Diode laser · Open frame · Creality
Creality Falcon2 22W
Hobbyists who want solid wood and dark acrylic cutting on an open frame with air assist already built in
from $549 at Creality, checked Oct 2
Image: Creality. Prices change often; the shop shows the current price.
Quick verdict
The Falcon2 22W is Creality's mid-power open-frame diode laser: four diodes combined into a 22W optical beam over a 400 x 415 mm bed, with an air pump built into the machine. Creality rates it at 25,000 mm/min and claims 15 mm wood and 10 mm black acrylic in one pass, which is a best-case figure but shows it is a real cutter, not just an engraver. The safety package is better than most open frames, with tilt stop, flame and lens monitoring, an emergency stop and a key lock. The catch is price: at $549 it sits only $90 below the Falcon2 40W on the same frame, so anyone who cuts a lot of wood should step up.
What you still need
Ventilation (vent the room or build an enclosure with an exhaust fan), a honeycomb bed for cutting, laser safety glasses for everyone in the room, a fire extinguisher nearby, a rotary kit for tumblers, and a LightBurn licence if you outgrow the free Falcon Design Space or LaserGRBLMaterial reality check
Cuts plywood, basswood, MDF, cardboard, leather, felt and dark opaque acrylic. Engraves wood, bamboo, leather, slate, coated or anodized aluminum and stainless steel, including color marking on stainless. It cannot cut clear or blue acrylic, glass or sheet metal; Creality's 0.05 mm stainless cut claim means foil, not sheet. Never laser PVC or vinyl.Better alternative if
if you cut a lot of thick wood, the 40W version on the same frame costs only $90 more: Creality Falcon2 40WScores
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 | 22 W |
| Other modules | 40W Falcon2 laser module sold separately as an upgrade |
| Wavelength | 455 ± 5 nm |
| Work area | 400 × 415 mm |
| Max speed | 25,000 mm/min (about 417 mm/s) |
| Cutting (maker claim) | 15 mm wood and 10 mm black acrylic in one pass (maker claim) |
| Precision | not published |
| Air assist | Built in |
| Camera | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Rotary support | Yes |
| Safety | Open frame with tilt/flip stop, emergency stop, key lock, limit switches, filter shroud around the laser and flame, lens and airflow monitoring. No enclosure, so goggles are required |
| Connectivity | USB, TF card |
| Software | Falcon Design Space, LightBurn, LaserGRBL |
| Weight | 7.18 kg |
| Price | from $549 at Creality, checked Oct 2 |
Pros and cons
Why we like it
- Built-in air assist pump, with airflow set by a knob or from LightBurn
- Large 400 x 415 mm bed for an open-frame diode
- Real 22W optical output from four combined diodes
- Tilt stop, flame and lens monitoring, emergency stop and key lock as standard
- Runs offline from a TF card with on-machine preview and jog buttons
Watch out for
- The Falcon2 40W on the same frame currently costs only $90 more
- Manual focus with a stepped focus block, no autofocus
- No Wi-Fi or camera, so you work over USB or from a TF card
- Open frame needs goggles, ventilation and a fire-safe spot
- Like any diode it cannot cut clear or blue acrylic or sheet metal
Compare with
Frequently asked questions
What materials can the Creality Falcon2 22W cut and engrave?
Cuts plywood, basswood, MDF, cardboard, leather, felt and dark opaque acrylic. Engraves wood, bamboo, leather, slate, coated or anodized aluminum and stainless steel, including color marking on stainless. It cannot cut clear or blue acrylic, glass or sheet metal; Creality's 0.05 mm stainless cut claim means foil, not sheet. Never laser PVC or vinyl.
What else do I need to buy with the Creality Falcon2 22W?
Ventilation (vent the room or build an enclosure with an exhaust fan), a honeycomb bed for cutting, laser safety glasses for everyone in the room, a fire extinguisher nearby, a rotary kit for tumblers, and a LightBurn licence if you outgrow the free Falcon Design Space or LaserGRBL
How much does the Creality Falcon2 22W cost?
From $549 at creality, checked oct 2.
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
- Creality Falcon US store: Falcon2 22W product page
- Creality Falcon US store: Falcon2 22W product JSON (price)
- Creality Falcon: Falcon2 series comparison (spec table)
- Creality: Falcon2 22W launch announcement
- Techtest.org: Creality Falcon 2 review (German)