What is the difference between a galvo laser and a gantry?
Two laser technologies, two production logics, find out which one fits your industrial or workshop reality.
Galvo and gantry lasers both rely on a focused beam to engrave, mark, or cut materials. Yet the way each technology moves that beam, and the production realities each one serves, set them apart on the workshop or factory floor. While galvo systems target high-speed industrial and personalisation marking and automation, gantry systems cover larger surfaces, handle cutting work, and offer real flexibility for versatile production setups.
Here are the main differences between these two laser technologies, with concrete examples to help you identify the right setup for your activity.
What is a galvo laser?
How a galvo laser works?
The name galvo comes from "galvanometric".
A galvanometer motor sits inside the laser head and drives a set of rotating mirrors. These mirrors steer the beam across the work area, while the head itself stays still.
Only the mirrors move. The result: very high marking speeds with almost no mechanical inertia.
This setup fits high-volume production, traceability, serial marking, and automated manufacturing, where every second of cycle time counts.
What are the key features of a galvo laser?
Key features of a galvo laser engraver include:
- Speed: up to 4,000 mm/s - 157.48 in/s (instantaneous speed)
- Positioning accuracy: around 5 microns
- Marking area: square, defined by the F-Theta focusing lens
- Laser type: pulsed (Green 5W, Hybrid 10-20W, Fibre 20-30-50W, MOPA 30-60W) or continuous laser (CO2 20-30W) from 5 to 60 W, designed for high peak power
- Available sources: Fibre and MOPA (1064 nm), Hybrid (DPSS 1064 nm), Green (DPSS 532 nm), and CO2 galvo laser (10600 nm). One source per machine.
- Applications: surface marking, deep marking, and light metal cutting. Galvo systems excel at fast marking jobs, but they do not replace dedicated cutting equipment for thick materials or large parts.
What are the two galvo laser configurations?
Galvo lasers come in two distinct configurations:
- The laser station (bench-top or enclosed version): this is a standalone, ready-to-use machine equipped with a secure cabin. It acts as a complete marking "Solution" where an operator manually focuses, loads, and unloads the parts.
- The integrable laser (built-in version): this is a compact, unenclosed marking head designed to be installed directly into an automated production line or robotic cell. It acts as a marking "Function" within a larger manufacturing cycle, without manual intervention.
What is a gantry laser?
How a gantry laser works?
On a gantry laser, the marking head physically travels along the X and Y axes. The 45° mirrors keep a fixed angle. They do not pivot; the whole head moves them across the table. The motion works like a printer: line by line, back and forth, in a raster scan pattern.
Because the head sweeps the work area mechanically, gantry systems suit larger engraving surfaces and cutting applications better than galvo configurations.
What are the key features of a gantry laser?
- Speed: up to 3.5 m/s (118 in/s), 4G with acceleration.
- Marking area: rectangular, set by the axis length, often much wider than what a galvanometer covers (ideal for engraving large parts). As an example, Gravotech’s machines' engraving areas range up to 610 x 610 mm (24'' x 24'') for the LS900.
- Power: 20 to 80 W.
- Laser sources at Gravotech: laser CO2 and/or Fibre.
- Configuration: designed as laser tables (bench-top or enclosed standalone stations). Unlike galvo lasers, gantry systems do not exist as built-in/integrable versions for automated lines.
- Applications: engraving and cutting on plastic, wood, anodised aluminium, and acrylic (metals with a fibre source). Gantry lasers fit workshops, signage production, and personalisation businesses that need flexibility, larger working areas, or the ability to cut non-metal materials.
