In this guide, I’ll help you decide if you really need a fiber laser engraver – and compare my hands-on experiences with some of the most popular to help you make the right choice.

The fiber laser engraver I’d recommend to most users is the Datouboss 20W Laser Marking Machine. This relatively affordable, super-powerful laser offers accurate marking across a wide range of materials, with different sizes available to suit your workspace.

On the other hand, the removable bench on the Raycus Fiber Laser Engraver will suit users who plan to work on larger projects, while the rotary chuck on the SFX 30W Fiber Laser Marking Machine lets you engrave on curved surfaces and cylindrical objects.

Top Picks

Quick Overview

  1. Datouboss 20W Laser Marking Machine – Budget Pick
  2. Raycus Fiber Laser Engraver – An Affordable & Powerful Laser
  3. SFX 30W Fiber Laser Marking Machine – Intuitive and Adjustable
  4. ComMarker B4 20W Fiber Laser
  5. 100W JPT Fiber Laser
  6. Triumph 30W Fiber Laser Engraver – The Industrial Choice

The Best Fiber Lasers – Ranked

1. Datouboss 20W Laser Marking Machine – Best Cheap Fiber Laser Engraver 

Datoubouss 20W fiber laser marking machine

Pros

One of the most affordable machines on the market.

Uses a powerful MAX laser source with a thin light spot for really accurate marking.

Can be used on a wide range of different materials.

Available in four different sizes.

Cons

Some will find it to be too small.

The Datouboss 20W Fiber Laser Marking Machine is one of the more affordable machines on the market. However, it’s still of very high quality, so it’s a great option for beginners and fiber laser engravers working on a budget. 

This machine uses a powerful MAX laser source with a thin light spot for really accurate marking. It can engrave up to 3mm and also has a photoelectric conversion efficiency of up to 60%, so it’s very efficient.  

We really like that this laser marking machine has different marking settings. You can use the rotating operation to perform markings on areas outside the workbench, so you can still engrave pieces that are larger than the standard working area. 

The Datouboss 20W engraver can be used on a wide range of different materials, including steel, stainless steel, silver, copper, and aluminum. It’s also compatible with non-metal materials like plastic and leather. Whether you’re working on serial numbers, pictures, barcodes, logos, QR codes, or anything else, the Datoubouss will do the job. 

This cheap fiber laser engraver is available in four different sizes – 110mm x 110mm, 150mm x 150mm, 175mm x 175mm, and 200mm x 200mm – so you can choose the size that best suits you. The price increases by around $100 for every size you go up. 

As it’s also a very compact and small fiber laser engraver, the Datuoboss 20W is ideal for those who have limited space to work with. 


2. Raycus Fiber Laser Engraver – Best Affordable 50W Fiber Laser Engraver 

  • Price: Available on Amazon here
  • Engraving Depth: <1.0mm
  • Engraving Area: 110mm x 110mm – 210mm x 210mm
  • Weight: 114lbs
Raycus 50W engraving machine

Pros

Available in different sizes and power.

Offers excellent flux and a distortion rate of less than 1%.

Has a removable workbench, so you can work on workpieces that exceed the standard working area.

Cons

Customer support can be poor.

The Raycus Fiber Laser Engraver is a great choice if you’re looking for an affordable 50W fiber laser engraver as it’s available in 20W, 30W, and 50W. It also comes in four different sizes ranging from 110mm x 110mm to 210mm x 210mm. 

Whatever power and size you go for, this machine can be used to mark a wide range of materials and is excellent for fiber laser engraving stainless steel, silver, copper, plastic, ceramic, and leather. 

It boasts a compact Fθ field lens with air spacing design and a protective anti-reflective coating, This means the machine offers excellent flux and a distortion rate of less than 1%, resulting in highly precise, extremely clear marking.

We also have a buyer’s guide for the best laser engravers for metal.

It has a marking speed of up to 7m/s, a re-position precision of 0.002mm, and a high electrical-optical conversion rate of 70%, which means fast rapid, high-performance engraving. Like the Datouboss machine, this engraver offers up to 100,000 hours of work time. 

Engraving metal with Raycus Fiber Laser Engraver
Source: YouTube

The Raycus Fiber Laser Engraving Machine uses a configurable 80mm rotary chuck which boasts 360-degree rotational marking, no shaking, and high accuracy. It’s also super easy to load and unload for optimal efficiency. 

This is also a really versatile laser marking machine thanks to the removable workbench. You can easily disassemble it by just removing four screws so that you can work on workpieces that exceed the standard working area.

