Dremel Laser Cutter vs Glowforge, A Comparison Review

Imagine spending a huge sum of money on a laser cutter, and it turns out to be trash? It even hurts to listen, right? How can you avoid that from happening? Well, it’s easy to go for the best possible laser cutter solution you can find.

Among many choices out there, Dremel laser cutter and Glowforge laser cutter are two great choices. They have a feud between them already about which one is a better option. To help you figure that out, we are here to help.

We, as a tech support team of laser cutters, have gone through both of them. With our years of experience on laser cutters and our in-depth research of these products, you can rely on our words. So, let’s get this show started without any delay.

Product Specifications

For all the expert users out there, here is a little summary of the technical specifications of the laser cutters.

Dremel LC40-03 40 CO2 Laser Digilab Laser Engraver Specs

  • Power: 40w
  • Housing material: Metal
  • Adjustment settings: Manual
  • Engraving area: 18.4 x 12 inches
  • Cutting area: 20 x 12 inches
  • Cooling type: External cooling
  • Dimensions: 37 x 27.5 x 14.1 inches
  • Weight: 90lbs

Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer Specs

  • Power: 40w
  • Housing material: Plastic
  • Adjustment settings: Automatic
  • Engraving area: 12 x 8 inches
  • Cutting area: 11.5 x 20 inches
  • Cooling type: Internal cooling
  • Dimensions: 47 x 28 x 19 inches
  • Weight: 113.8lbs

Now that you know all the technical stuff about these laser cutters let’s get into the details of each cutter.

Review of Dremel LC40-03

First of all, let’s check out this amazing laser cutter by Dremel in-depth. We will be going through the different features and factors this cutter has.

Built and design

Right off the bat, we became a fan of this laser engraver as soon as we laid our eyes on it. It comes with a very stylish and sleek finish on top that makes it look very premium. You won’t see any bumps or bulkiness in the machine, which is a great sign-on for a laser cutter.

The design is very simple, doesn’t have any fanciness to it. It does look modern, and the build quality is also quite sturdy. Alongside the actual cutter, you get a booster fan that works as a cooler for the machine.

What we loved about this is the durability factor from the metal body. You can tell that this laser cutter is built to last. It has gone through several endurance tests to ensure that you are set for a long time once you get this. So, all in all, there is nothing you can complain about the build quality or the design of the laser cutter.

Performance

For the cutting performance, we can say we are more than satisfied with the results. It has got a 40w laser tube that can cut through many materials without any sweat at all. Cutting wood, acrylic, and such type of materials felt smooth and clean as you can expect. Also, the cuts you get using this are pretty accurate.

While the laser cutter is highly effective, it’s super easy to use as well. It has some simplified system installed that makes using this laser cutter like a child’s play. All you need to know is how to use the software, and that’s pretty much it.

Speaking of ease, the smart laser sensors on the cutter makes your life a lot easier. It can run safety diagnostics in real-time to make sure you save yourself some time and stress. It easily detects any danger beforehand and even guides you through some troubleshooting measures.

Coming to the cutting speed, you won’t be disappointed at all. It has got some insane speed on cutting that can cut through various materials within a short period. And the best part is you still end up with some accurate and detailed cuts. It took us three minutes to get some basic design using this cutter.

Ease of use

This laser cutter has a lot to offer when it’s about ease of usage. Using the large touchscreen panel on the cutter, you can control the machine and get all your desired actions done. Also, the fact that you don’t need any external application or software to run makes it a convenient choice.

What we liked the most is that it doesn’t require an internet connection to run. This can be a huge deal if you have a weak internet connection because you don’t even have to worry about that.

In our experience, we can say, even if you don’t have any experience with such machines, you can use this. It’s super easy to use, and the controls are pretty straightforward to understand.

Software

One of the key things to look at your laser cutter is the software you get for it. An easy-to-understand software can make your life much easier. That’s what you get with the Dremel laser cutter.

It comes with amazing software that is quite intuitive. You don’t need to have an internet connection to use this software because you will be running it from the laser cutter itself. So, that saves some hassle for you as well.

Coming to the functionality of the software, it’s very intuitive. You can get many things done with this without having to be an expert on laser cutting or engraving. Also, the built-in library of the software is quite impressive. It comes with a lot of suggestions for cutting and engraving on different materials.

One of the best things we found in the software was the grid ruler. This is a handy function of the software that helps you place your materials accurately and easily. This way, you don’t misplace the cutting material at all.

