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There are different laser machine types that are designed for different purposes. Since the uses of these machines require so much precision, manufacturers focus more on creating specialized machines rather than ones that can handle a variety of general cutting and etching tasks.
Below, we will go over 3 of the most common types of laser cutting machines and discuss what they are designed for. By understanding the roles of each machine and lens type, you will be able to identify and select the type that is suited for your purposes.
Laser Cutters
Laser cutting machines are specifically designed to cut through material using a faster cut rate. They are most often used to cut materials into specific shapes with precision. They are designed to cut through the material at a faster rate than laser engravers or laser trimmers can, which makes them ideal for projects where you need to make clean cuts through an object.
A laser cutter uses a high-powered laser that is able to cut through thick materials. They leave behind a precise and smooth edge which allows for a perfectly cut shape in the end.
They are not designed for etching projects. They do not have the low-powered options that you need to set the machine at to produce such results. Instead, a laser engraver would be better suited for that.
A typical laser cutting machine will use 100 W – 120 W lasers. This is roughly double the wattage as compared to what a normal laser engraver will use.
Laser Engravers
Much like a laser cutter, laser engraving machines also cut through material. The difference is a laser engraving machine does so at a much slower rate. The reason for this is to slow down the speed and increase the precision in depth within the engraving. With engraving projects, these machines will cut with the accuracy down to a few fractions of a mm.
Engraving allows the operator to cut through the material without completely reaching the other side. Engraving machines are most often used to etch writing or make other marks on hard materials such as glass or metal without cutting straight through it.
Laser engravers use a lower powered laser which slows down the cutting process, but increases the precision of the etching. Because of the lower powered laser that they use, laser engraving machines will typically not be able to cut through thicker materials completely as that is not what they are designed for.
The typical laser engraving machine will run at 50 W, which is roughly half the power that a laser cutting machine will operate at.
Laser Marking
We are going to include laser marking in with the laser engraving category because of how similar they are. Like laser engraving, laser marking is also reserved for etching and creating markings on strong materials.
Laser marking machines use a low-power laser to slowly burn away at the surface of the material. It leaves behind markings that have a high color-contrast in relation to the surface. This makes the markings or lines easy to see against the surface.
It does not cut into the material. This method of marking is better suited for projects where you want to make permanent marks on a surface without cutting into it, which could compromise the strength of the object. It is most often used for medical devices that use titanium or stainless steel parts.
Laser Lenses
Along with the power that each laser uses, the lens type that is used is the other major difference between a laser cutter and laser engraver. Since precise detail is more critical for a laser engraver, a lens that creates a shorter focal length is used. This concentrates the laser down to a smaller spot size which can be used to create more detailed etching.
The lens on a laser cutter is longer to allow it to maintain a consistent edge from the top and bottom of the material. This type of lens is better suited to penetrate through thicker materials while avoiding any slope edges on either side.
When you are attempting to cut material that is more than 20 mm thick, this is where the angle of the laser that the lens creates will become apparent. A lens like this is necessary in order to create deep cuts that are consistent from top to bottom.
Laser Trimmers
The role of the laser trimmer is different from what a laser cutter or laser engraver is used for. While a laser cutter is designed to slice through thick materials and a laser engraver is designed to mark and etch into surfaces, the laser trimmer has more of a functional purpose.
Laser trimming machines are used to make adjustments to electronic circuitry. When dealing with this type of circuitry, there are many instances where the level of precision required to make such adjustments is too small for a person to do it by hand. In these cases, a laser trimmer will be used.
A laser trimmer will typically be used to make small adjustments to resistors by cutting or burning away sections of it. This process increases the resistance value of those resistors. During this process, automated equipment is set up to track the changes as the trimmer makes micro-alterations to it.
There are two types of trims that are used to adjust a resistor:
Passive Trim
A passive trim is when adjustments are made to change a specific value of the resistor.
Active Trim
An active trim is made when an adjustment is made to the circuit as a whole. Changes that affect the cumulative output of the circuitry will fall under this active trim category.
What Is Right for Me?
The right type of laser will depend entirely on your specific needs. As you read through the different types, keep in mind that these laser types are not interchangeable (aside from the laser marking and laser engraving machines in certain cases). A laser engraving machine, for example, will not be able to produce the same results that a laser cutting machine will or vice versa.
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