Diode laser · Open frame · AtomStack
AtomStack Glacier 90W / 120W
Production shops that cut thick wood or dark acrylic for hours at a time in a vented workshop and want steadier power than an air-cooled diode gives
from $2,329 at AtomStack, checked Oct 22
Image: AtomStack. Prices change often; the shop shows the current price.
Quick verdict
The Glacier is AtomStack's water-cooled take on its big open-frame diode: an 800 x 800 mm bed, a compressor chiller that holds the laser module at a set temperature, and a choice of a 90W version ($2,429) or a 120W version ($400 more). The chiller is there for sustained output on long cutting shifts, and AtomStack claims 30 mm wood in a single pass. Read the power figures carefully: the headline numbers are a Turbo mode that the manual calls overclocking and says to use sparingly, so continuous output is 70 to 75W on the 90W and 100W on the 120W. It is also an open Class 4 frame with no camera, and AtomStack publishes no speed figure.
What you still need
Distilled water and antifreeze for the chiller and a second mains outlet for it, honeycomb panels (F4N panels are $76 each; the Basic Bundle with four was $100 more but sold out), the B4 enclosure ($500 more in the Enclosure Bundle) or a vented workshop with extraction, the IR4 module for metal ($400 more as the Diode+IR Bundle, $599 alone), the R8 Pro rotary ($299) for tumblers, 455 nm rated glasses for anyone else in the room, and a LightBurn licence if you outgrow AtomStack StudioMaterial reality check
Cuts wood, plywood, MDF, leather, card and opaque acrylic (black, white and colored); AtomStack's 30 mm one-pass claim is for paulownia and basswood plywood, so expect less in hardwood. Engraves wood, leather, slate, stone, anodized aluminum and coated metal. It cannot cut clear acrylic (AtomStack itself points buyers to its Hurricane CO2 for that), and AtomStack advises against engraving bare metal with the blue laser because reflections can damage the module; the optional IR4 4W 1064 nm module handles surface marking on stainless steel and aluminum. Never cut PVC or vinyl: the chlorine fumes are toxic and corrode the machine.Better alternative if
if you do not run long production shifts and want a similar 850 x 800 mm open-frame diode for about $790 less: AtomStack A70 MaxScores
Scored on the same scale for every laser on this site. See all lasers ranked.
Specifications
| Laser type | Diode laser |
|---|---|
| Form | Open frame |
| Optical power | 90 W |
| Other modules | The 90W base runs 90W in Turbo (overclock) mode and 70W or 45W in Standard mode. The 120W version (120W Turbo; 100, 80 and 40W Standard; 0.15 x 0.15 mm spot) costs $400 more. An IR4 4W 1064 nm infrared module ($599) is optional for metal marking |
| Wavelength | 455 nm (diode); 1064 nm with the optional IR4 module |
| Work area | 800 × 800 mm |
| Max speed | Not published by AtomStack |
| Cutting (maker claim) | 30 mm paulownia and 30 mm basswood plywood in one pass (maker claim, shown with the 120W; no separate figure for the 90W) |
| Precision | No accuracy figure published; spot 0.12 x 0.15 mm (90W) or 0.15 x 0.15 mm (120W), focal distance about 73 mm |
| Air assist | Included |
| Camera | No |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Rotary support | Yes |
| Safety | Open frame with an exposed Class 4 beam; flame alarm, emergency stop, laser temperature, water flow, water level and water temperature alarms, and a USB key needed to run; enclosure sold separately |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Offline via included touch screen |
| Software | AtomStack Studio, LightBurn, LaserGRBL |
| Weight | 31 kg |
| Price | from $2,329 at AtomStack, checked Oct 22 |
Pros and cons
Why we like it
- A compressor chiller keeps the laser module at a set temperature, so output should not fade on long cutting runs the way air-cooled diodes do
- AtomStack claims 30 mm paulownia and basswood plywood in one pass, more than the 28 mm it claims for the A70 Max
- 800 x 800 mm bed takes large signs and batches of parts
- Touch screen for offline jobs, autofocus, Wi-Fi and air assist are in the box, and it works with LightBurn and LaserGRBL as well as AtomStack Studio
- The optional IR4 4W infrared module adds bare metal marking on the same frame
Watch out for
- The headline watts are a Turbo mode that the manual calls overclocking and says to use sparingly, so sustained output is 70 to 75W on the 90W and 100W on the 120W, and no independent power test exists
- Open frame with a Class 4 beam: the B4 enclosure adds $500 in AtomStack's bundle pricing
- No camera, and AtomStack publishes no speed or accuracy figure
- More to set up and look after than an air-cooled diode: frame assembly, chiller plumbing, distilled water with antifreeze, and a second mains outlet for the chiller
- Like every diode it cannot cut clear acrylic, yet at $2,429 to $2,829 it costs as much as enclosed desktop CO2 lasers that can
Compare with
Frequently asked questions
What materials can the AtomStack Glacier 90W / 120W cut and engrave?
Cuts wood, plywood, MDF, leather, card and opaque acrylic (black, white and colored); AtomStack's 30 mm one-pass claim is for paulownia and basswood plywood, so expect less in hardwood. Engraves wood, leather, slate, stone, anodized aluminum and coated metal. It cannot cut clear acrylic (AtomStack itself points buyers to its Hurricane CO2 for that), and AtomStack advises against engraving bare metal with the blue laser because reflections can damage the module; the optional IR4 4W 1064 nm module handles surface marking on stainless steel and aluminum. Never cut PVC or vinyl: the chlorine fumes are toxic and corrode the machine.
What else do I need to buy with the AtomStack Glacier 90W / 120W?
Distilled water and antifreeze for the chiller and a second mains outlet for it, honeycomb panels (F4N panels are $76 each; the Basic Bundle with four was $100 more but sold out), the B4 enclosure ($500 more in the Enclosure Bundle) or a vented workshop with extraction, the IR4 module for metal ($400 more as the Diode+IR Bundle, $599 alone), the R8 Pro rotary ($299) for tumblers, 455 nm rated glasses for anyone else in the room, and a LightBurn licence if you outgrow AtomStack Studio
How much does the AtomStack Glacier 90W / 120W cost?
From $2,329 at AtomStack, checked Oct 22.
How we rank: by our own scores for power, speed, ease of use, safety and value, from the maker's published specs and independent tests where they exist. Some links earn us a commission (for example TwoTrees, SainSmart, Gweike and Amazon). That never changes a score or the order of a list (disclosure).
Sources
- AtomStack Glacier product page
- AtomStack Glacier Shopify product data (prices, stock, images)
- AtomStack blog: Water cooling vs air cooling, Glacier data table (power tiers, spot, supply, prices)
- AtomStack Glacier user manual (PDF)
- Glacier Kickstarter FAQ
- Kicktraq: Glacier Kickstarter funding record
- The Crafty Catsman: Laser news digest, 1 February 2026