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In this guide
A fiber laser can describe very different machines. The Gweike G2 is a compact 20W, 30W or 50W fiber laser engraver and marker. A CNC fiber laser cutting machine is designed to separate sheet metal repeatedly. Understanding that difference prevents a successful thin-brass test from becoming an unrealistic production promise.
Can the G2 Fiber Laser Cut Metal?
Yes, under one specific published test. The current G2 product pages show the 20W, 30W and 50W models cutting through 0.5mm brass at 10mm/s and 100% power. The 20W required 11 passes, the 30W required 7 passes and the 50W required 4 passes.
However, the G2 is primarily a fiber laser marker and engraver—not a CNC fiber laser cutting machine. Treat the result as a limited thin-brass capability under the stated conditions, not as a universal cutting thickness for every metal.
Compare G2 Models Need Metal Cutting? View MCoreMarking, Engraving, Scoring and Cutting Are Not the Same
People often use “engrave” and “cut” interchangeably, but the finished results are different. Use the physical outcome—not the visible depth—to name the process.
A deep groove is still engraving if material remains beneath it. A line that breaks only after bending is not a clean, complete through-cut. This distinction is especially important when comparing G2 deep-engraving results with the 0.5mm brass cutting test.
The Published G2 0.5mm Brass Cutting Test
The same comparison is shown on the current G2 20W and G2 Max 50W product pages. The published fields are material, speed, power and pass count.
| Published Condition | G2 20W | G2 Pro 30W | G2 Max 50W |
|---|---|---|---|
| Material | 0.5mm brass | 0.5mm brass | 0.5mm brass |
| Speed | 10mm/s | 10mm/s | 10mm/s |
| Power | 100% | 100% | 100% |
| Passes | 11 | 7 | 4 |
This table reproduces only the conditions currently stated on the G2 product pages. It does not add an alloy grade, lens, frequency, hatch, gas, edge-quality grade or production tolerance that the published comparison does not specify.
What this test confirms
- The three G2 power levels completed a through-cut test on a 0.5mm brass sample under the stated conditions.
- More output power reduced the required pass count in this test.
- The 50W model required the fewest passes, followed by 30W and then 20W.
What this test does not confirm
- It does not establish 0.5mm as a rated cutting thickness for every metal.
- It does not provide a verified result for thicker brass.
- It does not prove that stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel or copper will cut under the same values.
- It does not establish production throughput, kerf width, edge finish or dimensional tolerance.
- It does not show that every brass alloy, coating or surface condition will behave identically.
What Do 11, 7 and 4 Passes Really Mean?
The pass counts show a clear result within this one comparison: the higher-power G2 removed enough material to complete the stated 0.5mm brass test in fewer repeated scans. They do not mean the 50W finishes every metal-marking job 2.5 times faster than the 20W.
Total job time can also include positioning, preview, path changes, cooling, cleaning and inspection. A shallow logo may not benefit from higher power in the same way as a removal-heavy job. Choose wattage according to the work you sell, not from one cutting result alone.
Do not confuse cutting thickness with engraving depth
The product pages also publish a separate brass deep-engraving comparison at 1000mm/s, 100% power and two hours: 2.1mm for 20W, 3.7mm for 30W and 4.5mm for 50W. Those figures describe material-removal depth in a deep-engraving test. They are not verified through-cutting thicknesses.
For the wider power and purchase decision, read the G2 20W vs 30W vs 50W fiber laser engraver buying guide.
Which Metals Can the G2 Mark, Deep Engrave or Cut?
