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OMTech 40W CO2 vs Glowforge Basic — Which Should You Buy?

Side-by-side specs, settings, and decision guide. Both have community-tested settings for 66 shared materials.

OMTech 40W CO2: $599 vs Glowforge Basic: $3,995 — prices as of 2026, check retailer for current pricing.

Where to buy

Buy the OMTech 40W CO2 — check current price & availability

Buy on Amazon →

Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Where to buy

Buy the Glowforge Basic — check current price & availability

Buy on Amazon →

Affiliate link — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Which one should you buy?

Pick the OMTech 40W CO2 if you want: native LightBurn support (industry-standard).

Pick the Glowforge Basic if you want: more cutting power (45W vs 40W).

OMTech 40W CO2

OMTech 40W CO2

Price
$599
Power
40W
Laser Type
co2
Work Area
300×200mm
Software
LightBurn
Buy OMTech 40W CO2 →

Glowforge Basic

Price
$3,995
Power
45W
Laser Type
co2
Software
Glowforge App
Buy Glowforge Basic →
190 settings for OMTech 40W CO2142 settings for Glowforge Basic

Settings Comparison

Material · OperationOMTech 40W CO2Glowforge Basic
2mm Basswood Plywoodcut28 mm/s · 32% · air assist25 mm/s · 35% · air assist
3mm Baltic Birch Plywoodcut20 mm/s · 75% · 2× passes · air assist20 mm/s · 100% · air assist
3mm Basswood Plywoodcut20 mm/s · 40% · air assist300 glowforge_units · 100%
3mm Black Acryliccut22 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist20 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist
3mm Cherry Plywoodcut18 mm/s · 46% · air assist—
3mm Clear Acryliccut12 mm/s · 55% · air assist500 glowforge_units · 100%
3mm Coloured Acryliccut14 mm/s · 62% · air assist—
3mm Hardboard HDFcut12 mm/s · 55% · air assist—
3mm Maple Plywoodcut16 mm/s · 48% · air assist—
3mm MDFcut30 mm/s · 65–75% · air assist28 mm/s · 65–75% · air assist
3mm Mirrored Acryliccut12 mm/s · 55% · air assist—
3mm Tinted Acryliccut18 mm/s · 62% · air assist18 mm/s · 60% · air assist
3mm Walnut Plywoodcut18 mm/s · 45% · air assist18 mm/s · 100% · air assist
5mm Plywoodcut10 mm/s · 60% · 2× passes · air assist9 mm/s · 60% · 2× passes · air assist
6mm Baltic Birch Plywoodcut7 mm/s · 70% · 2× passes · air assist—
6mm Basswood Plywoodcut8 mm/s · 65% · 2× passes · air assist—
6mm Clear Acryliccut6 mm/s · 72% · 2× passes · air assist6 mm/s · 72% · 2× passes · air assist
6mm MDFcut8 mm/s · 62% · 2× passes · air assist10 mm/s · 100% · air assist
9mm Birch Plywoodcut4 mm/s · 78% · 3× passes · air assist3 mm/s · 78% · 3× passes · air assist
Acrylic Feltcut55 mm/s · 28%55 mm/s · 28%
Acryliccut12 mm/s · 70% · air assist—
Alder 3mmcut22 mm/s · 52% · air assist20 mm/s · 55%
Aldercut250 mm/min · 95% · 2× passes · air assist—
Bamboo 3mmcut22 mm/s · 50% · air assist20 mm/s · 55%
Bamboo Cutting Boardcut14 mm/s · 80–85% · air assist—
Bamboocut250 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist120 mm/min · 100% · air assist
Basswoodcut30 mm/s · 55–70% · air assist25 mm/s · 55–70% · air assist
Cardboard (corrugated, ~3–4mm)cut80 mm/s · 45%85 mm/s · 42%
Cardboardcut60 mm/s · 20%180 mm/s · 35%
Cardstock 160gsmcut60 mm/s · 15%—
