Top 3018s
LASER TREE 10W Laser Module for 3018
10W optical · 450 nm · 3-pin plug and play

LASER TREE 10W Laser Module for 3018

A 10,000 mW blue diode head shaped to drop into a 3018 or 3018-PRO spindle bracket, with a compressed 0.08 mm spot, air assist and a fan, in 12 V and 24 V builds.

  • Optical power10W (10,000 mW)
  • Wavelength450 nm
  • Spot0.08 × 0.08 mm, built-in FAC
  • Focus length45 mm
  • Input12 V 3.2 A or 24 V 1.7–2 A
  • ConnectorXH2.54 3-pin: VCC, GND, PWM
Suits
  • Turning a 3018 into a 2-in-1 cutter and engraver
  • Cutting plywood thicker than a 5W head manages
  • Marking stainless steel and engraving leather or bamboo
Skip if
  • Clear or light acrylic: a 450 nm beam passes through it
  • An open machine with no enclosure or goggles
  • Metal cutting: it marks metal, it does not cut it
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Kit contents

Pick the input voltage

12 V input · 3.2 A
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24 V input · 1.7–2 A
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Cutting 8 mm plywood in one pass with the LASER TREE 10W

The LASER TREE 10W is a blue diode laser head built to replace the spindle on a 3018. Its multi-faceted body is shaped to clamp into the same bracket, and a three-pin plug carries power and a PWM signal from the controller.

Ten watts of optical output is a lot for a desktop frame. LASER TREE's own figure is 8 mm plywood cut in a single pass at 1.5 mm/s with the 45 mm focus, where its 5W sibling claims 3 mm. Treat that as a best case with good plywood and clean optics; glue lines, moisture and species all change it.

Materials the 450 nm beam takes well:

  • Plywood, basswood and MDF: cut-outs, puzzles, box joints and engraved panels.
  • Leather: wallets, patches and tooling marks, engraved at low power.
  • Bamboo: cutting boards and coasters take high-contrast engraving.
  • Black or dark acrylic: engraving and thin cuts; the dark pigment absorbs blue light.
  • Stainless steel: surface marking without black paint, per LASER TREE.

Two claims deserve a second look. The 80W in the model name is not the beam power; the optical output is 10W. And the 12 V build's text calls it Class 1, which a 10W open-beam diode is not: treat it as Class 4, as the 24 V build is labelled.

A 10W diode can ignite a sheet of plywood and blind you from a reflection. Never run it unattended, and keep a fire extinguisher within reach.

For the whole range of 3018 laser heads, the 3018 laser rundown compares power, spot and fit.

Measurements

The spec log

SpecValue
BrandLASER TREE
Model (24 V build)LT-80W-F45
Optical output10W (10,000 mW)
Wavelength450 nm (blue)
Beam opticsBuilt-in FAC, double compressed spot
Spot size at focus0.08 × 0.08 mm
Focus length45 mm
Cutting claim8 mm plywood in one pass at 1.5 mm/s
Engraving claimMirror stainless steel without black paint
Input, standard buildDC 12 V, 3.2 A
Input, 24 V buildDC 24 V, 1.7–2 A
Power control5 V PWM
ConnectorXH2.54-3P socket: VCC, GND, PWM
Air assistBuilt in
CoolingBuilt-in fan, 10,000 rpm
Power drop at full output300–400 mW after 30 minutes at 100%
Diode lifeUp to 20,000 hours
Dimensions43 × 43 × 130 mm (1.69 × 1.69 × 5.12 in)
Weight1.25 lb
Laser classClass 4

12 V or 24 V: matching the 10W to a 3018 laser header

LASER TREE sells the 10W in two electrical builds. The optics, power and body are the same; the input differs, and it has to match what your controller's laser port puts out.

BuildInputSuits
StandardDC 12 V, 3.2 ABoards with a 12 V laser header, the common 3018 layout
24 V buildDC 24 V, 1.7–2 ABoards that feed the laser header from the 24 V supply

Many 3018 GRBL boards list a 12 V three-pin laser port; CNCTOPBAOS, for one, rates its port for 12 V 3-pin modules from 0.5 W to 20 W. Other boards pass the machine's 24 V supply straight to the header.

  1. Unplug the spindle and power the machine with nothing on the laser port.
  2. Measure between the VCC and GND pins of the header with a multimeter.
  3. Order the build that matches the reading.
  4. Check the port and supply can deliver the current: 3.2 A at 12 V, or about 2 A at 24 V.

Current matters as much as voltage. A small 12 V rail on the board that was meant for a 2–3 W head may not deliver 3.2 A, and a laser starved of current loses power or resets the board mid-job.

  • VCC: supply voltage.
  • GND: ground.
  • PWM: the 5 V power-control signal from the spindle output.

