Diode laser · Open frame · Creality
Creality Falcon2 40W
Makers who cut a lot of plywood and hardwood and want the most diode power per dollar on an open frame
from $639 at Creality, checked Oct 2
Image: Creality. Prices change often; the shop shows the current price.
Quick verdict
The Falcon2 40W uses the same aluminum frame and 400 x 415 mm bed as the 22W, but combines eight 5.5W diodes into a 40W optical beam. Creality claims 20 mm wood in one pass; even if thick stock needs extra passes in practice, it is a genuinely fast cutter on everyday plywood. At $639 on Creality's US store it is only $90 more than the 22W, which makes it the better buy of the pair. Built-in air assist, tilt stop, flame monitoring and a key lock are standard. The trade-offs are the usual open-frame ones: manual focus, no camera, no Wi-Fi, and fumes and eye protection are your job.
What you still need
Ventilation or an enclosure with an exhaust fan (40W of cutting makes a lot of smoke), a honeycomb bed, laser safety glasses for everyone in the room, a fire extinguisher, a rotary kit for cylinders, and optionally a LightBurn licenceMaterial reality check
Cuts plywood, basswood, hardwood, MDF, cork, cardboard, leather, felt and dark opaque acrylic. Engraves wood, bamboo, leather, slate, ceramics, anodized or painted aluminum and stainless steel, including color marking on stainless. It cannot cut clear or blue acrylic, glass or sheet metal; the 0.15 mm stainless claim means foil only. Never laser PVC or vinyl.Better alternative if
if the laser will live indoors or near kids, an enclosed 40W such as the xTool S1 is the safer choice: xTool S1 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 | 40 W |
| Other modules | None |
| Wavelength | 455 ± 5 nm |
| Work area | 400 × 415 mm |
| Max speed | 25,000 mm/min (about 417 mm/s) |
| Cutting (maker claim) | 20 mm wood in one pass (maker claim; the same page also says 20 mm cork) |
| Precision | 0.0125 mm motion accuracy (maker claim) |
| Air assist | Built in |
| Camera | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Rotary support | Yes |
| Safety | Open frame with tilt/flip stop, emergency stop, key lock, bidirectional 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 | 7.68 kg |
| Price | from $639 at Creality, checked Oct 2 |
Pros and cons
Why we like it
- 40W optical output for $639, a lot of diode power for the money
- Adjustable beam with a finer 22W mode for detail work
- Built-in air assist pump with airflow monitoring
- Same 400 x 415 mm bed and safety kit as the 22W: tilt stop, flame and lens monitoring, key lock, e-stop
- Runs offline from a TF card or with LightBurn and LaserGRBL
Watch out for
- Open frame: a 40W diode makes a lot of smoke and needs goggles, ventilation and a fire-safe space
- Manual focus with a focus block, no autofocus or camera
- No Wi-Fi
- Wider spot than lower-power diodes, so fine photo engraving is a little softer
- Creality's one-pass claims (20 mm wood, 30 mm black acrylic) are best-case figures; plan on extra passes for thick stock
Compare with
Frequently asked questions
What materials can the Creality Falcon2 40W cut and engrave?
Cuts plywood, basswood, hardwood, MDF, cork, cardboard, leather, felt and dark opaque acrylic. Engraves wood, bamboo, leather, slate, ceramics, anodized or painted aluminum and stainless steel, including color marking on stainless. It cannot cut clear or blue acrylic, glass or sheet metal; the 0.15 mm stainless claim means foil only. Never laser PVC or vinyl.
What else do I need to buy with the Creality Falcon2 40W?
Ventilation or an enclosure with an exhaust fan (40W of cutting makes a lot of smoke), a honeycomb bed, laser safety glasses for everyone in the room, a fire extinguisher, a rotary kit for cylinders, and optionally a LightBurn licence
How much does the Creality Falcon2 40W cost?
From $639 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 40W product page (specifications)
- Creality Falcon US store: Falcon2 40W product JSON (price)
- Creality Falcon: Falcon2 series comparison (spec table)