Laser Marking Systems: How to Choose
Fiber, CO2, or UV — picking the wrong laser marking system is an expensive mistake. This guide distills what actually matters for industrial buyers: material compatibility, mark quality, and how the system fits your production line.
Fiber Laser Marking Systems: The Metal Workhorse
Fiber lasers (1064nm) are the default choice for metals — stainless steel, aluminum, copper — plus some plastics. They engrave, anneal, and cut thin materials with excellent contrast and speed. WDOTMARK's fiber range spans desktop and portable T-F20–100 units (20W–100W), CCD-positioned T-F50, handheld 20W models, and flying YT-F30 systems for online marking. If your parts are mostly metal, start here: /fiber-laser-marking-machine/.
CO2 Laser Marking Systems: Speed on Non-Metals
CO2 lasers (10.6μm) dominate non-metal marking — cardboard, film, wood, acrylic, and packaging materials. The WDOTMARK YT-C30 flying CO2 system marks at up to 12,000mm/s and keeps pace with lines running 0–130m/min. When your product is packaging rather than parts, CO2 usually beats fiber on both speed and cost. Details: /co2-laser-marking-machine/.
UV Laser Marking Systems: Cold Marking for Delicate Parts
UV lasers (355nm) mark plastics and glass with minimal heat damage — the "cold marking" process that protects thin-walled parts and heat-sensitive components. The YT-U5 flying UV, portable U10, and CCD-positioned T-U5 cover online and workstation needs. Learn more: /uv-laser-marking-machine/.
A Quick Decision Framework
- Material first. Metal → fiber. Cardboard/film/wood → CO2. Plastic/glass with heat sensitivity → UV.
- Line or station? Flying systems (YT-F30, YT-C30, YT-U5) mark on moving lines; desktop, portable, and handheld units serve stations, repairs, and oversized parts — see /handheld-laser-marking-machine/.
- Mark depth vs. contrast. Deep engraving needs power (higher-wattage fiber); surface contrast on anodized or coated parts can often use less.
Still Unsure? Test Before You Buy
Send WDOTMARK a sample of your actual material. We'll run it on fiber, CO2, and UV systems and show you the results — so you choose on evidence, not brochures. Request a free marking test at sales@fiberlasermarker.com or WhatsApp +86 193 0303 6632.