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In this guide
If you already own a CO₂ laser or a fiber laser, the question isn't whether the G7 is a better machine than what you have. It isn't trying to be. The question is whether there are materials your current setup can't handle well — and if so, whether those materials represent real business.
Glass. Silicone. Transparent acrylic. Bare ABS and PC plastic housings. Painted ceramic. These are the categories where CO₂ and fiber lasers either produce compromised results or simply don't work without workarounds. The G7's 355nm UV laser handles them directly. If those materials are part of your current product line — or orders you've been turning down — the G7 fills a gap that no amount of parameter adjustment on your existing machine will close.
This guide covers the six material categories where UV laser makes the most meaningful difference, how to choose between the 3W, 5W, 10W, and 15W configurations, and when UV is — and isn't — the right answer for your work.
Why UV laser is different from CO₂ and fiber
CO₂ and fiber lasers work by heating material. The laser beam deposits energy, the material absorbs it, and the surface vaporizes or melts. That thermal process is fast and effective for many materials, but it leaves a heat-affected zone — charred edges on wood, melted borders on plastic, microscopic cracking around glass engravings.
A 355nm UV laser works differently. At this wavelength, the photons carry enough energy to directly break the molecular bonds in the material — a process called photochemical ablation — without depositing significant heat. The material is removed at the molecular level rather than burned or melted away. The result is a cleaner interaction at the surface: sharper edges, no thermal distortion, and access to materials that can't tolerate heat-based processing.
This is the practical reason UV lasers can mark glass cleanly, leave silicone undamaged, and produce fine detail on clear acrylic without the yellowing or frosted burn edges that a CO₂ beam produces. It's not a matter of lower power — it's a fundamentally different physical interaction between beam and material.
| Material | CO₂ (10,600nm) | Fiber (1064nm) | UV G7 (355nm) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uncoated glass | Needs cermark compound | Passes through — no interaction | Direct mark, no compound needed |
| Transparent clear acrylic | Cuts well; surface engraving yellows | Poor — inconsistent results | Clean fine marks, no yellowing |
| Silicone | Melts or deforms surface | Melts or deforms surface | Permanent mark, no damage |
| ABS / PC engineering plastic | Chars, burn edges | Variable — depends on formulation | Sharp permanent black mark |
| PCB / flex circuit | Damages traces | Usable; large heat-affected zone | Cold process, minimal thermal impact |
| Glazed ceramic | Risk of glaze cracking | Passes through most glazes | Clean, crack-free glaze mark |
| Metal (stainless, aluminum) | Not effective | Yes — fiber is the right tool | Can mark, fiber is faster and better |
| Wood / non-transparent acrylic | Yes — CO₂ is the right tool | Limited | Can engrave; CO₂ is more efficient |
Six materials the G7 UV handles that other lasers can't
1Glass and crystal
Glass is one of the most commonly requested materials for custom engraving — and one of the most problematic for standard lasers. A fiber laser at 1064nm passes through glass without interacting with it. A CO₂ laser can mark glass, but requires a marking compound (cermark, laser bond, or wet paper) to create a surface that absorbs the beam, and results vary significantly by glass type and surface finish.
The G7's 355nm beam is absorbed directly by glass without any pre-treatment compound. It produces a clean frosted or etched mark on the surface — sharp enough for fine text and detailed logos. On crystal and optical glass, the UV beam can produce subsurface engraving, creating marks that appear to float inside the material.
What sells
Custom wine and whiskey glasses with names, dates, or logos; personalized drinkware for corporate gifts and weddings; glass awards and trophies; decorative glass panels; crystal ornaments.
Which power
5W handles most drinkware and glass gift applications. 10W is better for thicker glass or higher volume. Both require the rotary attachment for cylindrical pieces.
2Transparent and colored acrylic
A CO₂ laser cuts acrylic cleanly and engraves opaque or colored sheet effectively. Where it struggles is on clear acrylic: the heat from the beam creates microscopic surface stress and a frosted, slightly yellowed mark rather than the clean, optically clear interaction that UV enables.
A UV laser on clear acrylic produces high-resolution surface marks with significantly better edge definition and no yellowing. On certain grades of cast acrylic, it's also possible to create subsurface effects — marks that appear below the surface plane, giving a three-dimensional depth to engraved designs.
What sells
High-end award plaques and trophies in clear acrylic; branded display stands; architectural model components; custom LED edge-lit signs where edge quality matters; fine text on acrylic jewelry.
