xTool - Differences between different laser devices - What is the difference between CO2, Diode and fibre laser?

The short answer: the laser type decides which materials the machine is good for, and the laser class decides who is allowed to work with it. A diode laser cuts wood, plywood, cardboard, leather and coloured acrylic. CO? cuts all of those faster and, in addition, clear acrylic, which a diode laser does not cut at all. Fibre and MOPA lasers are for metal. A UV laser engraves inside glass without damaging the surface. Power affects speed and thickness, but it does not change which materials the wavelength bites into.

Why wavelength decides more than watts

A material is not heated by a laser beam it does not absorb. The blue light of a diode laser (around 445–455 nm) passes through clear acrylic as if through a window: it neither cuts nor burns, even at double the power. The invisible far-infrared beam of a CO? laser (10,600 nm) is absorbed completely by acrylic, and that is why only CO? gives clear acrylic a polished cut edge.

The same logic works the other way round. Bare metal reflects blue light and conducts the heat away, so a diode laser leaves no mark on it without a separate infrared module. The 1,064 nm of a fibre laser is absorbed by metal, which is why marking metal is the work of fibre and MOPA lasers.

Five laser technologies and what each is for

Diode laser — the versatile starting point

The blue diode laser is the most affordable way to start. It cuts and engraves wood, plywood, cardboard, felt, leather and coloured acrylic. Clear acrylic and bare metal are beyond it — metal becomes possible if an infrared module is added. In our range the M2, S1 and F2 are diode lasers.

CO? laser — the cutting workhorse

CO? is the fastest and most versatile cutter for organic materials and the only one that cuts clear acrylic. It also goes through thicker wood in one pass and makes ordinary plywood work distinctly faster. The consumable is the laser tube, with a service life of thousands of hours. The P2S and P3 are CO? machines.

Fibre laser — marking metal

A fibre laser marks, deep-marks and cuts thin metal. It does not suit organic materials such as wood or cardboard. The F1 Ultra combines a 20-watt fibre laser and a 20-watt diode laser in one machine, so a single tool covers both metal and wood.

MOPA — colour marking on stainless steel

MOPA is a fibre laser whose pulse duration can be adjusted. That gives it a capability no other has: different colours can be produced in a controlled way on stainless steel. The F2 Ultra is a 60-watt MOPA and also carries a 40-watt diode laser.

UV laser — engraving inside glass

A UV laser (355 nm) works as a cold process: it modifies the material without the heat spreading into the surroundings. The F2 Ultra UV engraves the image inside the glass or crystal without damaging the surface. That is a different thing from frosting the surface of glass, which CO? can do.

The laser class decides who may work with the machine

A Class 1 machine is built so that the user cannot be exposed to laser radiation in normal use: the working area is enclosed and safety interlocks monitor the position of the lid. No protective eyewear is needed, and the machine suits consumer, school and makerspace use.

A Class 4 machine allows exposure to the direct or reflected beam. It requires protective eyewear, a separate space and the safety arrangements of a professional user. Some machines are available in both versions — the P2S and the F1 Ultra, for instance — so the class should be stated explicitly on the order.

The classification covers laser radiation only. It does not remove the emissions created by heating materials, so fume extraction has to be planned in any case.

The range, series by series

M2 — enclosed diode laser, the easiest start

The M2 is a Class 1 diode laser in a closed housing. The working area is 426 × 320 mm, the power 10 W or 20 W, and the camera system shows on screen where on the material the job will sit. The 20-watt model cuts lime plywood up to 10 mm and is distinctly faster when a whole class is doing the same job.

The M2 adapts to three jobs: the 20-watt blue-light laser cuts and engraves, an optional 3-watt infrared module marks metal (working area 412 × 310 mm), and a CMYK inkjet module prints colour (300 × 294 mm). That makes the M2 both a first laser and a machine for several tasks.

S1 — a more powerful enclosed diode laser

The S1 sits between the M2 and the CO? machines. It is an enclosed Class 1 machine whose 40-watt module cuts material up to 18 mm thick, with a working area of 498 × 319 mm. Positioning is based on the machine's coordinate system rather than a camera, and autofocus measures the height of the material. An infrared module for marking metal is available.

The F series — galvo lasers for fast marking

In a galvo laser the beam is steered with mirrors instead of moving the whole laser head. That gives high speed over a small working area, which is exactly what marking and batch work require.

• F2 — 15 W diode + 5 W infrared, working area 115 × 115 mm, speed 6,000 mm/s. With the sliding table the area grows to 400 × 115 mm. Class 4.
• F1 Ultra — 20 W fibre + 20 W diode, 220 × 220 mm, speed 4,000 mm/s, 16-megapixel camera. With the conveyor the area grows to 220 × 500 mm. Available as Class 1 and Class 4.
• F2 Ultra — 60 W MOPA + 40 W diode, 220 × 220 mm, extendable to 220 × 500 mm. The best choice for colour marking on metal. Class 4.
• F2 Ultra UV — 5 W UV laser for engraving inside glass, with two 48-megapixel cameras. A cold process.

The P series — CO? cutters

The P2S is a 55-watt CO? laser with a working area of 600 × 305 mm and camera positioning. It cuts clear acrylic and makes ordinary plywood work considerably faster than a low-power diode laser. It is available both as Class I for consumer and school use and as Class IV for professional use.

