CO2 or diode plotter? That is, how to choose the right device

We were extremely pleased that some of the questions about more advanced equipment came from our customers who were just starting their adventure with craft knife plotters. After all, this testifies to the development of both your skills and the businesses themselves! Therefore, we decided to expand our offerings to include laser plotters that would cope with new challenges, while remaining within the reach of even smaller studios, both in terms of cost and the size of the equipment itself. These requirements were met by Flux laser plotters and, more recently, the xTool M1 hybrid plotter.

Much can be said about the differences between the plotters of these two manufacturers and even individual models. Today, however, we will focus on one of them, which is very important, yet often overlooked when selecting a device. It's about the cutting and engraving method, because while both manufacturers' plotters have laser cutting and engraving functions, FLUX devices have a CO2 laser, while the xTool M1 hybrid plotter gets a diode laser.

Differences between CO2 laser and diode laser

The main difference between the two methods is the different way the laser beam is emitted. The diode laser you get in an xTool plotter has an LED head that emits the laser beam, and a lens. In the case of FLUX plotters, the beam is generated in a tube inside the laser, and then reflected with mirrors in the appropriate direction. This is, of course, a very big simplification and a kind of mental shortcut, but I believe that as users of laser plotters we are mainly interested in the effect of their operation, and this, in the case of a CO2 laser, is more power than in the case of a diode laser.

What does greater laser power give?

First of all, greater speed and efficiency in cutting and engraving. The execution of the same project can be up to several times faster with FLUX lasers, which often means a difference of up to tens of minutes. Material thickness also makes a big difference. In the case of the xTool M1 hybrid plotter, laser cutting works well for plywood up to 3mm thick and requires working at maximum power, at low speed and often several passes. Cutting in material of the same thickness is offered by the smallest CO2 laser from the FLUX manufacturer, the Beamo. In this case, however, the process will take less time. Wanting to cut in thicker than 3mm, hard materials, it is worthwhile to be interested in the other FLUX models, namely Beambox, Beambox Pro, and the HEXA model, which offers the highest power.

Cutting acrylic

It is also worth mentioning that both diode and CO2 lasers have the ability to cut in acrylic. In this case, however, the difference is not only in the cutting speed. A diode laser cannot handle cutting transparent acrylic. The material must be colored, opaque. Otherwise the diode laser will simply penetrate it. On the other hand, a CO2 laser will cope with transparent acrylic, making original transparent designs for us.

What does a diode laser have that CO2 does not?

Since CO2 laser is more efficient, is it worth paying attention to diode lasers? The answer, contrary to appearances, is not as obvious as it might seem. If your main goal is to cut and engrave in plywood, acrylic and other hard materials - a CO2 laser is a better choice. However, the diode laser has the function of engraving in stainless steel without the need to purchase additional parts.

Admittedly, this will again be a rather lengthy process, but the effects will be durable and abrasion-resistant. This is quite important, because with a CO2 laser you can achieve a grwawer-like effect on the surface of stainless steel by spraying it with a special spray beforehand. However, the pattern will be susceptible to damage and abrasion.
In addition, the diode laser requires less energy, so it may prove to be slightly more economical than CO2 lasers.

Summary

As a summary, I will try to list the main advantages and disadvantages of each laser.

For CO2 lasers, in this case from the manufacturer FLUX, the definite advantages are its power, which is associated with faster and more efficient operation, as well as the ability to work in thicker materials, and the ability to cut and engrave in transparent acrylic. As for the disadvantages compared to the diode laser, it is worth taking into account the lack of the ability to permanently engrave stainless steel, higher power consumption, and - worth mentioning in the context of accessibility for small studios and businesses - the higher price of the device itself.

As for the diode laser, in this case the xTool M1, admittedly it has less power, making it run longer and allowing it to cut in thinner materials. Instead, it has the ability to permanently engrave in stainless steel, and power consumption is a tad lower than that of a CO2 laser. In addition, with the xTool M1, the price is also competitive. The basic kit can be purchased for as little as seven thousand zlotys, and while our focus today is on laser cutting, it is worth keeping in mind the other capabilities offered to us by the M1 model, such as knife cutting.

So, before making a choice, it is important to ask yourself a few questions, for example: what budget I have, what type and thickness of material I intend to cut, whether the machine will meet the production on the scale I have planned. I hope that by answering them it will be easier to make the right decision and make a purchase that meets expectations.