Reference & ToolsModule 7.8~5 min read
Brands & Materials Suppliers Directory
External directory for laser manufacturers and material vendors. Click any link to visit. None of the manufacturer or material vendor links below are affiliated with this guide, listed because they're commonly used in the community.
Looking for accessories specifically?
For the smaller stuff most laser owners reach for (calipers, OD glasses, painter's tape, lens-cleaning supplies, hold-down hardware, fume extraction), see the
Kinetic Carving Amazon Storefront. This IS an affiliate storefront, items there are organized by category, pulled from research and feedback across fiber, CO2, and diode shops.
Fiber laser manufacturers
| Brand | Models / known for | Website |
|---|
| Thunder Laser | Kinetic's Recommendation Aurora series: Aurora Lite (50W fiber), Aurora 8 MOPA (100W JPT MOPA), Aurora 8 UV (5W UV). 2-year warranty, LightBurn included, US-based support. Also makes the Bolt, Nova Plus, and Titan CO2 lines (below).I'm a Thunder Laser USA ambassador. | thunderlaserusa.com |
| OMTech | Most popular consumer fiber MOPA + Q-switched. 30W, 60W, 100W. Polar+ enclosed series. | omtechlaser.com |
| ComMarker | B4 (basic) and B6 (premium JPT MOPA) at 30W and 60W. Strong UK + EU presence. | commarker.com |
| xTool | F1 + F1 Ultra (compact MOPA, popular hobby tier). | xtool.com |
| Cloudray | LiteMarker, MP-100, GM-30. Also major source-replacement parts vendor. | cloudraylaser.com |
| Triumph | Industrial-grade fiber lasers. Reliable, less consumer-friendly UI. | triumphlaser.com |
| JPT (source maker) | The MOPA fiber source brand inside many machines (M6, M7, M8 series). Shenzhen JPT Opto-electronics. | en.jptoe.com |
CO2 laser manufacturers
| Brand | Models / known for | Website |
|---|
| Thunder Laser | Kinetic's Recommendation Bolt, Nova Plus, and Titan series. The Nova Plus 35 (60W RF) is the laser in my shop. 2-year warranty, LightBurn included, US-based support.I'm a Thunder Laser USA ambassador. | thunderlaserusa.com |
| Glowforge | Basic / Plus / Pro. Most popular consumer CO2 in US. Closed ecosystem (web-based UI). | glowforge.com |
| xTool | P2 (55W glass), S1 (40W diode/CO2 hybrid). Strong consumer UX. | xtool.com |
| OMTech | Polar+, AF series, 100W glass tubes, Aurora Pro 150W. Wide range of price points. | omtechlaser.com |
| Aeon | Mira 5, Nova Pro. Premium tier; good for production shops. | aeonlaser.us |
| Boss Laser | LS-1416, LS-1630, LS-2436. American-made; popular with sign shops. | bosslaser.com |
| Epilog | Fusion Pro, Helix, Zing. Industrial-grade pricing; rock-solid reliability. | epiloglaser.com |
| Trotec | Speedy series, SpeedMarker. Top-tier industrial; expensive but premium. | troteclaser.com |
Diode laser manufacturers
| Brand | Models / known for | Website |
|---|
| xTool | D1 Pro (20W, 40W), S1 (enclosed 40W). Most refined diode lineup. | xtool.com |
| Sculpfun | S30 Pro Max (33W), S9. Frame upgrades + accessories. | sculpfun.com |
| Atomstack | X40, X20 Pro, A5 Pro+. Wide product range, budget-friendly. | atomstack.com |
| Ortur | Laser Master 3, Aufero series. Reliable entry tier. | ortur.tech |
| OneLaser | XRF 38W. Newer entry, solid frame. | onelaser.com |
| Creality | Falcon series. From the 3D printer maker. | crealityfalcon.com |
Metal blanks & sheet stock
| Vendor | Best for | Website |
|---|
| McMaster-Carr | Premium stainless / aluminum / brass sheet, fast shipping, consistent alloys. Standard for production work. | mcmaster.com |
| Online Metals | Sheet stock cut-to-size; broader alloy range than McMaster. | onlinemetals.com |
| Metals Depot | Larger sheets, plate stock, lower minimum order vs industrial suppliers. | metalsdepot.com |
| Speedy Metals | Custom cuts, smaller orders. Good for one-off pieces. | speedymetals.com |
| Limitless Solutions (UK) | Coin blanks, knife blanks, medals. Cheap for the quality. | limitless-solutions.co.uk |
| Stamping Coin Blanks | Brass / nickel-plated steel / copper coin blanks (US-based). | stampingblanks.com |
| Inventables | Laser-friendly anodized AL coupons, dog tags, specialty blanks. | inventables.com |
| Jantz Supply (formerly Texas Knifemakers Supply) | Knife blanks, kitchen knife stock, handle materials. | knifemaking.com |
| Jantz Supply | Premium knife blanks + finishing supplies. | knifemaking.com |
Wood: laser-grade
| Vendor | Best for | Website |
|---|
| Ocooch Hardwoods | Laser plywood, hardwoods cut to laser dimensions. Top-tier for laser shops. Their 18-species sample pack is the fastest way to build a per-material test card library. | ocoochhardwoods.com |
| Bell Forest Products | Hardwood thin-stock specialist. Cherry, walnut, maple in laser-friendly thicknesses. | bellforestproducts.com |
| Inventables (Easel) | Pre-cut laser plywood and hardwoods sized for common laser beds. | inventables.com/collections/plywood |
| Glowforge Proofgrade | Pre-tested laser materials; matched to Glowforge auto-settings (works on other CO2 too). | shop.glowforge.com |
| Etsy bulk hardwood sellers | Often the cheapest source for small custom-cut wood. Quality varies, try one piece first. | etsy.com |
Acrylic: cast
Cast acrylic gives flame-polished edges on CO2; extruded acrylic looks matte and inferior. Always specify cast.
