The World’s First Dual Laser System of MOPA Fiber laser and CO2 laser: AP Lazer® SN6240DLR
When it comes to innovation in the memorial industry, the AP Lazer® SN6240DLR stands out as the world’s first dual laser system combining both MOPA fiber laser and CO2 laser technologies. This groundbreaking machine enables users to achieve unmatched versatility and precision in laser etching and engraving on a wide range of materials, including granite, marble, and glass.
Making informed decisions when selecting engraving technology or machines, such as the SN6240DLR, is crucial for achieving high-quality results in headstone production.
1. Be the First with High-Resolution Laser Etching on Granite
Why is the SN6240DLR the first laser machine in the world capable of laser etching granite memorials at ultra-high resolution (1200dpi)? Even at 600 DPI, laser-etched cemetery memorials will have three times the detail of a traditional single CO2 laser machine, and six times that of the Impact Etcher.
The SN6240DLR’s dual-laser system streamlines production, allowing for faster and more efficient creation of high-resolution memorials, making it ideal for handling large-scale projects and increasing business output.
The Race to Offer 600 DPI Laser Etched Gravestones
In 2024, AP Lazer invented the world’s first dual laser engraving system—integrating both a MOPA fiber laser and an RF CO₂ laser—and officially released it in early 2025. This innovation marked a historic leap for the monument industry. For the first time, both laser types could be used in harmony: the CO₂ laser lays down broad strokes and outlines at lower DPI to define shape and depth, while the MOPA fiber laser brings out the ultra-fine, 600 DPI photographic detail. Users can select the appropriate laser settings and materials to achieve the desired level of detail and contrast in their engravings.
This dual-laser technique achieves the perfect balance—crisp, lifelike photos etched into granite while maintaining the reflective polish that defines high-quality memorials. That polish is not just aesthetic; it’s critical to the longevity of the etching in outdoor cemetery environments. The result: vivid, high-contrast laser etched headstones that look alive and stay beautiful for generations.
Early Adopters Have the Edge
In cemeteries today, life-size portrait etchings on tall monuments are creating an unmistakable “wow factor.” When families see ultra-high-resolution granite etchings, they stop and stare—the realism is breathtaking. Making memorial decisions can be difficult for families, but the clarity and realism of high-resolution etching can help ease this difficult process by providing a meaningful and lasting tribute.
Those who adopt this technology first will dominate visibility in every cemetery they serve. As families talk, word-of-mouth spreads faster than any advertising campaign. Your name becomes synonymous with innovation, quality, and craftsmanship that honors loved ones with extraordinary clarity.
Be first. Lead your market. Turn every monument you create into a timeless showcase of love, legacy, and technology.
2. The Rising Demand for Photo Etching in Memorialization
Granite headstone laser etching began quietly in the late 1990s — and within just a few short years, it completely transformed one of the oldest and slowest-moving industries: monument building. Traditionally, headstones were engraved by hand, a process that was time-consuming and limited in the level of detail that could be achieved. Even in small-town cemeteries, the shift from plain black monuments to photo-etched headstones happened seemingly overnight. What once took artisans hours of handwork could now be achieved with precision, speed, and breathtaking realism. In less than five years, laser etched granite headstones became the new industry standard.
Today, a variety of stones—including granite, marble, slate, and basalt—are used for laser etching, offering a wide variety of materials, colors, and design options. This variety allows for greater customization and personalization, making it possible to create truly unique memorials that reflect individual stories and preferences.
The Emotional Value of Photo-Etched Memorials
As photo technology evolved from film to digital, families began collecting thousands of precious memories that define a lifetime. It’s only natural that the headstone—a family’s permanent record of love—became the ideal canvas to showcase those moments. Today, families can include detailed pictures of their loved ones on headstones, making each memorial uniquely personal. A laser etched headstone has become a photo album in stone, preserving life’s most meaningful memories for generations. And just as digital photography continues to evolve, the demand for photo etching on granite will only accelerate.
Personalization: From Stone Letters to Living Memories
Traditional lettering and simple symbols are being replaced by finely detailed, 150–200 DPI laser engravings on granite. What was once a small block of text has become a storytelling canvas, where artistry meets emotion. Families have chosen custom designs and features to reflect the individuality of their loved ones, ensuring each memorial is unique. Families are now commissioning laser engraved tombstones that reflect personality, passion, and love — far more than a dash between dates. Laser etched gravestones combine technology and heart, creating memorials that feel alive.