Another nice aspect of this fiber optic laser engraving machine is that it’s compatible with a wide range of top CAD and CAM software, including AutoCAD, Coreldraw, and Photoshop. You’ll need to use a Windows operating system in order to control the Raycus fiber laser engraving machine with the EZCAD operating software. 

Best Affordable 50W Fiber Laser Engraver
Raycus 50W Fiber Laser Engraver
$4,999.00

This equipment works well for fiber laser engraving on a variety of materials, including ceramic, leather, stainless steel, silver, and copper. 


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03/23/2024 12:55 am GMT

3. SFX 30W Fiber Laser Marking Machine – Easy for Beginners to Use

  • Price: Available on Amazon here
  • Engraving Depth: ≤0.4mm
  • Engraving Area: 110mm x110mm – 175mm x 175mm
  • Weight: 150lbs
SFX fiber laser marking machine

Pros

Ideal for professional markets and engravers.

Offers fantastic flexibility, a wide range of frequency adjustments, and higher precision control.

Easy for beginners to get started with this machine.

Good customer support.

Cons

No major drawbacks.

The SFX 30W Fiber Laser Marker is an exceptionally high-quality machine that’s ideal for professional markets and engravers. 

This fiber engraver uses a JPT laser source which offers fantastic flexibility, a wide range of frequency adjustments, and higher precision control. It has MOPA configuration that adopts pulse compensation and enables minimum pulse deformation, rising the peak power of the fiber laser. 

This a great laser engraver for slate, steel, and plastics, and it’s suitable for a wide variety of different projects. With a 7000mm/s marking speed, 0.002mm re-position precision, and 70% electrical-optical conversion, this machine offers quality marking whether you’re working on metal, jewelry, or even memory banks. 

There are three different size options for this laser marking machine – 110mm x110mm, 150mm x 150mm, and 175mm x 175mm. There’s also the option to purchase an 80mm rotary axis with each size variant. 

Metal engraving with SFX 30W Fiber Laser

If you choose to add on the three-jaw rotary chuck, you can benefit from fast spring mounting, stable positioning, and improved accuracy and efficiency. 

It’s also really easy to get started with this machine, even if you’re a beginner – the laser comes fully calibrated and it’s simple to install. 

If you’re wondering what other users make of this laser engraving machine, it has a full 5-star rating on Amazon, which indicates lots of happy customers! Users have praised the machine’s easy installation, the versatility, and quality of the laser, as well as SFX’s customer service. 

Fiber Laser Marking Machine 30W JPT Fiber Laser Engraver 150×150mm Equipped 80mm Rotary Axis
$5,099.00

High-quality equipment that is perfect for engraving professionals and professional markets. 

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03/23/2024 04:25 pm GMT

4. ComMarker B4 20W Fiber laser

ComMarker B4 20W Fiber laser

Pros

One of the most affordable fiber laser engravers

Rotary attachment available

Up to 15,000mm/s engraving speed

Lightburn compatible

Cons

Not as accurate as more powerful models like the JPT 100W

The ComMarker B4 20W Fiber Laser is one of the cheapest fiber laser engravers you can buy. It originated from a successful Kickstarter campaign that raised almost $300,000 as part of a wider movement to make fiber laser technology more accessible to hobbyists.

This is partly because it’s a lower-power 20W laser – but there are also 30W and 50W options available from $2,699 and $3,699 respectively. 

It can engrave metal up to 0.3mm in a single pass, achieve 0.01mm accuracy, and reach engraving speeds of 15,000mm/s, which is impressive – particularly for such a cheap model.

One aspect that sets the B4 apart from other fiber lasers is its usability. It’s a portable, handheld fiber laser and has a one-button adjustable platform that you can customize to any object’s height.

You can also add a rotary module for an extra $600. This lets you engrave cylindrical objects like stainless steel flasks and glass tumblers. 

The B4 can be operated using Lightburn software, EZCAD2, or ComMarker’s own mobile app, which is beginner-friendly with free designs and step-by-step tutorials.

Thanks to its portability, speed, and wireless connectivity via the ComMarker app, this is a great choice if you’re looking for a fiber laser you can take to trade shows. It’s also just a fantastic budget option for a home fiber laser for metal engraving on jewelry and other projects.

