When it comes to laser printers, beambox pro and glowforge pro are two of the top models on the market. They both offer some great benefits, but which one is better? In this article, we will take a closer look at Beambox Pro vs. Glowforge Pro so you can figure out which laser cutter is best for your needs.

The Flux Beambox Pro 50W.

Flux Beambox Pro 50w is the smartest desktop laser cutter available. It can cut wood, paper, vinyl, and other materials. It is the newest model of laser cutter by Flux, LLC. It has many features that help to create better prints. It also has a larger build volume than the other models in the line-up. It offers professional-quality prints with premium laser performance at an affordable price point.

The Glowforge Pro 45W.

Glowforge Pro is a powerful laser cutter that can print, cut, and engrave. It was made by Glowforge, Inc. and was released in late 2018. It has a few features that set it apart from other laser cutters on the market, such as a passthrough slot and a large build volume. It is also more expensive than most other desktop co2 laser cutters.

Glowforge Pro works a little differently than other desktop laser cutter engravers. Instead of printing from a digital design only, you can engrave and cut via a design you drew on the surface of your material. This is done by scanning the object with the Glowforge Pro's built-in scanner.

What Are the Similarities Between Flux Beambox Pro and Glowforge Pro?

Before we go over the differences, let's first cover what they have in common.

1. They both have a large build volume, which allows you to print larger objects. And they both offer professional-quality prints.
2. Both are laser printers. Both printers even feature the same type of laser; CO2. This means they both use co2 high-resolution laser to cut or engrave materials, producing more precise cuts than other cutting methods like milling.
3. They offer a variety of materials that you can print with. The cutting materials list includes acrylic, paper, vinyl, wood, leather, etc. And the materials that can be engraved are much more materials such as anodized metal, rubber, glass, and even stainless steel (but because it is a reflective material, you will need a special coating such as flux stainless steel coating).
4. Both have custom online software compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux operating systems.
5. Both printers can print in various file types, including jpg png SVG dxf.
6. The printer has integrated ventilation devices, which help prevent damage and overheating.
7. They have an emergency power switch in case of power outages.
8. Both printers offer an intelligent lid detection feature that prevents you from getting burned and injured by stoping the laser if the door is open.
9. Both printers provide many grayscale levels, making them more suitable for creating and engraving objects with more detail and more realistic textures.

Differences Between Flux Beambox Pro and Glowforge Pro

If you are trying to decide between Flux Beambox Pro vs. glowforge pro, it is essential to compare their features to determine which one fits your needs better. Here's what sets them apart:

Work Area

When it comes to print volume, Beambox Pro is a clear winner. It has a build volume of 23.6 x 14.7 inches, compared to Glowforge Pro's measly 11.5 x 19.5 inches. It means you can print larger objects on Beambox Pro.

However, this may be inaccurate when you consider that the Glowforge has a passthrough slot, enabling you to apply infinite long objects for cutting, although not in one shot. See more below on the passthrough function.

Passthrough Slot (feed function)

Glowforge has a significant advantage over the Beambox with a passthrough slot that feeds doors on the laser cutter's front and rear walls, enabling you to work on material pieces longer than the glowforge itself.

However, it has a drawback to it. Because these doors are open, it loses the benefit of a fully enclosed laser engraver. It gets an FDA classification of class 4 (harmful and dangerous without protective gear) instead of class 1 (safe even for children) the beambox and other glowforge models have.

Autofocus

Another upvote for Glowforge is autofocus. The glowforge comes with an automatic focus function, but you can manually enter material settings if you want to. the beambox, in contrast, needs manual focusing (the beamo do have an autofocus addon available, and Flux works for a beambox upgrade as well, but it is not available yet)

Materials Supported

When it comes to materials, Flux Beambox pro and Glowforge Pro both support a wide range. Glowforge has its own brand of materials called proofgrade; the benefit is that the glowforge software will recognize the material through the barcode and will apply the print settings automatically; other than that, both brands offer the same list of materials available.

Both can cut wood, fabric, leather, paper, Plexiglas (acrylic), Delrin (acetal), mylar, rubber, Corian, foods, etc. They can engrave on all of the above plus glass, coated metal, marble, anodized aluminum, titanium, some phones, tablets, laptops, etc. If you want to engrave stainless steel or other reflecting metal, you will need specialized coatings such as Cermark or the flux stainless steel coating.

Power

Flux Beambox Pro is more powerful than Glowforge Pro regarding laser power. It has a max laser beam of 50 watts, while glowforge has only 45W.

Print Speed

Flux Beambox Pro is also faster than Glowforge pro. It moves at speeds of up to 300 mm/sec, while Glowforge prints only 142 mm/sec. Flux Beambox can produce prints (especially engraving projects) faster than Glowforge.