The Generational Shift: Personalization Meets Legacy
The oldest Baby Boomers turned 78 last year—the current U.S. life expectancy—and are now the dominant force in the memorial market. Just as they’ve reshaped every industry they’ve touched, they’re now redefining what it means to remember and celebrate a life. Their influence drives powerful trends: cremation, life celebration, personalization, and enduring memorialization. For this generation, ultra-high-resolution laser etched headstones are the natural evolution—like when HD television first appeared, they are the early adopters demanding clarity, quality, and emotional depth. Each laser-etched headstone is a one-of-a-kind tribute, tailored to honor the unique life and legacy of the individual.
3. How MOPA Fiber Laser Enhances Granite Etching
The Science Behind MOPA Fiber Laser Pulse Width Modulation
At the core of ultra-high-resolution laser headstone engraving is a breakthrough in control — MOPA (Master Oscillator Power Amplifier) fiber laser technology. Unlike traditional lasers that deliver a constant pulse, the MOPA system adjusts pulse width modulation, meaning it can vary both the power and the duration of each beam pulse. This precision enables the laser to interact with granite, marble, and stone surfaces at a microscopic level, producing different shades, depths, and contrasts that create lifelike photo realism.
To fully utilize the advanced features of MOPA fiber laser technology, certain skills and specialized equipment are required.
Achieving Ultra-Fine Grayscale Detail
While traditional CO₂ lasers are limited to 150–200 DPI, a MOPA fiber laser achieves 600 DPI (can reach up to 1200 dpi) resolution on black granite etched headstones and laser engraved tombstones. The result is stunning photo-quality granite engraving where every strand of hair, facial line, and background detail appears lifelike and crisp.
A fast-growing trend in laser headstone engraving is the family photo montage. With today’s high-resolution smartphone photos, families want to preserve their favorite memories — and at 600 DPI, every smile and expression can be etched in remarkable detail. Retailers offering photo montage laser etching on granite quickly find families returning to add more images.
Before the engraving process begins, customers have the opportunity to review and approve the final design file, ensuring complete satisfaction with the result.
Even a small 4-inch laser etched gravestone photo with multiple faces shows vivid clarity and depth — proof that ultra-high-resolution laser etching turns a simple monument into a timeless portrait of love and legacy.
When combined with modern design techniques, granite engraving and tombstone etching evolve from simple text-based markers into emotional works of art. Families are choosing laser etched headstones and laser etched gravestones because they preserve memories with authenticity that feels almost three-dimensional.
The Secret: Controlled Micro-Ablation and Thermal Contrast
The real magic lies in controlled micro-ablation — the precise removal of surface particles without burning or fracturing the stone. Each pulse vaporizes only a few microns of granite, producing clean, high-contrast marks. This process keeps enough polished surface between laser dots to enhance reflectivity and long-term durability — especially important for outdoor cemetery memorials.
Materials such as slate, basalt, China black granite, acrylic, and bricks are all suitable for engraving with the MOPA fiber laser, allowing for a wide range of memorial products. The system makes it easy to engrave a variety of products, and optional features can be added to further customize each order. The workflow is designed for ease of use, enabling users to quickly process orders and pass work through the system efficiently.
At 600 DPI, the MOPA fiber laser produces smooth gradients and vivid tonal ranges that even the best granite laser engraving machines or CO₂-only systems cannot replicate. Whether for laser etching granite, engraving marble, or creating laser etched tombstones, this technology defines the next generation of memorial craftsmanship.
The above photo shows that a CO2 laser, even at 150 dpi when etching on quartz, removes almost all polish from granite with a total scaple. However, at 600 dpi, a MOPA fiber laser, when the pulse width and frequency are correctly set, leaves black polish behind between the lines, creating a vibrant contrast and providing much longer weathering resistance in cemeteries.
The MOPA fiber laser doesn’t just etch granite — it transforms it. Every engraved photo becomes a permanent, high-definition story carved in stone.
Lead Your Market with the SN6240DLR
The SN6240DLR Dual Laser System is the future of granite laser etching — combining MOPA fiber and RF CO₂ power for stunning 600 DPI photo realism on stone. Deliver what families truly want: lifelike, emotional memorials that last for generations.
This is your moment to stand out, lead early, and dominate your local market. Be the first to offer ultra-high-resolution laser etched headstones and watch your reputation and profits rise.
Lead with innovation. Win with precision.
Invest in the SN6240DLR and own your market before someone else does.