Along with that, it comes with an auto array functionality. Using this, you can duplicate designs automatically on any material.

Another cool thing to love about this is the saved memory. You can store your last 30 designs on this one and easily run them from the machine itself. This is very helpful when you have to make similar designs for a longer time.

Safety features

This is where the Dremel laser cutter excels a lot. It comes with the perfect safety measures that all laser cutters should have. This one has a UL safety certification for maintaining proper safety measures on the laser cutter.

First of all, we already talked about the smart laser sensors on the laser cutter so that we won’t go through that anymore. Besides that, there are some other safety features on this one that make it a great choice as long as laser safety is a concern.

With the external cooling system and excellent exhaust management, you get top-tier safety in two ways. One is the fact that it won’t overheat while you are using it for long hours. So, that takes away any risk associated with overheating machines.

Another one is the proper exhaustion your laser cutter needs. Laser cutters usually create some exhaust that can be lethal to your health. But on this one, you get top-tier exhaust management that keeps you safe from that in all circumstances.

All in all, you get complete peace of mind while working with this laser cutter. Mostly because of the UL certification it comes with.

Tech support

You may not emphasize this, but it can be very important in some cases. For example, if you ever fail to figure something out or need a part for the laser cutter, you will need help from tech support. The tech support of a brand must be good enough to help you out with problems.

From many user experiences in our research, we found out that the Dremel tech support is top-notch. They are always there to help you out with any condition you face with the laser cutters. They are very responsive and patient with the tech support process. So, if you even had some doubt with this one, all those doubts should be gone after this.

Related: Affordable Laser Cutters Reviews and Buying Guide

Review of Glowforge Plus 3D Laser Printer

Now, it’s time to check out the competitor of the Dremel laser cutter. So, let’s dig deep into this and see what we can find out.

Built and design

This laser engraving machine comes with some standard looks with a smooth finish all around. You can see the transparent lid on top that creates a unique design overall. It comes in white color, so you can expect this to look a bit cleaner and more premium.

While you may have some questions regarding the durability of the matter because of the plastic body, all your doubts will go away once you hold the thing for the first time. It’s quite sturdy and feels like a heavy-built quality once you touch it.

This is a single unit, so you won’t have to worry about making space for anything extra. Also, it’s a bit wider and bulkier than usual laser cutters. All in all, this one has a good build quality with some decent designs.

Performance

Even though the building didn’t impress us that much, the performance surely did. It has some unique features that can make it an attractive choice in your eyes. To begin with it, you get a 40w laser that can cut through objects quite well.

However, the most interesting part of this laser cutter lies with its features. You can use a pen to draw on your material and then directly use the laser cutter to make your designs. This gives you so much freedom to get designs the way you want.

Also, the precision of the laser is quite impressive in this laser cutter. It can even focus down to the extent that it gets the width of human hair. And when you combine that with the extremely capable motion control, you get top-notch details and accuracy for your laser cutting every time.

Another cool feature this one has got is the live camera preview. You get to see your design as it keeps going on in the machine. Getting such a preview can help you make some necessary changes midway if it needs any. Also, it helps in placing the design perfectly on the material.

Ease of use

Well, this printer is a great choice for hobbyists, and DIY projects of ease of usage are a given on this one. You don’t need years of experience to operate this. All you need is an internet connection and the software to run this. It’s very easy to use and doesn’t involve any complicated features at all.

Also, on their support page, you can find many step-by-step guides for using this laser cutter. So, no matter who you are, you can get used to this laser cutter for sure.

Software

The software you get with this laser cutter is impressive. It’s a free app that you can run using an internet connection. It’s a web-based software, so there is no option to run this without an active internet connection. To us, this felt like a drag, as it means no internet, not laser cutting.

However, you don’t need to rely on your internet complete. You will only need an internet connection to start the cutting or engraving process. From there on, it continues to do the job without any internet connection as well.

As for the software, it’s nothing special or doesn’t come with some unique, attractive features. It’s pretty basic, but the quality and usability are quite good. It gives you a lot of presets to start on with your learning process. You get better results for these presets when using the Proofgrade materials they have made specifically for this machine.

Overall, it’s not the best software for laser cutting, but it gets the job done. Also, it’s supported on most platforms, so you don’t have to worry about the compatibility factor on this one.

Safety features

The Glowforge laser cutter had to go through several tests and pass several safety standards to ensure you are at peace of mind. It ensures that even children can use this laser cutter without any worries at all.

