What laser do you have – Flatbed or Galvo?

CO2 Flatbed Focus Lenses –

Below are examples of different lenses using typical lenses found in a flatbed laser system.
Below is information about different lenses and how far a laser can mark around an arbitrary round part with each lens:

Below you can see lenses have different focal ranges in terms of length and depth. Beam width also changes, effecting resolution and beam energy. Energy is lost in a logarithmic fashion because the circumference of a circle is 3.14 (pi). Spot size times pi is the energy of the spot and is why higher wattage is necessary when using larger lenses, especially using the 4″ lens. This is also why a 30 watt CO2 laser using a 2.5″ lens has a hard time cutting through even .25″ wood or acrylic.

Below is the approximate spot size of each laser lens. The lens acts as a magnifying glass and converges the beam of light. The point at the sharpest convergence is the “spot size” and where laser processing takes place. There are always trade offs between lenses. Using a larger lens with larger spot could mean using lower DPI and finishing the job faster; however, if you are looking for details, either vector cutting or raster engraving, then you may find that the smaller lens with finer resolution is better at the cost of using higher DPI.

Good: Shapest point and highest resolution
best for cutting
thin materials and engraving small details
Bad: Out of focus quickest

Best overall
cutting .25″ and
under and
most engraving

Use when
cutting .5″
material – such as wood and acrylic

Good: Largest depth of focus. Use when
engraving parts
with curvature or cutting thick parts.
Bad: Very large spot and loss of energy. Not good with low power lasers

Fiber Galvo Focus Lenses –

Lens Sizes:

The lens in a galvo style laser dictates the size of the process field. The fast moving mirrors move the laser beam in the X and Y directions.
As with the flatbed, there are trade offs of using one lens over another lens.

The information below relates to fiber lasers. CO2 lasers are also galvo based and use a different set of lenses

Different galvo lens types:

F-theta lens is more expensive because it is machined such that the beam will attempt to be perpendicular to the work piece and focus is virtually the same across the entire process field. It doesnt quite get there, but for non-critical tolerances, the actual “laser mark” position and focus point are far more predictable

Non-F-theta lens is less expensive and the beam is similar to a pendulum when it exits the lens and therefore change in focus away from field center should be expected. Also, the laser mark location will appear to be offset due to the different focus points.