This is probably the most asked question, so let’s clarify this first of all.
No, the LP3 is NOT a replacement for the LP2 that does everything better. View them as spoon vs fork rather than tea spoon vs table spoon. They are simply different lasers for different purposes/materials. Below is a table of supported materials sourced from LP:
- Blue set: LP2 only
- Red set: LP3 only
- Yellow set: supported by both
And I can confirm after testing that, although the LP3 seems so powerful that it can easily engrave all sorts of metals without needing a coating, it will not even scratch materials like paper, cardboard, wood, fabrics, ceramics, glasses, … So think clearly what you wish to engrave before deciding which one to get.
It seems that getting both LP2 and LP3 will cover all the materials, and indeed many users do this. LP also thought about this, and made all LP2 add-ons, like the batch button, 3rd axis, including the stand, to be compatible with the LP3. The LP3 laser head as well as the upgraded stand will be sold separately to make it easier for loyal users to upgrade.
I just mentioned the upgraded stand that comes with the LP3. Let’s have a look:
It’s not obvious in the photos, but the new stand is slightly taller, feels much sturdier and it has 2 additional guiding rods built-in to improve stability. I cross-tested LP2, and LP3 on the old and new stand. In short, although LP3 is much heavier than LP2, the old stand can support it just fine.
| Movement | LP2 (975g) | LP3 (1607g) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| LP2 stand | Up | 200-220mA | 240-260mA |
| Down | 140-150mA | 140-160mA | |
| LP3 stand | Up | 165-175mA | 180-190mA |
| Down | 140-150mA | 140-150mA |
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