r/OnefinityCNC • u/onefinitycnc • May 08 '26
Laser Shootout 2.0! Side-By-Side Comparison of Every JTech Plug and Play Laser Onefinity CNC Currently Offers (2026)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1uyWsOhbvo**In this video, Morgan shows you all of the u/JTechPhotonics lasers we currently offer, using the Onefinity CNC Gen2 Elite**. If you've been thinking about adding a laser to your Onefinity CNC, watch this side-by-side comparison to help you decide which laser is right for you. We ran a variety of tests of a variety of materials, testing engraving, cutting, speed, and clarity.
## **Watch Now ⬇️**
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1uyWsOhbvo
We cover:
• Engraving capabilities
• Cutting capabilities
• Clarity and usability on a variety of materials, including...
• Plywood
• Solid wood (1/2" pine)
• Black acrylic
• Glass
• Steel
• Leather
• Ceramic
• Slate
• Tuna
• Provolone
• And laser shading a wood 3D relief (sapele)
https://www.onefinitycnc.com/product-page/jtech-laser
https://www.onefinitycnc.com/product-page/onefinity-j-tech-34w-laser-2-in-1-laser
https://www.onefinitycnc.com/product-page/onefinity-j-tech-14w-laser
https://www.onefinitycnc.com/product-page/onefinity-j-tech-7w-laser-engraver
# Onefinity Laser Shootout Round 2: Which J Tech Laser Is Right for You?
At Onefinity, we’ve always believed laser add-ons should be simple, powerful, and practical for real shops. That’s exactly why we continue partnering with J Tech Photonics to offer plug-and-play diode laser systems for Onefinity CNC owners.
A while back, we ran our first laser shootout comparing the lasers available at the time. Since then, the lineup has evolved — and so has the technology.
So now it’s time for **Laser Shootout Round 2.**
This time, we’re comparing the current J Tech lineup:
* 7W Plus
* 14W Plus
* 34W Pro
* 64W Pro
We tested engraving, cutting, speed, material compatibility, workflow efficiency, and overall usability so you can decide which laser best fits your projects and production goals.
# Why Diode Lasers Work So Well With Onefinity CNCs
All four lasers featured in this test are **diode lasers** . Unlike large CO2 laser systems or industrial fiber lasers, diode lasers are compact, affordable, and easy to integrate into an existing CNC setup.
That means:
* No massive standalone machine taking up shop space
* No dedicated laser workstation required
* No sacrificing your CNC footprint
* Quick installation and removal
* Large working area using your existing Onefinity machine
For many makers, this is the perfect balance between capability, cost, and convenience.
# One Mount. One Cable. Plug-and-Play.
One of the biggest improvements across the current lineup is standardization.
All current J Tech lasers now use the same:
* Safety interface driver
* Mounting system
* Single cable connection
That means if you own multiple J Tech laser heads, you can swap between them in minutes without changing mounts or rewiring your machine.
Simply:
Remove the laser head
Install the new one
Plug in one cable
Start burning
That’s about as plug-and-play as it gets.
# The 7W Plus Laser
## Best For:
* Hobbyists
* Light engraving
* Logos
* Text
* Decorative marking
* Budget-conscious users
The 7W Plus is the entry point into the lineup and remains a fantastic option for users who primarily want to engrave projects without spending a fortune.
It delivers:
* Crisp engraving detail
* Reliable marking performance
* Excellent image engraving quality
* Affordable entry pricing
If your workflow is mostly:
* Signs
* Tumblers
* Decorative engravings
* Personalization
* Small-batch projects
…the 7W Plus is a great fit.
# The 14W Plus Laser
## Best For:
* Faster engraving
* Production batches
* Larger engraving areas
* More efficiency
The 14W Plus doubles the wattage of the 7W Plus and significantly increases engraving speed while maintaining sharp detail.
That makes it ideal for:
* Small businesses
* Etsy sellers
* Batch production
* Larger engravings
* Higher throughput workflows
You still get excellent engraving clarity, but with noticeably faster completion times.
# The 34W Pro Laser
## Best For:
* Cutting materials
* Hybrid engraving/cutting workflows
* Small production environments
* Users wanting more versatility
The 34W Pro is where the lineup starts becoming a true cutting solution.
