Laser types explained

The three main laser types

Consumer and prosumer laser cutters and engravers use one of three laser technologies. They produce different wavelengths of light, which is why they behave differently on different materials.

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Diode lasers

Diode lasers use semiconductor chips to produce a focused beam — the same basic technology as the laser in a Blu-ray drive, scaled up significantly. Modern consumer diode modules typically output 5–40W of optical power at around 450nm (blue-violet).

What they're good at:

• Engraving wood, leather, coated metals, anodised aluminium, dark plastics
• Cutting thin wood, cardboard, and fabric
• Compact setups — the laser head is small and the machines are open-frame and portable

Limitations:

• Struggle with clear or transparent materials (the blue wavelength passes through clear acrylic)
• Slower than CO2 for thick material cuts
• Open-frame designs require more attention to safety and ventilation

Best for: Hobbyists, personalised gifts, engraving, beginners who want an affordable entry point.

Typical brands: xTool D1 Pro, Sculpfun S30, Atomstack, Two Trees

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CO2 lasers

CO2 lasers use a tube filled with carbon dioxide gas that's excited by electrical current to produce infrared light at 10,600nm. This wavelength is absorbed extremely well by organic materials, making it the workhorse of laser cutting.

What they're good at:

• Cutting wood, MDF, plywood, acrylic, leather, fabric, paper, card
• Engraving: wood, glass, stone, anodised metals
• Clean cut edges on acrylic — far cleaner than diode
• Higher speeds, especially on larger enclosed machines

Limitations:

• Tubes degrade over time and eventually need replacing (though modern tubes last thousands of hours)
• Larger and heavier than diode machines
• Higher upfront cost
• Not well-suited to direct metal cutting (though can engrave with coatings)

Best for: Anyone cutting regularly, small business production, acrylic and wood work, users who want cleaner results.

Typical brands: xTool P2, OMTech, SCULPFUN SF-A9, Boss Laser, K40 variants

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Fibre lasers

Fibre lasers use a rare-earth doped optical fibre as the gain medium, typically producing light at 1,064nm (near-infrared). This wavelength is absorbed by metals, making fibre lasers uniquely suited to metal marking and engraving.

What they're good at:

• Permanent marking on stainless steel, aluminium, titanium, brass, copper
• Deep engraving and annealing on metals
• Extremely fast marking speeds
• Very long service life — no consumable tube

Limitations:

• Much more expensive (typically £2,000–£10,000+)
• Not suitable for wood or acrylic cutting
• Often small work areas on consumer models (150×150mm is common)

Best for: Jewellery, industrial part marking, knife makers, businesses needing metal engraving at volume.

Typical brands: xTool F1, Raycus, Mactron, ComMarker

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Quick comparison

	Diode	CO2	Fibre
Wood cutting	✓ Good	✓ Excellent	✗
Acrylic cutting	✗ Poor	✓ Excellent	✗
Metal engraving	△ With coating	△ With coating	✓ Excellent
Entry price	£150–500	£400–2,000	£2,000+
Size	Compact	Medium–large	Compact–medium

Which should you choose?

• Start with a diode if budget is tight or you mainly engrave
• Go CO2 if cutting acrylic or thicker wood is important to you
• Consider fibre only if metal marking is a core requirement

Still unsure? Use the comparison table to filter by material type and see which machines fit your needs. You can also filter directly by laser type — for example, browse all CO2 lasers or browse all diode lasers.