Which laser can cut acrylic and engrave metal? In a beamo II workflow, the built-in 30W CO2 laser handles acrylic cutting, while the optional 2W infrared module handles direct marking and engraving on compatible metals. A CO2 laser can also engrave anodized or coated metal, and many CO2 systems can mark bare metal when a marking compound is applied, but that is different from directly engraving compatible bare metal with the infrared module.
The beamo you loved is now upgraded for acrylic cutting, metal engraving, and growing creative businesses. beamo II brings both workflows into one compact machine, so creators do not have to choose a single material category at the beginning.
For a small business, material compatibility is only part of the decision. The right machine also needs to fit the workspace and make setup, alignment, and repeat production easier as orders grow. beamo II adds faster engraving, a larger working area, camera-assisted positioning, one-tap autofocus, and more focused air assist to the compact beamo format.
Whether you are starting your first product line or expanding an existing creative business, beamo II gives you room to work with more materials without turning your studio into an industrial workshop.
What Is New in beamo II?
The original beamo established a CO2 laser workflow in a compact footprint. beamo II keeps that accessible format while upgrading the parts of the workflow that matter most when you are producing items for customers: speed, usable space, setup, alignment, airflow, and material flexibility.
beamo II raises the maximum engraving speed to 750 mm/s and expands the CO2 working area to 360 × 240 mm, compared with 300 mm/s and 300 × 210 mm on the original beamo. It also adds a one-shot 8 MP wide-angle camera, built-in autofocus, and an optional 2W infrared module.
| Feature | beamo II | Original beamo |
|---|---|---|
| Laser options | 30W CO2 + optional 2W infrared | 30W CO2 |
| Maximum engraving speed | 750 mm/s | 300 mm/s; beamo II is 2.5× faster |
| CO2 working area | 360 × 240 mm | 300 × 210 mm; beamo II provides about 37% more area |
| Focus | Built-in one-tap autofocus | Manual focus as standard; optional autofocus accessory |
| Camera preview | One-shot 8 MP wide-angle camera | Earlier camera workflow; beamo II preview is up to 3× faster, depending on network conditions |
| Air assist | Nozzle-to-material distance reduced to 8 mm | 12 mm previously; beamo II provides 1.5× more focused airflow |
For businesses that want to add metal products, the optional 2W infrared module turns one compact platform into a more versatile production tool without requiring a separate machine for every material category.
Two Laser Sources in One Compact Machine
Different materials respond best to different laser sources. Instead of forcing one source to do every job, beamo II supports two purpose-built options within the same machine.
30W CO2 laser for everyday creative materials
The built-in 30W CO2 laser is the foundation of the beamo II workflow. It can cut and engrave acrylic, wood, leather, paper, cardboard, fabric, and other compatible materials, and it can engrave surfaces such as glass, stone, and anodized metal.
Because CO2 lasers can process transparent and colored acrylic, small businesses can create signage, displays, accessories, and decorative products that are difficult to produce with many visible-light diode systems.
Optional 2W infrared laser for metal marking
When your product line expands into jewelry, drinkware, tools, tags, or branded metal items, the optional 2W infrared module creates fine, durable marks on compatible metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, gold, silver, copper, titanium, and iron. Material finish and composition affect results, so test settings on a sample before production.
Cutting Performance for Products Customers Want
Material flexibility matters when your catalog depends on seasonal launches, personalized orders, or quick experiments. beamo II can cut acrylic up to 7 mm thick. Actual cutting depth depends on material type, density, moisture content, settings, laser-tube condition, and number of passes.
For acrylic-based businesses, CO2 technology is especially useful. Clear, translucent, mirrored, and colored acrylic can become retail signs, QR-code stands, earrings, ornaments, cake toppers, display fixtures, and branded décor. Repeatable positioning also makes it easier to build coordinated collections instead of isolated samples.
The material demonstration shows beamo II processing compatible acrylic and wood samples.
See Full Material List
Use this table as a starting point and test the actual stock before production. A dash means a cutting depth is not specified, not that the material is safe for every laser process.
| Material | CO2 cutting | CO2 engraving | 2W infrared engraving |
|---|---|---|---|
| Acrylic (all colors; infrared: opaque only)4 | Up to 7 mm | Supported | Supported |
| Black walnut (wood)1 | Up to 6 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| Cypress (wood)1 | Up to 8 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| Plywood (wood)1 | Up to 6 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| MDF (wood)1 | Up to 4 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| Cardboard2 | Up to 7.5 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| Leather3 | Up to 5 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| Fabric3 | Up to 7 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| Bamboo | Up to 5 mm | Supported | Not supported |
| Cork | — | Supported | Not supported |
| Rubber | — | Supported | Not supported |
| Glass | — | Supported | Not supported |
| Cement | — | Supported | Not supported |
| Stone | — | Supported | Not supported |
| Anodized metal | — | Supported | Supported |
| Stainless steel | — | Not supported | Supported |
| Gold, copper, titanium, aluminum, silver, and iron | — | Not supported | Supported |
Certain materials require multiple passes to cut effectively. Greater cutting depth may be possible by reducing speed or using multiple passes.
- Wood cutting performance varies with moisture content and density.
- Thick cardboard is highly flammable and should be cut with a slight amount of moisture to reduce risk.
- Although higher power can cut thicker leather and fabrics, their flammability makes the specified maximum the recommended limit.
- Infrared engraving supports opaque acrylic only.
Why Add an Infrared Laser to a Small-Business Workflow?
What Can You Make and Sell with beamo II?
A useful small-business laser cutter should support more than a single bestseller. With its compact format, 30W CO2 laser, and optional infrared module, beamo II can help creators develop connected product collections across gifting, events, retail, décor, and education.
A Workflow Built for Small Studios
Space and setup time can become real production costs. beamo II keeps the machine footprint compact while combining camera preview, autofocus, red-light framing, and Beam Studio compatibility. The CO2 working area measures 360 × 240 mm, while optional accessories can expand the types and dimensions of objects you can process.
This combination is useful for home studios, shared workshops, classrooms, retail back rooms, and market sellers who need professional capabilities without reorganizing an entire space around one machine.
Is beamo II the Right Small-Business Laser Cutter for You?
beamo II is a strong fit if you want to work with clear or colored acrylic, create personalized wood and leather products, engrave glass, or add compatible metal-marking products later. Its camera-guided workflow and autofocus make setup more approachable for newer users, while its speed, repeatable positioning, and accessory ecosystem give growing businesses room to expand.
Before choosing any laser cutter, compare your most important materials, product dimensions, expected order volume, ventilation setup, and local safety requirements. Starting with the products you actually plan to sell will help you choose the machine and accessories that fit your workflow.
Make More from a Compact Space
Your next product line does not need to begin with a factory-sized machine. With CO2 cutting and engraving, optional infrared metal marking, and a streamlined desktop workflow, beamo II helps small businesses move from idea to finished product in one compact workspace.