The SCULPFUN G20 is a compact fiber laser with 20 W laser power and a Galvo scanner. The device was developed primarily for the precise machining of metals. It is suitable, among other things, for marking, engraving, deep engraving, and—depending on the material and the settings—for cutting thin metal parts.
With a maximum working range of 150 × 150 mm, an advertised speed of up to 10,000 mm/s and a laser point size of about 0.01 mm, the G20 is aimed at both ambitious beginners and smaller workshops and professional users.
Note: The SCULPFUN G20 is not a diode laser. Due to the fiber laser technology, different application possibilities, safety requirements, and material limits apply than for devices such as the SCULPFUN V5 or E1.
Note: Sculpfun has launched a new wiki, where you can find additional guides and tips for the latest laser models: https://wiki.sculpfun.com/
Short overview
| Characteristic | Value |
|---|---|
| Laser type | Fiber laser |
| Laser power | 20 W |
| Wavelength | 1064 nm |
| Scan system | Galvo Scanner |
| Standard-Workspace | 150 × 150 mm |
| Extended Workspace | 350 × 150 mm with Slide Extension Kit |
| Maximum Speed | up to 10,000 mm/s |
| Laser spot size | about 0.01 mm |
| Focus adjustment | Electrical height adjustment |
| Software | SGD Laser, LightBurn Pro |
| Connection | USB and WiFi |
| Size | 330 × 250 × 418 mm |
| Weight | ca. 6.9 kg |
| Specified service life | more than 100,000 hours |
Official images
What is a galvo fiber laser?
In a conventional gantry laser, the laser head is moved mechanically across the work surface. A Galvo laser, on the other hand, directs the laser beam using movable mirrors. This allows the beam to be guided very quickly across the workpiece.
With the G20, this results in:
- very high marking speeds,
- precise, fine lines and small text,
- a compact design,
- a fixed working area without traditional XY gantry movement.
The disadvantage of a galvo system is that its working area is limited by its design. Larger workpieces, therefore, require an expansion module or a different positioning method.
Suitable Materials
Engraving and Marking
As a fiber laser, the G20 can process the following materials, among others:
- Stainless steel
- Aluminum
- Brass
- Titanium
- Gold
- Silver
- Platinum
- Leather
- Slate
- Plastic
- Rubber
- Dark glass
- Black acrylic
- Colored tiles
The G20 is particularly well-suited for permanent markings on metal. Typical applications include names, logos, serial numbers, QR codes, nameplates, jewelry, and personalized products.
Color Marking
A unique feature of the G20 is its ability to mark certain metals with color. Specifically:
- Stainless steel
- Titanium
The color isn’t created by paint or a coating but by a controlled change to the surface. The result depends heavily on the material alloy, laser frequency, power, speed, and number of passes. Ambient temperature also plays a role, so it usually takes a lot of testing to get it to look perfect. But here’s an example I created:
This is especially easy with the “Colorful Engraving” feature in the SGD laser software. A detailed description can be found on the Sculpfun Wiki under G20 Color Engraving. Here are a few more pictures of the process:
Cutting
The manufacturer lists the following as possible cutting materials: brass, stainless steel, and aluminum. Actual cutting performance depends heavily on the thickness of the material. With a 20-W fiber laser, material thickness, alloy, and heat dissipation are critical factors. For thicker metal parts, the G20 is not comparable to industrial cutting systems.
Working Area and Extensions
The standard build area is 150 × 150 mm. For larger designs, the optional Slide Extension Kit can be used. This allows for a build area of up to 350 × 150 mm.
Software
The G20 can be used with SGD Laser from Sculpfun or LightBurn. The included USB flash drive contains the user manual, several sample files, the calibration parameters, and lists of recommended parameters.
SGD Laser
SGD Laser is the company’s proprietary software and is designed to make getting started easy. It is primarily suited for basic marking and engraving tasks. In my opinion, it takes some getting used to at first, but overall it’s fairly intuitive. Unfortunately, its usability is still somewhat limited in some areas. In particular, working with layers and different parameters can be a bit fiddly.
There’s also a mobile app from Sculpfun. However, since I don’t usually use wireless control tools, I haven’t tested it further at this time.
LightBurn Pro
The G20 is also compatible with LightBurn Pro. LightBurn offers more extensive options for layout, layers, text, vector graphics, and managing laser parameters. However, it lacks special features such as 3D reliefs or color engraving, although these can be replicated using LightBurn’s built-in tools—albeit not as conveniently. In this regard, SGD still has some advantages.
To add the laser to LB, you should first download the device configuration (this is my configuration). This configuration isn’t quite ready yet—you still need to transfer the calibration parameters! You can either read these from the SGD laser (they’re also stored in the device) or use the data from the USB drive. My parameters are probably not too far off, but they shouldn’t be exactly the same for other devices.
Accessories
Rotary Attachment
The RA Pro Max Rotary can be used to machine cylindrical objects such as cups, rings, or other round metal parts. It connects easily via the extension port.
Slide Extension Kit
The Slide Extension Kit expands the working area to up to 350 × 150 mm. It is particularly useful for longer signs, larger logos, and continuous patterns. It also connects via the extension port.
Safety
The G20 operates using an invisible infrared laser at 1064 nm. This radiation can be particularly dangerous to the human eye because the natural blink reflex does not provide reliable protection.
The following should be ensured:
- Never operate a laser without appropriate safety precautions.
- Use only laser safety goggles rated for 1064 nm.
- Handle reflective metal surfaces with extreme caution.
- Do not reach into the work area during operation.
- Remove jewelry, tools, and other reflective objects.
- Ensure adequate ventilation.
- Secure the work area against unauthorized access.
- Check emergency stop and safety devices.
- Do not use unknown plastics or coated materials without prior research.
Strengths and Potential Limitations
Potential Strengths
- High marking speed thanks to galvo technology,
- very fine laser spot size,
- particularly suitable for metal,
- compact and comparatively lightweight design,
- electric height adjustment,
- support for SGD Laser and LightBurn,
- color marking on stainless steel and titanium,
- optional rotary and work area extensions.
Possible restrictions
- Limited standard working area of 150 × 150 mm,
- Fiber lasers are unsuitable for many typical wood and plywood applications,
- Highly reflective materials require special caution,
- Color results depend on the material and parameters,
- Cutting performance is not comparable to that of an industrial fiber laser,
- Professional software features may require additional training.
Suitable Applications
The G20 is particularly well-suited for:
- Nameplates
- Serial Numbers
- QR Codes
- Logos
- Jewelry
- Personalized Metal Products
- Tools and Components
- Stainless Steel Cards
- Metal Tags
- Rings and Drinking Vessels Featuring the Rotary Logo
- Colored Markings on Titanium and Stainless Steel
- Small Relief and Deep Engravings