Which power
5W is the practical starting point for acrylic work. At 10W, throughput improves significantly on larger surface areas.
3Silicone and rubber
Silicone cannot be cleanly laser-marked with CO₂ or fiber lasers. The material melts, deforms, or produces a rough, irregular mark because both wavelengths overwhelm the material's physical tolerance. The result is either a melted groove or a surface damaged beyond useful marking.
A UV laser marks silicone cleanly through photochemical ablation. The result is a permanent, high-contrast mark on the silicone surface without deformation. For silicone products that require marking — medical devices, kitchen utensils, wristbands, keyboard keycaps, infant products — UV is the only viable laser option without resorting to pad printing or inkjet methods.
What sells
Custom silicone wristbands with event branding; medical device marking (serial numbers, lot codes); personalized kitchen silicone tools; keyboard keycap marking; branded promotional silicone items.
Which power
3W and 5W are both suitable. The marking doesn't require high power — it requires precise, controlled UV exposure. 5W is the better general starting point for production flexibility.
4ABS, PC, and engineering plastics
Standard fiber lasers can mark some plastics, but results vary dramatically by plastic formulation, and the thermal interaction often produces discoloration, surface melting, or inconsistent mark contrast. CO₂ lasers tend to char or melt the surface of engineering plastics, leaving visible burn edges around marks.
The UV laser's cold-marking process produces permanent black marks on white or light-colored ABS, PC, and similar engineering plastics with sharp edges and no surface deformation. The mark is chemically stable — not a surface scorch that can be scratched off, but a change in the material's optical properties at the surface.
What sells
Serial number and QR code marking on consumer electronics housings; plastic button and keypad marking; lot-code marking on medical device plastic components; product authentication marks on plastic packaging.
Which power
5W handles most plastic marking at reasonable throughput. 10W is better for high-volume production marking where cycle time matters.
5PCB and flexible electronics
Fiber lasers are used industrially for PCB marking, but the 1064nm beam's heat interaction with circuit board materials — FR4, flexible polyimide substrates — creates a thermal zone that can affect traces near the marked area. For very fine feature marking on flex circuits or sensitive boards, UV's cold interaction is the safer process.
The G7 at 355nm marks PCB substrates, component markings, and flexible circuit boards with minimal thermal impact — appropriate for prototyping work, educational electronics, and custom short-run PCB labeling where avoiding trace damage is a real concern.
What sells
Custom PCB marking for prototype production; serial number and version marking on finished boards; flex circuit identification; short-run electronics manufacturing; educational electronics lab kits.
Which power
3W or 5W for PCB and flex circuit work. Precision and minimal heat input are preferable to faster throughput for this application.
6Ceramic and glazed surfaces
Standard lasers struggle with ceramic because the glaze — a glass-like fired coating — behaves unpredictably under heat. CO₂ lasers can sometimes mark the glaze but often crack or chip it from thermal shock. Fiber lasers pass through many glaze formulations without interaction.
The UV laser marks ceramic glazes directly by interacting with the glaze chemistry at the surface, producing high-contrast marks without cracking or chipping the surrounding area. On matte-finish ceramics, the result is a sharp, clean mark. On glossy glazes, the laser creates a visible frosted contrast against the shiny surface.
What sells
Personalized ceramic mugs and plates; custom tiles for architectural or decorative applications; branded ceramic promotional items; ceramic awards and recognition pieces; fine art ceramic marking.
Which power
5W is the practical starting point for ceramic work. The G7's rotary attachments allow cylindrical ceramic pieces (mugs, vases) to be marked consistently.
G7 UV 3W vs 5W vs 10W vs 15W: which power is right for you
The G7's power configurations span a wider range than the UV laser category typically covers — from the precision-focused 3W up to the production-oriented 15W. The right choice depends on which materials you're primarily marking, what volume you're producing, and whether you're prepared for the additional infrastructure that higher power requires.
3W
Highest-precision configuration. Best for PCB marking, silicone, and very fine text on glass where surface sensitivity is the primary requirement.
Slower throughput on large surface areas. Most controllable at the low end.
Air cooled5W
Most practical starting point for workshops and small businesses. Handles glass, acrylic, plastic marking, silicone, and ceramic at useful production speeds.
If you're entering UV for the first time, start here.
