Creality Falcon2 Pro Review: The ultimate enclosed workhorse that just works

With the sun of summer high above us and our event calendar filling up fast, our little studio has been a hive of activity. Our creative demands have grown, and while our trusty and portable Creality Falcon A1 is perfect for personalising gifts at the events, we realised we needed a machine with more muscle and a larger workspace for bigger promotional items and intricate signs.

The time had finally come to step up our game and unbox the machine we’d been anticipating for months: the mighty Creality Falcon2 Pro 22W. This new addition to our workshop has already proven to be a game-changer, allowing us to tackle bigger, more intricate projects with a level of speed, precision, and most importantly, safety.

Our choice was the 22W model, a powerful workhorse in its own right, but it’s worth noting that the Falcon2 Pro is also available as a 40W and a powerful 60W. These higher-wattage machines come with a significant bonus that truly sets them apart: a free Infrared (IR) laser module. This is not a small detail; it’s a monumental feature that opens up a new world of possibilities.

While the powerful diode laser handles wood, acrylic, and leather, the IR module allows you to engrave on materials a standard diode laser can’t touch, such as metals and certain plastics. For any small business looking to expand their material offerings and product lines, this dual-laser system is an incredible value proposition. It’s the difference between being a specialist and being a true all-rounder in the maker space.

Unboxing, Assembly, and Initial Impressions

Creality’s attention to detail is evident from the moment you lay eyes on the box. It’s clear they have a dedicated R&D department not just for their machines, but for the unboxing experience itself. As you cut the tape and peel back the layers, it feels like a premium product reveal, exposing more of the machine with every step. The packaging is not only aesthetically pleasing but also meticulously organised to ensure the machine arrives safely and is easy to assemble.

Like most of their laser engravers, you get everything you need to get started right in the box. And when we say everything, we mean it. The package is comprehensive and includes:

• A pre-built, high-quality laser engraver with a generous 400mm x 400mm work area. This large workspace gives us the flexibility to work on larger signs and batch-process multiple items at once.
• The powerful 22W diode laser module, which is more than capable of cutting through thick wood and acrylic with impressive speed.
• A full protective enclosure, making it one of the safest machines on the market. This is a critical feature that provides immense peace of mind.
• A robust Air Assist Kit with a dedicated pump and a built-in fume extraction system. This isn’t a flimsy add-on; it’s a fully integrated solution for a cleaner, safer workspace.
• An integrated camera for easy, jig-less positioning of materials. This is a feature that drastically speeds up our workflow.

The assembly was a straightforward process, taking us about 30-40 minutes from start to finish. The majority of the machine comes pre-built, so it’s a matter of attaching the enclosure and a few key components. The one minor point of friction we encountered was with the thin, flexible perspex protective top case.

It took us a frustratingly long time to slide it into place and secure it correctly. The initial result felt flimsy, and we even took it apart to re-examine the instructions, thinking we must have done it wrong. We’re used to using the top of our machines as a working area, and this one feels less robust than the hard acrylic cases found on the Creality Falcon A1 and A1 Pro. If a future version of this machine is ever released, a more rigid, hard top case would be a welcome improvement.

Another feature that initially took some getting used to was the cutting bed. The Falcon2 Pro doesn’t come with a traditional honeycomb panel. Instead, it provides a number of metal slats that you attach to the machine’s base.

At the start, we weren’t fans. Our cutouts would slip through the gaps and fall into the tray below, leading to scorching as the laser continued its work. However, the more we used the machine, the more we came to appreciate the clever design. We soon realised that the slats are fully adjustable. For cutting large, single pieces, we can have larger gaps. For cutting smaller, more intricate pieces, we simply close the gaps, and the pieces stay perfectly in place.

This flexible system provides a surprising amount of control and is a smart alternative. The more we use it, the more we appreciate it. Of course, for those who prefer the traditional method, you can always remove the slats and place a honeycomb panel inside if needed.

A smart design is evident with the Falcon2 Pro, which even features a convenient pull-out drawer at the base for effortless cleaning and debris removal.

Hardware & Key Features:

The Creality Falcon2 Pro 22W truly stands out with a set of well-thought-out features that elevate it from a simple laser cutter to a professional-grade workshop tool.

