When it comes to laser marking, engraving, or cutting, not all lasers are created equal. Two of the most common types used in industrial and hobbyist applications are infrared (IR) lasers and fiber lasers. Each has its own strengths, ideal materials, and use cases.
In this article, we'll explore the differences, similarities, and best use cases for both types of lasers, helping you choose the right tool for your project.
In this article:
Part 1: Overview of Infrared Lasers
1.1 What Is an Infrared Laser?
An infrared (IR) laser is a type of laser that emits light in the infrared spectrum, typically 1064nm. Unlike visible lasers, IR lasers are invisible to the human eye. They are widely used in engraving, marking, and cutting applications because their energy is easily absorbed by certain materials, especially metals, plastics, and coated surfaces.
1.2 How Infrared Lasers Are Generated
Infrared lasers are usually made using a laser diode. When electricity flows through the diode, it excites the atoms inside and produces invisible infrared light. This light is then focused and amplified to create a strong, narrow beam.
Because of this, infrared lasers are compact, energy-efficient, and great for marking materials like metals, plastics, and etc.
1.3 Types of Infrared Laser Engravers: Built-In vs. Add-On Modules
Infrared laser engravers usually come in two main types: built-in lasers and add-on laser modules.
Built-In Lasers
These engravers have the IR laser already installed inside the machine. You don't need to do any extra setup—just load your material, adjust the settings, and start marking. Built-in lasers are neat, compact, and ready to go, making them ideal for everyday engraving and marking tasks.
Add-On Laser Modules
Some machines don't have a built-in IR laser, but you can attach an add-on module. These modules let you upgrade your machine to handle metals or other materials that require infrared light. Add-on modules give more flexibility, especially if you want a machine that can handle both standard engraving and more advanced metal or plastic marking tasks.
1.4 Typical Power Range of Infrared Laser Engravers
Most infrared (IR) laser engravers operate at low power levels, usually under 5 watts. For desktop or hobby machines, 1–3 watts is the most common range. This is enough to mark metals, plastics, coated surfaces, and other small materials with precision.
Even at low wattage, IR lasers can produce crisp, lasting marks without cutting through the material. That's why they're perfect for jewelry, small parts, or any project where accuracy and detail matter more than heavy cutting.
1.5 How Infrared Lasers Interact with Materials (Why They Mark Rather Than Engrave)
Infrared (IR) lasers work by emitting light that is strongly absorbed by certain materials, especially metals, coated surfaces, and some plastics. Instead of cutting or removing material like a high-power CO₂ or fiber laser, the energy from an IR laser heats the surface just enough to create a visible mark.
This process is often called “laser marking” rather than engraving. The surface may darken, oxidize, or slightly melt, forming a crisp, lasting design without cutting through the material.
Because IR lasers are usually low power (under 5 W), they are perfect for precision marking, such as serial numbers, logos, or decorative patterns. They are not designed to cut or deeply engrave, which is why you get a clean mark rather than a carved groove.
In short, IR lasers “mark” the surface instead of engraving, giving you sharp, high-contrast designs without removing material.
Part 2: Overview of Fiber Lasers
2.1 What Is a Fiber Laser?
A fiber laser is a type of laser that generates light inside a fiber optic cable doped with rare-earth elements, usually ytterbium. Unlike infrared diode lasers, fiber lasers produce high-intensity, focused light that can be used to engrave, mark, or cut metals and some plastics. They are known for their precision, speed, and ability to create deep or permanent marks.
2.2 How Fiber Lasers Generate Light
Fiber lasers generate light using a laser diode that pumps energy into a fiber optic core doped with rare-earth elements. This energy excites the fiber, causing it to amplify light through stimulated emission. The amplified light is then focused through a lens, producing a highly concentrated laser beam. Because the beam is so intense and precise, it can cut or deeply engrave metals and create permanent black marks on coated surfaces.
2.3 Types of Fiber Laser Engravers
Fiber lasers come in several types depending on the pulse and modulation:
- MOPA Fiber Laser: Offers adjustable pulse widths, ideal for color marking and delicate details on metals.
- Q-Switched Fiber Laser: Produces ultra-short, high-energy pulses, perfect for deep engraving or high-contrast marking.
- Standard Continuous Fiber Laser: Good for fast, consistent marking on metals.
2.4 Common Power Ranges for Fiber Lasers
Fiber lasers typically range from 10 W to 50 W for small to medium desktop machines, with industrial models reaching 100 KW or more. Higher power allows for faster engraving, deeper cuts, and marking harder metals, while lower-power models are suited for precision marking and delicate designs.