Tumblers & specialty engravable blanks
| Vendor | Best for | Website |
|---|
| Polar Camel | Powder-coated tumblers, water bottles, drinkware. Engraves well. | Wholesale via JDS Industries (jdsindustries.com), primary distributor |
| Tumbler Source | Bulk tumblers, custom orders, blank pricing. | tumblersource.com |
| Maars Drinkware | Premium tumblers; B2B-friendly. | maarsdrinkware.com |
| JDS Industries | Wholesale engraving blanks: tumblers, plaques, awards. Trade-only, apply for an account. | jdsindustries.com |
| LaserBits (sold through Johnson Plastics Plus) | Specialty engraving blanks, gifts, holiday items. | jpplus.com/laserbits |
Replacement optics & beam-path components
| Vendor | Best for | Website |
|---|
| American Photonics | Premium US-source CO2 optics, ZnSe focus lenses (1.5", 2", 2.5", 4", 6"), Si and Mo molybdenum mirrors, beam combiners. Tighter quality control than the bargain replacements bundled with most Chinese machines; cleaner cuts and longer tube life. | americanphotonics.com |
| II-VI Infrared | Industrial-grade ZnSe and GaAs CO2 optics. Higher price than American Photonics; primarily for production-level shops. | ii-vi.com |
| Cloudray Laser | Budget CO2 optics, fiber f-theta lens replacements, mirror mounts, lens holders. Quality varies by SKU; fine for beater / backup spares. | cloudraylaser.com |
| Lightobject | Mid-tier CO2 optics + tubes + power supplies. US-based shipping, broader catalog than dedicated optics shops. | lightobject.com |
Keep at least one spare 2" focus lens on the shelf. A scorched lens during a Friday afternoon production run with a Monday delivery deadline is the worst time to discover you don't have a backup.
Marking sprays & finishing
| Product | Use | Where to buy |
|---|
| CerMark LMM-14 (also sold as TherMark) | Bonded black mark on bare metal (CO2 + fiber). The original premium spray, in a 6 oz aerosol. | cermarksales.com |
| Brilliance Laser Inks | Laser marking inks for metal. The brand you will see most often next to CerMark. | brilliancelaserinks.com |
| CRC Dry Moly Lube | Cheap CerMark substitute: molybdenum disulfide spray that bonds to bare metal under the beam. Marks lighter than CerMark, so run a test tile first. | crcindustries.com |
| LBT-100 | Diode-laser-specific marking spray for stainless and bare metal. | laserbondingtech.com |
| Brass Black (Birchwood Casey) | Antiquing for brass, recessed area darkening on coins / plates. | birchwoodcasey.com |
| Plum Brown / JAX Brown | Antiquing for steel and copper. | jaxchemical.com |
| Renaissance Wax | Final sealant, locks in finish, prevents oxidation. | picreator.co.uk |
| Sculpt Nouveau | Premium patinas and finishes for jewelry / sculpture work. | sculptnouveau.com |
Software, templates, and patterns
| Resource | Use | Website |
|---|
| Lightburn | The industry-standard laser software (Galvo for fiber, DSP/Ruida for CO2, GCode for diode). | lightburnsoftware.com |
| SculptOK | AI depth-map generator (best for 3D coin relief). Paid with free trial credits. | sculptok.com |
| Lasertips Templates | Glock + SIG firearm engraving template bundles. Vector files for stippling, slide engraving. | templates.lasertips.org |
| Vecteezy | Vector pattern packs (scrollwork, damask, stipple noise). | vecteezy.com |
| Creative Market | Premium vector packs, fonts, design assets. | creativemarket.com |
Community & learning resources
No affiliate relationships, these are listed because the laser community uses them. Prices and availability change. Verify before ordering.
