Guide For Choosing The Right Laser Cutter - Buyer Guide

6 Must Consider Before Getting Your Laser

Start here with the FLUX buyer's guide — each card jumps to the section that answers it.

Laser SourcesEach laser source is tailored for specific materials. Select the one that best fits your material requirements.Compare laser sources
MaterialsSelect the laser wattage based on your material thickness. Higher wattage cuts thicker materials.See machine material lists
SoftwareFLUX lasers feature intuitive, user-friendly software that's easy to use, even without a design background.Meet Beam Studio
Consumable RequirementsBeyond laser materials, each laser cutter has specific consumable needs depending on the laser source. This is a key consideration before purchasing.Check what you'll restock
ApplicationsOver the past ten years, FLUX has excelled in creative industries like laser cutting, custom design, and prototyping, amassing a vast user base.Find your creative niche
Add-onsEven though FLUX Lasers handle most creations, special shapes like cylinders, cones, handled tumblers, or extra-large, extra-thick materials require FLUX Laser Add-ons for optimal support.Browse the add-ons

Get a Grip on All Four Laser Sources

Match your needs with the right laser source.

Diode Laser
Diode lasers are ideal for engraving and cutting materials such as wood, leather, and paper. They offer a low-maintenance, beginner-friendly solution with no need for consumables. However, they are not suitable for cutting transparent materials; for such applications, a CO2 laser is recommended.
Best for
- Wood
- Leather
- Paper
Infrared Laser
Infrared lasers are designed for engraving pure metals, including gold, silver, and copper, and are also effective on materials like dark acrylic and ABS. This makes them well-suited for professionals engaged in metalworking projects, such as jewelry engraving and custom dog tags.
Best for
- Gold
- Silver
- Copper
- Dark acrylic
CO2 Laser
CO2 lasers, known for their high power density and precision, are versatile enough to engrave on a wide range of materials, including wood, leather, paper, and transparent materials like acrylic and glass. This makes them an excellent choice for both industrial and creative applications.
Best for
- Wood
- Leather
- Acrylic
- Glass
Fiber Laser
Fiber lasers offer precise, stable marking and engraving on metals, delivering high-quality results with minimal maintenance, ideal for modern metalworking.
Best for
- Stainless steel
- Anodized metal
- Gold

Materials

Align the laser source and wattage with your specific creative needs.

Ador

10W / 20W diode + 2W infrared + color printing

Ador's 10W/20W diode laser cuts up to 15 mm hinoki wood and 7 mm fabric. Its 2W infrared laser engraves gold, silver, and copper, and the color printing module supports CMYKW printing, even on thick materials.

Swipe or scroll horizontally to view every process column.

Ador material capabilities
Materials	Cutting		Engraving		Printing
Materials	10W diode	20W diode	Diode	2W infrared	Printing
Black Walnut¹Wood	6 mm	10 mm	Supported	Not supported	Porous surface; primer required
Cypress¹Wood	8 mm	15 mm	Supported	Not supported	Porous surface; primer required
Plywood¹Wood	8 mm	10 mm	Supported	Not supported	Porous surface; primer required
MDF¹Wood	6 mm	8 mm	Supported	Not supported	Porous surface; primer required
Black Acrylic²	5 mm	8 mm	Supported	Supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited
Cardboard³	5 mm	7.5 mm	Supported	Not supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited
Leather⁴	3 mm	5 mm	Supported	Not supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited
Fabric⁴	7 mm	7 mm	Supported	Not supported	Porous surface; primer required
Bamboo	3 mm	5 mm	Supported	Not supported	Porous surface; primer required
Cork	—	—	Supported	Not supported	Porous surface; primer required
Rubber	—	—	Supported	Not supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited
Canvas	—	—	Supported	Not supported	Supported
Glass	—	—	Not supported	Not supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited
Cement	—	—	Supported	Not supported	Supported
Stone	—	—	Supported	Not supported	Supported
Anodized Metal	—	—	Supported	Supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited
Stainless Steel	—	—	Supported	Supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited
Gold, Copper, Titanium, Aluminum, Silver, Iron	—	—	Not supported	Supported	Smooth surface; ink adhesion may be limited

Legend

Porous surface: apply primer before printing.: Porous surface: apply primer before printing.
Smooth surface: ink adhesion may be limited and light scratches or smudges may occur.: Smooth surface: ink adhesion may be limited and light scratches or smudges may occur.