Max Height (Z-axis)

Beambox Pro's max height is much higher than glowforge pro. Beambox's Max Z-height is almost 3.5 inches, while GlowForge's is only 0.5 inches (only 2 inches even without the honeycomb tray!).

This means that Flux BeamBox Pro can print an object with a larger z-axis height at once, making it more suitable for printing taller objects. This gives an added advantage for the Beambox vs. the Glowforge.

Rotary Option

Because of the Beambox deep work area, a rotary option makes sense because why not be able to engrave on cylinder-shaped objects, such as wine bottles, coffee mugs, and others. Flux has developed an easy-to-attach rotary attachment explicitly designed for the Beambox.

On the other hand, the Glowforge not only doesn't have an officially supported rotary, but it wouldn't be worth developing one because of its low z-axis, which makes putting a wine bottle or mug impossible, the only curved objects that can theoretically fit in the Glowforge is a ballpoint pen.

Again the Beambox comes out as a clear winner if you think you might want to work with round-shaped materials in the future.

Connectivity

Both printers offer a wireless WIFI connection, but Flux Beambox Pro provides an Ethernet port and a USB port, and you can even use the flux beam studio free offline. At the same time, Glowforge does not have any connectivity options other than WiFi.

Ventilation

Beambox Pro also offers better ventilation than Glowforge pro. It has two fans that pull air from the sides and blow it out the back, while Glowforge only has one fan that sucks in air from the bottom. A good vent is necessary because cutting with a laser creates smoke, and it may even spread harmful fumes when cutting some materials.

Beambox is equipped with an air pump and a powerful exhaust. The air pump prevents the material from catching fire while the exhaust extracts smoke and fumes.

Laser Tube Life

The other area where these two printers differ is the laser tube life. Glowforge Pro's tubes have a lifespan of about two years or 2,000 hours, while Flux BeamBox Pro lasts for just one year or up to 1,000 hours.

With Glowforge, you will not need to replace the laser tube as often, and you can focus more on printing objects rather than maintaining your printer by replacing the tubes often.

We need to point out that the replacement tube for the Beambox costs about half the price of the Glowforge, and you can do it yourself as opposed to the GF that needs to be sent back to the manufacturer for replacement is much of a headache.

Cutting Thickness

The maximum cutting thickness on these two printers is another area where they differ. Glowforge Pro has a max of 12 mm, while beambox supports materials up to 18 mm thick, making it more suitable for thicker objects and projects requiring multiple layers.

This means that Flux BeamBox Pro can print an object with a larger z-axis height at once without multipass, making it more suitable for printing taller objects.

User Interface

Glowforge is known for its friendly UI and easy-to-use settings, making it easy to use even for children. However, Flux has an intuitive user interface as well. It is called beam studio, and it is stand-alone software that can be used online or offline. They also just launched their web version of beam studio, which helps tremendously, especially for working on multiple projects at once. This used to be one of the advantages for Glowforge over the flux product line.

Beambox Pro has a great mobile app called beam-go to keep you creative on the go.

Pricing

The last difference is the price. Flux Beambox Pro costs less than Glowforge Pro, as it starts at $4,600 while glowforge pro's starting cost is around $6000. This makes beambox pro a more affordable option if you are looking for a desktop laser cutter engraver with similar features to glowforge but at a lower price point.

So, which one should you buy?

You can also look at both laser cutters and see which one fits your needs the best. Suppose you are looking for a powerful, fast, precise cutter, and features a large work area. In that case, Flux Beambox Pro 50w is the better option, especially when you consider the financials. If you are looking for a smart desktop laser cutter, easy to use, autofocus, feed function, and with a broad fan base, then Glowforge Pro is your right choice.

However, if you plan somewhere down the road to engrave some rounded objects, you have no choice but to pick the Beambox pro over the GF. And the same is said if you have problematic WIFI connectivity in your workspace.

What to Consider Before Choosing A Laser Printer?

Before deciding which printer to buy, you should consider all the factors that will work best for your needs. You can also look at our in-depth comparison of the two printers to help you decide.

Some things you may want to consider include:

The Maximum Cutting Thickness

The first thing you'll want to consider is the maximum cutting thickness. If you're only going to be cutting paper or thin material like fabric, then both of these machines will work perfectly. However, if you need to cut thicker materials (anything over an inch), the beambox pro is your best choice.

The Maximum Cutting Size

Another thing that may affect your decision about which printer is right for your needs is the maximum cutting size. The beambox pro can cut items up to 12x24 inches, while the glowforge pro maxes out at a cutting size of 11x19.5 inches.

