Diode laser · Open frame · Sculpfun
Sculpfun S30 Pro Max
Budget buyers who want 20W of cutting power for wood and leather and are happy to drive it from LightBurn on a laptop
from $479.99 at Sculpfun, checked Oct 2
Image: Sculpfun. Prices change often; the shop shows the current price.
Quick verdict
The S30 Pro Max is Sculpfun's 2022 open-frame diode with a 20W optical module and a 370 x 360 mm bed. At $479.99 with an automatic air pump included, it is one of the cheapest ways to get 20W, and Mobiflip cut 12 mm plywood in three passes with it. The catch is speed: the firmware limits travel to 6,000 mm/min, which makes big photo engravings a long wait. It is a USB-tethered kit with no app, Wi-Fi or listed flame and tilt sensors, so it suits someone working in a garage with a laptop rather than a buyer who wants an appliance.
What you still need
A honeycomb bed (Sculpfun's 350 x 350 mm panel is $59.99, or the Basic Set adds honeycomb and rotary roller for $120 more), ventilation or an enclosure with a fan, a LightBurn licence (LaserGRBL is free but Windows only), and extra 455 nm rated goggles for anyone else in the roomMaterial reality check
Cuts wood, plywood, MDF, bamboo, leather, card, felt and dark opaque acrylic, with anything thicker than a few millimetres taking several passes. Engraves anodised aluminium, coated metal, slate, ceramic and can mark 304 stainless steel. It cannot cut any metal, and it cannot cut clear or blue acrylic because the 455 nm light passes straight through. Never cut PVC or vinyl.Better alternative if
you would rather pay more for a newer 22W design than buy a 2022 platform with a 100 mm/s firmware limit: 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 | Frame accepts Sculpfun's S30 Ultra 22W and 33W module upgrade kits and the IR-2 1064 nm module, all sold separately |
| Wavelength | 455 ± 5 nm |
| Work area | 370 × 360 mm |
| Max speed | 100 mm/s (6,000 mm/min firmware limit) |
| Cutting (maker claim) | 12 mm poplar plywood in 3 passes at 90% power (Mobiflip test); no maker one-pass claim published |
| Precision | 0.05 mm (maker; its spec table also lists 0.005 mm) |
| Air assist | Included |
| Camera | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Rotary support | Yes |
| Safety | Open frame with an exposed Class 4 beam; detachable acrylic eye shield around the laser and limit switches; Sculpfun lists no flame sensor, tilt sensor or emergency stop |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Software | LightBurn, LaserGRBL |
| Weight | not published |
| Price | from $479.99 at Sculpfun, checked Oct 2 |
Pros and cons
Why we like it
- 20W optical module for under $500, and Sculpfun states plainly that this is light output, not electrical
- Air pump in the box, switched on and off automatically from LightBurn with M8
- Stiff aluminium frame with ruler scales on both axes for quick measuring
- Cheap replaceable lens and eye shield keep running costs low
- Upgrade path to 22W or 33W S30 Ultra modules and a 1064 nm IR module on the same frame
Watch out for
- Firmware caps travel at 6,000 mm/min (100 mm/s), so large photo engravings are slow
- Kit you assemble, square and belt-tension yourself; reviewers took 30 to 60 minutes
- No Wi-Fi, app or offline controller out of the box: Bluetooth and SD are listed as reserved functions needing an upgrade kit
- No flame or tilt detection listed, so it should never run unattended
- A 2022 design with a 370 x 360 mm bed, now partly sold as US clearance stock
Compare with
Frequently asked questions
What materials can the Sculpfun S30 Pro Max cut and engrave?
Cuts wood, plywood, MDF, bamboo, leather, card, felt and dark opaque acrylic, with anything thicker than a few millimetres taking several passes. Engraves anodised aluminium, coated metal, slate, ceramic and can mark 304 stainless steel. It cannot cut any metal, and it cannot cut clear or blue acrylic because the 455 nm light passes straight through. Never cut PVC or vinyl.
What else do I need to buy with the Sculpfun S30 Pro Max?
A honeycomb bed (Sculpfun's 350 x 350 mm panel is $59.99, or the Basic Set adds honeycomb and rotary roller for $120 more), ventilation or an enclosure with a fan, a LightBurn licence (LaserGRBL is free but Windows only), and extra 455 nm rated goggles for anyone else in the room
How much does the Sculpfun S30 Pro Max cost?
From $479.99 at sculpfun, 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
- Sculpfun S30 Pro Max product page and spec table
- Sculpfun S30 Pro Max Shopify product data (prices)
- LightBurn forum: highest speed for S30 Pro Max
- Mobiflip: SCULPFUN S30 Pro Max 20W im Test
- The Gadgeteer: Sculpfun S30 Pro review
- Clever Creations: Sculpfun S30 announcement