When comparing Glowforge Pro Plus vs Meterk DK-BL 1500mW, 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 Meterk DK-BL 1500mW is ranked 8th. 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 Highly affordable
This is the cheapest 1.5 W laser cutter you can get, with a price tag below $150.
Pro Good for low-power cutting and engraving
This laser cutter is equipped with a 1.5 W laser head, which is capable of engraving materials like acrylics, wood, MDF, and plastics. However, when it comes to cutting, this machine is only capable of handling paper and cardboard.
Pro Can be used wirelessly
This laser cutter uses a very stable and reliable Bluetooth interface to communicate with computers, tablets, and smartphones. Also, the machine can run power itself via its built -in 6.0 Ah battery, which is capable of providing up to 6 hours of machine runtime.
Pro No need to get software separately
A free copy of the NEJE software is provided along with the machine, either on a USB drive or a CD. This software is capable of performing basic cutting and engraving actions, being specially good for vector engraving.
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 Tiny workspace
The workspace of this laser cutter is only 1.7" x 1.7". This cutters has one of the smallest working areas among devices available in the market today.
Con Potentially dangerous due to lack of enclosure
The machine does not have any enclosures surrounding the workspace. This is potentially dangerous as the laser can hit objects outside the workspace. The uncontrolled reflections can also be a severe threat.
