Glowforge Aura vs Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W
| Laser | ||
| Type | Diode Laser | Diode Laser |
| Wavelength | 450 nm | 455 nm |
| Optical Power | 6 W | 33 W |
| Performance | ||
| Work Area | 305 ร 305 mm | 590 ร 595 mm |
| Max Speed | 15,000 mm/min | 24,000 mm/min |
| Focus | Autofocus | Fixed |
| Features | ||
| Enclosure | Yes | No |
| Air Assist | No | Yes |
| Rotary Compatible | No | Yes |
| WiFi | Yes | No |
| Camera | Yes | No |
| Physical | ||
| Approx. Price | $1,199 | $770 |
| Release Year | 2023 | 2024 |
| Weight | 8.6 kg | 9.9 kg |
Glowforge Aura
What we like
- Easiest setup and operation of any laser โ no technical knowledge needed
- Cloud app with automatic material settings
- Built-in camera for precise placement
- Fully enclosed and safe
- Large design library available
Watch out for
- Cloud-dependent โ requires internet for every job
- Slower than modern competitors
- Only 6W โ limited cutting ability
- Ongoing subscription costs for premium designs
- Not compatible with LightBurn
Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W
What we like
- 33W โ cuts 20mm pine and 15mm black acrylic in one pass
- Huge 590ร595mm base work area, expandable to 935ร905mm
- Built-in auto air assist included
- 0.005mm high-precision linear slide rail X-axis
- Modular laser head โ upgrade path within the S30 Ultra series
- Emergency stop switch and child safety lock
Watch out for
- Very large footprint (~800ร840mm frame)
- No WiFi โ Bluetooth and USB only
- No enclosure โ open frame requires safe working environment
- Fixed focus (no motorised Z)
Glowforge Aura
Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W
The Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W costs $770 (36% less) than the Glowforge Aura, which is priced at $1,199.
The Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W has 82% more optical power (33W vs 6W).
The Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W offers a 74% larger work area (590 ร 595 mm vs 305 ร 305 mm).
The Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W has a 38% higher maximum speed (24,000 mm/min vs 15,000 mm/min).
Feature-wise, Glowforge Aura includes an enclosure, while Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W does not; Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W includes air assist, while Glowforge Aura does not; Glowforge Aura includes a camera, while Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W does not; Glowforge Aura includes WiFi connectivity, while Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W does not; Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W includes rotary attachment compatibility, while Glowforge Aura does not.