The burning question, the one that’s likely been on your mind from the beginning: how much will a laser cutting machine set you back?
Laser cutting machines typically range in cost from $500 to over $ 600,000. That’s a wide span, right? It is like saying a car can cost anywhere from the price of a second-hand scooter to a brand-new sports car.
Now, to make this wide range a bit more digestible, we can break it down into more manageable chunks. One effective way is to segment these machines based on their working principles—CO2 lasers, fiber lasers, and diode lasers.
Another method is to categorize them based on their power and the type of materials they can handle. These machines range from light-duty machines perfect for thin plastic and wood to heavy-duty giants that can slice through thick metal.
Before revealing the costs, you need to know the three basic types of laser machines available in the market, CO2 laser, Fiber Laser, and Diode Laser.
Each one operates on a unique principle and is suited for specific applications. Therefore, the price also varies among these types. Let’s take a closer look at each of these:
CO2 lasers have been around for a while, but they are still widely used due to their versatility. They generate a laser by electrifying a gas mixture, typically carbon dioxide.
CO2 lasers are the go-to machines for cutting, engraving, and marking non-metal materials such as wood, acrylic, and glass, but they can handle metals too.
Given their versatility and wide range of applications, these machines fall into a moderate price category. The price of these machines is largely dependent on the power and material they can cut. The smaller versions can start as low as $1,000 while big industrial systems go beyond $100,000.
Fiber lasers are the latest development in laser cutting technology, and they are becoming increasingly popular for good reasons. They use a seed laser that's amplified within a glass fiber. This process allows for extremely precise cuts, especially in metals like steel and aluminum.
Fiber laser machines are primarily used in the industrial sector for applications requiring high precision and speed. So, the costs of these machines, due to their advanced technology, power, and size, are much higher than CO2 lasers.
You might be looking at a price tag ranging from $20,000 to over $600,000, depending on the power output and added features.
The workhorse of the bunch, diode laser machines are straightforward and compact. They generate lasers from diodes, small semiconductor devices that emit light when current is applied.
These machines are ideal for engraving and cutting thin materials, making them perfect for hobbyists and small businesses.
The best part is they are the most affordable of the three. Diode laser machines typically range in cost from $500 to $2500, making them an excellent entry point into the world of laser cutting.
Here’s a rough cost estimate of all three types of laser cutting machines.
Type of Laser Machine
Price Range
Fiber Laser
$20,000 – $600,000
CO2 Laser
$1000 – $100,000
Diode Laser
$500 – $2500
While understanding the types of laser cutting machines gives us a preliminary pricing idea, a deeper understanding comes when we consider the materials these machines handle.
Different materials have varying levels of hardness and thickness, requiring different power levels and types of machines. So, let’s delve into the cost dynamics based on different materials:
Primarily, these are the domain of fiber lasers due to their efficiency with reflective metals. Metals are tough and require high power (0.5 to 12 kW) for cutting, hence machines cutting metals are typically high-powered beasts.
Moreover, the wavelength of fiber laser is in the range of 780 pm to 2200 pm, which is typically absorbed by metals. Some metals reflect CO2 laser; so mostly you’ll find fiber lasers for them.
The price of fiber laser machines for cutting metals starts at around $20,000 and goes upward to $600,000.
Acrylic cutting is typically handled by CO2 lasers. They offer a smooth finish and can efficiently cut and engrave this material.
Acrylic isn't as hard as metal, so these machines don't need as much power. Secondly, CO2 lasers emit infrared wavelengths, which are readily absorbed by acrylics. Speaking of prices, these machines usually fall in the moderate range, from $1,000 to 5,000.
A diode laser may also be used. However, diode lasers can only handle opaque acrylic. Diode lasers for acrylics are available for under $2000.
Wood can be processed effectively by both CO2 and diode lasers. They’re well-suited to handle the burning process involved in wood cutting and engraving.
The cost again is moderate. If you buy CO2 machines, you can expect to pay something between $1000 to $4000. While for diode laser the pricing will be likely between $1000 to $2000.
Plastic, especially thin sheets, can be easily handled by diode lasers or lower-power CO2 lasers. They don’t require much power; hence the cost is considerably lower. Prices usually start from $500 and can go up to $5,000. For industrial plastic-cutting CO2 machines, the price goes beyond 100,000.
Paper cutting requires precision more than power, making diode lasers an excellent fit for this task. Given their lower power requirement and smaller size, these machines are also the most budget-friendly, with costs ranging from $500 to $2500.
Leather is another material that laser machines can handle adeptly. For leather cutting and engraving, CO2 lasers (40-50W) are typically the preferred choice. They can cleanly cut and engrave intricate designs on leather, making them ideal for industries like fashion, upholstery, and automotive.
The power required to cut through leather is not as high as metal but higher than materials like paper, so these machines often fall in the middle to high price range.
Depending on the machine's power and additional features, you can expect to pay anywhere between $2,000 to $6,000 for a leather laser cutter.
The table illustrates the cost of different laser cutting machines based on material compatibility.
Material
Type of Laser Machine
Price Range
Metal
Fiber /CO2 Laser
$20,000 – 600,0000 / $10,000 – $100,000
Acrylic
CO2/ Diode Laser
$1000 – 5000 / $500 – 2000
Wood
CO2 / Diode Laser
$1000 – 5000 / $500 – 2000
Plastic
CO2 / Diode Laser
$500 – 5000
Paper
Diode Laser
$500 – 2500
Leather
CO2 Laser
$2000 – 6000
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