It is a frequent question from our customers, they wonder what is the main difference, it is only the color engraving over some materials? Why MOPA laser it's more expensive? Which materials can these technologies engrave? These and other questions will finally get an answer in this blog about MOPA and Fiber Lasers.

Different inside technology

Even if these two machines have a very similar or same outlook, inside, they work differently. The fiber laser machines use a technology called Q-switched that allows the power supplier to generate the path light only between 1 to 500 kHz.

On the other hand, the Master Oscillator Power Amplifier most know as MOPA generate the power source with a different method, and this allows the machine has a pulse frequency with more amplitude than the fiber, from 1 to 4000 kHz. These enable the MOPA laser to have different engraving results over some plastics and metal materials in comparison of the Q-switched or fiber laser technology.

MOPA laser technology

The truth about MOPA technology

What's the differences between?

Differences between UV laser and fiber laser

Which materials can these machines engrave?

MOPA Laser

This machine can engrave over:

Gold

Aluminium (with dark color effect also)

Stainless Steel (with multiple colors)

Platinum

Silver

Titanium

Brass

Tungsten 

Carbide

Nickel

Carbon steel

Crome

Copper

Iron and other metals

ABS plastic (low rate of melting burn)

PC plastic (low rate of melting burn)

PLA plastic

Silicon plastic

PBT plastic and others

See MOPA laser machine

Fiber Laser or Q-switched

This machine can engrave over:

Gold

Aluminium

Stainless Steel (Only white and dark colors)

Platinum

Silver

Titanium

Brass

Tungsten 

Carbide

Nickel

Carbon steel

Crome

Copper

Iron and other metals

ABS plastic (high rate of melting burn)

PC plastic (high rate of melting burn)

PLA plastic

Silicon plastic

PBT plastic and others

These machine can engrave different plastics but in some of them you will feel the engraving by the touch of our fingers.

See Fiber engraving machine