| Water Jet | Laser | |
|---|---|---|
| Functions: | ||
| Cutting | ✓ | ✓ |
| Engraving | X | ✓ |
| Materials: | ||
| Plastics | ✓ | ✓ |
| Paper | X | ✓ |
| Wood | ✓ | ✓ |
| Glass | ✓ | X |
| Metal | ✓ | X |
| Stone | ✓ | X |
| Fabric | X | ✓ |
| Kerf | 1/16” | 0.08 to 1mm |
<aside> 💡 The kerf is the width of the material lost during a cut. Keep this in mind when designing pieces that may need to fit into one another.
</aside>
The key difference in these machines is their capabilities and material limitations. The lasers can both cut and engrave, while the water jet can only cut. As for which materials you can use, the laser can cut through any organic materials, and some plastics. The water jet can cut through a lot tougher materials, such as glass, stone, and metal. If you can use the laser, use the laser. It is typically faster and doesn’t use any consumable materials.