^*Certain materials require multiple passes to cut effectively. Greater cutting depth may be achieved by reducing speed or performing multiple passes.

¹Wood cutting performance may vary with the material's moisture content and density.

²Ador cuts dark, opaque acrylic only; the listed result was tested with black acrylic.

³Thick cardboard is highly flammable. Add a slight amount of moisture and supervise the machine continuously while cutting.

⁴Leather and fabric are highly flammable. Do not exceed the listed maximum thickness, and supervise the machine continuously.

beamo

30W CO₂ · A4 work area

A compact 30W CO₂ laser cutter with an A4 work area, ideal for home studios, classrooms, and everyday creative projects. It cuts up to 7 mm hinoki wood and 6 mm acrylic; actual results vary by material and settings.

Swipe or scroll horizontally to view every process column.

beamo material capabilities
Materials	Cutting	Engraving
Black Walnut¹Wood	5 mm	Supported
Cypress¹Wood	7 mm	Supported
Plywood¹Wood	5 mm	Supported
MDF¹Wood	3 mm	Supported
Acrylic	6 mm	Supported
Cardboard²	7.5 mm	Supported
Leather³	5 mm	Supported
Fabric³	8 mm	Supported
Bamboo	5 mm	Supported
Cork	—	Supported
Rubber	—	Supported
Glass	—	Supported
Cement	—	Supported
Stone	—	Supported
Anodized Metal	—	Supported
Stainless Steel	—	Spray paint required

Legend

^*Certain materials require multiple passes to cut effectively. A higher cutting depth can be achieved by reducing the speed or by performing multiple passes.

^*The maximum cutting depth may decrease after a certain period of usage of the laser tube in CO2 laser cutters.

¹The performance of wood cutting may be affected by variations in the moisture content and density of the material.

²Thick cardboard is a highly flammable material and should be cut with a slight amount of moisture to ensure safety.

³Although high-power lasers can cut thicker leather and fabrics, due to their higher flammability, we recommend cutting the maximum thickness specified.

Beambox II

55W CO₂ · 1.5× larger work area

Beambox II is upgraded to a 55W CO₂ laser, delivering exceptional cutting performance. Effortlessly cut through 20 mm acrylic and 18 mm Japanese cypress — from intricate designs to bold creations, precision is built in.

Swipe or scroll horizontally to view every process column.

Beambox II material capabilities
Materials	Cutting		Engraving
Materials	Regular power	Maximum power	Engraving
Black Walnut¹Wood	11 mm	15 mm	Supported
Cypress¹Wood	15 mm	18 mm	Supported
Plywood¹Wood	11 mm	14 mm	Supported
MDF¹Wood	9 mm	12 mm	Supported
Acrylic	15 mm	20 mm	Supported
Cardboard²	10 mm	—	Supported
Leather³	6 mm	—	Supported
Fabric³	8 mm	—	Supported
Bamboo	10 mm	—	Supported
Cork	—	—	Supported
Rubber	—	—	Supported
Glass	—	—	Supported
Cement	—	—	Supported
Stone	—	—	Supported
Anodized Metal	—	—	Supported
Stainless Steel	—	—	Spray paint required

Legend

Regular power: Reference cutting thickness at the regular output setting.
Maximum power: Reference cutting thickness at maximum output. Maximum power may accelerate laser tube wear.

^*Certain materials require multiple passes to cut effectively. Greater cutting depth may be achieved by reducing speed or performing multiple passes.

^**The maximum cutting depth may decrease after the laser tube has been used for a period of time.

¹Wood cutting performance may vary with the material's moisture content and density.