2.5 How Fiber Lasers Interact with Materials
Fiber lasers are especially effective on metals like gold, silver, stainless steel, titanium, and coated surfaces. They can:
- Engrave deeply, cutting grooves into the surface.
- Create black markings by oxidizing or darkening metal surfaces.
- Produce color marks on coated metals, especially with MOPA lasers.
The key difference from infrared diode lasers is that fiber lasers remove or alter material, not just mark the surface, allowing for permanent and professional-quality engraving.
Part 3: Key Differences and Similarities Between Infrared and Fiber Lasers:
1. Working Mechanism and Construction
Infrared (IR) Diode Lasers: Generate light through a semiconductor diode. The laser energy is usually absorbed on the surface of materials, so it's mainly used for marking, not deep engraving.
Fiber Lasers: Powered by semiconductor diode pump sources, which inject light into a rare-earth–doped optical fiber. Inside the fiber, the pumped energy is converted into a tightly focused, high-intensity laser beam. This efficient design enables fiber lasers to cut, deeply engrave, and create permanent, high-precision marks on metal.
2. Wavelength
Infrared (IR): Typically around 800–1100 nm, invisible to the eye, works best on coated metals, plastics, and some other surfaces.
Fiber Lasers: Around 1060–1080 nm, optimized for metal marking, engraving, and color marking on coated surfaces.
3. Beam Quality
Infrared (IR): Beam is less concentrated, suitable for surface marking and shallow designs.
Fiber Lasers: Very focused, produces high-precision marks and deep engravings, even on small surfaces.
4. Power and Engraving Capabilities
Infrared (IR): Usually less than 5 W, ideal for surface marking.
Fiber Lasers:Usually 10–50 W for desktop machines, capable of deep engraving and black or color marking on metals.
5. Speed and Precision
Infrared (IR): Slower and better for small markings.
Fiber Lasers: Faster, high-precision, suitable for professional applications and batch production.
6. Material Compatibility
Infrared (IR): Works on coated metals, plastics, wood, leather.
Fiber Lasers: Best for metals like gold, silver, stainless steel, titanium, and coated metal surfaces.
7. Applications
Infrared (IR): Beam is less concentrated, suitable for surface marking and shallow designs.
Fiber Lasers: Very focused, produces high-precision marks and deep engravings, even on small surfaces.
8. Residue & Cleanliness
Infrared (IR): Marking logos, serial numbers, decorative patterns on jewelry, gadgets, or small parts.
Fiber Lasers: Deep engraving, black marking, color marking, professional jewelry, industrial parts, and metal gifts.
9. Lifespan, Durability & Maintenance
Infrared (IR): Lower maintenance, moderate lifespan. Diode modules may wear out faster with heavy use.
Fiber Lasers: Long lifespan, low maintenance, highly durable for industrial-scale applications.
Part 4: FAQ about Fiber Laser and IR Laser
1. What are infrared lasers good for?
Infrared (IR) lasers are ideal for surface marking and shallow engraving on materials like coated metals, plastics, wood, and leather. They're commonly used for logos, serial numbers, QR codes, and decorative patterns.
2. Can an infrared laser cut wood?
Generally, low-power IR diode lasers (less than 5W) cannot cut thick wood. They are mainly for marking and shallow engraving. Higher-power IR lasers (more than 10W) may cut thin wood sheets, but fiber or CO₂ lasers are usually better for cutting wood.
3. What are the disadvantages of fiber lasers?
Some limitations of fiber laser include:
- Higher initial cost compared to IR diode lasers.
- Less effective on non-metal materials like wood, acrylic, or fabric.
- Less effective on non-metal materials like wood, acrylic, or fabric.
4. What makes an IR laser different?
IR lasers generate light through a semiconductor diode. They mainly affect the surface of materials, making them great for marking and shallow engraving, whereas fiber lasers generate light in a doped optical fiber and can engrave deeply or mark metals permanently.
5. How many hours does a fiber laser last?
Fiber lasers have long lifespans, typically around 20,000–100,000 hours, depending on usage, cooling, and maintenance. They are low-maintenance and highly durable for industrial applications.
Conclusion
Infrared and fiber lasers are designed for different engraving needs. Infrared lasers offer flexibility for non-metal and coated materials, while fiber lasers deliver higher power, faster speeds, and deeper results on metal. Understanding their differences helps you choose the right laser for cleaner, more efficient engraving.
If your goal is 3D embossing, deep engraving, or color engraving on metal, a fibre laser engraver for home use, such as the LaserPecker LP5, is the better choice. If you mainly work with materials like wood, acrylic, and leather, and only occasionally need to engrave metal or plastic, an infrared laser engraver like the LaserPecker LP4 will be more suitable.
