// Start here — UK edition
The independent UK guide to Glowforge, laser cutters & 3D printers
Glowforge makes desktop laser cutters — not 3D printers. We explain what its machines do, how you can buy one in the UK, and how they compare with the diode, CO2 and fibre lasers and the 3D printers that UK buyers can get. Specs come from the makers’ own pages, with sources.
- 01Cut & engraveGlowforge and the alternatives: diode, CO2 and fibre machines.
- 02Print in 3DFDM and resin printers with build volumes, enclosures and multi-colour kit.
- 03Not sure which?Laser cutter or 3D printer — a quick, honest chooser.
- 04Glowforge, explainedThe range, what it can and can’t do, and buying from the UK.
BED VIEW
- Machines30
- Brands11
- Materials39
- Specs checked4 Oct 2026
// Cut list
On the bed: featured machines
| Machine | Type | Work area / build |
|---|---|---|
| Glowforge Pro HD | CO2 | 495 × 279 mm |
| Glowforge Plus HD | CO2 | 495 × 279 mm |
| Glowforge Aura | Diode | 305 × 305 mm |
| xTool P2S | CO2 | 600 × 305 mm |
| xTool S1 | Diode | 498 × 319 mm |
| LaserPecker LX2 | Diode | 500 × 305 mm |
| Creality Falcon A1 Pro | Diode | 268 × 358 mm |
| Bambu Lab A1 mini | FDM | 180 × 180 × 180 mm |
| Bambu Lab A1 | FDM | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Prusa CORE One+ | FDM | 250 × 220 × 270 mm |
| Elegoo Centauri Carbon 2 Combo | FDM | 256 × 256 × 256 mm |
| Elegoo Saturn 4 Ultra 16K | Resin | 211.7 × 118.4 × 220 mm |
// Material test card
What can go on the bed?
Lasers cut and engrave wood, acrylic, card and leather — but some plastics give off corrosive, toxic fumes. Tap a swatch to see what each machine can do with it, and which materials never belong in a laser.
- Plywood (including birch ply)Laser-friendly
- Solid woodLaser-friendly
- Cast acrylicLaser-friendly
- Extruded acrylicLaser-friendly
- Paper and cardLaser-friendly
- Vegetable-tanned leatherLaser-friendly
- CorkLaser-friendly
- Anodised aluminiumLaser-friendly
- Slate, stone and marbleLaser-friendly
- GlassLaser-friendly
- Ceramic tileLaser-friendly
- PVC and vinyl (including Kydex and vinyl stickers)Never laser
- Faux leather, pleather and artificial leatherNever laser
// Before you press start
Five rules that keep a workshop safe
- Never leave a laser job running unattended. Lasers can set the material alight; makers say to watch every job.
- Protect your eyes properly. Open-frame lasers need safety glasses rated for that laser’s wavelength.
- Get rid of the fumes. Vent outside or use a proper filter — laser smoke isn’t something to breathe.
- Know your material. Never laser PVC or vinyl, or anything you can’t identify.
- Keep a suitable extinguisher close. And keep the bed clear of offcuts and debris.
// Make something
Project ideas
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Photo: Jared Tarbell, CC BY 2.0Finger-jointed keepsake box in 3mm plywood
A classic first laser project — six panels with interlocking finger joints and an engraved lid. Learn about kerf, test fits and engraving in one small build.
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Photo: Autopilot, CC BY-SA 3.0Living-hinge pencil pot
Turn a flat sheet of plywood into a smooth curve. A rounded desk pot shows off what lasers do that saws can’t — and teaches you how cut patterns change stiffne…
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Photo: oomlout, CC BY-SA 2.0Clear acrylic electronics enclosure
A see-through case for a small circuit board, held together with standoffs instead of glue. A neat CO2 laser project that shows why the laser type matters.
// Tools on this site