A laser cutter is a prototyping and manufacturing tool used to cut or etch into a wide variety of materials. Acrylic, wood, paper, cardboard, glass, leather, textiles, rubber, multi-ply plastics, Traffolyte are just some of the materials that can be processed with a laser system!

Below is a list of materials that can be engraved or cut with a Laser Cutter/Engraver, such as the superb GCC models.

The Main Differences Between Marking, Etching and Engraving
Although these terms are often used interchangeably, there are differences between laser marking, laser etching and laser engraving. Each type of process has its own applications and attributes that make it ideal for different jobs.

The Laser Marking Process
Laser marking is what happens when the beam interacts with the surface of a material, slightly altering its properties or appearance.

It is achieved by moving a low-powered beam slowly across the material using a method called discoloration, which creates high-contrast marks without disrupting the material.
Laser heats the material, causing oxidation under the surface and turning the material black.
It applies low temperatures to metal to anneal the surface.
All of this is done while leaving the surface intact.
Laser marking differs from laser engraving and laser etching in a number of ways:

It is less common and not all places offer these services.
It is also referred to as laser coloration or laser dark marking, as well as charring for plastic materials and annealing for metals.
There are four common types of laser marking: annealing, carbon migration, foaming and coloration.
It’s popular in the medical device industry for stainless steel and titanium parts, but can be performed on other materials as well.
A laser marker is ideal for bar codes, UID codes, QR codes, logos and other identification needs.
The Laser Engraving Process
Laser engraving is a process where the laser beam physically removes the surface of the material to expose a cavity that reveals an image at eye level.

The laser creates high heat during the engraving process, which essentially causes the material to vaporize.
It’s a quick process, as the material is vaporized with each pulse.
This creates a cavity in the surface that is noticeable to the eye and touch.
To form deeper marks with the laser engraver, repeat with several passes.
Although engraving is a subsection of laser marking, it still differs in many ways:

There are three types of laser engraving: etching, deep laser engraving and laser ablation (the difference between the three is what the surface is and how much you remove).
This is the most common option for people who want something personalized or customized.
Not ideal for marking safety critical parts.
Maximum engraving depth is 0.020″ in metals but can go as deep as 0.125″ in materials such as graphite.
This is the fastest way to mark with a laser.
It’s great for parts expected to experience high wear.
It’s typically used to engrave serial numbers and logos, among other things.
You can engrave on almost any kind of metal, plastic, wood, leather and glass surface.
Another important comparison to make is how laser engraving compares to traditional engraving:

It can be done on a number of materials.
It is more legible than traditional engraving for small objects such as jewelry.
It provides you with more font options.
There is a smaller chance of product damage or deformation.
Laser engraving machines are faster than traditional methods.
The Laser Etching Process
Laser etching, which is a subset of laser engraving, occurs when the heat from the beam causes the surface of the material to melt.

The laser beam uses high heat to melt the surface of the material.
The melted material expands and causes a raised mark.
Unlike with engraving, the depth in etching is typically no more than 0.001”.
The differences between laser etching, marking and engraving include:

Since a laser etcher changes the surface finish of metals, it alters its reflectivity and enhances contrast.
It removes 0.001″ or less of the material.
It can be done on bare, anodized or plated metal surfaces, as well as polymers and ceramics.

1. Annealing Laser Marking
2. Carbon Migration Laser Marking
3. Foaming Laser Marking
4. Coloration Laser Marking

Fiber lasers are similar to their counterparts, except the active gain medium is made up of an optical fiber with doped rare-earth elements. These may include erbium, ytterbium, neodymium, dysprosium, praseodymium and thulium.

These types of lasers use less energy and take up less space than other laser systems, saving you money and helping your business run more efficiently.

The MOPA fiber laser is the best of both worlds.

As with all lasers, the process of how a MOPA fiber laser begins is the same. In order to create the light, you need to get the atoms in an excited state. As they move, they create a weak light that becomes more concentrated as more energy is added. Once this beam of light is created, it is amplified in some way to produce a focal point.

In MOPA lasers, an optical amplifier is used to create the focal point.

This is a configuration that consists of a master oscillator, which is a single-frequency laser used to inject lock one or several other lasers, and the optical amplifier.

The master oscillator produces a highly coherent beam, which is then amplified by the optical amplifier to increase the output power while preserving the main properties of the oscillator.

If it also contains a fiber amplifier to boost the output power, these types of laser systems may also be referred to as master oscillator fiber amplifiers (MOFA).

With the ability to modify and increase output power without changing the geometry, shape or operation principle, MOPA fiber lasers are the most popular way to achieve power scaling.

Future workers will spend less time on routine tasks and more using technology. Advancement in technology will continue to replace manual tasks, allowing more time for creative thinking and problem solving.

The short answer can be both, depending on your requirements and budget.
Both glass (DC) and metal (RF) tubes have their advantages, depending on the application.
Metal laser tubes have for many years been the industry standard, however they are expensive to manufacture and consequently you will outlay more money to purchase an investment of this type.

Glass laser tubes were manufactured as a cheaper source of power, predominantly for cutting. Seen as a consumable, a quality glass laser tube should still give you 3 or 4 years of service.

’Do I need fine detail engraving?’

This is possibly the most relevant question you should ask yourself. If fine detailed engraving is not a requirement in your decision to purchase a laser, outlaying more capital in the purchase could be a wasted investment. However, if the answer is yes, then the cost comes down to the brand and working area that best fits your needs and budget. In general, a quality “brand” name CO2 laser fitted with a metal laser tube could be up to 3 times the cost of a reputable CO2 laser fitted with a glass laser tube.

There are other factors and features that need to be considered with metal tube lasers, apart from simply the tube itself. These can vary from brand to brand and many have features that some glass tube machines do not have and therefore must be considered in the pricing.