“Fiber Laser Cutting Heads: Why Between RayTools, Precitec, and Other OEMs

As metal shop transition from Plasma table to Laser Cutting, Head Choices matter and here are some basics.

If you’ve ever shopped for any laser, you’ve already been seduced by glossy on line advertisements, showing machines slicing through inch-thick plate like it’s warm butter. But here’s the secret sauce they don’t always mention: the cutting head is where the magic (and sometimes the misery) happens.

There are a handful of major players in the cutting head market, each with its own flavor, quirks, and—yes—price tags that can make you choke on your coffee. The head you choose affects cut quality, speed, uptime, and maintenance. And if you think “a head is a head,” you’re in for an expensive lesson.

Meet the Usual Suspects
We’ve rounded up the big five: RayTools, Precitec, IPG Photonics, WSX, and HighYAG.
Some are budget-friendly, others are built for aerospace-grade perfection, and one is basically the “Rolex” of laser heads.

 
What It All Means (With Less Tech-Speak)

RayTools (Switzerland) – The people’s choice. Affordable, decent reliability, and a favorite of Chinese fiber laser OEMs. Great for 6–12 kW systems, with models scaling up to 20 kW. But don’t expect premium lens life or super fancy sensors.

Precitec (Germany) – The gold standard. Advanced autofocus, exceptional sensor systems, and a build quality that laughs at 24/7 production abuse. Your wallet might cry, but your uptime and cut quality will thank you.

IPG Photonics (USA/Germany) – If you’re running an IPG laser source, their head integrates seamlessly and performs like a champ. The catch? It’s very proprietary and rarely seen outside their systems.

WSX (China) – Think “budget clone.” It gets the job done at entry-level pricing but isn’t the first choice for 24/7 heavy industrial production. Perfect if you’re just getting started.

HighYAG (Germany) – The exotic specialist. This is what you buy when you’re integrating robots or doing very high-end production. Amazing precision, and yes, an “if you have to ask the price, you can’t afford it” situation.

So now you know who some of the players are let's geek out further than the average buyer and possibly further than the saleman you are talking with wants to go.  Yea, knowledge is power and if they do not know these " aser head basics" how can they really give a good recommendation? Please remember VERIFY all of this information, technology changes all the time, be open to things changing for the better.  Take this as a starting point for your knowledge base.

1. Optics & Beam Delivery

RayTools

Uses collimating & focusing lens pairs in a modular cartridge design.
Focus lens typically 30–50 mm for mid-power cutters.
Optional anti-reflective coatings but not as advanced as premium optics from Precitec.

Precitec / HighYAG / IPG

Premium optics with superior coatings for handling back-reflections (important for reflective metals like aluminum, copper, brass).
Higher thermal stability, better lens cleaning designs (air knife / improved purge flow).
 
2. Autofocus & Z-Axis Control
RayTools

Electric or motorized autofocus (e.g., BM111 series) driven by a servo or stepper motor to adjust focal position ±10 mm.
Autofocus speed adequate for mid-range production but slower than top-end Precitec systems.

Precitec

Closed-loop capacitive sensor systems integrated into the head, extremely fast autofocus (sub-50 ms adjustments).
Designed for high dynamic cutting like thick-to-thin transitions or piercing thick plate.

IPG Heads

Built for tight integration with IPG control systems, so focus adjustments are synchronized with the laser source and motion system.

Bottom Line
Your choice isn’t just about the cutting head—it’s about your entire production strategy. Are you running 24/7 high-volume production? Precitec or IPG might be the answer. Are you in a price-sensitive market or testing the fiber laser waters? RayTools or WSX could be your best bet. And if you’re doing something wild like robotic laser cutting for aerospace, you’re in HighYAG territory.

Whatever you do, don’t treat the head like an afterthought—it’s literally the business end of your laser.

Have a question, leave us a comment, we will get back to you.