Longer Ray5 40W Review

Ray5 40W specs

• Longer's spec: 0.10 × 0.15 mm spot, 20 mm basswood and 0.15 mm stainless steel in one pass, 24,000 mm/min (400 mm/s), 5.73 kg.
• The Amazon listing groups Ray5 configurations under work-area labels; the 40 W is the '385x385mm' option. Confirm the module wattage before ordering.
• Longer's own store sold Basic/Pro/Pro Max bundles from $679.99 on Oct 29, 2026; Amazon showed $647.99 against a $799.99 list price.
• Longer lists thin stainless engraving and cutting; a blue diode's mark on bare stainless is slow and low-contrast next to IR or fiber.
• No hands-on review of the 40 W model from a major outlet found; the score is cautious.

Bundles and power options

Each option is a separate Amazon listing. Prices are typical street prices, not live.

Specs are compiled from manufacturer listings and independent reviews and may change between production runs. Laser makers re-bundle often, so confirm what's in the box on the Amazon page before buying.

The Longer Ray5 40W is an open-frame diode laser with a 40 W optical module, air assist in the box and a 385 mm-square bed for about $648 (check today’s price). On paper it offers more cutting power per dollar than anything else in our guide, with a claimed 20 mm basswood cut in one pass. It’s also an open Class 4 machine with manual focus and no camera, and that headline cut hasn’t been checked by an independent outlet we trust. To see whether an open-frame cutter fits how you work, try the laser matcher.

Who the Ray5 40W is for (and who should skip it)

It’s for makers who want to cut thick wood, such as box joints, layered signs and furniture parts, and who have a garage or workshop where an open-frame laser can be enclosed, vented and supervised. If you’ve outgrown a 10 W diode and can’t justify a CO2 or an enclosed 40 W, this is the budget route to thick cuts.

Skip it if the laser has to share a home office or a room with kids. For similar cutting power inside a Class 1 box, the xTool S1 40W costs roughly three times as much but needs no goggles with the lid shut. If you don’t need 40 W, the Atomstack A20 Pro V2 is a cheaper open frame, and if clear acrylic matters, no diode will do; look at a CO2 such as the OMTech K40+.

Key capabilities

The 40 W module combines eight beams into a compressed spot, which Longer specs at 0.10 × 0.15 mm. Longer claims 20 mm basswood and 0.15 mm stainless steel in a single pass, at up to 400 mm/s (24,000 mm/min). Those are maker figures. We found no hands-on review of the 40 W model from a major outlet, which is why our score is cautious despite the specs. Our best laser cutter for wood guide puts it in context against enclosed and CO2 cutters.

The usual diode limits still apply. It can’t cut clear acrylic or glass. On bare stainless the blue beam leaves a slow, low-contrast mark, so for real metal work look at fiber. Dark opaque acrylic, wood, leather and coated metal are its territory. Check specific materials in the material checker.

Day-to-day use

The Ray5 is more self-contained than most open frames. The 3.5-in touchscreen and TF card let you run saved jobs without a computer, and you can also connect over Wi-Fi, USB or Longer’s app. LightBurn and LaserGRBL are supported alongside Longer’s own LaserBurn software, so you won’t be locked into one program.

You’ll focus manually and frame jobs with the laser head, since there’s no camera or autofocus. Safety features include flame and motion sensors, temperature protection and an emergency stop. At 5.73 kg the frame is easy to move between a storage shelf and the bench.

What you’ll need beyond the box

• Eye protection for everyone in the room. Blue-diode glasses rated for 445–455 nm, one pair per person.
• Enclosure and ventilation. A 40 W diode cutting thick wood makes a lot of smoke. A fire-resistant enclosure with an exhaust fan (about $47) helps contain it; measure first, since the Ray5 40W is close to its 700 × 720 mm limit. Then duct it outside with 4-inch aluminum ducting. The ventilation guide covers fans and window kits.
• Air assist. Included, a real saving over machines that sell it separately.
• Rotary. Optional. A roller rotary is a common choice for tumblers on GRBL diodes; confirm the connector.
• Fire safety. Thick cuts mean long jobs. Keep an ABC extinguisher and a fire blanket nearby and never leave it running. See our safety guide.

Reliability and warranty

There’s no major independent review of this version, and our model data doesn’t list a warranty term, so confirm coverage with the seller. Longer’s own store sold Basic, Pro and Pro Max bundles from $679.99 on October 29, 2026, while Amazon showed $647.99 against a $799.99 list price. The cheaper Ray5 20W (about $370) uses the same platform with a 400 × 365 mm bed.

Bottom line

The Ray5 40W is the budget open-frame cutter to buy if thickness per dollar is what you’re after: 40 W, air assist and offline control for about $648. Its limits are an open Class 4 beam, manual focus, no camera and a headline cut nobody independent has confirmed. Put it in a workshop, enclose and vent it, and it makes sense. For a home office, pay more for an enclosed machine from our enclosed laser guide. Check the configuration and price on Amazon.

Featured in our guides

• The Best Laser Cutter for Wood in 2026: CO2 and High-Power Diode Picks

Sources

• amazon.com
• longer.net