Cardstock 300gsmcut80 mm/s · 10%70 mm/s · 12%
Cardstock (80–110 lb / ~220–300 gsm)cut100 mm/s · 20%110 mm/s · 18%
Cardstockcut80 mm/s · 12%250 mm/s · 15%
Cedar 3mmcut22 mm/s · 50% · air assist20 mm/s · 54%
Cedarcut400 mm/min · 85% · air assist—
Cherry 3mmcut18 mm/s · 58% · air assist16 mm/s · 62%
Cherrycut250 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist—
Chipboard 2mmcut30 mm/s · 28% · air assist28 mm/s · 30%
Copy Paper 80gsmcut100 mm/s · 12%100 mm/s · 12%
Cork 3mmcut28 mm/s · 35% · air assist28 mm/s · 35% · air assist
Cork Sheet 3mmcut25 mm/s · 35% · air assist22 mm/s · 40% · air assist
Corkcut30 mm/s · 45%800 mm/min · 70–85% · 2× passes
Corrugated Cardboard 4mmcut22 mm/s · 45%—
Corrugated Cardboardcut35 mm/s · 45%35 mm/s · 45%
Cotton Fabriccut50 mm/s · 18% · air assist45 mm/s · 20%
Craft Felt 3mmcut45 mm/s · 16%40 mm/s · 18%
Denim Fabriccut45 mm/s · 22% · air assist40 mm/s · 25%
EVA Foam 3mmcut40 mm/s · 20% · air assist35 mm/s · 22%
EVA Foam 6mmcut45 mm/s · 32%45 mm/s · 32%
Faux Leathercut35 mm/s · 45% · air assist35 mm/s · 45% · air assist
Feltcut800 mm/min · 25%—
Foam Board 5mmcut42 mm/s · 35%42 mm/s · 35%
Foamcut50 mm/s · 15%55 mm/s · 14%
Genuine Leather (Veg-Tan, ~3mm)cut28 mm/s · 45–55% · air assist28 mm/s · 45–55% · air assist
Genuine Leathercut20 mm/s · 35% · air assist8 mm/s · 60–65% · air assist
HTV Vinylcut90 mm/s · 12%90 mm/s · 12%
Kraft Papercut80 mm/s · 12%280 mm/s · 12%
Leathercut10 mm/s · 50% · air assist9 mm/s · 80–85% · air assist
Maplecut19 mm/s · 50–55% · air assist12 mm/s · 65–75%
Mylar Stencil 7.5milcut68 mm/s · 18%68 mm/s · 18%
Oak 3mmcut15 mm/s · 65% · air assist14 mm/s · 70%
Oakcut200 mm/min · 100% · 2× passes · air assist—
Papercut100 mm/s · 10%300 mm/s · 10%
Pine 3mmcut20 mm/s · 55% · air assist18 mm/s · 60%
Pinecut350 mm/min · 90% · air assist—
Plywoodcut25 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist22 mm/s · 60–70% · air assist
Rubber Stamp Blankcut11 mm/s · 60–65% · air assist11 mm/s · 60–65% · air assist
Rubber Stamp Materialcut8 mm/s · 80–85% · air assist—
Rubbercut8 mm/s · 80–85% · air assist—
Walnutcut17 mm/s · 55–60% · air assist12 mm/s · 65–75%
Washi Tapecut150 mm/s · 8%160 mm/s · 7%
2mm Basswood Plywoodengrave400 mm/s · 5–10%380 mm/s · 11%
3mm Baltic Birch Plywoodengrave—300 mm/s · 25–30%
3mm Basswood Plywoodengrave300 mm/s · 30%1000 glowforge_units · 75%
3mm Black Acrylicengrave350 mm/s · 18–25%350 mm/s · 18–25%
3mm Cherry Plywoodengrave250 mm/s · 28%—
3mm Clear Acrylic (Cast)engrave420 mm/min440 mm/min
3mm Clear Acrylicengrave200 mm/s · 20%1000 glowforge_units · 40%
3mm Hardboard HDFengrave200 mm/s · 15–20%—
3mm Maple Plywoodengrave390 mm/min400 mm/min
3mm MDFengrave450 mm/s · 20–28%450 mm/s · 20–28%
3mm Mirrored Acrylicengrave400 mm/min420 mm/min
3mm Tinted Acrylicengrave—140 mm/s · 20%
3mm Walnut Plywoodengrave250 mm/s · 10–15%250 mm/s · 25–30%
5mm Plywoodengrave150 mm/s · 15–20%140 mm/s · 20%
6mm Baltic Birch Plywoodengrave100 mm/s · 15–20%—
6mm Basswood Plywoodengrave250 mm/s · 35%—
6mm Clear Acrylicengrave100 mm/s · 20–25%120 mm/s · 22%
6mm MDFengrave100 mm/s · 15–20%150 mm/s · 25–30%
9mm Birch Plywoodengrave100 mm/s · 20–25%100 mm/s · 24%
