Sculpfun S30 Pro Max 20W review: what to expect (incl. 10W vs 20W)

I did not receive this laser for testing, I bought it myself out of pure frustration.

I first had a small mini CNC/laser from AliExpress. At first it was fun to experiment with, but I quickly hit its limits. The cutting and engraving area was barely 10 x 15 cm and I could not get truly reliable results from it.

The turning point came when I wanted to make a gift for a child in my son’s class. The idea was solid, but the execution simply did not work with that small machine. That is when I knew that if I wanted to keep doing this, I had to invest in something more serious.

So I started looking for a hobby laser that fit my budget but still had enough power and workspace. After a lot of comparisons and reading reviews, I eventually chose the Sculpfun S30 Pro Max 20W.

In this review I show how I started, what I tested, and what you can realistically expect from this machine.

Where to buy?

First unboxing photo of the Sculpfun S30 Pro with protective foam packaging in the box. — Unboxing: sturdy packaging for the parts.

I started by unpacking, checking, and assembling everything calmly. The machine arrived well packed and that gave confidence right away. I do not have photos of the parts or assembly, but the laser is very straightforward to build and the instructions are clear.

Manual and parts of the Sculpfun S30 Pro during unboxing. — Manual at the start of assembly.

Setup and safety

Second overview of the closed safety enclosure of the Sculpfun S30 Pro. — Detail of the smoke extraction with flexible hose and exhaust port of the laser enclosure.

After assembly I finished the setup: enclosure, extraction, and a fixed workspace. For me, safe operation remains the foundation.

Detail of smoke extraction with flexible hose and exhaust port of the laser enclosure. — Laser setup in a closed enclosure.

At the beginning I mostly made many test pieces in LightBurn and kept iterating until I found the right settings and the laser did what I expected.

Detail of an engraved interval test on a black acrylic plate, with vertical and horizontal lines.

Test card with laser settings engraved on wood, placed on a leather-texture background.

Second overview photo of the Sculpfun S30 Pro with focus on frame and work bed.

Detail shot of frame, cabling, and drive system of the Sculpfun S30 Pro.

What works well in practice?

Operation	Pros	Cons	Review summary + my findings
Cutting wood/plywood	Smooth and powerful with 20W, with good headroom for creative projects.	Settings remain material-dependent; without test cuts you quickly lose quality.	Online reviews emphasize strong wood cutting performance. I see the same: cutting plywood goes very smoothly once settings are dialed in.
Engraving stone, wood and soft materials	Clean engravings, good contrast, great for personalized pieces.	Too much power or wrong speed can burn out details.	Reviews often mention neat engraving results. My experience is the same on slate, wood, and other soft materials.
Marking metal	Marking on brushed metal works well.	Light, shiny, or reflective surfaces are harder and require extra aids.	User reviews also report that metal is mostly about marking and depends heavily on surface type. That matches my practical results.
Usability and software	LightBurn works smoothly for design, testing, and repeatable jobs.	There is a learning curve: settings, speed, and power take time to tune properly.	Reviews show that beginners need initial calibration, then can achieve consistent results. That was exactly my experience.
Overall satisfaction	Versatile machine for hobby and creative projects.	It is still a hobby laser: you must work safely and keep realistic expectations.	In short, online experiences align well with my own conclusion: I am very satisfied with the S30 Pro Max 20W.

10W vs 20W: a clear difference

Spec	S30 Pro 10W	S30 Pro Max 20W	Practical impact
Optical power	10W	20W	20W gives more cutting headroom and speed.
Spot size (laser)	0.06 x 0.08 mm	0.08 x 0.10 mm	10W is finer for detail, 20W is stronger for cutting.
Nominal work area	410 x 400 mm	410 x 400 mm	Identical on paper.
Effective area with limits	approx. 380 x 385 mm	approx. 370 x 363 mm	Take the real usable area into account.
Air assist	Automatic (30 L/min)	Automatic (30 L/min)	Helps with cleaner cuts.

Results on different materials

Engraved slate coaster with Demon Slayer fan art and title. — Slate engraving with good contrast.

Laser-cut wooden earring hangers next to a ruler to show dimensions.

Wooden cutting board with humorous engraving and sombrero motif. — Engraving on a wooden cutting board.

Engraved pizza cutter with the text Slice Slice Baby and Happy Father's Day. — Engraved pizza cutter with the text Slice Slice Baby and Happy Father’s Day.

6) What can you expect and what not?

Realistically achievable	Possible with extra preparation	Not realistic for this type of laser
Cutting wood and plywood	Marking light/glossy surfaces	Reliably cutting transparent materials
Engraving wood, stone, and soft materials	Top results immediately without test cards	Cutting solid metal
You can save your best settings per material in LightBurn. That way you do not need to test from scratch every time and you get repeatable results faster.	Using identical settings everywhere without adjustment	Running it unattended for long periods

Final verdict: this laser is a strong choice for me. If you take time for calibration and work safely, you can make a lot with it.