For the cooling system on this one, you get an internal cooler. The internal liquid cooling system on this laser cutter makes sure it doesn’t overheat in any case. As it’s an internal cooling system, you don’t need to worry about making extra space for the cooler.

Also, to make sure the system doesn’t overheat, it has 60 to 75-degree Fahrenheit functionality limitations. When the temperature goes beyond that, the system won’t do any laser cutting or engraving work.

Tech support

The tech support you get from Glowforge is quite impressive as well. They are very responsive to their users and have a strict policy of customer satisfaction. You can get all kinds of help from them.

We liked their tech support because they have lined up all the guides for using this machine on their website. You even get guides on the maintenance of the machine, which is a great advantage. And their live chat option is quick to respond. All in all, they have a great tech support team working hard behind their success.

Comparison between Dremel Laser cutter vs. Glowforge

Now, let’s get to the real deal here. Which one should you choose and why? To answer that, we will list out some factors of these laser cutters and compare them. So, let’s get going.

Build and design

You probably already know which one is better here. Yes, it’s Dremel. Because of the metal body construction and some classy aesthetics, it’s a clear choice here. Glowforge isn’t bad either it’s still durable. However, in comparison, Dremel is a far better choice in terms of looks and style.

Cooling technology

There is an obvious difference between these two laser cutters when it comes to the cooling system. While the Dremel laser cutter has an external cooling system, the Glowforge comes with an internal cooling system.

On the Dremel external cooling system, you get excellent exhaustion capabilities. Also, due to the external functionality, you don’t have to worry about the laser cutter overheating at any cost. So, you can use this laser cutter nonstop without even worrying about any overheating issues.

As for the Glowforge, you can save up some space with the internal cooling system. But it has its limitations too. You can’t get top-quality exhaustion from this laser cutter. Also, on hot summer days, this one will stop after working for a certain duration because the internal cooling system can’t keep the laser cutter cool for long enough as there is no ventilation system.

So, in terms of cooling technology, Dremel is a far better choice than the Glowforge cutter.

Performance

Now, this can be a tricky thing to discuss. Both the laser cutters have excellent performing capabilities. They both have great accuracy and details in the cutting and engraving operation.

While the Dremel has better power and speed on the laser cutting aspect, the Glowforge has many functionalities. You get several handy features on Glowforge that can elevate the performance level. But you will have to sacrifice the speed for this one.

Also, you can use the Dremel laser cutter for a longer period because of the external cooling system. But on the Glowforge, you will need to take a break every once in a while to let the machine cool down.

So, the choice you make here depends on your preference. You find that the handy features of Glowforge are very important to you, then you should go for it. Otherwise, Dremel is a better choice here.

Ease of use

If we talked about the ease of usage, we would keep the Dremel laser cutter in front because it comes with an LCD and doesn’t require any internet connection to use the laser cutter. On the other hand, Glowforge runs on web-based software that you can’t access without the internet.

Aside from that, both their software is quite intuitive. However, Dremel has some great features on their software that take the cake away from Glowforge software. So, all in all, we would say Dremel is a better option when you consider the ease of use factor here.

Safety features

Both the choices have excellent safety features for your regular use. Anyone can use them whenever they want.

The Dremel has a UL certification for safety while the Glowforge goes through UL, FDA, FCC, CE standards to ensure safety for their laser cutters. So, no matter which one you choose, you get safety ensured for sure.

Price

In our opinion, this is the part where you will have to boil down your decision because there is a huge difference between the price of these two laser cutters.

The Dremel Laser cutter is much more expensive than the Glowforge laser cutter. So, if you want to save up on some bucks, then Glowforge is your go-to option. But if you want performance and quality, then Dremel is the way to go as it has the upper hand on several factors.

Conclusion

To sum up, choosing between Dremel Laser cutter vs. Glowforge is truly a battle between prices. As one has a significantly lower price than the other, it’s a very easy decision you can make.

Our suggestion on this matter will be to go for the Dremel laser cutter if you are a professional because it yields better laser cutting results and provides you great quality. Also, you get to work for long hours using this one. This is something you will need for professional laser cutting work.

On the other hand, if you are a hobbyist and need a laser cutter for DIY projects, then get Glowforge because this one is more than enough for serving such purposes. So, it doesn’t make any sense that you spend so much money where it gets the job done in less.

At the end of the day, no matter which one you go for, you will not regret it. Both the laser cutters are of high quality, so you will need to worry about nothing at all.

Contents

Leave a Comment