Jerry Wang
Introduction
The Creality Falcon A1 Pro 20W is the future of consumer-grade laser engraving machines. It offers a comprehensive range of safety features and incorporates an AI system to deliver an exceptional user experience. I can say with confidence that I have experienced a truly convenient workflow with the Creality Falcon A1 Pro that I would not have experienced with any other laser engraver before. Whether you’re a beginner or a professional DIY maker, this is for you as a laser engraver and cutter for home use!
The Design of Creality Falcon A1 Pro
The Creality Falcon A1 Pro boasts a striking appearance. It is the first laser engraver to feature a dual-door design, which not only allows for easy monitoring of the engraving process but also provides convenient access for placing materials. To enhance the offline interactive experience, the Creality Falcon A1 Pro now features a detachable touchscreen. The high-definition camera mounted on the top lid is a crucial component of the user’s one-stop workflow, as it plays an essential role in precise positioning and autofocus.
Powered by AI features, the Falcon A1 Pro enables a seamless workflow experience within the Falcon Design Space software. All processes, including engraving positioning, laser focusing, and parameter settings, can be completed with simple clicks on the software interface, eliminating extensive manual preprocessing time.
Like most laser engravers, the Falcon A1 Pro features an interchangeable laser module design. Currently, it only offers a 2W infrared laser head for replacement. Regarding the internal wiring component management solution, I can only say it’s no different from other laser engravers: nothing innovative here. The internal wiring is organized but completely exposed. In my opinion, enclosing all components would create a cleaner aesthetic. However, this exposed wiring facilitates maintenance and servicing, though it lacks visual aesthetics. This is a matter of personal preference.
All ports are concentrated on the right side of the machine, including the power port for the air assist device, the air hose port, and the port for the rotary module. Regarding the rotary module, I would like to note that when using it, you must manually remove the machine’s base plate with a screwdriver and then elevate the machine using the height-adjustable columns. This process can be somewhat cumbersome for an individual to manage. Therefore, from a product optimization perspective, there remains room for improvement to make the next generation smarter and more suitable for home use. This is just my personal experience; it doesn’t mean the product is subpar, as most mainstream desktop laser engravers currently require this type of operation.
In terms of safety, the Creality Falcon A1 Pro already meets exceptionally high standards, featuring tilt detection, flame detection, four limit switches on the XY axes, a child safety lock, an emergency stop button, and a fully enclosed enclosure. These safety features position the Creality Falcon A1 Pro as a smart laser engraver for home use.
One-Stop Smart Workflow for Creation
The most notable feature of the Creality Falcon A1 Pro is its smart workflow. This provides users with significant convenience, minimizing manual preprocessing to the greatest extent possible.
After connecting to Falcon Design Space software, click the camera icon to view a live image of the machine’s engraving area within the software interface. Then, simply drag the engraving or cutting pattern to the desired location using your mouse on the software interface. Camera vision positioning is highly precise, maintaining sub-micron accuracy. Additionally, the camera supports precision calibration, with detailed and intuitive guidance tutorials available within the software.
Automatic engraving parameter settings are also part of the intelligent workflow. As soon as I select the corresponding material in Falcon Design Space, all optimal parameters are instantly set. Therefore, the automatic parameter setting feature eliminates the need for additional engraving tests to find the optimal parameters, significantly reducing my preprocessing time.
It’s worth noting that the Creality Falcon A1 Pro 20W smart laser engraver employs an innovative approach for its auto-focusing function, rather than the traditional physical probe-based distance measurement method. As shown below, the Falcon A1 Pro emits a red light beam onto the surface. During autofocusing, the camera captures an image, and an AI algorithm analyzes the size of the red light spot on the material surface to determine its thickness. This data then controls the descent value of the laser head. The entire autofocus process completes within 3 seconds, making it incredibly convenient.
Therefore, once all preprocessing for engraving is completed in the software, simply click the Start icon in the software to start laser engraving or cutting.
Smart Laser Engraver for DIY Makers
Thanks to the one-stop smart workflow, I truly experience the joy of creation instead of spending precious time on tedious preprocessing tasks. Here, I must again praise the convenience of the double-door design, as it really allows me to observe the laser engraving or cutting process from various angles.
