What Kind of Laser Is Glowforge? Is It a CO2 Laser?

I've been running a small custom engraving shop since 2018. I've made my share of equipment mistakes—one bad choice cost me a $650 rework and a lost weekend. The lesson that stuck wasn't about a specific brand. It was about knowing what kind of laser you're actually using.

According to Glowforge's official product pages (glowforge.com, accessed March 2025), the Glowforge lineup is described as desktop laser cutters and engravers using CO2 laser technology. Pro, Plus, Spark, and Aura: they all share that core.

The short answer to the headline: Glowforge is a CO2 laser cutter and engraver. That makes it a CO2 laser, not a fiber laser, diode laser, or CNC plasma cutter.

But the short answer rarely solves the real problem. The question 'what kind of laser is Glowforge' is easy. The question 'should I buy one' depends on your situation. In my shop, the question usually comes in one of four forms:

• You want a desktop machine for cutting and engraving non-metal materials. Glowforge belongs in this category.
• You want to cut metal. A Glowforge is likely the wrong machine; you might need a CNC plasma cutter for metal.
• You searched 'CO2 laser' and found both cutters and skin resurfacing clinics. Different worlds.
• You already have a Glowforge and want to know the limits. Good. That's where real expertise starts.

Scenario 1: You want a desktop tool for wood, acrylic, leather, and glass

If this is your plan, Glowforge is in the right family. A CO2 laser is a strong match for non-metal sheet goods, and Glowforge is one of the easiest desktop versions I've used. The camera and cloud software make the first run feel less intimidating.

But 'easiest' doesn't mean 'limitless.' A CO2 laser's wavelength is absorbed well by many non-metals, which is why it works so well on wood and acrylic. The same wavelength is reflected by bare metal. That's not a Glowforge flaw; it's the physics of CO2 lasers. If a vendor claims a CO2 laser cuts bare steel like butter, ask to see their approved material list.

I remember the moment this clicked for me. I compared a Glowforge and a small diode laser on the same walnut board. The diode laser could mark the surface. The CO2 laser could cut through it. Two 'lasers,' completely different results. That side-by-side taught me more than any spec sheet.

If you're in this scenario, my advice is not 'buy Glowforge now.' It's 'make a list of the materials and thicknesses you'll actually cut.' If your projects are mostly sheet goods like wood, acrylic, and leather, a desktop CO2 laser is a reasonable category to evaluate.

Scenario 2: You need to cut metal (here's where 'CNC plasma cutter for metal' enters)

This is where the search gets messy. Glowforge and CNC plasma cutters for metal show up in the same research session because, from the outside, both are 'laser-like machines.' They are not the same.

A Glowforge is not a metal-cutting CNC plasma cutter. A CO2 laser can engrave some coated or anodized metal surfaces if you use the right settings and test first. But cutting through structural steel or aluminum plate is not what Glowforge is designed to do.

A CNC plasma cutter uses an electrically conductive gas to melt through metal, guided by a computer-controlled torch. If your core need is cutting 1/8-inch steel plate for gates, brackets, or repairs, a plasma table is likely the tool you're actually looking for.

I get why people assume a laser can cut metal. The word 'laser' sounds universal. I only understood the difference after ignoring a friend's warning and testing a CO2 laser on bare steel. The result was a faint line and a piece of warm metal. That was a cheap lesson compared to what it could have been.

Someone asked me once if we could 'laser cut' metal parts. I said yes because we had a laser. They heard 'we can cut 1/8-inch steel.' The result: a week of back-and-forth, $650 in rework, and an awkward meeting about the word 'laser.' Now I ask every client for material type, thickness, and edge quality before I say yes.

To be fair, you can find videos of people engraving metal with a Glowforge. But engraving a coated surface is not cutting through a plate. The counterintuitive part: a smaller machine matched to the right material is worth more than a bigger machine mismatched to your work.

My honest boundary: if someone needs sheet metal cut, I tell them to find a shop with a plasma or waterjet table. That's not losing business. That's the difference between being a vendor and being a trusted advisor.

Scenario 3: 'CO2 laser Brooklyn' and 'CO2 laser skin resurfacing Philadelphia' are not the same search

Google isn't always helpful here. 'CO2 laser' means two very different things.

One is a class of laser cutters used in workshops and factories. That's the Glowforge world. Another is a medical laser used for procedures like skin resurfacing. That's the world of dermatologists and med spas. The 'CO2' part describes the laser medium, but the machines, safety rules, and use cases are completely different.

If you searched for 'co2 laser skin resurfacing philadelphia,' please understand: I'm a maker, not a doctor. I won't give medical advice. A desktop laser cutter is not a medical device, and you should never use one on skin. Talk to a qualified provider for that kind of treatment.

If you're in Brooklyn and looking for a place to use a CO2 laser cutter, you don't necessarily need to buy one. Many makerspaces and small fabricators have CO2 laser cutters and can run your files. Glowforge itself is designed to work anywhere with a reliable connection and proper ventilation. Owning one isn't the only path; a local service might be smarter for one-off projects.

The key is context. 'CO2 laser Brooklyn' could lead to a makerspace. 'CO2 laser skin resurfacing Philadelphia' is almost certainly medical. Same phrase, different universe.

Scenario 4: You already have a Glowforge and want to know what it can't do

This is a healthy place to land. A lot of owners assume the machine will cut exactly what they want, first try, every time. It doesn't work that way.

From the outside, a Glowforge looks like a printer with a camera. Click, print, done. The hidden reality is that you're running a laser machine with real requirements: focus height, material compatibility, exhaust or filter, and test runs. Granted, the interface makes it feel less like a machine and more like a printer. The underlying process still needs judgment.

It's tempting to think 'one machine can do everything.' The one-size-fits-all advice ignores that material type and thickness change everything. A rotary attachment helps with cylindrical objects, but it doesn't turn the Glowforge into a metal lathe. A large bed helps with big sheets, but it doesn't make the laser more powerful.

That's not a reason to avoid Glowforge. It's a reason to walk in with realistic expectations. My own checklist looks like this:

• Is this material on the approved list?
• Have I tested a scrap piece at the exact settings?
• Is the exhaust or air filter running and clear?
• What does the cut edge need to look like for the customer?

That checklist has caught more than one problem before it became a customer complaint. It has saved me more money than any equipment upgrade.

How to tell which scenario you're in

When someone asks me 'Is Glowforge a CO2 laser?' I say yes. When they ask 'Should I get one?' I ask what they'll cut. That question separates the scenarios.

• If your projects are wood, acrylic, leather, paper, glass, and similar non-metals, and you want a desktop machine with a friendly workflow, a CO2 laser like Glowforge is worth serious consideration.
• If your projects are metal plates, rails, brackets, or anything structural, stop looking at desktop CO2 lasers and start researching CNC plasma cutters for metal, fiber lasers, or waterjet services.
• If you arrived here because of 'CO2 laser skin resurfacing,' close this article and contact a medical professional. This is not the right tool for that.
• If you're comparing desktop lasers, compare material support, ventilation requirements, software, and service options, not just the sticker price.

In the end, the best machine is the one that matches your real workflow. I'd rather work with a specialist who knows their limits than a generalist who overpromises. The same applies to machines. Glowforge is a CO2 laser—and that's a strength, for the right job. Know your job before you choose your laser.