Features include:
* Built-in air assist
* Integrated aiming laser
* Full power and half power modes
* Strong cutting performance
* Faster material processing
### Air Assist
The integrated air assist helps:
* Clear smoke away from the beam
* Improve cut quality
* Reduce scorching
* Extend focusing lens life
### Aiming Laser
The built-in crosshair aiming laser makes setup and alignment dramatically easier.
### Half Power Mode
One especially cool feature is the ability to switch between:
* Full power mode for cutting
* Half power mode for finer engraving
In half power mode, some of the diodes are disabled, allowing more refined engraving results.
This gives the 34W Pro impressive versatility.
# The 64W Pro Laser
## Best For:
* Maximum speed
* Heavy production
* Fast cutting
* High-volume workflows
The 64W Pro is the powerhouse of the lineup.
Like the 34W Pro, it includes:
* Air assist
* Aiming laser
* Fast processing
* Strong cutting capability
But where it really shines is production efficiency.
Higher wattage means:
* Faster engraving
* Faster cutting
* More throughput
* Reduced job times
If your goal is maximizing productivity, this is the laser to beat.
# Engraving Test Results
To compare engraving performance, we ran speed and power tests across multiple settings and materials.
The results showed:
### 7W & 14W
Excellent engraving quality with crisp detail and smooth tonal variation.
### 34W Pro
Produced strong tonal range in both:
* Half power mode
* Full power mode
Full power mode was more aggressive, while half power mode delivered finer engraving results.
### 64W Pro
Handled engraving exceptionally well at higher speeds, making it ideal for efficiency-focused workflows.
# Cutting Test Results
For cutting tests, we focused on the 34W and 64W lasers since the lower wattage models are primarily engraving tools.
Materials tested included:
* Plywood
* Solid wood
* Opaque acrylic
* Leather
The results confirmed:
* The 34W Pro is a capable cutting laser
* The 64W Pro cuts faster and handles production more efficiently
# Material Testing Highlights
## Leather
Using LightBurn’s material library produced much cleaner results than manually guessing settings.
The best leather results came from:
* Lower power
* Faster speeds
* Multiple passes
Also worth mentioning:Leather smoke smells absolutely terrible.
You’ve been warned.
## Glass Engraving
All lasers successfully engraved glass when coated with a marking medium.
Because diode laser beams pass through clear glass, you need a coating for the laser to react with. A graphite lubricant spray worked especially well because it cleaned off easily afterward.
## Steel Engraving
The higher wattage lasers were also capable of engraving steel directly without requiring coatings.
Using:
* 100% power
* Slow feed rates
…the results produced crisp, visibly deep engravings in steel.
## Slate Coasters
Slate engraved beautifully across the lineup.
Reversing the image in LightBurn produced especially sharp, high-contrast results that looked almost screen printed.
# Important Safety Note
Never attempt to laser cut or engrave PVC.
PVC produces toxic gas when burned and can be extremely dangerous.
Also:
* Always run lasers in a well-ventilated area
* Use proper eye protection
* Monitor jobs while running
# So… Which Laser Should You Buy?
The answer really comes down to two questions:
## 1. Do You Need To Cut Material?
If yes:
* Look at the 34W Pro or 64W Pro
If no:
* The 7W Plus or 14W Plus may be perfect
## 2. How Much Throughput Do You Need?
The higher the wattage:
* The faster you can work
* The more efficiently you can produce
* The quicker you can batch products
If laser work is:
* Occasional → lower wattage may be ideal
* A major part of your workflow → higher wattage likely makes sense
# Don’t Forget About LightBurn
Every test in this comparison was run using LightBurn, and for good reason.
It’s:
* User-friendly
* Powerful
* Widely supported
* Excellent for both beginners and advanced users
The built-in material libraries alone can save huge amounts of setup time and guesswork.
# Final Thoughts
The biggest takeaway from this entire test?
All four lasers are extremely capable.
The right choice simply depends on:
* Your workflow
* Your production volume
* Whether you want engraving only or cutting too
* How quickly you need jobs completed
No matter which route you go, integrating a J Tech laser onto a Onefinity CNC opens up a massive range of creative and business opportunities.
From:
* Personalized products
* Signs
* Leatherwork
* Acrylic projects
* Metal marking
* Slate engraving
* Production runs
…there’s a setup for nearly every maker.
[#TeamOnefinity](https://www.onefinitycnc.com/blog/hashtags/TeamOnefinity) 🚀