Diode laser · Open frame · LONGER
LONGER Ray5 20W
Beginners who want 20W cutting power, a touchscreen and Wi-Fi at a budget price and can add air assist later
from $199.99 at LONGER, checked Oct 2
Image: LONGER. Prices change often; the shop shows the current price.
Quick verdict
The Ray5 20W is LONGER's mid-power open-frame diode, sold on the combined Ray5 5W/10W/20W listing at $419.99 for the basic set. You get a 20W class module, a 3.5 inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi and TF card control, plus a flame sensor, tilt sensor and emergency stop. LONGER claims 15 mm basswood in one pass, but the 10,000 mm/min rated speed makes big engravings slow. Air assist is not in the base set, and you will want it for clean cuts. Optical power figures vary between listings (18 to 21W on a reseller spec sheet, 22 to 24W in an older LONGER page title), so treat it as a roughly 20W class machine.
What you still need
An air assist pump and honeycomb (the Cutting Kit adds both), ventilation or an enclosure with exhaust, spare goggles for others in the room (one pair is included), a fire extinguisher, a rotary for cylinders, and optionally a LightBurn licenceMaterial reality check
Cuts plywood, basswood, MDF, cardboard, paper, felt, leather and dark opaque acrylic. Engraves wood, leather, bamboo, fabric, slate, ceramic, glass, coated or anodized metals and stainless steel; other bare metals need the optional infrared module. It cannot cut clear or blue acrylic or any metal. Never laser PVC or vinyl.Better alternative if
if you want air assist built in and a larger 400 x 415 mm bed without add-ons: Creality Falcon2 22WScores
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 | 20 W |
| Other modules | Swappable 5W, 10W and 30W diode modules and a 1064 nm infrared module sold separately |
| Wavelength | 450 nm |
| Work area | 400 × 365 mm |
| Max speed | 10,000 mm/min (about 167 mm/s) |
| Cutting (maker claim) | 15 mm basswood in one pass (maker claim) |
| Precision | 0.01 mm (maker claim) |
| Air assist | Optional extra |
| Camera | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Rotary support | Yes |
| Safety | Open frame with emergency stop, flame sensor, motion (tilt) sensor, limit switches and a blue-light shield on the module. No enclosure, so goggles are required |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, TF card |
| Software | LightBurn, LaserGRBL, LaserBurn app |
| Weight | not published |
| Price | from $199.99 at LONGER, checked Oct 2 |
Pros and cons
Why we like it
- 3.5 inch touchscreen and Wi-Fi for running jobs without a PC
- 20W class module with a maker claim of 15 mm basswood in one pass
- Swappable modules, including an infrared option for bare metal marking
- Flame sensor, tilt sensor, emergency stop and limit switches on the 20W
- Cheap bundles for air assist, rotary, camera and bed extension
Watch out for
- Base price leaves out the air pump and honeycomb (the Cutting Kit bundle is $479.99)
- Rated at only 10,000 mm/min, slow for large engravings
- Fixed focus set by hand with a focus column
- Work area figures disagree: 400 x 365 mm in the current spec table, 375 x 375 mm elsewhere
- Some kit assembly needed, and reviewers note noisy fans
Compare with
Frequently asked questions
What materials can the LONGER Ray5 20W cut and engrave?
Cuts plywood, basswood, MDF, cardboard, paper, felt, leather and dark opaque acrylic. Engraves wood, leather, bamboo, fabric, slate, ceramic, glass, coated or anodized metals and stainless steel; other bare metals need the optional infrared module. It cannot cut clear or blue acrylic or any metal. Never laser PVC or vinyl.
What else do I need to buy with the LONGER Ray5 20W?
An air assist pump and honeycomb (the Cutting Kit adds both), ventilation or an enclosure with exhaust, spare goggles for others in the room (one pair is included), a fire extinguisher, a rotary for cylinders, and optionally a LightBurn licence
How much does the LONGER Ray5 20W cost?
From $199.99 at longer, 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
- LONGER official store: Ray5 5W/10W/20W product page (specifications)
- LONGER official store: product catalog JSON (prices)
- LONGER official store: Ray5 extension kit (work area note)
- RobotShop: LONGER Ray5 20W spec sheet
- Notebookcheck: Longer Ray5 review (5W version)