Acrylic Feltengrave500 mm/s · 5–10%500 mm/s · 5–10%
Acrylicengrave300 mm/s · 20%—
Alder 3mmengrave300 mm/s · 18%—
Alderengrave350 mm/min · 55%—
Anodized Aluminumengrave300 mm/s · 40%300 mm/s · 40%
Bamboo 3mmengrave310 mm/s · 16%290 mm/s · 18%
Bamboo Cutting Boardengrave250 mm/s · 35%—
Bambooengrave350 mm/s · 30%350 mm/s · 30%
Basswoodengrave500 mm/s · 22–30%400 mm/s · 22–30%
Cardboard (corrugated, ~3–4mm)engrave200 mm/s · 15%—
Cardboardengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%500 mm/s · 5–10%
Cardstock 160gsmengrave300 mm/s · 8%—
Cardstock 300gsmengrave400 mm/s · 6%500 mm/s · 5–8%
Cardstock (80–110 lb / ~220–300 gsm)engrave300 mm/s · 8%—
Cardstockengrave300 mm/s · 6%400 mm/s · 8%
Cedar 3mmengrave300 mm/s · 16%—
Cedarengrave400 mm/min · 45%—
Ceramic Tileengrave180 mm/s · 65%180 mm/s · 65%
Cherry 3mmengrave290 mm/s · 20%270 mm/s · 22%
Cherryengrave350 mm/min · 55%—
Chipboard 2mmengrave350 mm/s · 10%400 mm/s · 15–20%
Coated / Powder Coated Steelengrave300 mm/min · 50%300 mm/min · 48%
Copy Paper 80gsmengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%500 mm/s · 5–8%
Cork 3mmengrave250 mm/s · 22%400 mm/s · 5–10%
Cork Sheet 3mmengrave300 mm/s · 12%280 mm/s · 14%
Corkengrave—4000 mm/min · 35–45%
Corrugated Cardboard 4mmengrave300 mm/s · 18%—
Corrugated Cardboardengrave500 mm/s · 10–15%500 mm/s · 10–15%
Cotton Fabricengrave280 mm/s · 16%280 mm/s · 16%
Craft Felt 3mmengrave200 mm/s · 15%—
Denim Fabricengrave350 mm/s · 8%300 mm/s · 18%
EVA Foam 3mmengrave350 mm/s · 8%—
EVA Foam 6mmengrave500 mm/s · 5–10%500 mm/s · 5–10%
Faux Leatherengrave500 mm/s · 10–15%500 mm/s · 10–15%
Feltengrave2500 mm/min · 10–15%—
Foam Board 5mmengrave500 mm/s · 5–10%500 mm/s · 5–10%
Foamengrave150 mm/s · 6%—
Genuine Leather (Veg-Tan, ~3mm)engrave300 mm/s · 14–20% · air assist300 mm/s · 14–20% · air assist
Genuine Leatherengrave200 mm/s · 25%150 mm/s · 22%
Glassengrave320 mm/s · 20%220 mm/s · 22%
HTV Vinylengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%500 mm/s · 5–8%
Kraft Paperengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%500 mm/s · 5–8%
Leatherengrave150 mm/s · 10–15%170 mm/s · 30% · air assist
Mapleengrave350 mm/s · 18% · air assist250 mm/s · 20–25%
Marble Tileengrave280 mm/s · 30%210 mm/s · 35%
Mylar Stencil 7.5milengrave—500 mm/s · 5–8%
Oak 3mmengrave280 mm/s · 22%260 mm/s · 22%
Oakengrave300 mm/min · 60%—
Paperengrave500 mm/s · 5–8%500 mm/s · 5–8%
Photopolymer Stamp Blankengrave150 mm/s · 40%120 mm/s · 45%
Pine 3mmengrave300 mm/s · 18%270 mm/s · 20%
Pineengrave400 mm/min · 50%—
Plywoodengrave450 mm/s · 22–30%450 mm/s · 22–30%
Powder Coated Steelengrave300 mm/min · 50%300 mm/min · 48%
Rubber Stamp Blankengrave200 mm/s · 22%200 mm/s · 22%
Rubber Stamp Materialengrave150 mm/s · 50%—
Rubberengrave150 mm/s · 35% · air assist—
Slate (coaster)engrave230 mm/s · 23–28%150 mm/s · 27–32%
Slateengrave250 mm/s · 65%130 mm/s · 80%
Spray Painted Metalengrave350 mm/min · 45%350 mm/min · 45%
Stainless Steelengrave200 mm/s · 65%200 mm/s · 65%
Walnutengrave300 mm/s · 20% · air assist250 mm/s · 20–25%
Stainless Steelmark170 mm/s · 75%170 mm/s · 75%
All OMTech 40W CO2 settings →All Glowforge Basic settings →

