What is the difference between 60W and 100W MOPA fiber laser?

1. Key Differences Between 60W and 100W MOPA Fiber Lasers

The main differences between the 60W and 100W MOPA fiber lasers are as follows:

  • Output Energy: Differences in depth and speed of deep engraving (100W achieves 1.7x the depth of 60W)

  • Power Resolution: 60W is better suited for color engraving and fine-detail work

  • Material Compatibility: Both models can process various metals, though the 100W achieves higher efficiency

  • Processing Time and Production Costs: 100W improves efficiency and saves time

  • Power Consumption and Lens Costs: 100W has higher power consumption, but its lens costs are significantly higher

This section compares the Cloudray MP-60 (60W) with the Cloudray GM-100 (100W), offering an in-depth analysis of these machines' processing performance, costs, and suitable applications.

 

2. Why Does Laser Power Affect Deep Engraving Speed and Processing Efficiency?

Laser power directly influences pulse energy, heat input strength, and material removal efficiency, which collectively determine engraving depth and processing speed.

 

2.1 Comparison of Pulse Energy (Influencing Material Removal Ability)
Machine Pulse Energy Density(mJ/mm2)
MP-60 (60W) 447.88
GM-100 (100W)
746.46

The pulse energy of the 100W laser is about 1.7 times that of the 60W laser, which gives the 100W laser a significant advantage in both deep engraving and material removal speed.

 

2.2 Comparison of Actual Deep Engraving Speed (304 Stainless Steel, Depth Data)

Under identical parameters and configuration conditions, the actual engraving depth data is as follows:

Machine Number of Passes Total Processing Time Actual Engraving Depth (Microns)
MP-60 (60W) 15 passes 2.43 minutes 88.817 microns
GM-100 (100W) 15 passes 2.43 minutes 148.968 microns

Analysis:
In the same processing time and number of passes, the 100W laser achieves a depth of 148.968 microns, while the 60W laser achieves 88.817 microns, meaning the 100W laser reaches 1.7x the depth of the 60W laser. The higher pulse energy and peak power of the 100W laser allow it to achieve deeper engraving in a shorter time, greatly improving processing efficiency.

Conclusion:
The 100W laser significantly outperforms the 60W in deep engraving efficiency, making it ideal for users who require fast, high-efficiency deep engraving.

 

3. Why is the Power Precision of 60W More Suitable for Color and Photo Engraving?
3.1 Power Precision Differences (Influencing Color and Fine Work)

In most MOPA lasers, power precision is represented as a percentage (0-100%), but the actual energy corresponding to each 1% change differs between power levels.

Machine Energy per 1% Power Change
MP-60 (60W) 0.6W
GM-100 (100W) 1W

The power precision of the 60W laser is finer than that of the 100W, enabling more precise engraving with smaller energy changes.

Why is this important?

Color engraving relies on minute adjustments in the oxide layer thickness of the metal surface. The finer control of the 60W laser ensures stable and consistent color transitions, whereas the larger energy steps of the 100W can lead to excessive heat input, causing color instability.

Photo engraving requires extremely fine heat adjustments. The 60W laser's finer energy modulation ensures smooth grayscale images, while the 100W laser's larger heat steps may cause detail loss and over-burning.

Conclusion:
The 60W laser is more suitable for applications requiring high precision, especially color engraving and photo engraving.

 

4. Which Materials are Better Suited for 60W or 100W(Taking commonly used materials as an example)?

Different materials respond differently to heat input, and choosing the appropriate laser power can optimize processing results.

Material MP-60 (60W) GM-100 (100W)
Shallow Engraving on Stainless Steel ✔ Best ✔ Good
Deep Engraving on Stainless Steel △ Slow ✔ Fast
Brass Deep Engrave/Cut ✔ recommended ✔ Strongly recommended
Copper Deep Engrave/Cut △ Slow ✔ Best
Tool Steel Texture/Carbon Steel ❌ Insufficient energy ✔ Regular deep engraving choice

Summary:
For deep engraving on Carbon Steel, copper, and tool steel, the 100W laser is the better choice, while the 60W is more suited for fine shallow engraving or surface treatment.

 

5. Processing Time, Operating Costs, and Power Consumption Differences

Power not only affects engraving depth and speed but also influences production costs.

 

5.1 Processing Time Comparison

For engraving 200 coins(Non-deep engraving):

Machine Total Processing Time
MP-60 ≈ 10 hours
GM-100 ≈ 4 hours

Conclusion:
The 100W laser significantly reduces processing time, offering a clear time cost advantage for commercial production.

 

5.2 Power Consumption Comparison
Machine Power Consumption
MP-60 Max 460W
GM-100 Max 650W

While the 100W laser consumes more power, the time savings and increased production efficiency typically outweigh the increase in power costs.

 

5.3 Lens Cost Comparison

When power increases to 100W, a high-heat-resistant quartz lens is required, which costs significantly more than regular lenses.

Lens Type Cost Suitable for
Regular Glass Lens ~$60 MP-60
Quartz High-Heat Lens ~$350–$400 GM-100

The lens cost for the 100W laser is about 6 times higher than that of the 60W, but due to increased processing efficiency, the long-term operating cost difference is relatively small.

 

6. Cloudray MP-60 vs GM-100: Engineering Comparison
Feature MP-60 (60W) GM-100 (100W)
Deep Engraving Speed Moderate 2x faster
Color Engraving ★★★★★ ★★★★
Photo Engraving ★★★★★ ★★★
Power Precision 0.6W/step 1W/step
Material Compatibility Artistic/creative metals Industrial deep engraving metals
Lens Cost Low High
Industrial Capacity Moderate High

 

7. Who Should Choose 60W and Who Should Choose 100W?

Choose 60W (MP Series) for:

  • Color engraving, photo engraving users

  • Small studios, gift shops

  • Creators focused on detail and precision

  • Shallow engraving of stainless steel, aluminum, coated metals

  • Cost-sensitive users with a limited lens budget

Choose 100W (GM Series) for:

  • Deep engraving studios, badge engravers

  • Users working with brass, copper, and tool steel

  • Commercial bulk processing, strong deep engraving needs

  • Teams seeking high efficiency and fast delivery

 

8. Final Summary 

The key differences between 60W and 100W:

  • 60W: Fine control, color engraving, photo engraving, light processing

  • 100W: Deep engraving, heavy material removal, efficient bulk production

The lens cost of the 100W is 6 times that of the 60W, but efficiency improves 2–3 times

The choice should be based on material, depth requirements, production scale, and long-term costs, not just power alone.

One Sentence Summary:
60W is for art and precision craftsmanship, while 100W is for industrial deep engraving efficiency.

 

Click here to view details of the Cloudray MP-60 (60W)

Cloudray 60W Autofocus MOPA fiber laser engraver

 

 

Click here to view details of the Cloudray GM-100 (100W)

Cloudray 100W Autofocus Fiber Laser Engraver | Built-in Camera & Autofocus


 

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