The decision to select a type of laser depends on the materials you want to engrave and cut and what the laser machine can do. First of all, if a laser can cut certain materials, it can also engrave them. But if a laser is engraving certain materials, it is not necessary it will be able to cut them. For cutting, high power is needed compared to engraving.
If you want to start a small business, a diode laser is a suitable option as it can cut and engrave a wide range of materials we commonly use. Diode laser machines can easily cut solid wood, plywood, acrylic, cardboard, paper, and leather. These are the common materials that almost all laser diode machines can cut according to their power.
The materials that can be engraved by a diode laser engraver are plywood, solid wood, acrylic, paper, leather, steel, glass, ceramics, and a few more materials.
Engraving
Cutting
Solid wood
Solid wood
Plywood
Plywood
MDF
MDF
Leather
Felt
Paper
Leather
Some opaque acrylic
Paper
Dark glass
Some dark acrylic
Stone/Ceramic/Jade/Marble/Shale/Cement/Brick
Plated metal/Coated metal
Fabric
CO2 laser machines are better than diode laser machines in terms of cutting materials. They can cut and engrave a broader range of materials. And due to its 10,640nm wavelength being absorbed the majority of non-metals, CO2 laser engravers can work on almost all non-metals. A CO2 laser can cut wood, plywood, acrylic (all colors), foam, cardboard, leather, plastics, glass, fabric, rubber, paper, Corian, and MDF. The materials that a CO2 laser can engrave are acrylic (all colors), wood, leather, plastic, fabric, glass, rubber, brick, ceramics, bone, and coated metal.
Engraving
Cutting
Acrylic (all colors)/Plastic
Acrylic (all colors)/Plastic
Soliod wood/Plywood
Wood/Plywood
MDF
MDF
Leather
Fabric
Paper
Leather
Glass
Paper
Rubber
Foam
Stone/Ceramic/Jade/Marble/Shale/Cement/Brick
Glass
Plated metal/Coated metal
Rubber
Fabric
Fiber laser machines can cut and engrave most metals and some non-metals. It cuts and marks metals that other laser machines cannot do. These machines are very powerful, so they can easily cut a wide range of metals. But primarily, these lasers are used for marking and engraving. They can engrave aluminum, brass, copper, ceramics, tungsten, chrome, painted metal, fiberglass, carbon fiber, nickel, plastics, wood, rubber, silver, gold, stainless steel, and synthetic leather.
Beginners need to understand a few things while considering the power of a laser machine. There are three types of power ratings mentioned for laser machines. The three types are laser optical/output power, laser electric power, and machine power. Machine power refers to the input power of the machines. It does not represent the power of a laser. The second one is the laser electric power, which is the input electrical energy taken by the laser module. The power is related to the laser module, but it does not represent the ability of the laser to engrave and cut an object. However, it can be used to understand the electricity consumption of the laser module.
The most important power is the laser optical/output power. It is the power that shows the ability to cut and engrave materials. The laser coming out of the module has optical power, and buyers need to see this power to understand what a laser machine can do.
The machine power rating is always the highest, and then comes the laser electrical power, and finally the laser optical power. For instance, a diode laser machine has an optical power of 10W, electric power of 40W, and machine power of 60W. Beginners get confused between laser electrical power and optical power. Some companies also scam people by telling them the electrical power instead of optical power. Thus, you always need to see the optical power of the machine for comparison.
Diode lasers have the lowest optical power compared to other types of lasers. They are typically 5-15W. However, they can cut and engrave all materials we have discussed. Even this low power is suitable for small businesses. If the power is low, then there will be more passes required to cut or engrave the materials. xTool has introduced the world's most powerful diode laser module with 40W optical power. The module is very powerful, which can cut up to 15mm plywood in one pass. It does the job quickly and with high precision. It increases the efficiency of engraving and cutting of a diode laser engraver.
CO2 laser engravers are more powerful than diode lasers. They can cut more objects as the laser beams provide more heat energy. The optical power of CO2 lasers ranges from 40W to 300W, making the machine are excellent for cutting and engraving more materials.
Fiber laser machines are ultimately powerful. They can cut metals, so you can assume how powerful they are. These laser machines typically have optical power of 2,000 to 4,000 watts, which is about 100 times the power of CO2 and diode lasers. Industrial fiber laser machines are more powerful. The power rating could be more than 10,000 watts.
Lifespan is another critical thing to consider while buying laser machines. For instance, if the lifespan of a laser machine is less, then you need to buy replacement parts or a new machine. Consequently, it becomes expensive.
The lifespan of fiber lasers is the best. The expected lifespan is about 100,000 hours, which is commendable. But these machines are pretty expensive; the upfront cost is relatively high. The diode lasers come next. They have an expected life of 25,000 to 50,000 hours. It is excellent for small businesses as it has an excellent lifespan and reasonable price. The lifespan of CO2 lasers is the lowest, lasting for 5,000 to 8,000 hours. Therefore, you need to replace their parts often or replace the whole machine. In the end, it becomes a bit more expensive than diode lasers.
Simply put,
Lifespan: Fiber Lasers > Diode Lasers > CO2 Lasers
The speed of a laser is directly proportional to the optical power. The higher the power, the higher the speed. Thus, we can say that fiber lasers have the highest speed as their power is 100 times more than CO2 lasers. Then, there come CO2 lasers. They are slower than fiber lasers but faster than diode lasers. Diode lasers come in the last, but it does not mean they take a lot of time. They are the slowest in comparison, but they can cut and engrave at a fast pace. They can cut an 8mm thick plywood at the speed of 1-3mm per second, which is quite fast.
The final and most crucial factor is the price. If you want to start a laser engraving business at a low cost, there is nothing better than a diode laser engraver. It is available at a very reasonable price, and the lifespan is excellent. So, it gives you an excellent ROI quickly.
Typically, diode lasers are available in the range of $700-$1500. For a business, you might need some extra attachments, such as rotary attachment and air assist. CO2 lasers are in the middle. A typical CO2 laser will cost about $3,000 to $4,000. In addition, the lifespan of a CO2 laser is quite less, so you need to keep that in mind. The most expensive laser on the market is a fiber laser. It is expensive as it is the newest of all and can cut metals as well as some non-metals. The price ranges from $15,000 to $20,000. The cost of an industrial fiber laser is a lot more than that. For small businesses, fiber lasers are a big no.
For more information Fiber vs. CO2 vs. Diode Laser: The Ultimate Guide 2, please get in touch with us!