Fiber vs UV vs CO2 Galvo Lasers: Which One Do You Need?
Last updated: May 2026
Short answer: the material decides the machine. A fiber galvo laser (1064 nm) is for metals, and it is the only one of the three that color-marks stainless and marks bare metal directly. A UV galvo laser (355 nm) is for glass, plastics, ceramics, and other heat-sensitive materials, because it marks cold with almost no heat. A CO2 galvo laser (10.6 µm) is for organics and non-metals such as wood, acrylic, leather, and paper, but it cannot mark bare metal. Match the wavelength to what your material absorbs and the choice is usually obvious.
Which laser wavelength does your material need?
A laser only marks where its light is absorbed and turned into heat (or, for UV, into a direct photochemical reaction). Every material absorbs some wavelengths and reflects others, and the three galvo technologies sit at very different wavelengths, which is why each one owns a different set of materials:
- Fiber, 1064 nm (near-infrared): strongly absorbed by metals.
- UV, 355 nm (ultraviolet): absorbed by almost everything, with very little heat, so it can mark delicate and clear materials.
- CO2, 10.6 µm (far-infrared): strongly absorbed by organic, non-metallic materials, and reflected by bare metal.
A “galvo” machine, in all three cases, steers the beam with fast galvanometer mirrors across a fixed field (the lens area). That is what makes these machines fast markers and engravers rather than large-format cutters.
Fiber galvo (1064 nm): metals and color
Because metals absorb 1064 nm well, fiber galvo lasers mark, anneal, and deep-engrave stainless steel, aluminum, brass, copper, gold, and titanium. With a MOPA fiber laser you also get color marking on stainless and clean black or white marking on anodized aluminum. Fiber will mark some plastics too, but it is not the tool for cutting wood or acrylic, and it largely passes straight through clear glass.
This is our largest line. See the fiber laser range, the popular 100W MOPA M7, and laser engraving on stainless steel.
UV galvo (355 nm): cold marking for sensitive materials
UV is the shortest of the three wavelengths, which gives it the highest precision and the smallest heat-affected zone. It marks “cold,” so it can work on materials that fiber or CO2 would crack, melt, or burn: glass without microfractures, plastics without scorching, plus ceramics, silicon, PCBs, films, and many coated metals. UV galvo machines run at lower power (typically 5W to 20W) and are the right choice for premium branding on glass, perfume and cosmetics packaging, and electronics or medical parts.
See the UV laser range, the 20W UV marker, and UV laser engraving for glass.
CO2 galvo (10.6 µm): wood, acrylic, leather and other non-metals
CO2 light is absorbed by organic, non-metallic materials, so CO2 galvo lasers mark and engrave wood, acrylic, leather, paper, fabric, and rubber, and they etch glass. The key limitation is the mirror image of fiber: a CO2 laser cannot mark bare metal (the metal reflects 10.6 µm), so metal work needs a marking compound or coating. A galvo CO2 marks quickly over a fixed field; cutting thicker sheets is a job for a gantry CO2 machine, which is a different tool.
CO2 galvo is joining our catalog. If you need non-metal marking now, tell us about your material and we will point you to the right machine.
Fiber vs UV vs CO2 galvo: side by side
| Fiber galvo (1064 nm) | UV galvo (355 nm) | CO2 galvo (10.6 µm) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best materials | Metals, some plastics | Glass, plastics, ceramics, heat-sensitive | Wood, acrylic, leather, paper, glass |
| Marks bare metal? | Yes | Some / coated | No (needs coating) |
| Color marking on stainless | Yes (MOPA) | No | No |
| Heat-sensitive / cold marking | No | Yes | Limited |
| Typical power | 20–350 W | 5–20 W | Varies |
| In the JPT catalog | Yes | Yes | Coming |
Quick decision guide
- Metal, especially color marking → fiber galvo (MOPA).
- Glass, plastics, ceramics, anything heat-sensitive → UV galvo.
- Wood, acrylic, leather, paper → CO2 galvo.
- Removing rust or paint (not marking) → a pulse laser cleaning machine, a different tool again.
How this maps to our catalog
Our fiber and UV galvo lines are live today; the CO2 galvo line is on the way. Most shops start with a fiber galvo because metal marking is the broadest need, then add a UV galvo for glass and plastics. Not sure which fits your work? Our help me choose guide narrows it down in a few questions.
Frequently asked questions
Can a fiber laser mark glass?
Not well. Clear glass is largely transparent to the 1064 nm fiber wavelength, so the beam passes through instead of marking. For glass you want a UV galvo laser, which marks cold without microfractures.
Can a CO2 laser mark metal?
Not bare metal. Metal reflects the 10.6 µm CO2 wavelength. CO2 can only mark metal that has been coated with a marking compound. For direct metal marking use a fiber laser.
What is “cold marking”?
It means marking with almost no heat. UV’s short wavelength is absorbed at the surface and breaks molecular bonds directly, so it avoids the cracking, melting, or scorching that heat-based lasers can cause on glass, plastics, and electronics.
What is the difference between a galvo and a gantry machine?
A galvo steers the beam with mirrors across a fixed lens field, which is fast and ideal for marking and engraving. A gantry moves the laser head over a large bed and is built for cutting and large-format work.
Which galvo laser should most shops buy first?
A fiber galvo, because direct metal marking is the broadest and most common demand. Many shops then add a UV galvo for glass, plastics, and other heat-sensitive materials.
