Glowforge Aura

Name: Glowforge Aura
Brand: Glowforge
SKU: glowforge-aura

Consumer-friendly CO₂ laser with the simplest setup — at a subscription cost

Last updated June 1, 2026How we evaluate

Released October 2023

What this machine is for

Easiest CO₂ setup for crafters who want zero tinkering

Reference benchmark same job size on every machine so you can compare times fairly.

Laser spot size

~0.2 mm CO₂ spot

Smaller spot = finer detail (frame motion is usually the same across tiers)

Motion precision: 0.025 mm

Sample engrave job

~6–9 min

Filled photo or logo on birch plywood

10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)

Sample cut job

~3–5 min

Simple square cut-out from 3 mm basswood

10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)

Times are estimates for the reference job above; your design complexity and settings will change them.

TL;DR

Glowforge's compact CO₂ laser designed for crafters. Easy software, quick setup, and decent cutting for thin materials. The catch: premium hardware price plus required subscription for full features, and a smaller work area than xTool P2.

What this machine is for

Simple CO₂ cutting and engraving for crafters who prioritize ease of use over power and cost efficiency.

Best for

CraftersNon-technical usersSchools & librariesSimple cutting

Materials

Engraves

· Wood
· Leather
· Acrylic
· Paper
· Fabric
· Anodized aluminum

Cuts

· Thin wood (~6 mm max)
· Thin acrylic
· Leather
· Paper

Cannot do

· Thick acrylic/wood like 55W CO₂
· Bare metal marking
· Large format work
· Offline / advanced workflows without subscription

Pros

✓Easiest software experience in the category
✓Compact footprint for a CO₂ machine
✓Material presets reduce trial-and-error
✓Brand recognition helps when selling craft products
✓Decent support for non-technical users

Cons

✗Subscription required for full features — ongoing cost
✗Small work area vs. price
✗Less power than desktop CO₂ machines like xTool P2
✗Cloud-dependent — needs internet for most jobs
✗Closed ecosystem — limited LightBurn/advanced control

Beginner notes

Great if you hate tinkering and want to cut thin craft materials today. Bad value if you are technical and willing to learn LightBurn — an xTool D1 Pro or used K40 gives more capability per dollar.

Pro tips

Factor subscription cost over 2–3 years into your budget. Proofgrade materials are convenient but expensive — third-party plywood works with testing. Aura is craft-scale, not sign-shop scale.

Pro / technical specs

Raw numbers for experienced users comparing machines.

Laser spot size: ~0.2 mm CO₂ spot
Max speed (spec): 300 mm/s
Avg engrave speed: 100–200 mm/s fill
Avg cut speed: 8–20 mm/s on 3 mm plywood
Motion precision: 0.025 mm