The Speed of the Printer

How quickly do you need your prints? Both printers are pretty quick, but the beambox pro is the better option if you're in a hurry. It can print at a speed of up to 300 mm/second, while the glowforge pro only prints at a speed of 141 mm/second.

The Price

Of course, price is always a consideration when making any purchase. The beambox pro is more expensive than the glowforge pro, offering more features and a higher maximum cutting thickness.

The Software

The software that comes with each printer is also something to consider. The beambox pro comes with various hassle-free software options the beam studio offline, beam go, and the web beam studio version, while the glowforge pro only comes with the Glowforge online software.

Flexibility

When it comes down to it, both printers are excellent choices with solid reputations in the industry—but each one is better suited for a particular type of user. The beambox pro is a perfect fit for people who need to print on thicker materials and don't mind spending a bit more money in exchange for the added cutting speed.

However, if you aren't going to be using your printer all that often or won't have access to thicker materials, the glowforge pro will be better.

At the end of the day, the best printer for you depends on your specific needs and what you're looking to get out of your machine. We hope this article has helped you decide which laser printer is right for you!

The maintenance procedures for Flux Beambox Pro 50w and your Glowforge Pro.

If you want your beambox pro to print correctly, you must take care of it. Here are some tips from Flux on how to keep your machine running smoothly:

Keep Everything Lubricated

Cleaning and lubricating the guiding rods and rail periodically can extend the lifetime of the moving parts. The recommended frequency of doing this is about once in two to three weeks.

Wiping the Lens

Wiping the lens is necessary every once in a while, mainly if wood and paper are used frequently, the lens and mirrors get dirty faster. Clean them with a wet Q-tip. Alcohol can be applied if the stain is tough.

Optical Path alignment.

If the workpiece cannot be cut through by the preset parameters or the beam output varies significantly on each corner of the work area, the optical path might be misaligned and needs adjustment.

Make sure to check and clean the work area.

Checking the print surface is very important. It gets dusty and sometimes dirty. If something gets stuck on it, your machine could jam up and cause damage to itself or other parts of the printer. Use the vacuum cleaner or brush to clear the leftover bits under the tray. Detergent can be slightly applied to remove the stains. Luckily, Flux beambox pro has an easy-to-remove print tray that can be cleaned in no time! You need to use a soft cloth and some water.

Know when to call a service center

If you notice that your machine is acting up, it may be time to contact the customer support team. They can help diagnose and fix any problems with your printer so that you can get back to printing in no time!

FAQs

Q: What is better than Glowforge?

A: Flux Beambox Pro is a better option than Glowforge pro because it offers a broader range of materials supported, has a higher scanner resolution, and prints faster than Glowforge.

Q: How do you use a Beambox?

A: you can use a Flux Beambox Pro through an app on your phone, tablet, or computer.

Q: What can you do with a 40W laser?

You can cut, engrave and solder a range of materials with a 40W laser. For example, you can cut wood, plastic, and paper with a 40W laser. You can also try laser engraving metal and glass with a 40W laser. Finally, you can solder copper wire with a 40W laser.

Q: How long does the Beamo laser last?

A: The Flux Beambox Pro has a life of up to 10000 hours. This means that the laser will last for around 5000 prints. Keep in mind that this number may vary depending on how often you use your printer and the type of material you are printing with.

Q: Can you make money with a laser cutter?

A: You can make money with a laser cutter by printing objects for other people. Keep in mind that the price you charge will vary depending on the size and complexity of the printing object.

Q: How much does a laser cutter cost?

A: The price of a laser power cutter varies depending on the brand and model. For example, Glowforge Pro starts at $6,000, while Flux Beambox Pro starts at around $4,600. You can also add Bluetooth or WiFi connectivity to your printer for an additional cost.

Q: How thick can a 50W laser cut?

A: Depending on the material, you can cut up to around 0.5 inches with a 50W laser cutter/engraver.

Q: What can a 50W co2 laser do?

A: A 50W co2 laser can cut and engrave various materials. For example, you can use a 50W co2 laser to cut wood, plastic, and paper. You can also use it for laser engraving metal and glass. Finally, you can use it to etch images onto different surfaces.

Q: How many watts does a laser need?

A: A laser cutter or engraver needs about 10W for every mm of wood or acrylic it needs to cut through, and it depends on the material.

Q: What materials can a 30w laser cut?

A: You can use a 30W laser to cut wood, paper, plastic, leather, fabric, acrylic glass, and more! Remember that some materials may require a higher watt laser to cut through them.

Q: What is the difference between 30W and 50W?

A: The main difference between 30W and 50W lasers is that 50W lasers can cut thicker materials. For example, you can use a 50W laser to cut wood up to 0.3 inches thick, whereas a 30W laser can cut wood up to 0.1 inches thick.