This CO₂ laser wattage guide helps you match source power to the products you plan to make. Start with the material, normal thickness, required finish, largest part and number of acceptable pieces needed per hour. Then compare the laser source and working area as one machine configuration.
For mixed cutting and engraving, compare glass CO₂ configurations around 60W–100W against your real jobs. Compare 130W–150W glass when routine cutting time or thicker compatible stock is the constraint. For fine, detailed engraving, compare 30W or 60W RF CO₂ sources as well. These are shortlisting ranges, not thickness guarantees: choose the configuration that meets your tested quality, working-area and production requirements.
Technical guidance: This article provides general information. Follow the manual and approved-material guidance for your exact machine, your workplace risk assessment and applicable local requirements. Settings and examples require testing on your own material and configuration. Keep effective extraction and required safety functions active, and never leave an operating laser unattended.
Wattage describes the rated optical output of the laser source. It does not tell you, by itself, how fast a finished job will run, how fine an engraving will be, how large a sheet will fit or how consistently the machine will reproduce the result across the bed.
A laser source is the component that produces the beam. Watts (W) describe its rated optical output. The power percentage on the controller is a separate setting: 60% on a 100W source is not a verified substitute for a 60W source. Actual output and permitted operating current depend on the source and its control system.
The result also depends on source condition, clean optics, the installed lens, focus, speed, air assist and material construction. Focus sets the beam at the required working position on or within the material. Air assist delivers air at the cutting head; extraction removes process fumes from the enclosure. None of these can be replaced by a larger wattage number.
Laser-source wattage is not the electrical consumption of the complete machine. Cooling, motion, controls, extraction and air systems also require power.
Acrylic, plywood, MDF, leather, paper, rubber and textiles behave differently. Supplier, grade and batch can matter as much as the category.
Choose around the thickness that creates most of the workload—not the thickest sample you might attempt once.
A cut that separates is not automatically acceptable. Check edge quality, kerf (the width removed by the cut), charring, residue, detail and cleaning time.
Higher cutting power matters most when processing time is a real bottleneck. Count complete cycles and accepted output per hour.
Power cannot compensate for a working area that is too small. Nesting means arranging parts on a sheet to use the space efficiently; fitting more pieces per run can matter more than a modest speed gain.
A cutting-led shop and an engraving-led shop can rationally choose different source types even when their material lists look similar.
For a first machine, obtain the material grade and composition from your supplier, measure the sample thickness and use a drawing to establish the finished part size. Estimate the normal order quantity from your product plan. A demonstration can supply the cycle-time evidence you do not yet have.
The ranges below are a decision framework, not universal thickness promises. Exact results depend on the complete machine, material and quality target.
| Source range | Where it often fits | What wattage alone cannot answer |
|---|---|---|
| 30W metal RF | Fine detail, small text, photographs and engraving-led personalisation on compatible materials. | It is not a substitute for high-power glass when cutting throughput is the main constraint. |
| 40W–60W glass | Compact studios, prototypes, personalised products, lighter cutting and mixed engraving/cutting. | Whether the work area and cycle time will support a growing order book. |
| 60W–100W glass | Mixed professional production of acrylic, signs, wood products, awards and repeat batches. | Whether the normal material and thickness meet the required edge quality at the required output. |
| 60W metal RF | High-detail engraving, rapid raster work and controlled low-power output, with cutting capability appropriate to the configuration. | Equal wattage does not make RF and glass equivalent in process behaviour. |
| 130W–150W glass | Cutting-led production, larger sheet work, long contours and high daily utilization. | Whether premium engraving or a dual-source workflow would remove a more valuable bottleneck. |
A 60W-to-100W comparison is useful when the same small or medium product fits both machines and cutting time matters. A 100W-to-130W or 150W comparison becomes useful when repeated cutting jobs still take too long, or a larger platform is needed. Test the complete configurations: a source-power change may also mean a different bed, lens, cooling system or motion package.
More power is not automatically worse for fine engraving, and less power is not automatically more precise. Ask for a sample at the required detail and depth. The source’s controllable low-output range and response, the lens and the motion system all matter.
Our July 2026 acrylic reference provides a controlled way to see how source power changes cutting speed. The complete dataset covers 25W–200W and acrylic from 3 mm to 40 mm. The table below extracts four commonly compared power levels.
| Acrylic thickness | 60W | 100W | 130W | 150W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 mm | 15 mm/s | 25 mm/s | 30 mm/s | 35 mm/s |
| 5 mm | 7 mm/s | 10 mm/s | 12 mm/s | 15 mm/s |
| 10 mm | 2 mm/s | 4 mm/s | 5 mm/s | 7 mm/s |
| 20 mm | 0.3 mm/s | 0.7 mm/s | 1 mm/s | 1.5 mm/s |
These are factory-labelled best-speed references at 95% controller power, not recommended universal settings. The reference does not identify every machine, acrylic grade, lens, focus position or acceptance method. It also does not establish that an RF source or another source architecture will reproduce these figures. Never exceed the permitted operating or tube-current limits of your exact source to copy a chart value.