The connector is an XH2.54 three-pin socket, the same family most 3018 laser ports use. If your board has a two-pin laser header plus a separate PWM pin, an adapter lead does the job.

Plugging a 12 V head into a 24 V header usually ends the diode on the spot. Measure first, every time.
In the lineup

Where it lands among 3018 gear

3018 CNC machine models by type, September 2026. Highlighted: LASER TREE 10W Laser Module for 3018.

Setting the 45 mm focus and air assist on a 3018 bracket

The 10W head has a 45 mm focus length, and focus is everything with a diode. A beam out of focus spreads its power over a wider spot and cuts nothing.

  1. Remove the 775 spindle and clamp the laser in the bracket, lens facing down.
  2. Jog Z until the lens sits 45 mm above the surface of the stock.
  3. Burn a brief test line at low power and adjust Z by a millimetre at a time until the line is thinnest.
  4. Zero Z there and note the height for next time.

A small block cut to 45 mm makes step 2 a two-second job. Rest it on the stock, lower the head onto it, and remove it before firing.

GRBL needs one setting for laser work. Setting 32, laser mode, set to 1 makes the laser dim during direction changes instead of stopping, so corners do not burn deeper than straights. Set it back to 0 before refitting the spindle.

  • LaserGRBL: free, Windows, and made for GRBL diode lasers.
  • LightBurn: paid, with a material library and camera alignment.
  • Candle or UGS: can stream laser G-code made elsewhere.

Air assist blows the smoke out of the beam path, which keeps cut edges cleaner and reduces charring on plywood. Keep the nozzle clear, and keep fingers off the protective window: LASER TREE warns that a fingerprint on the glass cuts the output.

Wear goggles rated for 450 nm, run the machine in a ventilated space, and never cut PVC or vinyl: the fumes are corrosive and toxic.

The 3018 software notes cover laser mode alongside the spindle settings.

Swap-ins

Three other ways to go

Genmitsu machines2 Genmitsu 5W Laser Module (XCFL55-33)
Genmitsu 5W Laser Module (XCFL55-33)
Genmitsu's XCFL55-33 5W head carries its driver board inside and fits the 3018-PRO and PROVer V2.
  • Diode laser head for engraving
  • 5W laser
  • Fits 3018-PROVer V2, 3018-PROVer, 3018-PRO
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LASER TREE 10W against the Genmitsu XCFL55-33 and the 5W

The choice between heads comes down to what you cut, what your board supplies and how much weight the Z axis carries.

HeadOptical powerSpotInputWeight
LASER TREE 10W10W0.08 × 0.08 mm12 V 3.2 A or 24 V1.25 lb
LASER TREE 5W5W0.08 × 0.08 mm12 V 2 A1.16 lb
Genmitsu XCFL55-335W0.1 × 0.15 mmDriver in the head0.43 kg
Genmitsu FL55P5.5WFixed 20 mm focus12 V 2 ANot stated

The 10W is the head for cutting. Twice the optical power of the 5W means fewer passes through plywood and faster, darker engraving at the same speed. The 5W LASER TREE draws 2 A at 12 V, which is gentler on a small board's laser rail than the 10W's 3.2 A.

Weight is the quiet factor. At 1.25 lb the 10W is heavier than Genmitsu's 0.43 kg XCFL55-33, and the Z motor lifts it on every move. On a stock 3018 that is fine for engraving speeds, but fast rapids with a heavy head shake a light frame more.

  • Cutting plywood and MDF most days: the LASER TREE 10W.
  • Engraving leather, bamboo and signs on a stock 12 V port: the LASER TREE 5W.
  • Genmitsu 3018-PRO or PROVer V2: the XCFL55-33, drawn for those machines.

Diode life is quoted at up to 20,000 hours for both LASER TREE heads, and LASER TREE puts the power loss after 30 minutes at full output at 300–400 mW. Long cuts at 100% are where that shows; running at 80–90% leaves some margin.

Checks before ordering:

  • Your laser port voltage, measured, and the current it can deliver.
  • Your spindle bracket takes the 43 mm faceted body.
  • You have 450 nm goggles and ventilation in place.
  • You mostly work in wood, leather, bamboo or dark acrylic.
Bench notes

Setup questions

Is the LASER TREE 10W really 80W?

No. 10W is the optical output; the 80W in the model name is not the beam power.

Which voltage build do I need?

Measure the VCC and GND pins of your board's laser header. Most 3018 laser ports are 12 V; some pass 24 V.

Can it cut acrylic?

It engraves and cuts black or dark acrylic. Clear acrylic lets 450 nm light pass through.

What laser class is it?

Treat it as Class 4, like any 10W open diode, and wear 450 nm goggles.

Does it fit a 3018-PRO?

LASER TREE shapes it for 3018 and 3018-PRO brackets. Confirm your bracket takes the 43 mm body.