The current G2 pages describe the series as a metal and plastic fiber laser engraver. They publish G2-specific brass cutting and deep-engraving comparisons, but they do not publish a complete through-cutting chart by metal and thickness. The honest answer for other metals is therefore different from the answer for brass.
| Material Group | Marking / Engraving Position | Verified G2 Through-cut Data on Current Product Pages |
|---|---|---|
| Brass | Published G2 cutting and deep-engraving comparisons are available. | 0.5mm test: 20W 11 passes; 30W 7; 50W 4. |
| Coated metal | Listed among the G2 engraving material categories; verify the exact coating. | No material-specific G2 cutting thickness is published. |
| Other bare metals | The G2 is sold as a metal engraver; verify the exact alloy, surface and target result with a sample. | No metal-by-metal G2 cutting chart is published on the current pages. |
| Jewelry and finished metal products | The G2 pages show jewelry, shop and personalization use cases. | Finished-product marking should not be treated as evidence of sheet cutting. |
For stainless steel, aluminum, carbon steel, copper or another specific alloy, do not publish a G2 cutting thickness until a G2-specific test documents that material, thickness and complete conditions. A successful mark or deep engraving does not verify a through-cut.
Why the G2 Is Not a CNC Fiber Laser Cutting Machine
The word “fiber” identifies the laser technology, not the complete machine function. A compact galvo engraver and a CNC cutting platform can both use fiber lasers while being designed for different outcomes.
| Comparison | G2 Fiber Engraver / Marker | Gweike MCore Cutting Platform |
|---|---|---|
| Primary job | Metal marking, engraving and controlled material removal | Laser cutting and engraving |
| Fiber power listed | 20W, 30W or 50W | 400W |
| Motion approach | Galvanometer scanning | Cutting platform with a larger working area |
| Published working area | 110 × 110mm or 150 × 150mm, depending on G2 model and configuration | 711 × 411mm |
| Published metal result | Specific 0.5mm brass multi-pass test | Maximum metal cutting capacity listed as 5mm in one pass |
| Best buying reason | Fine marks, personalization, serials, logos and deep engraving | Producing separated metal or mixed-material parts |
MCore's 5mm figure is the current product page's maximum overall metal-cutting claim. It should not be read as the same verified limit for every alloy. Use the material-specific MCore parameter guides for available tested conditions.
A cutting machine also manages a cutting workflow rather than only beam movement: sheet positioning, piercing, molten-material removal and repeatable contour separation all affect whether a job is production-ready. For a complete equipment comparison, see the fiber laser cutting machine buying guide.
When the G2 Is the Right Choice
Choose G2 for the finished result
- Logos and brand marks
- Serial numbers and identification
- QR codes and Data Matrix codes
- Jewelry and gift personalization
- Recessed designs and deep engraving
- Cylindrical engraving with a compatible rotary
Do not choose G2 mainly for
- Regular sheet-metal through-cutting
- Production claims based on one brass sample
- Unverified metal and thickness combinations
- Large cutting layouts
- Jobs requiring documented cutting parameters and repeatable separated parts
The 20W, 30W and 50W models serve different engraving workloads. The 20W is the lower-power option; the 30W adds material-removal headroom; the 50W required the fewest passes in the published brass test and is positioned for deeper engraving. That does not change the G2 family's primary identity as an engraver and marker.
When Should You Choose MCore Instead?
Move from G2 to the Gweike MCore when cutting is the product—not a secondary experiment.
- You need to cut metal sheet every week.
- You need repeatable through-cuts rather than occasional test results.
- Your intended material or thickness is not covered by the published G2 test.
- You need a larger 711 × 411mm working area.
- You need both metal cutting and non-metal cutting in one platform.
- Your quote depends on edge condition, part separation and consistent cycle time.
The current MCore product page lists a 400W fiber laser for supported metals and an 80W CO₂ laser for supported non-metals. It lists stainless steel, carbon steel, brass, aluminum and titanium alloy among the cuttable metal categories, while the material-specific parameters define which tested thicknesses and conditions are available.
For confirmed aluminum and brass starting data, use the MCore aluminum and brass cutting settings guide. Do not transfer MCore's 400W cutting parameters to a 20W–50W G2.
How to Evaluate a Limited Thin-Metal Test
If you are evaluating the published G2 brass capability, treat the product-page values as one documented comparison—not a complete parameter library.