For the full 25W–200W dataset, maximum-speed table and test method, use our CO₂ laser acrylic cutting settings guide.
For example, the 10 mm acrylic references are 2 mm/s at 60W and 4 mm/s at 100W. That is a difference in the recorded cutting-speed reference, not proof that an entire order will finish twice as fast. Loading, travel, engraving, acceleration, cleaning and rejected parts still affect output. Do not extrapolate the dataset beyond 200W or apply it automatically to a 260W configuration.
In the UK, Lothian Woodworks’ flower-press project shows a creator using a MIRA 9S 80W to cut 10 mm acrylic. AEON sponsors Moray, and he earns commission on qualifying UK referrals. It is a useful example of a complete product to examine—holes, outline, edge finish and assembly—rather than evidence that every 80W setup will achieve the same result. The video is not a controlled comparison of wattages; your material and machine still need their own test.
Even within acrylic, cast and extruded sheets, pigments, protective films and additives can change the result. Plywood adds veneers, adhesive and possible voids; MDF combines wood fibre and binder; natural timber varies with species, density, grain, resin and moisture. A successful acrylic test does not establish a setting for plywood of the same thickness.
| Work | Where more power may help | Where it may not |
|---|---|---|
| Acrylic cutting | Higher practical speed or a wider test range for thicker sheet. | Excess heat can widen kerf, soften details or change the desired edge. |
| Plywood / wood | Shorter cutting time and more scope for thicker compatible stock. | Glue, voids, density, moisture, flatness and smoke residue can dominate the result. |
| Paper / fabric / thin leather | Maximum source power is often not the main limitation. | Low-power control, motion and heat management can matter more. |
| Fine engraving | Enough energy is still required at production speed. | Pulse behaviour, spot, focus, artwork and acceleration can matter more than rated watts. |
| Coated metal marking | CO₂ can remove or alter suitable coatings under tested conditions. | Increasing conventional CO₂ wattage does not turn the system into a general bare-metal cutter. |
If you are still mapping what a CO₂ system can process, use our complete CO₂ laser materials guide. Unknown plastics, laminates and coatings should be identified before laser processing; wattage never overrides material-safety limits.
For a U.S. application example, our Pearl and Pine customer story features layered wooden signs and describes adding acrylic work with a MIRA 9. Pearl and Pine is an AEON Partner; AEON Laser USA commissioned the featured wooden sign. Use the products to define the mix of cutting, engraving and finishing you need to test. The story does not establish the source wattage, a current MIRA 9S configuration or a production-speed benchmark.
Both are CO₂ laser sources. A glass DC tube uses a direct-current discharge to excite the laser gas. RF means radio frequency: the gas is excited using radio-frequency energy, usually in a metal or ceramic source assembly. An RF CO₂ source is not a fibre laser.
Glass is often selected for economical cutting power. RF is often selected for fast changes in output and controlled engraving detail. Raster engraving builds an image through repeated scan lines, so source response, resolution and motion affect its finished cycle time as well as power.
A 30W RF source does not become equivalent to a 100W glass source for cutting because it engraves finely. Equal rated wattage also does not guarantee equal results between source designs. Compare the complete machine on the same material and file, with the same acceptance standard.
An RF source with a smaller wattage number can therefore be the better tool for an engraving-led catalogue, while a higher-power glass source may be the better choice when cutting time is the main constraint.
The complete glass CO₂ tube vs RF laser source guide explains the source decision in more depth.
In a dual-source Super NOVA, the glass and RF sources serve different jobs. Their wattages are not added into one combined cutting beam. Source selection and any changeover must follow the instructions for the exact configuration.
The table below summarises the global manufacturer comparison and product records checked on 19 October 2026. It describes listed configurations, not guaranteed stock or a worldwide supply offer. Confirm the exact source, working area and included equipment in the destination-specific quotation.
| Global family / model | Working area | Current source range shown | Production question |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIRA7 S | 700 × 500 mm | Glass 45W / 60W / 80W / 90W | Does compact mixed production need more cutting headroom? |
| MIRA7 S RF | 700 × 500 mm | RF 30W / 60W | Is detailed engraving the higher-value bottleneck? |
| MIRA9 S | 900 × 600 mm | Glass 80W / 90W / 100W | Will the larger compact bed and glass cutting power handle the normal product mix? |
| MIRA9 S RF | 900 × 600 mm | RF 30W / 60W | Does the shop need a larger engraving-led compact platform? |
| NOVA Elite10 | 1000 × 700 mm | Glass 90W / 100W | Is floor-standing cutting capacity more valuable than compact integration? |
| NOVA Elite14 | 1400 × 900 mm | Glass 90W / 100W / 130W | Will larger sheet nesting and stronger cutting release useful capacity? |
| NOVA Elite16 | 1600 × 1000 mm | Glass 90W / 100W / 130W / 150W | Does large-format cutting justify the largest standard platform? |
| Super NOVA10 / 14 / 16 | 1000 × 700 / 1400 × 900 / 1600 × 1000 mm | Glass DC plus a separate RF CO₂ source. Power options depend on the exact model and destination. | Does the job mix justify both cutting and detailed engraving on the larger platform? |
For a Super NOVA quotation, ask for the glass and RF ratings separately and confirm which source is used for each demonstration. A configuration offered on Super NOVA16 does not establish what is supplied on Super NOVA10 or Super NOVA14.