The P3 is an 80-watt CO? laser whose 914 × 457 mm working area is 2.2 times that of the P2S. It has several cameras, a bed that rises automatically and automated measuring and positioning functions. The P3's advantage is not only greater thickness but capacity: a large area and high speed reduce queueing when many people's work is done on the same machine. We sell the P3 as a machine intended for professional use.

MetalFab — welding and cutting metal

The MetalFab is not an engraving laser but an industrial workstation: a fibre laser welds and a CNC gantry cuts metal. The range includes the 800 W and 1,200 W laser units, a separate CNC cutter frame, and complete configurations containing both. Laser welding also requires shielding gas and drying of the compressed air.

Technical comparison

Prices checked on 9 October 2026, starting at around €1,090 for the M2. The current price is always on the product page — prices of laser cutters and engravers move with exchange rates and campaigns, so do not rely on the figure in this article when ordering.

Which machine for which material

Welding metal and cutting thick plate belong to the MetalFab, which is a machine type of its own and not an engraving laser.

Three different things all called engraving

Surface marking

The surface of the material is heated or vaporised so that its colour changes. No material is removed, so the mark feels flat to the touch. Even modest power is enough for this, and it is the most common work of a diode laser and an infrared module.

Deep marking

The power is enough to remove the surface layer over several passes, creating a recess or a relief you can feel. This requires a fibre or MOPA laser; the F1 Ultra and F2 Ultra do it on metal.

Sub-surface engraving in glass

A UV laser focuses the energy inside the glass, where it forms an image without damaging the surface. The mark appears three-dimensional inside the glass. Only the F2 Ultra UV can do this.

A buying guide by intended use

• A first laser, wood and cardboard work, school teaching: the M2. Class 1, camera positioning, small physical footprint.
• More power and capacity, but the diode laser's materials are enough: the S1.
• Clear acrylic, thick wood or high throughput: the P2S. Class I for a school, Class IV for professional use.
• A large working area and many users on one machine: the P3.
• Marking metal and batch work: the F2 for small parts, the F1 Ultra when the same machine must also work wood.
• Colour marking on stainless steel: the F2 Ultra.
• Glass, crystal and fine marking: the F2 Ultra UV.
• Welding metal and cutting plate: the MetalFab.

Fume extraction and accessories are not optional

Laser cutting produces smoke and, depending on the material, particles and gases. The exhaust air is either led outside or filtered with a system intended for lasers. Our range includes a bench-top air cleaner for smaller machines and, for heavier use, the SafetyPro AP2 and AP2 Max with HEPA, gas and formaldehyde filtration.

Other accessories that make the work easier are riser blocks for thick pieces, a rotary attachment for cylindrical objects such as bottles and mugs, a conveyor for continuous production, and a honeycomb bed, which supports the material evenly and reduces reflections onto the underside.

Define a list of approved materials as well. Unknown plastics are not cut with a laser, because the compounds they form when heated are not known. PVC, vinyl and other chlorine-containing plastics are absolutely forbidden: they form hydrogen chloride, which is toxic and corrodes the machine's optics and metal parts.

Frequently asked questions

Why can clear acrylic not be cut with a diode laser?

The blue light of a diode laser (around 450 nm) passes through clear acrylic without being absorbed, so it neither cuts nor burns it. The 10,600 nm of a CO? laser is absorbed completely by acrylic, which is why only CO? gives a polished cut edge.

What is the difference between a fibre laser and a MOPA laser?

MOPA is a fibre laser whose pulse duration can be adjusted. That gives it the ability to create controlled colours on stainless steel — an ordinary fibre laser marks but does not colour.

What is the difference between a Class 1 and a Class 4 machine?

A Class 1 machine is enclosed and fitted with safety interlocks, and the user is not exposed to the beam in normal use; no protective eyewear is needed and the machine suits school and consumer use. A Class 4 machine allows exposure and requires protective eyewear, a separate space and the safety arrangements of a professional user.

What does sub-surface engraving in glass mean?

A UV laser focuses the energy inside the glass, where it forms an image without damaging the surface. That is different from frosting the surface of the glass. Only the F2 Ultra UV can do it.

Is comparing power enough?

No. Power affects speed and cutting thickness, but the wavelength decides whether the laser bites into the material at all. Double the power does not help if the material does not absorb that wavelength.

Which materials must never be processed with a laser?

PVC, vinyl and other chlorine-containing plastics — when heated they form toxic hydrogen chloride, which corrodes the machine's optics and metal parts. Unknown plastics are not processed either.

Is fume extraction needed if the machine is Class 1?

Yes. The safety classification covers laser radiation only and does not remove the emissions created by heating materials. The exhaust air is led outside or filtered with a system intended for lasers.

Can one machine do everything?

The closest is the F1 Ultra, which has both a fibre laser for metal and a diode laser for organic materials. Clear acrylic still requires a CO? laser, and engraving inside glass a UV laser.

Read also

• Selection Guide: UV Printers and UV Lasers | Printing and Marking on Various Surfaces with UV Technology
• Safety in laser cutting: What materials should never be put into the machine?
• How do you prevent the surface of wood from burning during laser cutting? - effective tips for cleaning afterwards
• How do you clean the lenses and mirrors of a laser cutter? - regular maintenance ensures the best cutting performance
• Laser cutting and engraving machines
• Laser accessories