What is the difference between 2D, 3D laser and 2.5D Laser Marking Machine?

First, laser world is big, according to different laser wavelength, laser is divide into CO2 laser, fiber laser, UV laser, green laser and so on. Different laser types, different applications. Today we talk about fiber laser engraving machine.

From application:

Fiber laser mainly for metal material and some plastic, just like SS, CS, brass, AL, leatherette, slate and plastic ABS, PU etc.

From laser power:

Fiber laser divide into Fiber laser marking machine (from 20w to 300w) and fiber laser cutting machine(from 1.5kw to 40kw).

From Laser Source:

Laser source is divided into pulsed type laser source and CW type laser source. Laser power from 20w to 300w is belong to pulsed laser source and from 1.5kw to 40kw belongs to CW laser source.

From Galvo head:

Whatever it is CO2 laser or fiber laser or other type lasers, there’s 2D laser and 3D laser.

2D fiber laser:

2D fiber laser working area is optional, just like: 100x100mm, 150x150mm, 175x175mm, 200x200mm, 300x300mm. Generally speaking, 300x300mm is the biggest working area. Why its working area is optional?

As we said, for same power, more bigger working area, more weaker of laser beam. That is the reason why we need choose 100x100mm working area if we need deep engraving or cutting thin material. But you can choose 2 lens if it is necessary. When you need only marking on surface, then you choose 200x200mm or 300x300mm. When you need deep engraving, then you choose 100x100mm working area. Changing lens by yourself is not hard.

2D fiber laser application:

2D laser only has X Y axis, there is no Z axis. That is the reason why it max. can cut or engraving 1.5-2mm because 2D laser focus depth around 2mm when we use 100x100mm lens. During the focus depth, laser beam power almost same. Above focus or below focus, laser power all will change. When it goes more deep, the focus point will change, that is the reason why it cannot go more deep.

So made a summary of 2D fiber laser application

1. Marking on surface, working area 300x300mm

2. Deep engraving, not relief result, only deep engraving. Working area better 100x100mm, max. 150x150mm

3. Cutting thin soft metal material, just like silver, gold, brass, AL. Working area max. 100x100mm, mainly cut 2mm and below.

3D laser application:

3D laser has X Y Z 3 axis, and inside laser head, there is one mirror which can move according to the focus point changes. So it can keep focus always at the material surface. That is the reason why it can engrave more deep than 2D laser.

From Galvo head outlook, we also can see the difference. 2D laser head is small which there only have 2 mirrors, one for X axis direction and another for Y axis direction.

3D laser head is bigger because it has 3 mirrors and Z axis mirror can move, so 3D head is bigger.

Make a summary of 3D laser application

3D laser has 2 types: 3D relief engraving and 3D big working area

We mentioned 2d laser max. Working area is 300x300mm. So 3d big working area can reach 600x600mm or more bigger.

And because big working area always with weaker laser source. So even 3d laser, if big working area, we also cannot make deep engraving, only surface marking.

1.Relief engraving

2. Carved engraving

3. Big working area engraving

2D laser and 3D laser head is different, so software and operation also is different.

2.5D fiber laser application:

2.5D laser can finish all 2D laser work and can make 3D laser engraving on flat plate. 2.5D CANNOT make 3D engraving on curved part.

From technical part, we called it 2.5D because laser head still with a 2D laser head, but 2.5D with motorized lifting pillar. And galvo head can be controlled by software. software can control laser head move when machine working, so it can achieve 3D engraving.

it means 3D laser, Z axis mirror inside laser head to move back and forth; 2.5D, Z axis stands for the third mirror to move automatically

3D laser, the pillar can be manual type because Z axis mirror inside galvo head. (But also can with motorized type, like above picture.)