For MIRA5 S, confirm the exact source architecture and rated power with our team before ordering. Use the official AEON product comparison as a starting point and obtain the selected build in writing. Special-production and 260W offers also need their own model- and destination-specific confirmation.
A stronger source cannot fit a larger sign or improve sheet yield when the bed is already the constraint. It cannot remove the labour of splitting files, repositioning oversize work or running several small nests when a larger working area could complete the batch in fewer cycles.
That is why our MIRA S vs NOVA Elite vs Super NOVA guide chooses the production platform before treating wattage as the final deciding number.
Our CO₂ laser working-area guide separates the processing field from object clearance and installation space. Pass-through loading does not make the normal processing width unlimited.
Higher wattage creates value only when the saved time, expanded material range or reduced number of passes changes the economics of real work. Compare complete cycle time: loading, positioning, processing, unloading, cleaning and finishing.
Additional contribution means extra sales value left after the variable costs of that output, compared with the alternative configuration. Count only output you can realistically sell. Use the formula only when the extra contribution is positive, include relevant differences in operating costs, and use the same period and currency on both sides. It is a planning calculation, not a payback promise.
Global buyers should compare the full quotation rather than a single machine price. Freight, taxes, import route, installation, training, extraction, electrical preparation, warranty and local service can differ by destination.
For a first machine, ask the supplier to time representative demonstrations and request a quotation from the local sales and support route. Our CO₂ laser ownership-cost guide explains the separate purchase, installation and operating budgets.
Ask the supplier to test the exact material and file on the configurations you are comparing, record the complete setup, photograph the face, edge and reverse, and report complete cycle time plus accepted parts per sheet.
A higher-power source may need a different power supply, cooling system, optics or approved machine configuration. Do not treat tube replacement as permission to upgrade the wattage. Ask our team to check compatibility and the supplied system. Our CO₂ laser cooling guide explains the thermal decision; our ventilation guide explains fume capture and the installed airflow path. Neither requirement can be selected from source watts alone.
Shortlist glass CO₂ sources around 60W–100W for mixed professional cutting and engraving, and compare 130W–150W glass when routine cutting time or thicker compatible stock is the constraint. For detailed engraving, compare 30W or 60W RF CO₂ sources too. These are decision ranges, not thickness guarantees. Test the exact material, quality target, working area and complete cycle time.
It can provide more cutting capacity on a compatible material, but the useful gain depends on the whole job. Compare accepted parts per hour, edge quality, bed size and handling. A factory cutting-speed difference is not the same as an equal improvement in finished-order time.
There is no universal thickness limit for every material and machine. The AEON factory acrylic reference includes 10 mm acrylic at 4 mm/s and 20 mm at 0.7 mm/s for a 100W source at 95% controller power. Those are recorded reference values, not guaranteed settings or an RF-source equivalence. Follow source current limits and test your actual sheet, lens, focus and required edge finish.
It may help when enough energy at the required speed is the constraint. Source response, beam and lens characteristics, focus, motion, image resolution and material response also matter. Test the required engraving quality and complete cycle time.
Both figures describe rated optical output, but they do not make the source designs or complete machines equivalent. Compare cutting and engraving separately. RF CO₂ is also different from fibre-laser technology.
Choose power that solves the normal workload with tested quality and sufficient capacity. If another constraint dominates, a larger working area, more suitable source type, better handling or another workflow change may create more value.
Conventional AEON CO₂ platforms covered here are not general sheet-metal cutters. They can process suitable coatings on metal, and compatible marking compounds can create a bonded surface mark on selected bare metals. Direct bare-metal engraving and sheet-metal cutting require the appropriate source and machine architecture.
Rated source power is one variable. Source condition and control, optics, lens, focus, motion, air assist, extraction and the material itself affect the finished result. Compare the same design and stock on the complete configurations.
Do not assume that equivalence. Controller percentage, optical output and source operating limits are separate. The response may not be linear, and a percentage setting does not establish the characteristics or cutting performance of another source.
Only use a source and configuration approved for the exact machine. Electrical supply, cooling, physical fit, optics, controls and protection may need different equipment. Ask the responsible AEON sales or support team to confirm an approved route before changing power.
Prepare the material, thickness, finished part size, normal sheet format and required production volume. Use the current AEON comparison to shortlist configurations, then confirm the exact build and destination-specific commercial scope.
Compare AEON model families Contact AEONSource scope: Global manufacturer specifications and factory acrylic references checked 19 October 2026. The July 2026 acrylic dataset does not document every test condition. Source options, supplied equipment and local service vary; confirm your exact configuration in the current quotation and machine documentation.
Editorial disclosure: This article was drafted with generative artificial intelligence (AI). Technical information was checked against relevant AEON manufacturer documentation and the cited sources. Machine configurations and requirements vary by country; check your exact machine documentation and applicable local requirements before using this guidance.
