What are the best diode laser brands? Please recommend some.

First thing to say: diode lasers really struggle with cutting acrylic. Black acrylic is usually fine, but clear or translucent acrylic is a no-go—the laser just passes straight through it.

As for the best diode laser brands, honestly, it’s pretty simple: go with American or European manufacturers. I’ve owned several U.S.-made units in the past, from a Texas-based company called JTech. I bought them years ago and they were extremely well built and durable, using high-end components. I even converted an old 48" × 48" CNC machine into a laser using one of their kits to do large-format engraving, like big map projects. I was running that machine about 16 hours a day, every day, for two years, and never had a single issue. As for the cheaper Chinese diode lasers… well, people generally know what to expect, so I won’t go into that.

Another limitation with diode lasers is that the lens is fixed, which really limits cutting performance. You’re always making a compromise between fine engraving and cutting ability. With a CO2 laser, you can easily swap lenses and switch between engraving and cutting setups in about 30 seconds.

That said, the big advantage of diode lasers is that they don’t require water cooling like CO2 machines do, and they’re much less sensitive to temperature. With CO2 lasers, you have to be careful not to let temperatures drop below freezing, or the laser tube can crack.

I haven’t personally used any of the brands you listed, so I can’t comment on them directly. Your best bet is to find people who actually own those machines and hear their real-world experiences—good or bad. All I can say from experience is that the top-tier diode lasers are not made in China.

Of all the brands listed, I genuinely like Acmer the most. I own both the Acmer P2 and P3, and they have been very reliable. One thing I particularly appreciate is that their connectors are easy to repair if needed, without much hassle. What I dislike about some other brands is that they frequently update their firmware, making maintenance a real pain.

I'd like to recommend Sculpfun. I currently own a Sculpfun S9, but I've been hoping to upgrade to a 20W model. Sculpfun devices feature an open-frame design and support power upgrades and function expansion through official upgrade kits, which is very appealing to me.

Among the current products, the Sculpfun S30 Ultra 22W is a pretty good option. It performs well in cutting Baltic birch plywood and can easily handle most everyday needs.

It's important to note that any diode laser cutter will have limitations when cutting acrylic, especially transparent acrylic, which it cannot cut. It's best to have realistic expectations about this limitation when choosing a model.

You might want to give xTool another look. A lot of the really cheap stuff on AliExpress can end up causing more headaches than they’re worth. That said, it’s your call — good luck either way.

If you go with an open gantry-style machine, definitely make sure to wear proper safety glasses. Also, air assist is a big help when cutting wood.

Ich habe von der LaserTree LT-4LDS-V2 auf die K60 aufgerüstet. Eigentlich war das nicht nötig, da die 20er-Version einwandfrei funktioniert hat... aber hey, noch mehr Laserpower!
Sie schneidet 4 mm dickes Sperrholz mit ca. 1200 mm/min (mit Luftunterstützung), die Schnittkanten sind sauber und es gibt keine Verkohlung. 8 mm dickes schwarzes Acryl schneidet sie mit 290 mm/min bei 90 % Leistung. Sie ist mit etwas über 1,2 kg ein ziemliches Schwergewicht, daher muss ich die Beschleunigungseinstellungen möglicherweise noch anpassen.