If you don’t need to cut metal, there are essentially two main types of laser cutters worth considering: diode lasers and CO₂ lasers. Each has different characteristics, advantages, and limitations, depending on the materials you plan to cut or engrave. However, if you do want to cut or engrave metal, you’ll likely need a fibre laser.
What Is a Laser?
Before diving into the types, it’s helpful to understand what a laser actually is.
Laser is an acronym that stands for:
Light
Amplification by
Stimulated
Emission of
Radiation
In simple terms, a laser is a focused beam of light. But not all light is the same, it comes in different wavelengths, and this wavelength determines what materials the laser can interact with effectively. That’s why the type of laser you use matters so much.
1. Diode Lasers
- Wavelength: Typically around 450–455 nm (blue light).
- Power Range: 5–20W (optical output).
- Materials They Can Cut or Engrave:
- Great for wood, leather, cardboard, some plastics (check compatibility), and fabric.
- Can engrave coated metals (like anodised aluminium or painted surfaces), but cannot cut metal.
- Pros:
- Compact and energy-efficient.
- Usually cheaper and safer for beginners.
- Longer lifespan and less maintenance than CO₂ tubes.
- Cons:
- Limited cutting depth and slower speed.
- Can’t cut clear acrylic or glass (it passes through instead of absorbing the beam).
Ideal for: Hobbyists, light-duty engraving, small workshops, or portable use.
2. CO₂ Lasers
- Wavelength: Around 10,600 nm (infrared).
- Power Range: Usually 40W and above.
- Materials They Can Cut or Engrave:
- Excellent for wood, acrylic, leather, fabric, glass, rubber, and many plastics.
- Cannot cut or engrave most metals unless specially coated or with added attachments.
- Pros:
- Cuts faster and deeper than diode lasers.
- Can handle thicker materials and offers cleaner edges.
- Cons:
- Bulkier and often requires water cooling.
- Glass laser tubes degrade over time and need replacing.
- More expensive and may require extraction or safety upgrades.
Ideal for: Small businesses, prototyping, more intensive crafting or signage work.
3. Fibre Lasers (For Metal Cutting)
- Wavelength: Around 290 nm (near-infrared)
- Power Range: 20W–3kW+
- Materials: Stainless steel, brass, copper, aluminium, mild steel
- Metal Work: Fully capable of cutting and engraving metals — ideal for locomotive parts, valve gear, motion plates, etched detailing, nameplates
- Pros:
- Industrial-grade speed and accuracy
- Can engrave or cut thin sheet metal precisely
- Very long-lasting solid-state laser source
- Cons:
- High cost (often £1,500–£10,000+ for even small models)
- Can’t cut non-metals like wood or acrylic
- Requires proper safety housing and extraction
Best for: Professional or industrial users, or very serious modellers producing etched kits or precision loco parts from brass, nickel silver, or steel.
Buying a Laser Cutter & Engraver in 2025
If you’re thinking of buying a laser cutter this year, it helps to understand that there are five main categories — and knowing which one you’re in will save you time, money, and frustration. Whether you’re into model making, sign design, metal fabrication, or just want to make fancy wooden gifts, one of these will fit your needs.
🟦 1. Open Diode Lasers (Entry-Level / Hobby Use)
Typical Users: Beginners, hobbyists, DIYers
Machines: Ortur Aufero 1 & 2, Atomstack X20, xTool D1 Pro
Price Range: ~£150–£600
- Open-frame designs — affordable, compact, and easy to set up.
- Great for engraving and light cutting on wood, card, leather, and some plastics.
- Can engrave anodised or painted metal, but can’t cut or mark bare metal.
- Limited cutting depth and slower speed vs. enclosed machines.
Good for: Model railway baseboard labelling, craft gifts, plywood kits, simple prototyping.
🟩 2. Desktop Diode Lasers (Enclosed / All-in-One Units)
Typical Users: Hobbyists wanting a safer, more polished setup
Machines: xTool S1, xTool M1 Ultra, Roly Lasermatic Mk2, WeCreat Vision
Price Range: ~£500–£1,200
- Enclosed for improved safety, fumes, and noise control.
- Often include air assist, cameras, and improved software integration.
- Still diode-based, so they can’t cut metals, but are more precise and convenient than open-frame models.
Good for: Serious hobbyists, small business Etsy sellers, or modellers working indoors without dedicated ventilation.
🟨 3. CO₂ Lasers (From Budget Desktop to Industrial)
Typical Users: Makers, crafters, small businesses, educational labs
Machines:
- Budget Desktop: OMTech Polar, xTool P2, Aeon Mira 5
- Industrial Budget: OMTech AF2028-60, Monport 60W
- High-End / PRO: Thunder Nova, Epilog Fusion, Aeon Nova
Price Range: ~£1,000–£15,000+
- Uses a glass CO₂ laser tube — cuts wood, acrylic (including clear), rubber, fabric, and more.
- Cannot cut or mark bare metal — although coated metals can be engraved.
- Larger machines support thick materials and production-level speeds.
- Water cooling and ventilation required.
Good for: Architecture models, laser-cut scenic bases, producing small-run kits, or rapid prototyping in acrylic and wood.
🟥 4. Fibre Lasers (Metal Marking and Cutting)
Typical Users: Industrial users, jewellery makers, serious modellers working with metal
Machines: Atomstack M4, Gweike G2, xTool F1 / F1 Ultra, Monport GP20, Cloudray QS-30
Price Range: ~£1,500–£20,000+
- Designed specifically for engraving or cutting metal: stainless, brass, copper, mild steel, aluminium.
- Ideal for cutting out etched locomotive parts like motion brackets, footplates, or chassis sides.
- High speed and precision — but can’t cut wood or acrylic.
- Often portable with galvo-style heads; some include enclosures, others don’t.
Good for: Model locomotive fabrication (especially in brass/nickel silver), nameplate engraving, tools and tagging.
🟪 5. Hybrid / All-in-One Units (Mixed Capabilities)
Typical Users: Makers wanting versatility without multiple machines
Machines: xTool M1 Ultra, Gweike Cloud Pro, newer multi-head platforms
Price Range: ~£1,000–£3,000
- Combine diode, CO₂, or even fibre capabilities in one unit (varies by model).
- Useful if you want to cut wood/acrylic and engrave metal, but not serious metal cutting.
- Jack-of-all-trades machines — flexibility comes at the cost of maximum performance.
Good for: Users with mixed needs and limited space, such as small model shops or designers who work with many materials but don’t need to go deep into any one.
Quick Comparison Table:
| Feature / Use Case | Open Diode | Desktop Diode | CO₂ Laser | Fibre Laser | Hybrid Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cuts Wood | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ |
| Cuts Acrylic (Clear) | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ | ✔ (if CO₂ based) |
| Engraves Coated Metal | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Engraves Bare Metal | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✔ (fibre module) |
| Cuts Metal (e.g. loco parts) | ✘ | ✘ | ✘ | ✔ | ✘ (except fibre) |
| Price Range (approx) | £150–£600 | £500–£1,200 | £1,000–£15,000 | £1,500–£20,000 | £1,000–£3,000 |
| Suitable For | Hobbyists | Advanced hobbyists | Pros, crafters | Metalworkers, modellers | All-rounders |
Monport 40W Pro Lightburn-ready (12″ X 8″) CO2 Laser Engraver & Cutter with CE Approval £599 (Black Dridsy)
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