Darkly Labs
Darkly Labs is a Melbourne-based manufacturer of the Emblaser line of desktop laser cutters and engravers, built on solid-state laser diode technology. It sells machines, consumables, and materials direct and through a global reseller network to education, small business, and hobbyist customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2014
- HeadquartersTullamarine, Australia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Darkly Labs does
Darkly Labs (legal entity Darkly Digital Pty Ltd) is a Melbourne-based designer and manufacturer of the Emblaser line of desktop laser cutters and engravers. Founded in 2014 by Domenic Di Giorgio with a team drawn from Creature Technology Company, the company has built its products around solid-state laser diode technology — a deliberate architectural choice that delivers small form factor, air-cooling, low peak power draw (approximately 65W), and diode lifespans of 5,000–10,000 hours, contrasted against the larger footprint, water-cooling, and shorter tube life of conventional CO2 systems. The current product portfolio spans the Emblaser Pro (40W/60W professional tier), the Emblaser 2 (Class 1 safety-rated, fully assembled desktop unit), and the Emblaser Core (kit-form entry level), supplemented by the F2000 fume extractor, 5W and 10W replacement laser modules, maintenance kits, laser-grade plywood and consumables, and the bundled LightBurn control software.
The business model is hardware-led: the company sells primarily through its own e-commerce store at darklylabs.com and a network of authorized resellers covering Australia/NZ, the USA/Canada, France, Germany, Israel, Hong Kong/Macau/Singapore/China/Taiwan, Japan, Korea, and South Africa. Pricing is one-time/perpetual, with machines ranging from low-thousand USD for entry units to USD $2,995–$3,495 for the Pro tier, plus a recurring (though secondary) stream of consumables, replacement laser units, and materials. Customer segments are education (schools, universities, maker spaces), small business and micro-entrepreneurs, hobbyists/makers, and SMB prototyping — with no large enterprise or institutional anchor customers disclosed. The company is privately held, bootstrapped/self-funded (no external investment recorded in the data), and operates with 1–10 employees out of its Westmeadows, Victoria headquarters.
Darkly Labs firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Darkly Labs
- Legal name
- Darkly Digital Pty Ltd
- Website
- https://darklylabs.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2014
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Darkly Labs is a Melbourne-based manufacturer of the Emblaser line of desktop laser cutters and engravers, built on solid-state laser diode technology. It sells machines, consumables, and materials direct and through a global reseller network to education, small business, and hobbyist customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Darkly Labs industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Desktop Laser Cutters and Engravers
- SIC
- Optical Instruments & Lenses (3827)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laser Printers (HDACAEAB)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL) (HDAHALAL)
Keywords
Where Darkly Labs is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tullamarine
- HQ country
- Australia
- HQ region
- Oceania
Offices1 record
Markets served
Darkly Labs business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Hardware Sales - Laser Machines: Sale of Emblaser laser cutter and engraver machines including Emblaser Pro (40W/60W), Emblaser 2, and Emblaser Core. Machines are sold through direct e-commerce and authorized resellers globally.
- Parts and Accessories: Replacement parts including laser units (5W, 10W), fans, controller boards, lens assemblies, maintenance kits, cutting trays, air-assist systems, fume extractors, and consumables like filters and calibration cards.
- Laser Materials: Sale of laser-grade materials including plywood (Poplar, Eucalypt), laser contact films in various colors, and rubber stamp sheets.
- Software License (LightBurn): LightBurn software license included with machine purchase. License includes 3 years of free updates. Software is cross-platform compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Emblaser Pro - 40W or 60W laser options |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | F2000 Fume Extractor |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Emblaser 2 Air-Assist System |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Emblaser 2 Maintenance Kit |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | F2000 Filter Set Replacement |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fans – Emblaser 2 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Hinge Set (Emblaser 2) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Cutting Tray – Emblaser Pro |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Honeycomb Cutting Tray – Emblaser 2/Core |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Maintenance Kit – Emblaser Pro |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Exhaust Fan Set – Emblaser Pro |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Power Adaptor – Emblaser 2 |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Focus Calibration Cards (20 pk) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eye Protection – LaserPair OD7+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Eagle Protection – OD6+ |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lens Cap (10w Laser) |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Lens Unit (5w Laser) – Emblaser 2/Core |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Controller Board – Emblaser 2/Core |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Laser Driver Board – Emblaser 2/Core |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Laser Unit 5W – Emblaser 2/Core |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Laser Unit 10W – Emblaser 2/Core |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Rubber Stamp Sheet |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels11 records
Marketing channels6 records
Darkly Labs product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Darkly Labs designs, manufactures, and sells the Emblaser range of desktop laser cutters and engravers built on solid-state laser diode technology. The company sells laser machines (Emblaser Pro, Emblaser 2, Emblaser Core), replacement laser units, maintenance kits, fume extractors, and laser-grade materials, with LightBurn control software included with each machine. Sales are made direct via e-commerce and through a global network of authorized distributors.
