I need to add another laser to my arsenal

Community Laser Talk
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Good morning, I have searched the archives but can’t find an answer I am looking for. I currently have an Orto Aufero Laser 2 Diode. I do a lot of wooden plaques and pens with this machine. However, I am trying to expand into different media. I have had success with glass (but would like it to be better), wood, some acrylic and metal if I paint it first. I I also do Hydro Graphics and Euro Mounts. I carve the Euro mounts and have been experimenting lasering on skulls (yes it is a very stinky situation). I currently have an order for an elaborate design on a view rails for handguns and barrels of a shotgun. My head is spinning trying to figure out if I should get a Co2 or Fiber. I honestly can see a plethora of uses for both and could use both of them but I need to narrow it down to one for right now,

Any help or guidance would be greatly appreciated. I am even torn on model and manufacture. So, guidance on that as well would be appreciated.

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If you’re wanting to do metal engraving, then Fiber is what you want. A C02 will do glass without added prep, but I have not been satisfied with any results I’ve gotten with C02 or my Diode on glass. They both engrave it but the results are inconsistent. A Diode or C02 will not engrave metals. You can get some results with marking spray, but it’s not engraved, only marked.

From what I have seen recently UV may be the way to go. Apparently it does an excellent job on glass, it will permanently mark many types of metals, but I don’t believe you will get a deep engrave on metal. It also works very well on many other materials. UV will be my next laser purchased, though a bit down the road.

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Simple terms… Fiber lasers work on man made materials and led/co2 work with natural materials.

Some types overlap, such as a co2 cuts acrylic quite well, even though it’s not really a natural material in any sense.

The guideline is good without knowing specific materials.

Co2 heats the glass, so it thermally shatters. If the chemistry of the glass changes, so do how good or bad the engraving can be. It also engraves larger than the spot size of the laser, so it’s inherently lower resolution.

If you want to mark metals you pretty much need a fiber (or UV) machine and if you want to do any firearms work, an FFL to go with it.

These machines are a box with a controller, laser source and power supply in them. If they have a rotary, there is a motor driver. Externally they have a galvo head. Some galvos operate faster than others.

There are only so many laser sources, controllers and galvos available. If you want the most flexibility, a MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) is the best choice giving you more options of how the laser operates.

Anything other than a MOPA, you usually loose the q-pulse setting along with a limited frequency range.

In the end, if you buy from someone reputable, all of these parts will be functional with limited issues. There have been a great many posts on Reddit about Hoation laser, OMG laser and a couple others being very nice to customers before and after sales.

E-mail them and get a quote, they will usually discount machines, so it’s worth a try.

UV apparently works with about any material. I can’t afford one of them and if I could it’s likely to be in the <=10W range as these are more expensive than fiber machines. It’s the only one I know of that you can actually cut glass with.

:smiley_cat: