.png){kind=spacer}
Laser Shootout 2.0! Side-By-Side Comparison of Every JTech Plug and Play Laser Onefinity CNC Currently Offers (2026)
- 1 hour ago
- 5 min read
In this video, Morgan shows you all of the @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.
Today I’ll 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)
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.
