Fiber Laser Purchase Advice Needed

[Dave Annis]

I am in the market for a fiber laser marking/engraving machine.
My intended use will be, engraving steel. I have included some images that, while not the exact application are similar in scale and the detail required.
The engraved depth would be in the 1.0mm-2.5mm range. A typical engraved area would be about 9.5mm x 9.5mm up to 35mm x 35mm in size.

Does anyone have firsthand experience doing this type of work?
How long would it take to complete an engraving like this?
What wattage of laser was used?
What area and depth was engraved?

Also what exactly is the difference between a 20W laser and a 30W laser from the same laser manufacturer, performance wise? From reading literally hundreds of spec sheets from various Chinese laser engraver sellers on eBay, Aliexpress, Alibaba and IndiaMart. I'm really not much more informed than I was before I started. It seams like there are only a handful of differing spec sheets that have been copied and pasted by almost all the sellers you can visit.

Since a 30W laser is 1.5 times as powerful as a 20W laser.
Can a 30W laser remove the same material as a 20W but 1.5 times as deep per pass?
Can a 30W laser remove the same material as a 20W 1.5 times faster at the same depth per pass?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance.

[John Lifer]

These look like visually deeper than a millimeter, more like the 2-3 at least. In Aluminum, you would be be able to use a 20 watt and do pretty quickly. Steel would take a good bit longer. You are removing a lot of material on most of those. I'd say spend the $ if this is your main market and get a 50 watt. It would be WELL worth the step up in cost I believe. I've a chinese 20watt from Ray Fine, worked fine out of the crate with zero issues after about 6 months. I kind of wish I'd have had the $$$ for a 30 watt, it would speed up some of my work a lot. A 20 would do those, just take a while.......

[Dave Annis]

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate it.

I guess I'll have to find a seller that is willing to do some samples, using different wattage machines.

[Scott Shepherd]

In Aluminum, you would be be able to use a 20 watt and do pretty quickly. Steel would take a good bit longer.

Interesting, I find deep engraving on aluminum takes far longer than deep engraving on steel.

[Gary Hair]

Interesting, I find deep engraving on aluminum takes far longer than deep engraving on steel.

That’s been my experience as well. 99% of the aluminum I do is anodized, maybe that makes a difference?

[John Lifer]

You guys have done more than me, but aluminum cuts way faster than steel in my experience. Grades of aluminum can have an affect I guess

[ian mcfarland]

I would by a 50 over a 30 now

[Tim Bateson]

Interesting, I find deep engraving on aluminum takes far longer than deep engraving on steel.

I agree with Steve. I have to be careful when doing Glock Slides. I get way deeper much faster in these steel slides than I do on aluminum lowers. For steel slides I now reduce the power I use for aluminum lowers by about 25%.