Glowforge laser cutters are great if you want an easy, accessible machine that offers reasonable power. But, the best Glowforge alternatives can do the same (or even better) job at a far ... Read more
A year ago, the Ortur Laser Master 2 Pro reigned supreme as the best budget laser engraver around. Then Makeblock released the xTool D1 Pro, a 10W laser (vs the 5.5W laser ... Read more
xTool makes the best diode lasers around, with the xTool D1 Pro the flagship sub-$1000 laser cutter for hobbyists and small businesses alike. But, with three options available, the 5W, 10W, and ... Read more
Picking the perfect diode laser cutter might feel complicated, but there are two competitors that stand above the rest: the xTool D1 Pro vs Atomstack x7 Pro. Both of these tools offer ... Read more
The controller is one of the essential parts of any CNC, laser, or 3D printer. If you don’t want to buy industrial controllers, you have two choices: you can either turn an Arduino board ... Read more
xTool makes some of the best laser engravers around, and we’ve not been shy in recommending them on CNCSourced over the past few years. The xTool D1 was the most popular choice ... Read more
Snapmaker’s success with their 3-in-1 laser cutter, 3D printer, and CNC machines with both their current Snapmaker Artisan and 2.0 AT models conjures up a very important question: do you still need ... Read more
In this article, I’ll compare Mach3 vs Mach4 over its current issues, capabilities, intended audience, price, features, support, and more. I’ll go in-depth here, but if you want a quick summary, I’ve ... Read more
Are you looking for a decent software for your laser? Lightburn and LaserGRBL are excellent choices, but they are very different software. In this article, I’ll compare Lightburn with LaserGRBL, across laser ... Read more
In my comparison of the Maslow CNC vs MakerMade M2, overall the MakerMade M2 offers significant improvements over Maslow Classic in accuracy, ease of assembly, and speed. However, it’s twice the price ... Read more
Overview Fiber and CO2 lasers are more accessible and affordable than ever – but while they’re both laser cutters, they also differ greatly. They suit very different materials, so if you buy ... Read more
Cricut is a popular brand for craft making that uses blades to cut a variety of materials. Laser cutters are another type of machine used in crafting and DIY projects, but there ... Read more
There are three versions of the Glowforge (one of the most popular laser cutters): the Basic, Plus, and Pro. These all differ in terms of price, speed, and power, so it’s important ... Read more
Glowforge and xTool are both titans in the laser cutting space. Both companies offer impressive products that are very popular. Within the laser cutting community, there’s a lot of discussion between xTool ... Read more
Having tested and reviewed both the Ortur Laser Master 3, and the OLM2 Pro, we’re well-versed in the differences between these two affordable diode lasers. We’ll outline the differences between these two ... Read more
Personally, I lean towards Onshape. Onshape is better than SolidWorks if you have a team that designs together, and Onshape will also save you a lot of money. But, SolidWorks is more ... Read more
AutoCAD and SolidWorks are two of the most widely used CAD programs. But, AutoCAD and SolidWorks are very different, so learning their differences is important for anyone who wants to work with ... Read more
SolidWorks and CATIA are prominent CAD software with a wide range of applications, both made by Dassault Systemes. But, they target different industries, and there are different job opportunities for CATIA and ... Read more
Good quality desktop lasers supercharge your creativity, allowing you to cut and engrave wood, acrylics, metals (engraving only), and so much more. If you’re looking to set up a small business selling ... Read more
The Flux Beamo and Glowforge are two very similar machines – enclosed laser cutter and engravers with major power at mid-range prices. So, how do you decide which is the right choice ... Read more
Buying a laser cutting machine opens up many possibilities for a shop or a hobbyist. If you are looking for an entry-level professional laser that can quickly cut through wood and acrylic, ... Read more
So you’ve decided you need an entry-level laser. You’re full of creative ideas you’re sure will sell well, and are looking to sell your designs on Etsy or in your personal store. ... Read more
Full disclosure, when I was tasked with writing an article pitting FreeCAD vs Fusion 360 I picked the winner before I wrote word one. I’m happy to admit I was wrong to ... Read more
So we know CNCs and we like CNCs because they can take our computer designs and make them a reality. But what distinguishes CNC routers from CNC mills? What can each do ... Read more
If you’re looking for a cutting and engraving machine that makes it easy to make crafts from a variety of materials, the Glowforge and Cricut machines are both popular options. However, they’re ... Read more
Light bulbs are great for lighting a room, but if you don’t have electricity, a lantern works just fine. This is similar to the spindle vs router dilemma in CNC. Just like ... Read more
The X Carve by Inventables, and Glowforge’s Basic, Plus and Pro range are some of the most popular hobbyist and small business machines around – ideal for cutting and shaping materials. But ... Read more
If you’re looking for a laser engraving machine, both Glowforge’s and Snapmaker’s product ranges let you laser engrave and cut hobbyist projects. However, while you sacrifice the top-end of laser cutting power ... Read more
This is a comparison of Inventables’ X Carve Pro and Carbide 3D’s Shapeoko Pro, two CNC routers that are upgrades of the brands’ well-known X Carve and Shapeoko 4 models. Looking for ... Read more
Inventables’ X Carve is one of the most popular CNC routers among hobbyists, but the company also offers a supersized model – the X Carve Pro. So, how do these two machines ... Read more