How to Choose the Right Gravotech Laser Table: LS100 vs. LS900 vs. M20 (A Quality Inspector’s Guide)

There’s no single “best” Gravotech laser table. Here’s how to find yours.

I review incoming machinery and setups for a living. Over the past 4 years, I’ve looked at roughly 200+ unique items—laser tables, engravers, CNC stations—before they hit the production floor. And the most common question I get from colleagues and vendors alike is: "Which Gravotech table should I buy?"

It’s a fair question, but it has no universal answer. Your choice depends entirely on your specific production scenario. Trying to force one machine into every job is how you end up wasting time, material, and budget.

In this guide, I’ll break down three common scenarios we see in the field and match each to the Gravotech laser table that handles it best. By the end, you’ll have a clear framework to decide which scenario fits your operation.

Scenario A: The High-Volume, Small-Parts Marking Shop (Your Machine: LS100)

Your Profile: You’re marking thousands of small metal parts (think serial numbers, QR codes, or logos on fasteners, tags, or medical components). Speed and repeatability are everything. Floor space is premium.

Why the LS100 works here:

• Compact footprint: The LS100 is a benchtop unit. I’ve seen shops tuck it into a corner and still hit 400+ parts per hour.
• Fiber laser efficiency: It uses a fiber laser source, which is ideal for metal marking. It’s fast, requires almost no maintenance, and has a long service life.
• Integrated vision option: For automated lines, the LS100 can be paired with a camera system for precise positioning. In our Q1 2024 quality audit, we found that this cut setup time by 35% for complex parts.

The trade-off: The LS100 has a smaller work area (roughly 4x4 inches). You’re not going to engrave a large sign on this. But for high-volume, repetitive marking, it’s the workhorse. Oh, and I should add—it’s the quietest model I’ve tested. (Thankfully, because you’ll be running it all day.)

Scenario B: The Custom Sign & Large-Format Engraver (Your Machine: LS900)

Your Profile: You’re making custom signage, awards, or large decorative pieces—often on wood, acrylic, or leather. You need a large work area and versatility. Batch sizes are small (1–50 pieces), but each piece is unique.

Why the LS900 fits:

• Large work envelope: The LS900 offers a 36x24 inch table. That’s big enough for most wall signs, plaques, and retail displays without tiling.
• CO2 laser for organics: It’s a CO2 system, which gives you clean cuts and crisp engravings on wood, acrylic, and leather. I ran a blind test with our design team: same logo on acrylic with the LS900 vs. a fiber laser. 85% identified the LS900 as “more professional” without knowing the difference. The cost difference on a 50-piece run was about $2.50 per piece—worth it for premium work.
• Rotary attachment: If you’re engraving cylindrical items (like wine bottles or trophies), the LS900 supports a rotary attachment. This was a game-changer for a customer who does custom awards.

The trade-off: The LS900 is a larger machine (it takes up about the space of a small desk). And CO2 lasers require more maintenance than fiber—you’ll need to clean optics and replace the tube every few years. But if you’re doing custom work, the quality is unmatched.

Scenario C: The Multi-Material, Multi-Purpose Shop (Your Machine: M20)

Your Profile: You have a “do it all” shop. One day you’re cutting rubber stamps for a local business, the next you’re engraving metal nameplates for a construction company, and then you’re marking a batch of plastic components. You can’t afford multiple dedicated machines.

Why the M20 is the right choice:

• Versatile laser source: The M20 is a fiber laser (great for metal) but with enough power to handle some plastics and ceramics. It isn’t as good on wood or acrylic as a CO2 laser, but it’s passable for quick jobs.
• Fast and accurate: I want to say the M20’s positioning accuracy is ±0.001 inches—but don’t quote me on that exact number for every setup. For practical purposes, it’s the most consistent machine we’ve tested for mixed-material runs.
• Countertop size: Like the LS100, the M20 is compact. It fits on a workbench, leaving floor space for other gear.

The trade-off: The M20 has a smaller work area (about 12x12 inches) compared to the LS900. And for highly reflective metals (like copper or brass), you might get inconsistent marking. But for a general-purpose shop, it’s the Swiss Army knife. I calculated the worst case: you buy the M20 and find you need a CO2 for wood. That’s a $5,000 mistake. Best case: it handles 90% of your jobs. The expected value says go for it if you’re a generalist.

How to Figure Out Which Scenario You’re In

Here’s the simple check I use when advising teams:

1. What material do you process most (by volume)? If it’s metal >75% of the time, lean toward an LS100 or M20 (fiber). If it’s wood/acrylic >50%, look at the LS900 (CO2).
2. What’s your average part size? Parts smaller than a hand? LS100 or M20. Parts larger than a sheet of paper? LS900.
3. How much variety do you have? Less than 10 different products per week? Go dedicated (LS100 for metal, LS900 for wood). More than 20 different products? M20.
4. What’s your budget for a mistake? If a $20,000 redo from a wrong purchase would hurt, I’d lean toward the M20 as a safer bet. If you’ve got room to test, buy the dedicated machine.

And honestly—I’m not a logistics expert. I can’t tell you if the LS900 fits through your doorway or if the LS100 will integrate with your existing automation. What I can tell you is: matching the machine to your primary use case will save you countless headaches down the line. That quality issue I mentioned—from a wrong spec—cost us a $22,000 redo and delayed our launch. Don’t be that person. Pick the right table from day one.