Most buyers start with the same question: which laser type fits my part? The three families used in industrial marking and processing behave differently because of their wavelength and how the beam is absorbed by the material.
Fiber lasers
A fiber laser operates in the near-infrared range. The beam is absorbed well by metals, which makes it the usual choice for marking stainless steel, aluminium, brass, coated metals and engineering plastics. It is also the workhorse for handheld welding and for deep engraving on metal tooling.
CO2 lasers
A CO2 laser works in the far-infrared range and is absorbed strongly by organic and non-metallic materials. That makes it the natural fit for wood, acrylic, leather, paper, glass and coated surfaces. Metals largely reflect this wavelength, so CO2 is rarely the right tool for bare metal marking.
UV lasers
UV lasers use a much shorter wavelength. Instead of heating the surface, they break the material bonds directly, which is called cold marking. That is why UV is chosen when the marking must stay flat and clean: medical-grade plastics, glass, ceramics, and heat-sensitive electronics where surface damage or discolouration is not acceptable.
How to choose
The decision usually comes down to three points:
- Material — metal parts point to fiber; organics and coated surfaces point to CO2; delicate or heat-sensitive materials point to UV.
- Result required — a high-contrast industrial mark, a permanently engraved surface, or a flat cold mark on a delicate part.
- Production context — how the part is loaded, whether it sits on a fixture, a conveyor or a rotary axis, and how the mark is verified afterwards.
If you are not sure, send us the part and the material. We test the process on real samples and show you the result before you commit to a machine.