Q-Switch vs. MOPA Fiber Lasers: Which is Better for Jewelry Laser Processing?
In today's jewelry industry, laser marking technology has become an indispensable component for engraving metal jewelry. Whether it's brand logos, metal purity markings, or customized patterns and personalized inscriptions, efficient and precise laser processing is essential. Among the many types of laser equipment, fiber laser machines are popular in the jewelry industry compared to CO2 and UV laser machines.
Because most of the jewelry materials are metal materials, such as gold, silver, platinum, etc., a fiber laser machine is particularly suitable for marking, engraving, and micro-processing of precious metal jewelry.
So many jewelry shop owners will start looking for a fiber laser machine to improve their business, such as marking customers' name or couples' memory dates on the inside of the rings or bracelets. Or some of them might need a fiber laser machine to cut out a customer's name from a metal sheet to make a name pendant. Anyway, using a fiber laser machine in the jewelry industry is becoming more and more popular.
But when you start to do some research to choose a fiber laser machine for your business, you might notice that there are two types of fiber laser sources: Q-switched fiber laser and MOPA fiber laser.
Q-switched fiber lasers and MOPA fiber lasers are the two most common types of fiber lasers. So, after you do more and more research, you might be confused by many laser technical terms. Hence, in order to help you more directly understand the difference between these two laser sources, here is our experience:
|
Features |
Q-Switch Fiber Laser |
MOPA Fiber Laser |
|
Pulse Width |
Fixed (Typically 80 - 120 ns) | Adjustable (2- - 500 ns) |
| Cost | Lower ( Cost-effective ) | Higher (20%-40% more expensive than Q-Switch) |
| Best For |
1. Standard Marking 2. Deep Engraving 3. Metal Materials Sheet Cutting (Under 2mm) |
1. Standard Marking 2. Deep Engraving 3. Metal Materials Sheet Cutting (Under 2mm)
4. High-precision Black & White Marking 5. Stainless Steel Color Marking |
| Black Marking | Unstable, easy to burning |
Crisp, high-contrast black marks (ideal on stainless steel or polished metals) |
| White Marking | Weak or uneven | Clean white marking on polished silver & gold |
| QR Codes / Micro Text | Only standard size codes | Ultra-fine, high-density marking |
| Materials |
1. Gold 2. Silver 3. Stainless Steel 4. Brass 5. Copper 6. Platinum 7. Titanium |
1. Gold 2. Silver 3. Stainless Steel ( Color Marking ) 4. Brass 5. Copper 6. Platinum 7. Titanium ( Better Results ) 8. Coated Metal Materials 9. Mirror-polished Metals |
| Recommend Use |
1. Ring inner & outer text Marking 2. Simple Serial Numbers Marking 3. Basic Name Pendant Cutting 4. Batch Production Marking |
1. Premium Jewelry Marking 2. Custom Jewelry Designs 3. Anti-counterfeiting Marking 4. Color Marking on Stainless steel |
| Target Users |
1. Small Jewelry Studios 2. New Jewelry Workshops 3. Jewelry Factory |
1. Branded Jewelry Makers 2. Custom Engraving Services 3. High-end Craft Workshops |
For jewelry manufacturers seeking a cost-effective solution for standard applications such as serial numbers, logos, and inner ring engraving, a Q-Switched fiber laser offers reliable performance at an accessible price point.
However, for workshops focused on high-end customization, including color marking and clean white finishes the MOPA fiber laser provides the precision, flexibility, and superior quality required to elevate craftsmanship and brand value.
Ultimately, the choice depends on your production goals, design complexity, and desired level of detail.