Product overview
Darkly Labs is a Melbourne-based manufacturer of the Emblaser range of laser cutters and engravers. The product portfolio centers on three main laser machine models: Emblaser Pro (professional grade with 40W/60W options), Emblaser 2 (fully assembled desktop model), and Emblaser Core (kit-form option). All machines use solid-state laser diode technology as a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional CO2 lasers. The ecosystem includes complementary products such as the F2000 Fume Extractor for air filtration, replacement laser units (5W and 10W), maintenance kits, and laser-safe materials including rubber stamp sheets and contact film. LightBurn software is included with all machines as the primary control interface. The products target education, hobbyists, and small businesses seeking safe, portable laser cutting and engraving solutions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Emblaser Pro Professional-grade laser cutter and engraver featuring the world's first 60-watt solid-state laser, with integrated air-assist, liquid-cooling, workspace camera, and WiFi/USB connectivity. Available in 40W and 60W configurations for professional and commercial use.
- Emblaser 2 Desktop laser cutter and engraver with solid-state diode laser technology, auto-focus capability, Class 1 safety rating, and integrated safety features including fire-rated enclosure and lid interlocks. Targeted at education, small business, and prosumer use.
- Emblaser Core Kit-form desktop laser cutter and engraver requiring assembly, featuring solid-state diode laser equivalent to 15-20W CO2, auto-focus, and optional camera and air-assist accessories. Aimed at hobbyists and makers.
- F2000 Fume Extractor Fume filtration unit with HEPA and activated carbon filters for indoor use without window venting. Compatible with Emblaser Pro for automatic control integration.
- Laser Unit 10W
- Laser Unit 5W
- LightBurn Software
- Maintenance Kit – Emblaser 2 Service kit containing silicone aperture nozzle, exhaust fan, laser unit fan, laser PCB fan, super-lube synthetic grease, focus calibration cards, Zeiss lens cleaning wipes, cleaning brush, lens tissue, and hex keys.
- Rubber Stamp Sheet
- Laser Contact Film
Quantifiable outcome
- 10W laser cuts 3mm poplar ply 2.5x faster, 6mm poplar ply 3.4x faster, and 3mm MDF 3x faster than 5W unit
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Darkly Labs
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Darkly Labs technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature9 records
Darkly Labs partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- 3D Printing Systems (Australia & NZ)coreOfficial distributor for Australia and New Zealand region. Handles local sales, support, and shipping for Emblaser products.
- Afinia 3D (USA & Canada)corePrimary distributor for USA and Canada markets. Provides sales and support for Emblaser 2 and other products.
- iDesign Solutions (USA)minorAuthorized reseller in USA market.
- B&H Video and Audio (USA)minorAuthorized reseller in USA market.
- CDW (USA)minorAuthorized reseller in USA market.
- Technical Education Solutions (USA)coreEducation-focused reseller targeting technical education institutions in USA.
- Midwest Technology Products (USA)minorAuthorized reseller in USA market.
- Buckeye Educational Systems (USA)minorEducation-focused reseller in USA.
- Profound 3D (USA)minorAuthorized reseller in USA market.
- Flinn Scientific (USA)coreScience education supplier and reseller in USA, serving educational institutions.
- Micro Mark (USA)minorAuthorized reseller in USA market.
- Machines 3D (Europe - France)coreEuropean distributor covering France and surrounding regions.
- UFP (Germany)coreGerman distributor for Emblaser products.
- Mafil 3D (Israel)minorIsraeli distributor for Emblaser products.
- DTSL (Asia Pacific)coreDistributor covering Hong Kong, Macau, Singapore, Mainland China, and Taiwan markets.
- Laser Works (Japan)coreJapanese distributor with offices in Osaka and Tokyo.
- AIKOL Tech (Korea)minorKorean distributor for Emblaser products.
