What are diode lasers? An easy guide
What are diode lasers? If you are considering entering the world of laser cutting and engraving, you may be considering purchasing a diode laser engraver.
This article explains what diode lasers are, how they work and some key considerations when using them as a hobby or to start a laser engraving business.
What are diode lasers?
Diode lasers are build around a semi-conductor – when an electrical current is applied to the semi-conductor it emits light. This light is concentrated through a focusing lens and emitted as a laser beam.
Multiple diodes can be combined by focusing the individual beams together, resulting in one much more powerful laser beam. This is called a stacked diode laser.
For a more thorough explanation of the science behind diode lasers, check out this excellent article from explainthatstuff.
Diode lasers are a versatile type of laser that are compact and efficient.
What are diode lasers used for?
Diode lasers have a wide range of applications, including:
- Telecommunications – used in fibre optic cables
- Printing – used in laser printers and photocopiers
- Medical – numerous uses including in surgery, dentistry, laser hair removal and laser eye surgery
- Barcode scanners
- Entertainment – used in light shows and large screens such as those used in concerts
- Material processing – used for cutting and engraving a wide range of materials.
In this article, we will focus on the use of diode lasers for material processing in hobby/small business use.
The diode lasers used for hobby laser cutting and engraving range from budget, low-power units to more expensive and higher-power models.
Low-power diode lasers are more suited to smaller-scale applications, particularly engraving small items such as keyrings and coasters.
Diode lasers are one of the most popular types of laser cutters with hobbyists, rivalled mainly by CO2 laser cutters.
What materials can be used with a diode laser?
Diode lasers can be used to cut and engrave on many different materials, including:
- Paper
- Card/Cardboard
- Wood
- MDF
- Cork
- Rubber
- Leather
- Acrylic – however clear acrylic cannot be used as the laser beam will pass straight through it
- Stone (engraving only)
Note that diode lasers cannot be used to cut or engrave metal. Fibre lasers are used for working with metal. One trick to “engrave” on metal with a diode laser is to apply a paint coating to the metal and use the laser to partly burn this away, giving the engraving you desire.
What are some advantages of Diode Lasers?
Diode lasers offer several advantages over other types of laser. These include:
- Compact size – Diode lasers are compact and lightweight. This makes them easy to incorporate into small devices meaning they can be made portable and easy to transport.
- Efficient – Diode lasers are extremely efficient in converting electricity to light. This results in lower operating costs for users.
- Range of light wavelengths – Diode lasers can emit light over a wide range of wavelengths, from ultraviolet to near-infrared. This further increases the range of applications for which they can be used.
- Reliability – A typical diode laser will last for tens of thousands of hours of operational use. They also have few moving parts. Both of these factors result in lower maintenance costs for end users.
Use of Diode Lasers in laser cutting and laser engraving
Diode lasers are a great entry point into the world of laser cutting and engraving.
They come in a wide range of sizes, from small, open units that can easily be moved around such as the LaserPecker Pro Laser Engraver, through to enclosed desktop machines such as the 40w xTool cutter:
The massive range of sizes and powers available mean that there is a diode laser suited for nearly all budgets and applications.
Starting a laser engraving business with a Diode Laser
Starting a laser engraving business doesn’t have to cost a fortune! Diode lasers provide a relatively cheap means of equipping yourself to start a laser engraving business. They one of the best entry points into the industry if you are on a tight budget.
To see what kind of equipment is available and the lowest price point, here is a list of the 5 best Laser Engravers under $500.
When starting a laser engraving with a cheaper, smaller diode laser you will be mostly limited to engraving. Low-power diode lasers can only cut through very thin material, and the length of time it takes them to do this can mean they are ineffective at making a lot of items.
If cutting a lot of materials is required, a better low-budget solution is a CO2 laser cutter.
Diode Laser project ideas
Diode laser engravers can be used to make a wide range of items from many different materials.
Here are a few ideas for you:
- Engraving wooden or slate coasters
- Cutting and engraving wooden keyrings
- Engraving leather items such as wallets or belts
- Personalising items such as phones or laptops with engraving
What are Diode Lasers? Conclusion
You should now have a better understanding of what diode lasers are and their use in laser cutting and engraving.
For further reading on another type of laser, check out our article on how CO2 laser cutters work.