Ready to buy the OMTech 40W CO2?

Buy on Amazon →

Ready to buy the Glowforge Basic?

Buy on Amazon →

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better, the OMTech 40W CO2 or Glowforge Basic?

It depends on your use case. OMTech 40W CO2 is 40W co2 with 300×200mm bed. Glowforge Basic is 45W co2. See the decision guide and side-by-side specs above.

What materials can both the OMTech 40W CO2 and Glowforge Basic cut or engrave?

Both machines have community-tested settings for 66 shared materials. The settings table above lists every material with side-by-side speed, power, passes, and air assist values for direct comparison.

Is the OMTech 40W CO2 or Glowforge Basic compatible with LightBurn?

The OMTech 40W CO2 works natively with LightBurn. The Glowforge Basic uses Glowforge App. LightBurn compatibility may be possible via a community device profile but is not officially supported.

Is the Glowforge Basic (45W) much faster than the OMTech 40W CO2 (40W)?

Higher wattage typically means faster cutting and the ability to cut thicker material in fewer passes. The Glowforge Basic (45W) cuts thicker material in single passes and engraves at higher speeds than the OMTech 40W CO2 (40W). For raster engraving the difference is smaller because surface engraving is limited by mechanical scan speed.

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Settings are community-contributed and may not reflect your exact machine configuration or material batch. Always test on scrap first. Some links are affiliate links — we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What Makers Say

★★★★★5.0· 6 reviews
View all on Etsy →
★★★★★

"Used it with a Glowforge — engraved beautifully with no changes. I will be purchasing more digital downloads from this shop."

— Anna

★★★★★

"I was struggling with lining up my NFC business cards. I was able to not only line them up much better but also do multiple cards at once — making that job so much easier."

— Camp

★★★★★

"Excellent quality and design. Cut clean and neat!"

— LYNN

★★★★★

"Great jigs. Appreciate the time saved not having to build this from scratch!"

— Bruce

★★★★★

"Excellent quality. Item as described. Expectations exceeded."

— Michael

★★★★★

"This template made my slate coasters so much easier. 4×4 coasters from Michaels drop in easily and are easy to remove. Def worth it."

— chris

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