ComMarker B4 20W Fiber Laser Engraver
$1,999.00 $1,666.00
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03/22/2024 11:40 pm GMT

5. 100W JPT Fiber Laser

100W JPT Fiber Laser

Pros

Can engrave metal 2mm in a single pass – much deeper than less powerful lasers

Large 300x300mm working area

Extremely precise down to 0.002mm

Rotary module included 

Cons

Less fast than some cheaper models 

The 100W JPT is one of the most powerful fiber lasers available for under $10,000.

This machine is extremely accurate. It’s precise down to 0.002mm – significantly more accurate than the ComMarker B4, for example. 

It engraves metal at up to 7,000mm/s, which is nothing special. Where it really stands out however is with its engraving depth – it can etch metal up to 2mm thick in a single pass. 

If you compare this to the ComMarker B4 and SFX 30W, which can engrave 0.2mm and 0.4mm respectively, this shows just how much more powerful a 100W fiber laser is.

The JPT 100W also has a larger 300x300mm working area than the other machines on our list. This, combined with its power and accuracy, makes it more suitable for other industrial applications like processing semiconductors and electronics products.

This fiber laser cutter also comes with an 80mm rotary axis included for marking cylindrical objects.

JPT provides its own software for its fiber laser engravers. It is technically possible to use it with Lightburn though, but it may take some tinkering.

100W JPT M7 MOPA Fiber Laser
$9,999.00
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03/22/2024 11:50 pm GMT

6. Triumph 30W Fiber Laser Engraver – Best Laser Marking Machine for Industrial Use 

  • Price: Available on Amazon here
  • Engraving Depth: 0.3mm
  • Engraving Area: 110mm x 110mm engraving area, but it also includes an additional 200mm x 200mm free of charge.
  • Weight: 300lbs
Triumph 30W fiber laser engraver

Pros

Ideal for businesses and industrial settings.

Extremely powerful and precise.

Includes an 80mm rotary attachment for cylinder engraving.

Has a standard 110mm x 110mm engraving, but includes an additional 200mm x 200mm free of charge.

Cons

Expensive.

Triumph’s 30W Fiber Laser Engraver is the most expensive and powerful machine on our list, and it’s ideal for use in businesses and industrial settings. 

This engraver uses a JPT laser and engraves at a depth of 0.3mm and a width of 0.02mm. It’s an extremely powerful and precise marking machine, and with an engraving speed of 9000mm/s, is the fastest on our list by some distance. The laser source has a lifetime of up to 100,000 hours, so it’s very durable. 

One of our favorite things about this DIY fiber laser engraver is that it has a standard 110mm x 110mm engraving area, but it also includes an additional 200mm x 200mm free of charge. In contrast, moth other providers only offer one size option and charge more for larger areas. 

Engraving metal using Triumph 30W Fiber Laser Engraver
Source: YouTube

It also includes an 80mm rotary attachment for cylinder engraving. The product’s Amazon page also states that you can request them to send you specialized ring engraving parts if you’re working on jewelry. 

Like the other engravers on our list, this fiber laser marking machine can be used on a wide variety of metals and non-metals. There’s a really impressive showcase of projects that have been completed on this machine, including firearm engraving, hardware engraving, and intricate jewelry marking. 

Like the SFX 30W engraver, this fiber laser marking machine has a flawless five-star rating on Amazon, so you can trust its quality. Reviewers on Amazon have said the machine is easy to set up and offers fantastic quality. 

Best Laser Marking Machine for Industrial Use 
Triumph 30W Fiber Laser Engraver
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What is a fiber laser?

A fiber laser is a type of laser that uses an optical fiber cable as its gain medium. These lasers fall under the category of solid-state lasers, as they use a solid material as the gain medium, rather than liquid or gas-based lasers like CO2 lasers.

Fiber laser engraver

Fiber lasers make use of high-power diode laser sources that convert electrical energy into light (photons). This laser light is then directed through the core of a fiber optic cable, typically made of quartz glass, which contains certain rare-earth elements such as ytterbium or erbium as dopants.

As the light propagates through the fiber cable core, it interacts with a cladding layer made from refractive material. This cladding helps focus the light in a single direction. The light then enters the laser cavity, a small portion of the fiber cable where the laser’s wavelength is determined. The specific wavelength produced depends on the dopant material used within the cavity.

For instance, Gweikecloud often uses ytterbium in its lasers to produce a wavelength of 1064nm. However, fiber lasers can have wavelengths ranging from approximately 780nm to 2200nm.

These wavelengths are considerably lower than those of CO2 lasers, which typically operate at around 10,600nm. The shorter wavelengths of fiber lasers are well-suited for absorption by reflective metal surfaces, whereas CO2 lasers are primarily reflected.

