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Pick up to three laser cutters, engravers or 3D printers. Every figure comes from the maker’s own pages; blank means the maker doesn’t say.

Specifications compared
CO2 laserGlowforge Plus HDCO2 laserxTool P2S
TypeCO2 laserCO2 laser
Technology40W CO2 glass laser tube (10,600 nm), fully enclosed desktop laser — Glowforge Performance Series55W CO2 laser in an enclosed desktop body with built-in water tank (filled with antifreeze/purified water per the user guide)
Laser power40W CO2 (rated)55W CO2
Work area495 × 279 mm — Cutting area approx. 19.5 in (495 mm) wide x 11 in (279 mm) deep; max material 20 in (515 mm) wide x 18 in (455 mm) deep; no passthrough600 × 305 mm — AutoPassthrough for materials up to 118 in (approx. 3 m) long; max processing height 64-71 mm, 215 mm with optional riser base
Max cut (maker’s claim)"Glowforge Pro and Plus perform well with many materials 1/4 in (0.6 cm) and less on a single pass. They can accommodate material as thick as 1/2 in (1.2 cm), but may require multiple passes or flipping the material over." (glowforge.com/b/materials FAQ)Basswood "0.71" (18 mm) in ONE PASS"; acrylic "0.79" (20 mm) in ONE PASS" (spec table); "cutting 20mm clear acrylic in one pass" (xTool UK P2S page)
EnclosedYes — fully enclosedYes — fully enclosed
Laser classClass 1 laser product containing an embedded Class 4 CO2 laser (Glowforge HD manual)Class 4 Laser Safety (spec table); xTool says P2S 'comes in both Class 4 and Class 1 variants'
CameraLid-mounted wide-angle camera plus head-mounted macro camera (autofocus); 'Live Camera View HD' and Preview Mode (HD models)16 MP panoramic + 16 MP close-range cameras
Air assistbuilt-inBuilt-in (dual-cylinder air pump)
SoftwareGlowforge app (free, web-based, internet required); optional Glowforge Premium subscriptionxTool Studio; xTool Creative Space; LightBurn (xTool notes camera and autofocus are not supported in LightBurn)
ConnectivityWi-Fi (2.4 GHz b/g/n); no wired Ethernet portUSB, Wi-Fi
Released20242024
Rotary—Optional RA2 / RA3 rotary; rotary diameter 3-50 mm without riser base, 0-180 mm with riser base
Max speed (as stated)—600 mm/s
Weight—45 kg
Strengths
  • 40W CO2 laser in a Class 1 enclosure
  • Dual cameras with HD live view, Preview Mode and autofocus
  • About 495 × 279 mm cutting area; takes material up to 20 in (515 mm) wide
  • CO2 laser handles clear acrylic and engraves glass, unlike the diode Craft models
  • CO2 source cuts and engraves acrylic of any colour, including clear
  • xTool quotes 18 mm basswood and 20 mm acrylic in one pass
  • Dual 16 MP cameras with autofocus and LiDAR ranging
  • Built-in air assist pump and exhaust fan
  • AutoPassthrough for long workpieces
Things to consider
  • No passthrough slot, so material length is limited to the bed
  • Needs Wi-Fi and an internet connection to start prints; no Ethernet port
  • Large: 965 × 527 × 210 mm
  • Vent outdoors (hose to a window) or use Glowforge’s optional Performance Laser Filter
  • Glowforge doesn’t publish a weight for the HD models
  • Large and heavy: 1000 × 639 × 268 mm and 45 kg
  • Water tank must be filled with an antifreeze/purified-water mix (per user guide)
  • Exhaust pipe is meant to vent outside (xTool: place the pipe outside the window)
  • Standard version is listed as Class 4
Who it suitsHome businesses, classrooms and makers who want a Class 1 enclosed CO2 laser with camera-guided placement.Hobbyists and small businesses who want Glowforge-style CO2 cutting of wood and all-colour acrylic with a passthrough and a large bed.
Where to buyView on glowforge.com (official site)View on Amazon.co.uk

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