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Acmer · Diode
Acmer P1 · 20W
Step-up Acmer P1 with 20W module for faster cuts
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Last updated How we evaluate
Released August 2023
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Showing specs for: 20W
TL;DR
Acmer P1 20W adds cutting headroom over the 10W P1 on the same frame class. Still a budget brand: verify optical power and expect less polish than Sculpfun or Ortur.
Best for
What makes this machine stand out
Hardware and workflow features worth understanding before you buy : not just wattage on a label.
8 mm board in one pass
Acmer's 20W parameter sheet lists 8 mm board at 120 mm/min in a single pass with air assist, and 5 mm at 300 mm/min.
Faster photo fills
~12–18 min for a 10 × 10 cm filled photo in our benchmark, about a third less than the 10W on the same frame.
Opaque acrylic within reach
Black acrylic up to ~5 mm is practical (Acmer: 4 mm in 3 passes). Clear acrylic still needs a CO₂ laser.
Our verdict
Ideal if you
Acmer P1 20W is the versatile hobby / side-business SKU: clean engraving and light wood or leather cuts with comparable benchmarks on Maker Atlas.
Skip if you
Open-frame: glasses and exhaust required. Not a CO₂ replacement for clear acrylic or heavy thick-stock production.
Pros
- Acmer's 20W sheet cuts 5 mm board in one pass at 300 mm/min and 8 mm at 120 mm/min, with air assist
- Faster fills: ~12–18 min for our 10 × 10 cm photo test on birch plywood
- Same 400 × 400 mm frame for about $70 more than the 10W ($329–399)
Cons
- Black acrylic is multi-pass beyond 2–3 mm: Acmer lists 4 mm at 3 passes and 30 mm at 30 passes
- Wider spot (~0.08 mm) and more smoke than the 10W: air assist and an exhaust are needed for clean edges
- The P1 is now mostly sold as modules or refurbished units: check stock and warranty terms before ordering
What this machine is for
Everyday engraving plus reliable light cutting on wood, leather, and dark acrylic
20W module · Acmer P1
Laser spot size
~0.08 mm spot
Motion precision: 0.01 mm
Sample engrave job
~12–18 min
10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)
Sample cut job
~6–10 min
10 × 10 cm (4 × 4 in)
Reference benchmark: same job size on every machine so you can compare times fairly. Times are estimates for the reference job above; your design complexity and settings will change them.
Materials
- · Wood
- · Leather
- · Acrylic (dark)
Accessories & add-ons
Typical inclusions and add-ons for this profile : confirm your SKU.
- Optional
Enclosure / cabinet
Third-party enclosure improves smoke control and safety
- Recommended
Laser safety glasses
~450 nm diode: OD rated for your wavelength
- Recommended
Fire extinguisher
Editorial guidance : not a live parts list. See also: Ventilation setup · Safety basics
Practical notes
Beginner notes
This profile is the 20W SKU on Acmer P1. Read the TL;DR and benchmarks above, then compare other power options via the chips before buying.
Pro tips
Use air assist for cuts, lower scan speed for photo engraving. Multiple passes at moderate speed beat one aggressive pass. Check the flagship tier’s cut benchmark if you quote production times to customers.
Pro / technical specsRaw numbers for experienced users comparing machines.
- Max speed (spec)
- 300 mm/s
- Avg engrave speed
- 60–150 mm/s fill
- Avg cut speed
- 4–10 mm/s on 3 mm wood
Common questions
What can the Acmer P1 20W cut in one pass?
On Acmer's 20W parameter sheet, with air assist: 2 mm board at 700 mm/min, 4 mm at 350 mm/min, 5 mm at 300 mm/min and 8 mm at 120 mm/min, all in a single pass. Opaque black acrylic is slower: 4 mm takes 3 passes at 300 mm/min. Acmer lists 20 mm light wood, but at 8 passes.
How much faster is it than the 10W in real jobs?
On Acmer's own presets, 5–6 mm board runs at 300 mm/min on the 20W against 150 mm/min (6 mm) on the 10W, so roughly twice the cutting speed. In our benchmark, a 10 × 10 cm square in 3 mm basswood drops from ~9–15 min to ~6–10 min, and a filled photo from ~18–28 min to ~12–18 min.
Is the extra $70 worth it for a small online shop?
If several orders a week involve cut shapes (ornaments, coasters, signs with cut outlines), yes: halving cut time pays back the difference quickly. If you only sell engraved items, the 10W does the job and has a slightly finer spot.
Alternatives to the Acmer P1 20W
Machines in the same space, picked from our database by type, price, and score.
Ortur · Diode · $140 – $1,740
The 20W LM3 is the configuration most buyers mean when they say 'Laser Master 3'. Strong engraving, light cutting, huge community: verify you are not accidentally ordering the 10W SKU.
Longer · Diode · $400 – $449
Longer Ray5 20W is the 20W SKU on the Longer longer ray5 line. Longer's compact Ray5 20W diode engraver: verify you are buying the 20W SKU, not the 5W, 10W, or 40W Ray5 listings. Verify optical power on the listing: do not assume combined-watt marketing.
Sculpfun · Diode · $270
Sculpfun S10 10W (2022) is a mid-size open-frame engraver with a sturdier industrial frame than S9, ~385 mm work area, and detachable laser cover. Positioned between budget S9 and S30 families for makers who want better rigidity without Ultra pricing.