Metal Engraving Machine: Fiber Laser for Metal Marking
Last updated: June 2026
Short answer: a metal engraving machine is a fiber laser that marks and engraves metal by firing a focused 1064 nm beam that vaporizes or transforms the surface. For metals, fiber is the right technology, not CO2. Our metal engraving machines run from 20W for fine serial numbers up to 350W for deep production engraving, all built on authentic JPT sources, and they handle stainless steel, titanium, brass, copper, aluminum, and hardened tool steel without inks, acids, or consumables.
What a metal engraving machine does
A metal engraving machine uses a fiber laser to put a permanent mark on metal. The beam is steered by a galvanometer scanner across the part at up to several thousand millimeters per second, and depending on the settings it can do three different jobs on the same machine:
- Surface marking and annealing: a dark, smooth, corrosion-safe mark with no depth, used for serial numbers, logos, data-matrix and QR codes, and medical instruments.
- Engraving: the beam removes material to cut a recess you can feel, used for nameplates, tooling, and wear-resistant identification.
- Color marking: on stainless steel and titanium, a MOPA fiber laser grows a thin oxide layer that reflects a specific color, with no pigment involved. See laser marking titanium.
Because the mark is made by light, there are no inks, no etching acids, no stencils, and no consumables to replace. The same metal marking machine does fine jewelry detail and heavy industrial engraving by changing power, frequency, and pulse settings in software.
Why fiber, not CO2, for metal
Metal absorbs the fiber laser’s 1064 nm wavelength efficiently, which is why a fiber laser marks steel and aluminum cleanly. A CO2 laser emits at 10.6 microns, a wavelength metal largely reflects, so CO2 machines are made for wood, leather, and acrylic, not bare metal. If your work is metal, a fiber metal laser marking machine is the correct tool. For the full wavelength breakdown, see fiber vs UV vs CO2 lasers.
Within fiber, the MOPA type adds adjustable pulse width, which unlocks color marking and clean work on thin or coated metal. The plain-English explanation is in what is a MOPA fiber laser.
Which metals a fiber laser engraving machine can mark
| Metal | What it does | Best machine |
|---|---|---|
| Stainless steel | Black anneal, deep engrave, full color (MOPA) | 30W to 100W MOPA |
| Titanium | Color marking, medical and watch parts | 30W to 100W MOPA |
| Brass & copper | High-contrast marks on reflective metal | 60W to 100W MOPA |
| Aluminum & anodized | White/dark marks, anodized white-out | 20W to 60W |
| Mild & tool steel | Deep engraving, hardened-tool marking | 100W to 350W |
| Precious metals | Inside-ring, hallmark, fine detail | 20W to 30W MOPA |
Material-specific guides: anodized aluminum, brass and copper, gold, silver and precious metals, and stainless steel marking.
Choosing the right power for metal engraving
Pick the metal laser marking machine by your work and volume, not by the biggest number. A 30W machine color-marks exactly as well as a 100W on the same part; the higher power just gets through more pieces per shift and engraves deeper.
- 20W fiber laser (USD 2,900): smallest serial numbers, ring interiors, fine surface marking. The most portable metal marking machine in the catalog.
- 30W MOPA (USD 3,600): the boutique color-marking entry for jewelry, knives, and small-batch tags.
- 60W E2 MOPA (USD 4,400): the value sweet spot for mixed marking and light engraving.
- 100W MOPA M7 (USD 6,900): production color marking and general engraving; our most popular machine.
- 200W (USD 9,500) and 350W (USD 16,500): deep industrial engraving on hardened tool steel and thin-metal cutting.
Not sure which fits? Use help me choose or the fiber laser buying guide. Browse the full fiber laser range.
How much does a metal engraving machine cost?
A metal engraving machine price depends on power and source tier, not on hidden add-ons. Our metal engraving machines for sale run from USD 2,900 to USD 16,500, and every price is the delivered price: it includes two lenses, a rotary, a motorized Z axis, safety glasses, a foot pedal, and DDP shipping with customs and duties paid to the US, Canada, and the EU. There is no separate quote and no surprise accessory bill.
| Machine | Power | Price (USD) | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20W M7 | 20 W | 2,900 | Fine serial numbers, ring interiors |
| 30W MOPA | 30 W | 3,600 | Boutique color marking, jewelry |
| 60W E2 MOPA | 60 W | 4,400 | Value mixed marking + light engraving |
| 100W MOPA M7 | 100 W | 6,900 | Production color marking, general engraving |
| 200W M7 | 200 W | 9,500 | Deep industrial engraving |
| 350W M7 | 350 W | 16,500 | Heaviest engraving, thin-metal cutting |
What drives the metal laser marking machine price is the power tier and the JPT source class, not the brand of stickers on the case. A higher-power machine costs more because it engraves deeper and runs more parts per hour, not because it marks “better” on a given part. For how the source tiers affect price, see which JPT source is in that machine; for a full value comparison, see the buying guide.
Common jobs a metal engraving machine handles
- Serial numbers, nameplates and data-matrix codes for traceability and compliance.
- Jewelry and watch components, including inside-ring engraving. See jewelry marking.
- Firearm engraving, including ATF-compliant serialization. See firearm engraving.
- Tumblers, dog tags, and personalized metal gifts for product businesses. See tumbler engraving.
- Industrial tooling and hardened-steel marking for manufacturing.
What is included with every JPT metal engraving machine
Every galvo machine ships with two field lenses, a rotary attachment, a motorized Z-axis, wavelength-matched safety glasses, and a foot pedal in the base price, plus EZCad 2 and EZCad 3 software. Delivery is DDP to the US, Canada, and the EU, with customs and duties included. We publish the exact JPT source model on every machine, so you always know which source you are buying; see which JPT source is in that machine.
Frequently asked questions
What kind of machine do I need to engrave metal?
A fiber laser. Metal absorbs the fiber laser’s 1064 nm wavelength efficiently, so it marks and engraves steel, titanium, brass, copper, and aluminum cleanly. CO2 lasers are for wood, leather, and acrylic, not bare metal.
How much does a metal engraving machine cost?
Our metal engraving machines run from USD 2,900 for a 20W to USD 16,500 for a 350W, with the popular 30W to 100W production tiers between USD 3,600 and USD 6,900. Every price includes the full accessory package and DDP shipping.
Can a metal laser marking machine do color?
Yes, on stainless steel and titanium, using a MOPA fiber laser. Color comes from a thin oxide layer grown on the surface, not from pigment, so it is permanent and ink-free.
Does it engrave deep or only mark the surface?
Both. The same machine surface-marks (serial numbers, codes), anneals (corrosion-safe dark marks), and engraves a recess you can feel. Higher power tiers (100W to 350W) reach greater depth on hardened steel.
Can it engrave jewelry and guns as well as industrial parts?
Yes. A 20W to 30W handles fine jewelry and ring interiors; the same machine class does ATF-compliant firearm serialization and industrial nameplates by changing settings in software.
Is there a desktop or small metal engraving machine, or only industrial?
Both. The 20W and 30W are compact, desktop-friendly metal marking machines for small shops and fine work; the 100W to 350W tiers are full industrial machines for production volume and deep engraving. They share the same galvo platform, so a small shop can start desktop and scale up later.
What is the cheapest metal engraving machine you sell?
The 20W M7 fiber laser at USD 2,900 is the entry metal engraving machine for sale, and the price already includes the lenses, rotary, motorized Z, safety glasses, foot pedal, and DDP shipping. The 30W MOPA at USD 3,600 is the cheapest option that also does color marking.
