What Kind of Laser Does Glowforge Use? CO2 vs Fiber vs UV in 2025

The direct answer: Glowforge uses a CO2 laser

I've been running a small laser service business since 2018, and I've made about $7,000 worth of mistakes that I'm willing to admit publicly. The most common question I hear is: what kind of laser does Glowforge use? According to Glowforge's product pages (glowforge.com), as of March 2025, the Pro, Plus, Spark, and Aura all use a CO2 laser tube. That's the same core technology used by many desktop laser cutters, though the exact power and optics differ. CO2 lasers emit at 10.6 micrometers, which is in the infrared range. That wavelength is why Glowforge is so good at cutting wood and acrylic and etching glass—the material absorbs that particular infrared wavelength well.

This does not make Glowforge a fiber or UV system. If you see the phrase 'fiber uv laser' in a comparison chart, slow down. A fiber laser is one tool. A UV laser is another. A CO2 laser is the third. They all do different jobs, and I'll get to that in a second.

Why does this matter? Because the wavelength decides which materials will cut or engrave well. You can't judge a laser cutter by its shiny enclosure; you need to look at what its beam does to your material.

Why the wavelength matters

CO2 lasers cut organic materials well: wood, plywood, acrylic, leather, paper, glass, some coated metals. Bare metal is a problem because it reflects the 10.6 micrometer wavelength. That's not a Glowforge flaw. It's a property of the technology.

If you mostly work with wood and acrylic, a CO2 system like Glowforge is probably the right family. If you mostly mark or cut bare metal, you should be looking at fiber or UV. The question is not 'which laser is better' but 'which laser is better for the material you're processing?'

Three scenarios: which one are you?

I've learned that there's no universal answer. I put buyers into three groups.

Scenario A: You're a maker, teacher, artist, or small business selling products from wood, acrylic, glass, or leather

If that's you, a desktop CO2 machine like Glowforge can be a great fit. It's not the cheapest laser on the market, and it's not the fastest. But the camera-based setup and project library make it accessible. For our shop, that ease of use was worth the premium.

The caveat is that no laser cutter works with every material without testing. Acrylic, for example, comes in cast and extruded versions. Cast acrylic engraves cleaner. Extruded acrylic melts more easily. I learned this the expensive way in 2020 when I saved $120 by buying extruded acrylic for a large order. It melted, produced more fumes, and cost two days of rework. I have caught dozens of issues since then, but only by making mistakes and writing them down.

You also need ventilation and a plan for fire safety. A CO2 laser is a Class 4 laser tool, and no vendor should promise zero risk. Per FTC guidelines (ftc.gov), marketing claims need substantiation. If someone says you can leave a laser running overnight with zero fire risk, ask for the test report. I have not seen one.

Scenario B: You're a job shop that needs metal marking or cutting

If your customers bring you serial plates, stainless steel tumblers, aluminum brackets, or anything with bare metal, a CO2 desktop laser will frustrate you. That's the situation where you want a fiber laser or, for certain high-precision plastic and glass marking jobs, a UV laser.

The phrase 'fiber uv laser' is often used loosely. In reality, a fiber laser is a solid-state laser with a wavelength around 1.06 micrometers. It marks metal quickly and leaves a permanent, dark mark on steel when configured correctly. UV lasers, around 355 nanometers, are used for fine marking on plastics and glass without causing thermal damage. Neither of these should be seen as a replacement for CO2 when your main materials are wood and acrylic.

Here's where the 2d laser cutting machine market has changed. Fifteen years ago, fiber lasers felt like factory equipment. That is no longer true. Compact fiber systems are common in small metal shops now. The old belief that fiber is only for big companies comes from an era when the source technology was expensive. That's changed. But if you buy a fiber laser for wood projects, you'll be disappointed.

Scenario C: You're chasing the '3D' engraving effect

If you've read Glowforge Pro 3D laser printer reviews, you know the phrase '3D' gets thrown around. The machine does not print like a plastic 3D printer. It creates depth through variable laser power, which makes an engraved image appear to rise out of the material. That can produce beautiful relief carvings in wood and acrylic. But it is still a 2D cutting and engraving machine at heart.

If you need actual dimensional parts, buy a filament or resin 3D printer. If you need to carve deep pockets, a CNC router may be faster. Buy a Glowforge because it engraves and cuts your materials well, not because a headline calls it '3D.'

How to tell which scenario you're in

Do this exercise before reading any more reviews: list your last ten paid jobs or planned jobs. If seven of those jobs involve wood, acrylic, glass, or leather, you're scenario A. If one job is a recurring metal-marking contract, you need to seriously consider scenario B. If the only thing that interests you is 'deep engraving,' you're in scenario C.

Also consider your environment. Glowforge relies on a cloud connection. For many people that's fine. For a shop in a rural area with unreliable internet, it's a real dependence. I'm not telling you not to buy it. I'm telling you to make that decision with your eyes open.

• What is the thickest material you'll actually process? This affects required power and pass-through.
• Do you have a dedicated exhaust point? A filter unit costs more but gives placement flexibility.
• Are you prepared for material testing? New materials need speed and power tests.
• Can you afford maintenance and eventual laser tube replacement? This is a cost most first-time buyers miss.

I can only speak to my context. Our shop is a three-person operation with creative and B2B work, not metal production. If your context is a high-volume factory, your answers will be different.

Use a local shop to test before buying

The best way to avoid a mistake is to run a real test on your real material. Find a job shop with a CO2 laser and ask them to run a sample. If you're in Tulsa, searching for 'CO2 laser Tulsa' will likely show shops that can do this. In 2018, I paid a shop $50 to test two acrylic types before buying my first laser. That test saved me from buying a model with too little power for the material I wanted to cut.

Communication matters here too. I once told a service provider, 'engrave this glass tumbler.' They heard 'mark it.' We discovered the difference when the logo wiped off. That was $180 and a missed deadline. A shared sample file would have caught it instantly.

Bottom line

So, what kind of laser does Glowforge use? A CO2 laser. That's the right tool for wood, acrylic, glass, leather, and similar materials. For bare metal, a fiber laser or UV laser is usually the better choice. For the wider 2d laser cutting machine market, the landscape has changed since 2015, but the fundamentals haven't: match the machine to the material list, test before you invest, and keep a checklist so you don't repeat yesterday's mistakes.