- Confirm the exact metal, alloy, thickness, coating and surface condition.
- Use representative scrap rather than a production part.
- Follow the current G2 manual and use the specified protective equipment and guarding.
- Secure the workpiece and protect the surface beneath the cut path.
- Use suitable fume extraction for metal processing.
- Do not copy the brass test to a different material.
- Do not infer a thicker capacity by adding passes.
- Inspect complete separation, heat effect, distortion, burrs and edge consistency.
- Repeat the test before treating the result as reproducible.
Final Decision: G2 or MCore?
| Your Main Requirement | Best Starting Direction |
|---|---|
| Metal logos, serial numbers, codes and personalization | G2 series |
| Surface marking with occasional engraving | G2 20W or G2 Pro 30W, based on the wider job mix |
| Frequent deep engraving and material removal | G2 Max 50W |
| Evaluate the published 0.5mm brass example | G2 can perform the stated test; verify the exact sample and outcome |
| Repeatable metal sheet cutting | MCore or another purpose-built fiber cutting machine |
| Metal plus acrylic, wood or other supported non-metals | MCore's fiber and CO₂ platform |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a 20W G2 fiber laser cut metal?
The current product-page comparison shows the G2 20W completing a through-cut on 0.5mm brass at 10mm/s and 100% power in 11 passes. This is one specific test, not a universal metal-cutting rating.
Can the G2 Pro 30W cut brass?
In the published 0.5mm brass comparison, the 30W completed the test in 7 passes at 10mm/s and 100% power. Do not extend that result to thicker brass or another metal without a documented sample test.
Can the G2 Max 50W cut metal?
The published comparison shows the 50W completing the stated 0.5mm brass test in 4 passes. The G2 Max remains primarily a marking and deep-engraving machine rather than a CNC sheet-metal cutter.
How thick can the G2 cut?
The only current manufacturer-published G2 through-cut comparison confirmed for this guide is 0.5mm brass. Do not treat 0.5mm as a universal rated thickness for stainless steel, aluminum, copper, carbon steel or other metals.
Can the G2 cut stainless steel?
The current G2 product pages checked for this guide do not provide a G2 stainless-steel through-cut thickness or complete cutting test. Do not infer one from the brass result.
Can the G2 cut aluminum?
The current G2 product pages do not publish a G2 aluminum through-cut thickness or complete cutting test. Aluminum marking and cutting are different claims; verify any intended process on the exact material.
Can the G2 cut copper?
The current G2 pages checked for this guide do not publish a G2 copper through-cut specification. A result on 0.5mm brass does not verify copper cutting.
Is deep engraving the same as cutting?
No. Deep engraving removes material to form a recessed area. Through-cutting penetrates the complete sheet thickness along a path and separates the part.
Does the G2 Max cut 4.5mm brass?
No such conclusion should be drawn. The 4.5mm value on the product page belongs to a separate two-hour brass deep-engraving test. The published through-cut test uses 0.5mm brass.
Can I estimate a 1mm brass setting from the 0.5mm test?
No. Doubling thickness does not validate a doubled pass count. Heat flow, focus, material removal, distortion and edge behavior may change. Use only verified data for the exact material and thickness.
Is the G2 a CNC fiber laser cutting machine?
No. The G2 is a compact galvo fiber laser marker and engraver. It has one published limited brass test, but it is not a substitute for a cutting platform when the main job is separating sheet metal.
Should I choose G2 or MCore?
Choose G2 for fine metal marking, identification, personalization and deep engraving. Choose MCore when repeatable metal through-cutting, a larger cutting area or combined metal and non-metal processing is the main requirement.
Related G2 and Metal Cutting Guides
Choose by the Finished Result
Choose the G2 series for marking and engraving. If your work depends on repeatable metal through-cuts, compare a purpose-built MCore cutting workflow instead.
Compare G2 20W, 30W & 50W View Gweike MCore