Air cooled10W
Meaningfully faster throughput on all materials. For users with validated UV work who need more pieces per hour, or who work with thicker glass or larger surfaces.
Requires an external water chiller.
Water cooled ⚠15W
Production configuration. Fastest cycle times, highest power for demanding applications. For shops where UV marking is a primary revenue line.
Requires reliable water cooling infrastructure.
Water cooled ⚠When to choose UV — and when not to
✓ UV makes sense when…
You're taking orders for glass, silicone, clear acrylic, or engineering plastics that your current machine handles poorly or can't handle at all. You need permanent, non-thermal marking on heat-sensitive materials. You're doing precision marking on electronics or medical components where thermal impact is a concern. You want to expand into product categories that your CO₂ or fiber machine can't reach.✗ UV is not the right choice when…
Your primary work is cutting or engraving wood, non-transparent acrylic, or leather — a CO₂ laser does this faster and more cost-effectively. Your core business is metal engraving, deep marking, or color work on stainless steel — a fiber or MOPA laser is the right tool. You're looking for a single all-purpose machine — the G7 pairs well with a CO₂ or fiber laser but isn't designed to replace either one.The G7 is most valuable as a specialized capability added to an existing laser setup, not as a standalone replacement. If you already work with a NOX 50W for wood and acrylic, or a G2 PRO for metal, adding the G7 gives you access to material categories that neither of those machines can handle cleanly.
G7 accessories: rotary, XY table, and field lens options
The G7's accessory system is what makes it flexible enough for production work rather than just demonstration-level results.
Rotary attachments
Chuck Rotary (rings, pendants, small cylinders), Roller Rotary (tumblers, glasses, larger cylinders), and Ring Chuck Rotary (ring work). For glass drinkware — one of the primary UV applications — the rotary is essentially required for consistent registration around the circumference.
XY Table (2D Workbench)
Two-axis motorized positioning across an 11.8" × 8.7" work area with 3.5" height clearance. For tiling designs across surfaces larger than the standard field lens covers, or for batch marking multiple pieces without manual repositioning.
Field lens options
Different field lens configurations trade spot size for coverage area. Smaller lenses: finer spots for high-detail marks. Larger lenses: more area per pass for industrial marking tasks. Match the lens to your primary application.
Frequently asked questions
Can the G7 UV laser engrave glass without cermark or marking spray?
Yes. The G7's 355nm UV beam is absorbed directly by glass without a pre-treatment compound. It produces a clean frosted or etched mark on the glass surface. CO₂ lasers require cermark or similar compounds because the 10,600nm wavelength isn't absorbed by glass directly — UV at 355nm doesn't have this limitation.
What's the difference between G7 3W, 5W, 10W, and 15W?
All four configurations produce the same type of UV mark and can work on the same materials. The differences are throughput speed, maximum effective depth on certain materials, and cooling requirements. 3W and 5W are air-cooled; 10W and 15W require an external water chiller. For most small business and workshop applications, 5W is the practical starting point. 10W and 15W are for higher production volumes where cycle time is a real business constraint.
Can the G7 UV laser cut acrylic?
The G7 can cut thin acrylic sheet at reduced speeds, but it isn't optimized for cutting the way a CO₂ laser is. Where UV excels on acrylic is precision surface marking and fine engraving — particularly on clear or transparent sheet where CO₂ produces thermal distortion or yellowing. For general acrylic cutting, a CO₂ laser remains the practical choice.
Do I need a water chiller for the G7 UV laser?
The 3W and 5W configurations are air-cooled and don't require a separate chiller. The 10W and 15W configurations require an external water chiller to maintain stable laser source temperature during extended operation. Factor the chiller cost and space requirements into your total budget if you're considering the 10W or 15W configurations.
What materials can the G7 UV laser mark that CO₂ and fiber lasers cannot?
The most significant categories are: uncoated glass (fiber lasers pass through it; CO₂ requires marking compound); silicone (both CO₂ and fiber lasers melt or damage silicone surfaces); transparent clear acrylic (CO₂ produces thermal yellowing and distortion at the fine detail scale UV handles cleanly); and ABS/PC engineering plastics (where CO₂ tends to char and fiber lasers produce inconsistent results depending on formulation).
The G7 UV All-Purpose Laser Engraver is available in 3W, 5W, 10W, and 15W configurations, with rotary attachments, XY table, and field lens options to match your production setup.
View the G7 UV Laser →
