Bambu Lab R1: Bambu Lab’s first laser with 55 W CO₂ for €2,499, first reviews

With the R1, Bambu Lab has released its first product that is not a 3D printer. It is an enclosed CO₂ laser for cutting and engraving. Until now, Bambu Lab only offered laser modules for its H2D 3D printer. The R1 was unveiled on 22 September 2026 and has been shipping since October. First owners are reporting on their machines in the Bambu forum.

Key specifications

	R1 according to Bambu Lab
Laser	CO₂, 55 W, liquid-cooled
Working area	600 x 300 mm, up to 600 x 3,000 mm with the conveyor
Cutting (one pass)	15 mm plywood and 20 mm acrylic with the included lens, 18 mm plywood with the optional medium or long focus lens
Speed	up to 1,000 mm/s, acceleration 20,000 mm/s²
Laser class	Class 1 in enclosed operation
Air assist	built-in pump, 30 l/min at 30 kPa
Software	Bambu Suite for Windows and macOS
Connectivity	dual-band Wi-Fi, USB
Dimensions, weight	940 x 560 x 200 mm, 33.5 kg

According to Bambu Lab, it can also engrave glass, ceramics and coated metal. The CO₂ laser cannot process bare metal.

What is new about the R1

• Automatic beam alignment: according to Bambu Lab, motorised mirrors and a sensor align the laser beam in about a minute. On other CO₂ lasers this is done by hand, which Bambu Lab says can take beginners up to an hour.
• Cameras and sensors: an overview camera for the whole bed, a camera on the laser head, a pointer laser and a distance-measuring laser. The R1 detects outlines, for example of stickers, and measures curved surfaces, according to Bambu Lab even on glass and clear acrylic.
• Vibration compensation, as known from Bambu Lab’s 3D printers. According to the company, this is the first time it has been built into a CO₂ laser.
• Class 1 without safety glasses in normal operation, plus a lid interlock, five flame sensors, an emergency stop and a safety key.

Important: with the Riser Base or the conveyor, the R1 becomes a Class 4 laser device. CO₂ safety glasses and trained personnel are then required, and Bambu Lab explicitly intends this for professional use only.

Prices and accessories

According to Bambu Lab, the R1 costs €2,499 in Europe including VAT, plus shipping, and $2,499 in the US. According to Notebookcheck, the Long Material Bundle with Riser Base and conveyor costs €3,329.

Bambu Lab sells the Riser Base, conveyor, rotary attachment for cylinders, medium and long focus lenses, an encoder for motion accuracy under 0.1 mm over 600 mm, the E1 Pro air purifier and an automatic fire extinguishing system separately. Engraving on round shapes other than cylinders is due later via a firmware update, with no date given.

According to LightBurn, LightBurn 2.2 can generate G-code for the R1, which then runs via Bambu Suite. A direct connection with all features has been announced for LightBurn 2.3, without a date.

What the first reviews say

• Notebookcheck (10 October 2026): easy setup, automatic alignment and focus, clean cuts and engravings, reliable engraving on curved surfaces and offline operation. Criticism goes to the awkwardly placed emergency stop, the 59.8 mm object height without the riser and the expensive accessories. The reviewer considers the price fair for the features. Measured kerf: about 0.18 mm. At 68 dB at 1 m according to the maker, the R1 is much louder than a 3D printer.
• How-To Geek (22 September 2026, 9 out of 10): one of the easiest lasers to use, very easy setup, strong cutting and engraving performance. The weak point is the multi-step software workflow.

All specifications, accessories and comparisons with other CO₂ lasers are in the R1 data sheet in the Maker Wiki.