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Sculpfun · Diode
Sculpfun S30 Ultra · 33W
Top S30 Ultra head: thick wood cuts on the same 590 × 595 mm frame
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Last updated How we evaluate
Released April 2023
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Showing specs for: 33W
TL;DR
The 33W is the strongest of Sculpfun's three S30 Ultra heads (11W, 22W, 33W). Sculpfun claims 15 mm plywood and 20 mm balsa in one pass, on the same frame, adapter and cable as the 22W. It costs about $200–230 more than the 22W machine and makes more smoke on long cuts.
Best for
What makes this machine stand out
Hardware and workflow features worth understanding before you buy : not just wattage on a label.
Thickest cuts in the line
Sculpfun claims 15 mm plywood and 20 mm balsa in one pass, against the 8 mm range we list for the middle head.
Shorter cut jobs
About 2–4 min for a 10 × 10 cm square in 3 mm basswood in our reference profile, with cut speeds up to ~20 mm/s on thin wood.
Replaceable protective lens
The lens in front of the diodes is a cheap spare part: swapping it restores cutting power after heavy smoke, with one spare in the box.
Our verdict
Ideal if you
Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W fits workshops where cut jobs fill most of the week: thick plywood signs, layered panels, batches of cut-outs on a large open bed. Fewer passes also shortens the time you spend watching over each job.
Skip if you
Paying for this head makes little sense if you mostly engrave photos or small text: the wider spot gives no gain there. Long thick cuts produce a lot of smoke and char, so an enclosure or extraction is close to mandatory indoors. Open frame, no camera, no Wi-Fi.
Pros
- Sculpfun claims 15 mm plywood and 20 mm balsa in a single pass, the thickest of the three S30 Ultra heads
- 3 mm basswood squares in about 2–4 min in our reference profile, roughly half the time of the middle head
- Same 590 × 595 mm frame, air pump and Bluetooth board as the cheaper heads: the extra cost goes into the laser
Cons
- $769.99 for the machine alone, about $200–230 more than the middle head for gains that only show on cutting
- Thick cuts make heavy smoke and charred edges: plan extraction and fire supervision
- Wider ~0.10 mm spot: tiny text and fine photo detail are softer than on the entry head
What this machine is for
Thick diode cutting on a large open frame, with engraving as a secondary job
33W module · Sculpfun S30 Ultra
Laser spot size
~0.10 mm
Motion precision: 0.01 mm
Sample engrave job
~6–9 min
10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)
Sample cut job
~2–4 min
10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)
Reference benchmark: same job size on every machine so you can compare times fairly. Times are estimates for the reference job above; your design complexity and settings will change them.
Materials
- · Wood
- · Leather
- · Slate
- · Anodized aluminum
- · Stainless (with spray)
Accessories & add-ons
Typical inclusions and add-ons for this profile : confirm your SKU.
- Optional
Enclosure / cabinet
Third-party enclosure improves smoke control and safety
- Recommended
Laser safety glasses
~450 nm diode: OD rated for your wavelength
- Recommended
Fire extinguisher
Editorial guidance : not a live parts list. See also: Ventilation setup · Safety basics
Practical notes
Beginner notes
This profile is the 33W head on the Sculpfun S30 Ultra. Read the TL;DR and benchmarks above, then compare the other power options via the chips: buy this one only if cutting thick wood is a regular job.
Pro tips
Keep the air pump on for every cut and check focus before thick stock: one-pass claims assume a clean lens and a sharp focus. Replace the protective lens when cut depth drops. For photos, lower power and slow down rather than reusing cut presets.
Pro / technical specsRaw numbers for experienced users comparing machines.
- Max speed (spec)
- 167 mm/s
- Avg engrave speed
- 80–160 mm/s
- Avg cut speed
- 6–20 mm/s (3–6 mm)
Common questions
How thick can the S30 Ultra 33W cut?
Sculpfun states 15 mm plywood and 20 mm balsa in one pass with air assist. We have not verified those figures; our reference profile estimates a 10 × 10 cm square in 3 mm basswood at about 2–4 min. Real results depend on the wood, the focus and a clean lens.
Is the 33W worth about $200 more than the 22W?
Only if you cut often. In October 2026 Sculpfun sold the 33W machine at $769.99 against $539.99–569.99 for the 22W, on the same frame. For engraving the extra power brings little, and the wider spot is slightly softer on small detail.
Can I upgrade an existing S30 Ultra to 33W instead?
Yes. Sculpfun says the 11W, 22W and 33W heads share the power adapter, structure and laser cable. In October 2026 its 33W upgrade kit cost $549.99 and included the head, a motherboard, an air pump and the adapter. If you already own an S30 Ultra, the kit costs less than a new machine; the $769.99 machine makes sense when you start from scratch.
Alternatives to the Sculpfun S30 Ultra 33W
Machines in the same space, picked from our database by type, price, and score.
Longer · Diode · $680 – $950
Longer Ray5 40W is the 40W SKU on the Longer longer ray5 line. Longer's compact Ray5 20W diode engraver: verify you are buying the 20W SKU, not the 5W, 10W, or 40W Ray5 listings. Verify optical power on the listing: do not assume combined-watt marketing.
xTool · Diode · $1,699 – $3,049
The 40W S1 is xTool's high-power enclosed diode. Still not CO₂, but the extra optical power helps on thicker basswood versus the 20W cabinet.
xTool · Diode · $699 – $899
The 20W D1 Pro module is xTool's most popular open-frame head: mixed engraving and light cutting on the large D1 bed. Verify optical power on the listing; swap to 40W later if cut jobs dominate.