²Thick cardboard is highly flammable. Add a slight amount of moisture and supervise the machine continuously while cutting.

³Leather and fabric are highly flammable. Do not exceed the listed maximum thickness, and supervise the machine continuously.

⁴Using maximum power may accelerate laser tube wear.

HEXA

60W CO₂ · 73 × 41 cm work area

HEXA's 60W CO₂ laser is designed for studios, schools, and small businesses that need higher cutting capacity and batch production. It cuts up to 20 mm hinoki wood and 21 mm acrylic.

Swipe or scroll horizontally to view every process column.

HEXA material capabilities
Materials	Cutting		Engraving
Materials	Regular power	Maximum power	Engraving
Black Walnut¹Wood	14 mm	18 mm	Supported
Cypress¹Wood	16 mm	20 mm	Supported
Plywood¹Wood	14 mm	16 mm	Supported
MDF¹Wood	12 mm	14 mm	Supported
Acrylic	16 mm	21 mm	Supported
Cardboard²	10 mm	—	Supported
Leather³	6 mm	—	Supported
Fabric³	8 mm	—	Supported
Bamboo	10 mm	—	Supported
Cork	—	—	Supported
Rubber	—	—	Supported
Glass	—	—	Supported
Cement	—	—	Supported
Stone	—	—	Supported
Anodized Metal	—	—	Supported
Stainless Steel	—	—	Spray paint required

Legend

Regular power: Reference cutting thickness at the regular output setting.
Maximum power: Reference cutting thickness at maximum output. Maximum power may accelerate laser tube wear.

^*Certain materials require multiple passes to cut effectively. Greater cutting depth may be achieved by reducing speed or performing multiple passes.

^**The maximum cutting depth may decrease after the laser tube has been used for a period of time.

¹Wood cutting performance may vary with the material's moisture content and density.

²Thick cardboard is highly flammable. Add a slight amount of moisture and supervise the machine continuously while cutting.

³Leather and fabric are highly flammable. Do not exceed the listed maximum thickness, and supervise the machine continuously.

⁴Using maximum power may accelerate laser tube wear.

HEXA RF

30W / 60W / 80W metal RF laser

A metal RF tube for finer engraving and long production runs. The 80W source cuts 32 mm acrylic in one pass, with a 0.07 mm beam spot and a 20,000-hour rated lifespan.

Values show the maximum listed cutting thickness for each RF laser power. Engraving support is shown separately.

Swipe or scroll horizontally to view every process column.

HEXA RF material capabilities
Materials	Cutting			Engraving
Materials	RF 30W	RF 60W	RF 80W	Engraving
Black Walnut¹Wood	11 mm	21 mm	25 mm	Supported
Japanese Cypress¹Wood	15 mm	24 mm	30 mm	Supported
Plywood¹Wood	11 mm	21 mm	25 mm	Supported
MDF¹Wood	9 mm	18 mm	20 mm	Supported
Acrylic	16 mm	27 mm	32 mm	Supported
Cardboard²	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm	Supported
Leather³	6 mm	6 mm	6 mm	Supported
Fabric³	8 mm	8 mm	8 mm	Supported
Bamboo	10 mm	10 mm	10 mm	Supported
Cork	—	—	—	Supported
Rubber	—	—	—	Supported
Glass	—	—	—	Supported
Cement	—	—	—	Supported
Stone	—	—	—	Supported
Anodized Metal	—	—	—	Supported
Stainless Steel	—	—	—	Spray paint required
Gold, Copper, Titanium, Aluminum, Silver, Iron	—	—	—	Not supported

Legend

^*Certain materials require multiple passes to cut effectively. Greater cutting depth may be achieved by reducing speed or performing multiple passes.

^**The maximum cutting depth may decrease after the laser tube has been used for a period of time.

¹Wood cutting performance may vary with the material's moisture content and density.

²Thick cardboard is highly flammable. Add a slight amount of moisture and supervise the machine continuously while cutting.

³Leather and fabric are highly flammable. Do not exceed the listed maximum thickness, and supervise the machine continuously.

