The Top Laser Cutters Available in 2022

A CO2 laser cutter, unlike a diode laser, is primarily used to cut a material. While the latter relies on a diode with a light power of less than 10 watts, the CO2 laser is capable of reaching a power of several hundred watts making it possible to cut multiple materials. To do this, the cutter sends an electric current through a glass tube containing a mixture of gases, which creates a photon emission, or in other words, light. At one end of the tube, there is a reflecting mirror and at the other end, a partially reflecting mirror that only lets the laser light out when it is strong enough. The beam emerging from the laser is then redirected to the cutting head by a system of mirrors. We know that the market for laser cutters is vast, but there are three types of machines: intelligent, semi-industrial and industrial. We took a closer look at some of the laser cutters on the market!

Smart Laser Cutters

Smart machines are intuitive, Plug&Play and often have various additional security options. The target audience for these machines is mainly educators, independent designers or SMEs. These machines usually offer intelligent material management and additional functionality with an on-board camera.

Makeblock/xTool Laserbox Pro

The Laserbox Pro is the laser cutter offered by the Chinese manufacturer Makeblock. Makeblock is known for its kits and other educational products aimed at a young audience. And the Laserbox Pro fits perfectly as an easy-to-use product, even for a child (though make sure to supervise anyway), thanks to its implementation of the camera allowing users to cut and engrave without going through the computer (you just have to draw with a felt-tip pen on the compatible material for the camera to recognize it and cut/engrave it). It is thus possible to start a cut with a single click of a button on the machine. The proprietary software is intuitive and connected to the machine in order to access the camera feedback and identify the material being used (provided you are using materials sold by Makeblock). To ensure a healthy environment when using the laser cutter, the Laserbox Pro includes an external air filtration system.