CO2 lasers use a gas tube and are the workhorses of laser cutting. Excellent for cutting thick wood, acrylic, and fabric. Higher cost but superior cut quality and cleaner edges than diode. Most desktop CO2 units run enclosed for safety. Wavelength is 10,600nm.
CO2 lasers use a sealed gas tube (primarily carbon dioxide) excited by electrical discharge to produce a 10,600nm infrared beam. This wavelength is highly absorbed by organic materials, making CO2 lasers exceptional at cutting thick wood, acrylic, and fabric with clean, polished edges.
CO2 vs diode: which should I choose?
For cutting thick materials (6mm+ acrylic, 10mm+ wood) with clean edges, CO2 wins every time. For tight budgets, portability, or engraving on mixed materials including some metals, a high-power diode is more versatile. CO2 machines cost significantly more upfront and require tube replacement every 1,000–2,000 hours.
Safety and ventilation
All desktop CO2 lasers are enclosed, but they still produce significant fumes. A dedicated exhaust fan with carbon-filtered ventilation ducted outside is mandatory. The enclosed design prevents direct beam exposure but does not handle fumes — budget for a proper ventilation system.
Software and compatibility
Most desktop CO2 machines use LightBurn or their manufacturer's proprietary app. Glowforge uses a cloud-only workflow. LightBurn is the industry standard for non-cloud machines and well worth the one-time license fee.