Glowforge Pro Plus vs MC-Series 5'x10' Flatbed 500W Fiber Laser Metal Cutter

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.

The machine has enough power to cut through ½ inch hardwood.

The enclosure protects the operator from the harmful laser beam, fumes, and smoke.

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.

The software is capable of running on almost any iOS, Android, Windows and Linux machines.

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.

The cutter uses an air compressor to blow fumes away from the laser beam. It prevents ignition and accidental damage to the lens.

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.

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.

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).

The manufacturer permanently adjusts all the optical equipment. When required, the lenses can be auto-adjusted by the machine itself.

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.

This laser cutter is an excellent professional, industrial grade machine. It was designed and built for metal mass-production purposes. It's tough and heavy and it was made to run non-stop 24/7 shifts.

According to the specifications sheet, this machine can cut materials like carbon steel (up to 6 mm), stainless steel (up to 3 mm), galvanized plate (up to 3 mm), aluminum (up to 3 mm) and copper (up to 2 mm).

Compared to the standard CO2 tube laser technology, fiber laser technology has multiple advantages. Firstly, the fiber laser machines have no moving parts or mirrors in the light-generating source, which noticeably reduces maintenance expenses. Secondly, fiber lasers have higher electrical efficiency, making the electrical bills lower. Thirdly, fiber lasers are capable of cutting very reflective metals (copper, brass, and aluminum).

Apart from the standard 500 W model, there are many other power options available for this product. You can choose pretty much anything between 200 W and 2 KW.

The laser beam is channeled and amplified through a fiber optic cable. The cable is the only optical tool standing between the laser diodes and the working head. There is a lense in the working head, but it has an auto-adjust feature.