Promark
Fiber & MOPA marking · 150+ materials
Promark is the fiber and MOPA marking line for metal and plastic work — permanent marks on aluminium, stainless steel, gold, silver, copper, and opaque acrylic, with colour marking on the MOPA model.
See Material Range

Software

Beam Studio

The most intuitive laser software.

Free laser cutter software built for FLUX Lasers, Beam Studio works on desktop, tablet, and mobile, enabling seamless creation across multiple platforms.

Start your project in Beam Studio using its powerful built-in features, or fine-tune your designs later with a comprehensive set of post-processing tools.

Learn More

Super Easy to Use

Everything a first laser job needs is already in the software.

Camera Preview

Real-time preview through your FLUX Laser's built-in camera.

Preset Parameters

Select fine-tuned cutting and engraving settings for common materials.

Versatile Text Tools

Text on path, weld text, vertical text, and more for every typographic need.

Curated Clipart

Choose from over 400 vector elements to start your design.

A maker sending a job to a FLUX laser cutter from a laptop

Prefer LightBurn? No problem.

Already comfortable with LightBurn? FLUX lasers work with it, so you can keep the software you know while Beam Studio stays available for camera-guided jobs.

Connect directly — no bridge cable

beamo II
Beambox II
HEXA RF

Earlier CO₂ models

beamo, Beambox, Beambox Pro, and HEXA reach LightBurn through the LightBurn Bridge, available from the FLUX Official Shop.

Consumable Requirements

Everything you restock after the machine arrives, in one place.

Consumables
All machine consumables and accessories are available on the FLUX Official Shop, ensuring a seamless fit for your maintenance needs.
Shop Consumables
Materials
Materials essential for your creations, such as wood and acrylic, are all available at the FLUX Official Shop. Get what you need and start creating right away.
Shop Materials

What's Your Creative Niche?

The right laser cutter for every creative project.

Custom Jewelry

Ideal laser sourcesCO2 Laser · Diode Laser · Fiber Laser

For crafting jewelry, earrings, or pet tags, the compact beamo and Ador provide the perfect solution, offering convenience for both home studios and on-the-go customization.

Compatible models

Success Story Shop Now

Miniature / Automata

Ideal laser sourcesCO2 Laser · Diode Laser

Miniature and model creation demands precise engraving and cutting of small components, and Beambox II and HEXA are perfectly suited for the task.

Compatible models

Success Story Shop Now

Creative niches 1 / 4

Add-Ons

Expand your creativity — beyond the flat surface.

For Cylindrical Objects
With the Chuck Rotary, you can expand beyond flat surfaces onto tumblers, bottles, and cones — creating more diverse products and unlocking even greater profits.
Compatible modelsAdor · beamo · beamo II · Beambox II · HEXA
Shop Rotary Add-ons
For Extra Thick Materials
The Open Bottom, Extension Base, and Extension Pocket add-ons raise the working height so tall or thick stock still fits under the laser head.
Compatible modelsAdor · beamo · beamo II · Beambox II
Shop Extension Add-ons
For Extra Long Objects
Taking on extra-long custom orders like house number signs, store signs, or skateboards? The Pass-Through add-on opens the front and back of the machine, and the Auto Feeder advances the material for you so long runs stay hands-free.
Compatible modelsAdor · Beambox II
Shop Pass-Through & Auto Feeder

Explore the range

Find the right FLUX for your work

From compact creative studios to higher-volume production, explore the core laser lineup.

Choosing the right laser cutter

As seen in

Diode Laser

Infrared Laser

CO2 Laser

Fiber Laser

Ador

beamo

Beambox II

HEXA

HEXA RF

Promark

Beam Studio

Camera Preview

Preset Parameters

Versatile Text Tools

Curated Clipart

Prefer LightBurn? No problem.

Connect directly — no bridge cable

Earlier CO₂ models

Consumables

Materials

For Cylindrical Objects

For Extra Thick Materials

For Extra Long Objects

FLUX Laser Cutter Comparison