Laser Selection Guide
Find the best laser type for your material and project
Legend:
⭐Best Choice
✓Good Option
○Can Do
△Limited
✗Not Recommended
| Material | CO2 10.6 μm | Fiber 1064 nm | Diode 445-450 nm | UV 355 nm |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Glass glass | ○ | ○ | ✗ | ⭐ |
Stainless Steel metal | △ | ⭐ | ○ | ✓ |
Aluminum metal | - | - | - | - |
Brass/Copper metal | - | - | - | - |
Wood (Hardwood) Oak, maple, walnut, cherry organic | ⭐ | ○ | ⭐ | ✓ |
Wood (Softwood) Pine, cedar, balsa, basswood organic | - | - | - | - |
Leather organic | - | - | - | - |
Paper & Cardboard organic | - | - | - | - |
Fabric organic | - | - | - | - |
Acrylic plastic | ⭐ | ✗ | ○ | ✓ |
Delrin (POM) plastic | - | - | - | - |
Ceramic & Tile stone | - | - | - | - |
Stone (Marble, Granite) stone | - | - | - | - |
CO2 Laser
Gas laser ideal for organic materials
Wavelength: 10.6 μm
Power: 30W-150W
Pros
- • Excellent for wood and acrylic
- • Clean cuts on organic materials
Cons
- • Cannot cut metals
- • Requires tube maintenance
Fiber Laser
Solid-state laser best for metals
Wavelength: 1064 nm
Power: 20W-100W+
Pros
- • Best for metal marking & engraving
- • High precision
Cons
- • Limited on organic materials
- • Cannot cut thick materials well
Diode Laser
Affordable entry-level laser
Wavelength: 445-450 nm
Power: 5W-40W
Pros
- • Most affordable
- • Compact & portable
Cons
- • Slower cutting speeds
- • Cannot cut acrylic cleanly
UV Laser
Cold laser for delicate materials
Wavelength: 355 nm
Power: 3W-15W
Pros
- • Best for glass engraving
- • Excellent on transparent materials
Cons
- • Most expensive
- • Slower processing