CO2 laser · Enclosed · OMTech
OMTech Polar Lite 55W
Small shops and serious hobbyists who want an all-in-one enclosed CO2 that runs LightBurn offline
from $2,200 at OMTech, checked Oct 2
Image: OMTech. Prices change often; the shop shows the current price.
Quick verdict
OMTech no longer sells the original Polar 50W in the US: its old product page now redirects to this Polar Lite 55W. It keeps the Polar recipe of a fully enclosed desktop CO2 with a 510 x 300 mm bed, 5MP camera, autofocus, and the water chiller, air assist pump and exhaust fan all built in. The tube is now rated 55W, top speed is 500 mm/s and the base package costs $2,199.99. It runs RDWorks out of the box and LightBurn with a licence, all offline. The honest trade-off is size and weight at 41 kg, and in the base package the rotary and LightBurn cost extra.
What you still need
A window or wall vent for the included exhaust pipe (or a fume extractor if you cannot vent outside), a LightBurn licence unless you buy the LightBurn or Pro Master package, the rotary for cylinders (Versatile Craft or Pro Master package), CO2-rated safety glasses for alignment and maintenance, and eventually a replacement tubeMaterial reality check
Cuts wood, plywood, MDF, acrylic (clear and colored), leather, paper, cardboard, fabric and rubber; engraves glass, stone, anodized aluminum and coated metal. It cannot cut metal and cannot mark bare metal without a marking spray. Never cut PVC or vinyl: the chlorine gas attacks the machine and your lungs.Better alternative if
you want the rotary included for less money and can find one in stock: Gweike Cloud Pro II 50WScores
Scored on the same scale for every laser on this site. See all lasers ranked.
Specifications
| Laser type | CO2 laser |
|---|---|
| Form | Enclosed |
| Optical power | 55 W |
| Other modules | None |
| Wavelength | 10.6 µm |
| Work area | 510 × 300 mm |
| Max speed | 500 mm/s |
| Cutting (maker claim) | Up to 15.5 mm (0.61 in) wood and 25 mm (1 in) acrylic (maker launch claim, passes not stated) |
| Precision | ±0.02 mm (maker claim), 1000 dpi |
| Air assist | Built in |
| Camera | Yes |
| Autofocus | Yes |
| Rotary support | Yes |
| Safety | Fully enclosed, listed as an FDA Class 1 laser with lid interlock and emergency stop, plus a water temperature alarm |
| Connectivity | USB, Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
| Software | RDWorks (included), LightBurn (licence extra unless bundled) |
| Weight | 41 kg |
| Price | from $2,200 at OMTech, checked Oct 2 |
Pros and cons
Why we like it
- Water chiller, 18.8 cfm air assist pump and 282 cfm exhaust fan are all built in
- Runs RDWorks or LightBurn offline over USB, Wi-Fi or Ethernet, with no cloud account needed
- 5MP camera and one-click autofocus for quick placement
- Front and rear pass-through slots (400 x 7 mm) for long thin stock
- 24-month warranty
Watch out for
- RDWorks is dated and clunky, and LightBurn costs extra in the base package
- Rotary is not included in the base package
- Big and heavy at 41 kg and 1045 mm wide, so it needs a sturdy bench
- 500 mm/s top speed trails newer machines, including OMTech's own Polar 2
- Tube is a consumable, rated at about 11,000 hours
Compare with
Frequently asked questions
What materials can the OMTech Polar Lite 55W cut and engrave?
Cuts wood, plywood, MDF, acrylic (clear and colored), leather, paper, cardboard, fabric and rubber; engraves glass, stone, anodized aluminum and coated metal. It cannot cut metal and cannot mark bare metal without a marking spray. Never cut PVC or vinyl: the chlorine gas attacks the machine and your lungs.
What else do I need to buy with the OMTech Polar Lite 55W?
A window or wall vent for the included exhaust pipe (or a fume extractor if you cannot vent outside), a LightBurn licence unless you buy the LightBurn or Pro Master package, the rotary for cylinders (Versatile Craft or Pro Master package), CO2-rated safety glasses for alignment and maintenance, and eventually a replacement tube
How much does the OMTech Polar Lite 55W cost?
From $2,200 at omtech, 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
- OMTech Polar Lite 55W product page
- OMTech Polar Lite 55W store data (packages and prices)
- Old OMTech Polar 50W US URL (now redirects to Polar Lite)
- OMTech Canada Polar 50W store data (all variants unavailable)
- OMTech Polar Lite launch press release (TechNode Global)
- Penn Tool Co: OMTech Polar Lite 55W listing
- OMTech blog: Polar Lite vs Maker MF1624-60
- OMTech Polar 2 store data