The difference between fiber laser and MOPA laser engraving machines

Many customers choose to buy a laser machine.But they buy a machine, they wonder what is the main difference between fiber laser and MOPA laser engraving machines. Is it only the color engraving over some materials? Why MOPA laser it’s more expensive? Which materials can these technologies engrave? So in this article, you will finally get an answer in this blog about the difference between fiber laser and MOPA laser engraving machine

Different inside technology

Even if these two machines have a very similar or same outlook, inside, but they work differently. Because fiber laser machines use a technology called Q-switched that allows the power supplier to generate the path light only between 1 to 500 kHz.

On the other hand, the Master Oscillator Power Amplifier knowing as MOPA generate the power source with a different method, and this allows the machine has a pulse frequency with more amplitude than the fiber, from 1 to 2700 kHz. So these enable the MOPA laser to have different engraving results over some plastics and metal materials in comparations of the engraving results of the Q-switched or fiber laser technology.

Which materials can this machines engrave?

MOPA Laser

This machine can engrave over:

Gold
Aluminium (with dark color effect also)
Stainless Steel (with multiple colors)
Platinum
Silver
Titanium
Brass
Tungsten
Carbide
Nickel
Carbon steel
Crome
Copper
Iron and other metals
ABS plastic (low rate of melting burn)
PC plastic (low rate of melting burn)
PLA plastic
Silicon plastic
PBT plastic and others

See MOPA laser machine

Fiber Laser or Q-switched

This machine can engrave over:

Gold
Aluminium
Stainless Steel (Only white and dark colors)
Platinum
Silver
Titanium
Brass
Tungsten
Carbide
Nickel
Carbon steel
Crome
Copper
Iron and other metals
ABS plastic (high rate of melting burn)
PC plastic (high rate of melting burn)
PLA plastic
Silicon plastic
PBT plastic and others

In conclusion , both machines can do similar works .However, if you are looking for a better finishing on plastic materials and for having the possibility of engraving different colors on stainless steel, titanium or black color on aluminum , you can think about the solution that MOPA laser can offer. On the other hand, if you are only looking for engrave metals at high speed and you don’t need to engrave colors on metals, then you can choose a fiber laser. These machines may look the same but they are different not only on work effect and technology. And they are also very different on price. And MOPA laser technology also tends to be expensive than normal Fiber Q-switched lasers.For more information get in contact with us. https://www.xtlaser.cz/