This makes fiber lasers ideal for engraving and cutting metals such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, gold, and silver.

As the photons enter the laser cavity, they interact with the rare-earth particles, leading to a process called electron excitation. The laser beam is then directed through a focus lens and mirror to generate the final highly concentrated beam.

Why use a fiber laser?

Their main benefit is how well they cut and engrave metals.

Fiber lasers use wavelengths that are absorbed by non-ferrous metals like steel and aluminum, as well as ferrous metals like gold and silver. Diode and CO2 lasers, which have much higher wavelengths, are reflected. 

Fiber laser engraving machine

This allows you to make precise engravings directly onto metal surfaces – whereas diodes and CO2 lasers can only engrave coated metals

Affordable lasers with under 100W power and most commonly used in jewelry engraving and for working on personalized metal products such as flasks, tools, and metal portraits and art.

More powerful industrial fiber lasers, with 100W+ power, are used in industries like aerospace, automotive, electronics, dental and medical, semiconductor, and within the military.

Fiber lasers are most commonly used for engraving metals like steel, brass, silver, and gold, due to their low wavelengths that are absorbed by metal surfaces. This makes them particularly popular for jewelry engraving and metal sheet processing. Industrial fiber lasers are used to make electronics and medical and military instruments, among other applications.

Fiber laser engravers are also extremely precise and fast. For example, high-quality CO2 lasers costing around $5,000 can offer 600mm/s cutting speeds, whereas the ComMarker B4 20W fiber laser costs less than half that, yet can engrave at 15,000mm/s.

Fiber lasers are also more precise than other types of laser. For example, the ComMarker B4 offers an impressive 0.01mm accuracy, while professional models like the 100W JPT provide incredible precision to 0.002mm and even lower. 

However, they’re generally more expensive, and have much smaller working areas than diode and CO2 lasers.

Fiber Laser Marking Machine Applications 

Fiber laser engravers are incredibly versatile in terms of the materials they can work with. You can use them to engrave a whole range of metals, including steel, stainless steel, silver, copper, brass, aluminum, and alloys.  

However, they can also be used with a variety of nonmetal materials, such as:

  • Leather
  • Nylon
  • Plastic
  • PVC
  • ABS

And plenty more.

The main material they’re not suitable for is wood, for which you’re better of using a CNC router as lasers do not mark wood cleanly. 

Fiber laser engraver applications

This versatility makes laser marking machines useful to hobbyists and professionals working across a wide range of different areas and industries. They’re commonly used to mark things like

  • Jewelry and ornaments
  • Hardware
  • Parts (metal and plastic)
  • Personalized products
  • Artwork
  • Home Decor

That being said, not every fiber laser marking machine may suit you. You need to consider the power output, working size, efficiency, and usability factors to ensure you’re choosing the best fiber laser engraver for your needs.

FAQs

How much does a fiber laser machine cost?

The cheapest fiber laser machines cost under $3,000, although there are only a few to choose from in this price range, such as the ComMarker B4. Industrial fiber lasers can cost tens of thousands of dollars.

Are fiber lasers better than CO2 laser engraving?

FIber lasers are better than CO2 lasers for metal engraving, due to their lower wavelengths being absorbed by metal surfaces, whereas CO2 lasers are reflected. However, CO2 lasers are more suitable for cutting wood and other organic materials. Read our fiber vs CO2 lasers comparison to learn more.

What materials will a fiber laser cut?

Fiber lasers are most commonly used to cut and engrave metals like steel, aluminum, copper, and gold. However, low-power fiber lasers of under 50W can only engrave small depths in a single pass, around 0.3mm, so they’re mostly used for engraving. More powerful 100W lasers can cut some metals up to around 2mm in a single pass.

What can a 50W fiber laser cut?

A 50W fiber laser can cut a variety of metals, but it will likely take multiple passes, as you can expect to cut less than 0.5mm aluminum in a single pass. For this reason, 50W fiber lasers are better suited to engraving, while more powerful machines of 100W and over are better for cutting.


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Alan Lewis

Alan is an experienced writer and hobbyist in CNC technology, and brings an extensive background to his writing at CNCSourced. He has several years of working with hobbyist machines like laser cutters and CNC routers, as well as a degree in Mechanical Engineering and numerous certifications. Alan tests and reviews many of the CNCs we review at CNCSourced, and is known for his comprehensive guides and product reviews.

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