, the lenses can be auto-adjusted by the machine itself.
Pro Honeycomb base plate ensures good heat transfer
A thick, honeycombed baseplate is a standard feature of this laser cutter. This baseplate design allows for good heat transfer between air and the workpiece.
Pro Multiple designs and projects are provided
FSL did a great job when it comes to providing users with countless sample projects for this laser cutter. You can get an entire library of design files for free. There is a whole tutorial section available (you need to be registered) for makers, where you will be able to find all sorts of guides to do with this laser cutter.
Pro Free, easy-to-use software
This laser cutter works with the RetinaEngrave software. A copy of the software is provided for free, together with a laser cutter. The software is very intuitive and user-friendly. It requires no tinkering.
Pro Can cut various materials
This laser cutter is perfect for cutting soft materials, such as wood, plywood, MDF, plastics, and acrylics. Additionally, its 40 W laser tube is perfectly suitable for engraving metals.
Pro Informative, user-friendly touch screen
The built-in LCD touch screen is there to help the user control the machine and give out information regarding its current state. It is used to display the current work progress, edit settings, and launch working routines.
Pro Can engrave curved items
Due to a rotary attachment feature, you can engrave curved objects. The attachment is optional, and it costs $895. It is perfect for engraving bottles, glasses, and other cylindrical objetcs.
Cons
Con Can't work without an Internet connection
Due to the fact it uses a cloud-based software, without an Internet connection, this laser cutter is useless.
Con Can't cut metal
This laser cutter is not capable of cutting metal.
Con Lacks a proper spec sheet
It is incredibly complicated to find all the technical specifications for this laser cutter. The specifications sheet provided by the manufacturer, which is not even included in the manual, is limited to workspace dimensions and cutting power. Other important parameters, like precision and cutting speed, are simply not there.