- 3D Printing Systems (South Africa)minorSouth African distributor for Emblaser products.
- LightBurn SoftwarecoreIncluded software partner. LightBurn license (with 3 years of updates) is included with every Emblaser machine purchase. Compatible with Windows, Mac, and Linux.
- Creature Technology CompanyminorThe original Darkly Labs founding team (Domenic Di Giorgio, Trevor Tighe, Mark Stuhrmann) met while working at Creature Technology Company on large-scale animatronic projects.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Darkly Labs competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Glowforge: Glowforge is the best-funded direct competitor in the desktop laser cutter category, targeting small businesses, makers, and educators with a similar ease-of-use and safety-led value proposition (e.g., 'no laser experience required' marketing).
- Full Spectrum Laser: Full Spectrum Laser is a US-based manufacturer of hobby, small-business, and entry-level industrial CO2 laser cutters/engravers, serving educational institutions and makers — directly comparable to the Emblaser Pro tier.
- xTool: xTool is a fast-growing direct competitor offering desktop diode laser cutters and engravers aimed at crafters and small businesses, with a similar pricing tier ($300-$2,000+) and overlapping maker and SMB customer base.
- OMTech: OMTech is a value-oriented direct competitor selling a broad range of CO2 and diode laser engravers/cutters primarily to hobbyists and small businesses via Amazon and direct channels, competing in the same price-per-watt bracket as Emblaser 2 and Core.
- Flux Inc. Flux Inc. (makers of the Beamo and Hexa laser cutters) targets makers, educators, and small businesses with compact diode-based laser cutters; their products overlap Emblaser 2 and Core in size, positioning, and target customer.
Broad incumbents
- Trotec Laser: Trotec is a European incumbent offering professional laser cutting and engraving machines and JobControl software, with a similar presence in education markets and SMB prototyping — a comparable broad portfolio play versus Darkly Labs' focused approach.
- Epilog Laser: Epilog Laser is an established US-based manufacturer of professional CO2 and fiber laser engraving/cutting systems, serving small businesses, schools, and industrial customers with a broader and higher-ASP product line than Darkly Labs.
- Dremel (DigiLab): Dremel's DigiLab line includes a compact laser cutter (Dremel LC40) aimed at the education and hobbyist segments, leveraging Bosch's broad brand and retail footprint in power tools — a broader-incumbent peer in the maker education category.
Emerging players
- Maker Made: Maker Made focuses on kit-form and hobbyist-oriented CNC and laser cutting machines. Its kit-based positioning most closely mirrors the Emblaser Core SKU and the maker/DIY positioning of Darkly Labs' entry-level offering.
- Creality: Creality is primarily a 3D printer manufacturer that has expanded into diode laser engravers (Falcon series) targeting makers and SMBs. It competes for the same channel relationships and end customers as Darkly Labs, especially through distributors that already carry 3D printing lines.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Darkly Labs social profiles
Digital presenceDarkly Labs compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Darkly Labs financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Darkly Labs leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Darkly Labs funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Darkly Labs M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Darkly Labs
What does Darkly Labs do?
Darkly Labs designs, manufactures, and sells the Emblaser range of desktop laser cutters and engravers built on solid-state laser diode technology. The company sells laser machines (Emblaser Pro, Emblaser 2, Emblaser Core), replacement laser units, maintenance kits, fume extractors, and laser-grade materials, with LightBurn control software included with each machine. Sales are made direct via e-commerce and through a global network of authorized distributors.
Is Darkly Labs a public or private company?
Darkly Labs is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Darkly Labs founded?
Darkly Labs was founded in 2014. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Darkly Labs based?
Darkly Labs is headquartered in Tullamarine, Australia, in the Oceania region.
How does Darkly Labs make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Hardware Sales - Laser Machines are the primary driver. The others are parts and Accessories, laser Materials and software License (LightBurn).
Who are Darkly Labs's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Glowforge, Full Spectrum Laser, xTool, OMTech and Flux Inc.. Broad incumbents are Trotec Laser, Epilog Laser and Dremel (DigiLab). Emerging players are Maker Made and Creality.
Does Darkly Labs have an API?
No public API is recorded for Darkly Labs.
What industry is Darkly Labs in?
Darkly Labs's product category is Desktop Laser Cutters and Engravers. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HDACAEAB, Laser Printers, with a secondary code of HDAHALAL, Optoelectronic Emitters (LED/Laser/VCSEL). Its SIC code is 3827.