Where do galvo and gantry lasers really differ?
| Features | Galvo laser | Gantry laser |
| Best suited for | High-speed industrial marking and automation | Large-format engraving and cutting |
| Production type | High-volume industrial workflows | Flexible workshop production |
| Automation compatibility | Designed for industrial integration and automated lines | Mostly standalone workstation use |
| Movement | Pivoting mirrors (galvanometric motor) | Physical displacement of the marking head |
| Marking Area | Square, limited by the F-Theta lens | Rectangular, set by axis size (large area possible) |
| Speed | Up to 4.000 mm/s (instantaneous) (Up to 157.48 in/s) | Up to 4.000 mm/s (progressive mechanical acceleration) (Up to 157.48 in/s) |
| Cutting capability | Light cutting only | Better suited for thicker non-metal materials |
| Beam angle | Non-orthogonal to material | Orthogonal/perpendicular to material |
| Laser sources | Fibre, MOPA, DPSS (Hybrid, Green), CO2 (1 source) | CO2, Fibre (up to 2 sources simultaneously) |
| Power range | 5 to 60 W (depending on the source) | 20 to 80 W |
| Laser mode | Pulsed and continuous laser (CO2) | Continuous wave |
| Configuration | Bench-top or integrable | Bench-top only |
| Price driver | Source type + power + catheterisation | Power + machine size + engraving surface + source + catheterisation |
What galvo and gantry lasers have in common?
Beyond the differences, both technologies share several common foundations:
- Same material restrictions: some materials release hazardous fumes under laser heat. PVC, for example, generates hydrogen chloride, which is dangerous for the machine and for the operator.
- Same safety requirements: enclosure, protective glass, safety sensors, extraction system, shutters (Mini-inline, for example).
- Same laser classification: usually class 1 or 2. Only integrable galvo machines reach class 4.
- Identical material reactions: which give similar marking results across sources.
- Lens flexibility: both gantry and galvanometer systems offer excellent flexibility through interchangeable lenses, allowing to adjust the beam size according to the required precision or surface area (though they utilise different types of optics). However, Galvo systems deliver even greater versatility when equipped with a 3D lens, which varies the focal height without requiring a physical lens change.
Gravotech’s gantry and galvo lasers
Gravotech’s gantry systems move the laser head along an X-Y axis, providing a much larger work area and the ability to cut through materials that a galvo laser usually cannot tackle. This technology is highly versatile, making it the perfect choice for workshop production, signage manufacturing, gift personalisation, and custom creative projects. It effortlessly handles a wide range of materials, including thick acrylic, wood, plastics, and engraving laminates, over wide surfaces for complex designs or professional plates.
- LS100: a compact bench-top solution ideal for boutique environments, gift personalisation, trophy engraving, and small-scale technical signage.
- LightSpeed 300: a high-speed flatbed table designed to optimise production times and boost efficiency for medium-sized batches and custom engraving.
- LS900: a large-format flagship table offering a massive work area, perfect for heavy-duty cutting setups, large-scale signage, and high-volume workshop production.
Galvo systems direct the beam through high-speed oscillating mirrors, which makes them the reference for speed, precision, and high-volume marking. The technology fits environments where productivity, repeatability, and short cycle times drive the line:
- WeLase™ (compact bench-top station) for smaller marking areas. Ideal solution for retail personalisation, e-commerce fulfilment, and craft workshops, its precision also makes it perfectly suited for light industrial applications.
- Industrial stations LW2 or LW3 for larger marking areas and heavy-duty environments. These robust workstations excel at industrial identification, ID plates, and batch marking. However, their high productivity also makes them excellent choices for demanding, high-volume personalisation projects.
- Industrial integrable lasers for automated production lines, high-speed industrial identification, serial marking, and traceability applications.
Small laser engraver for all kind of engravings.
WELASE
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Medium fully automated laser marking station.
LW2
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Large fully automated laser workstation with Fibre, Hybrid or Green sources
LW3
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Integrated laser system for high-quality marking on metals and plastics.
MOPA Laser
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Integrated laser system to mark and engrave on all metals.
FIBRE laser
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Integrated laser system for high quality and cold marking on plastics and precious metals.
GREEN laser
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Integrated laser system for high quality marking on plastics and metals.
HYBRID laser
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Integrated laser system to mark organic materials.
CO2 laser
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Galvo lasers remain the preferred answer for high-speed industrial marking, traceability, automation, and precise metal engraving. Gantry lasers cover large-format engraving, workshop flexibility, and cutting work on non-metal materials like acrylic, wood, plastics, and anodised aluminium. The right pick depends on four factors: your production environment, the materials you process, your marking speed expectations, and your cutting needs.
Not sure whether galvo or gantry fits your activity? Gravotech helps you match the technology to your production reality.