The maximum working area of the Creality Falcon A1 Pro is 268*358 mm, so it can meet my needs for larger laser DIY crafts. As shown in the image below, it is very suitable for processing 300 * 300 mm plywood. The 20W laser power balances cutting efficiency and engraving precision. In terms of image engraving quality, it is impeccable.
In this layered laser wall art project, I cut a total of 8 sheets of 300 x 300 mm plywood, resulting in the following uncolored semi-finished work. This part of the work can be completed in 1 hour. This is a significant efficiency improvement compared to other laser engravers without one-stop smart workflows.
After coloring and bonding each part of the work, exquisite wall art is obtained. From my experience, the Creality Falcon A1 Pro has greatly simplified my creative process, allowing me to truly immerse myself in the creation of my work rather than engaging in various meaningless preprocessing operations. Therefore, its smart workflow is really fantastic! This is the future of laser engravers. If you are a beginner in laser engraving or a small business owner looking for efficiency, it is really suitable for you to use.
However, during the creation process, I also discovered two points for improvement. First, the honeycomb panel reduces the cleanliness of the material surface. The structure of the honeycomb panel hinders the effective discharge of smoke. During cutting, a large amount of smoke adheres to the surface of the material, especially on the backside. Therefore, if the honeycomb panel is changed to a suspended strip structure, I believe it can effectively improve this issue.
Secondly, if there were slight modifications, cleaning the Creality Falcon A1 Pro would become easier. After extensive laser cutting, the baseplate inevitably accumulates a lot of debris. However, the Falcon A1 Pro’s base plate is not designed as a drawer, so the debris cannot be removed all at once. In my opinion, if the base plate were designed as a drawer, it would not only make it convenient to clean the debris but also make it quicker to set up the rotary module. Additionally, it would be best to include an aluminum sheet to prevent the machine’s base plate from being cut by the laser and to avoid smoke accumulation.
I also tested the working noise of the Creality Falcon A1 Pro. As shown in the figure below, at a distance of about 30 centimeters from the machine, the noise level remains around 60 dB during cutting. This noise level is suitable for use indoors.
Interchangeable Laser Module 2W infrared Laser Test
Replacing the laser module is very straightforward, so we won’t dwell on it here. Currently, the Creality Falcon A1 Pro only supports replacing the 2W infrared laser module. If you need to engrave various metals, you can purchase an additional 2W infrared laser module. However, the engraving efficiency of the 2W infrared laser module is far too slow, making it an unsuitable choice for your small business venture.
Due to limitations in engraving efficiency, you’ll likely only be able to use it for engraving various small metals. However, if you have substantial metal engraving needs, the xTool F1 Ultra would be a better fit for you. Alternatively, you might want to check out the Hansmaker F1 Pro I recently reviewed—it offers better cost-effectiveness than the xTool F1 Ultra.
Speaking of this 2W infrared laser head, in terms of engraving quality, I think it is very good. Compared to a 20W diode laser module, it has a finer laser spot, thus enabling more detailed and high-definition engraving effects. Thanks to the smart workflow of the Creality Falcon A1 Pro, even small metal blocks can be precisely positioned via camera vision.
Features I like
- Smart workflows significantly save preprocessing time, such as camera visual positioning, automatic focusing, and automatic optimal parameter settings.
- The 20W blue laser and 2W infrared laser heads are interchangeable, supporting engraving on over 300 materials.
- Equipped with a touchscreen to enhance the offline experience.
- Compact all-in-one design, ready to use right out of the box with no assembly required—perfect for home use.
- The double-door design facilitates process observation and material placement.
- Falcon Design Space software is extremely easy to use and connects to the community, allowing users to directly import engraving projects.
Room for improvement
- Modify the design of honeycomb panels to address the issue of smoke adhering to the material surface during laser cutting.
- A drawer-style base plate would be preferable, as it facilitates the cleaning of residue. Additionally, pairing it with a metal sheet to protect the base plate would be an effective measure to keep the base plate clean.
Conclusion
Overall, I would still highly recommend the Creality Falcon A1 Pro 20W Laser Engraver. Its smart workflow is something I genuinely appreciate. While I have suggestions for improving certain aspects of the user experience, this doesn’t change the fact that it stands out as an excellent laser engraver this year. Honestly, if you’re new to laser engraving, I strongly suggest you buy it. Of course, it’s equally suitable for small business owners, as it can significantly boost your work efficiency.
Comprehensive Scores of Creality Falcon A1 Pro
Summary