• The 5-Point Safety System: This is arguably the most important feature of the machine. It gives us incredible peace of mind, especially in a busy studio environment.
• Flame Detection: The machine is equipped with an intelligent sensor that can detect a flame within the enclosure. If a fire starts, the machine will immediately stop the laser and sound an alarm, giving you precious time to react.
• Tilt Detection: If the machine is tilted or moved while in operation, the laser will shut off automatically. This is a crucial safety measure to prevent accidental laser beams from hitting unintended surfaces.
• Emergency Stop: A prominent, bright red emergency stop button is located on the front of the machine. One press immediately kills power to the laser, providing a quick and easy way to stop a job if something goes wrong.
• Child Safety Lock: A key-based lock on the side of the machine prevents unauthorised use, which is an invaluable feature for anyone with children or in a shared workspace.
• Movement Detection: The machine is equipped with limit switches and sensors that prevent the laser from exceeding its 400mm x 400mm work area, ensuring it never collides with the enclosure frame.
• The Integrated Camera: This feature is a game-changer for workflow efficiency. The camera allows you to place your material on the bed without needing to precisely measure or use jigs. You can see a live preview of your material and the laser’s position right in the software, allowing you to drag and drop your design exactly where you want it. This saves an enormous amount of time on setup and ensures perfect placement every time.
• The Air Assist System: The Falcon2 Pro’s air assist and fume extraction system are excellent. The integrated air pump pushes a stream of air directly onto the cutting path, which serves two critical purposes. It helps blow away smoke and debris, preventing charring and producing incredibly clean cut edges. and it significantly reduces the risk of flare-ups, which is a major fire hazard, especially when cutting wood. The fume extraction system then pulls the smoke out of the enclosure and into a vent, keeping our workspace clean and safe.

Software Experience:

The Creality Falcon2 Pro 22W can be used with either Creality’s own free software or the industry-standard LightBurn. This flexibility is a huge plus. We decided to test the free Creality software first to see how it compared.

The Creality software was a pleasant surprise. Its user-friendly interface is incredibly intuitive, making it perfect for beginners. The most impressive feature, however, is its ability to automatically provide the correct settings for engraving and cutting based on the material and the laser’s wattage. This takes all the guesswork out of the process, which can be daunting for new users.

Initially, we had the machine set to the wrong wattage (we accidentally had it set to 40W in the software). We tried to cut a piece of plywood at 850mm/min at 100% power, which required multiple passes. After we corrected our mistake and set the machine’s wattage to 22W, the software automatically adjusted the speed to a more efficient 300mm/min at 100% power, and the wood cut perfectly in a single pass. This level of automation is a testament to the software’s thoughtful design.

For more advanced users, LightBurn is always an option. It offers more granular control over settings, advanced editing features, and the ability to manage multiple layers and materials in a single project. Our recommendation for new users is to start with the free Creality software to get a feel for the machine and then consider upgrading to LightBurn as your skills and project needs grow.

Real-World Projects: Putting the Falcon2 Pro to the Ultimate Test

We put our new machine to work on three very different projects, showcasing its incredible versatility and power.

Project 1: The A-Frame Sign

We were shocked by the high price of professionally printed A-frame signs, so we decided to make our own. This was the perfect excuse to finally test out our new laser cutter on a large-scale project. We bought a cheap chalkboard A-frame from eBay and used sheets of Creality Falcon Ply Board to create the lettering.

After cutting out the intricate letters and a few decorative elements, we sprayed them with metallic silver paint. The laser’s precision was flawless, creating perfectly clean stencils that we could then use to paint the board. We also used the machine to cut out a wooden logo to be glued onto the sign.

To make the sign a real conversation starter, we embedded an NFC chip within the wooden logo. Now, customers can simply tap the sign with their phone to instantly load our website. This interactive experience, made possible by the precision of the Falcon2 Pro, is a fantastic way to engage with potential customers and create a memorable brand experience.

Project 2: Engraving Wooden Gift Boxes

For our new line of wooden gift boxes, we needed a consistent and high-quality engraving. We spent a day fine-tuning our laser settings to find the perfect look.

We experimented using the free Falcon Design Space software with the standard basswood settings (40% power, 6000mm/min speed) which gave a rustic, lighter feel. We also tried lower power with multiple passes to reduce residue.

Ultimately, we found our magic combination: 50% power, 3,500mm/min speed, and a single pass. This setting delivered a beautiful, deep, dark tone with impressive depth that took about six and a half minutes per box. The result was a professional, premium look that perfectly matched our brand aesthetic.

Project 3: The Garlic Festival Game

To attract visitors to our stand at the upcoming Garlic Festival, we used the Falcon2 Pro 22W to create a custom game called the “Golden Coin Hunt.” The machine was used to cut and engrave a large, custom-designed board with spaces for garlic bulbs.

Find a golden-painted bulb, and you win a unique, limited-edition golden coin, which we plan to polish and engrave with our dedicated IR laser engraver.

And because we don’t believe in losers, anyone who pulls a white bulb still walks away with one of our signature mini keyrings. This project is a perfect example of how the Falcon2 Pro can be used for both commercial and purely creative, fun applications.

Conclusion: Our Final Verdict

The Creality Falcon2 Pro 22W is everything we hoped it would be and more. It is a powerful, safe, and versatile machine that has seamlessly integrated into our workflow. While the flexible lid and the metal slats presented a small learning curve, the overall experience is incredibly premium and efficient. The machine’s thoughtful safety features and its powerful laser modules make it an outstanding choice for any maker looking to scale up their production or take on larger projects.

The inclusion of the IR laser on the higher-power models makes it a truly future-proof machine that can grow with your business. If you are a maker or a small business owner who needs to level up your laser game, the Falcon2 Pro is an outstanding investment that you won’t regret.