Fiber laser · Portable · OMTech
OMTech FCM-15CW 1500W Handheld Laser Welder, Cleaner and Cutter
Fabricators and repair shops that mostly weld thin to medium steel and stainless and want to trim, clean and rough-cut sheet with the same tool
from $5,500 at OMTech (pre-order)
Image: OMTech. Prices change often; the shop shows the current price.
Quick verdict
The OMTech FCM-15CW is a 1500W water-cooled handheld fiber laser welder with a wire feeder that also cleans weld seams and cuts thin sheet freehand. It is $5,499.99 on OMTech's US store as a pre-order shipping October 30, against a $10,599.99 list price. OMTech rates it for welding 4 mm carbon steel, galvanized and stainless and 2 mm aluminum, but cutting is an auxiliary function rated at 2 mm on the product page, with the manual's parameter table going to 3 mm. Treat it as a welder that can trim and rough-cut sheet, not a parts cutter, and plan for an open Class 4 beam that needs a screened area, protective gear and a 40A 220V circuit.
What you still need
An electrician-installed 220 to 240V circuit with a dedicated two-pole 40A breaker (5 kW max input), argon (99.998%), nitrogen (99.99%) or helium with a regulator, distilled water for the chiller (the manual says replace it twice a week, or use a 30% ethanol mix below freezing, replaced twice a month), filler wire, spare nozzles and protective lenses, a grounded metal work table for the clamp, fume extraction, fire-safe screens or curtains, and wavelength-rated laser glasses for everyone nearby (one pair, a helmet and gloves are included)Material reality check
Welds stainless steel, carbon steel, galvanized plate and iron sheet up to 4 mm and aluminum and brass up to 2 mm per OMTech; copper is listed as N/A in the manual's weld depth table. Cuts galvanized, carbon steel, aluminum and stainless sheet up to about 2 mm by hand and cleans weld seams 5 to 6 mm wide. It does not engrave and is not for non-metals. Never process PVC or vinyl.Better alternative if
you need clean, repeatable cut parts as well as welds, since xTool's 1200W welder also drives an enclosed CNC cutting bed: xTool MetalFab 1200W Laser Welder and CNC CutterScores
Scored on the same scale for every laser on this site. See all lasers ranked.
Specifications
| Laser type | Fiber laser |
|---|---|
| Form | Portable |
| Optical power | 1500 W |
| Other modules | Wire feeder for 0.8 to 1.2 mm wire, built-in 2000W water chiller and 20 nozzles for welding, cleaning and cutting |
| Wavelength | 1080 nm (±10 nm) |
| Work area | n/a |
| Max speed | Not published for cutting (handheld, so set by the operator); OMTech claims welding up to 4 times faster than TIG |
| Cutting (maker claim) | Handheld cutting of galvanized, carbon steel, aluminum and stainless sheet up to 2 mm per the product page; the manual's cutting parameter table goes to 3 mm and its spec table says 'depends on materials'. Welding up to 4 mm carbon steel, galvanized and stainless and 2 mm aluminum or brass (maker claims) |
| Precision | not published |
| Air assist | Built in |
| Camera | No |
| Autofocus | No |
| Rotary support | No |
| Safety | Open Class 4 handheld beam. The gun only fires while the nozzle touches the workpiece grounded by the supplied clamp, and there is a key switch, an emergency stop and alarms for low voltage, temperature and short circuits. One pair of safety glasses, a welding helmet and gloves are included. The manual calls it a Class 1 system when used as instructed, which does not match an open handheld beam |
| Connectivity | USB |
| Software | Touchscreen on the main unit and a display on the welding gun, with up to 50 stored parameter sets |
| Weight | not published |
| Price | from $5,500 at OMTech (pre-order) |
Pros and cons
Why we like it
- 1500W source for $5,499.99 with the water chiller and wire feeder included
- Welds up to 4 mm steel and 2 mm aluminum and brass, per OMTech
- The gun only fires while the nozzle touches the grounded workpiece
- Helmet, gloves, one pair of safety glasses, 20 nozzles and 20 protective lenses in the box
- Free shipping and a 1-year warranty on OMTech's US store
Watch out for
- Pre-order only: OMTech lists it as shipping October 30
- Cutting is an auxiliary function rated at 2 mm, freehand and rough compared with a CNC bed
- Open Class 4 beam that needs a screened area and eye protection for everyone nearby
- Needs a dedicated 220 to 240V circuit with a 40A breaker, shielding gas, and chiller water changed twice a week
- Total machine weight is not published, and OMTech's documents disagree on continuous running time (12 or 24 hours)
Compare with
Gweike M1200 3-in-1 Handheld Laser Welder and Cutter
Score 61/100 · from $4,899 at Gweike
Compare side by side
xTool MetalFab 1200W Laser Welder and CNC Cutter
Score 75/100 · from $15,999 at xTool
Compare side by side
Gweike M3 Pro 6-in-1 Laser Welder and CNC Cutter
Score 71/100 · from $11,499 at Gweike (out of stock)
Compare side by sideFrequently asked questions
What materials can the OMTech FCM-15CW 1500W Handheld Laser Welder, Cleaner and Cutter cut and engrave?
Welds stainless steel, carbon steel, galvanized plate and iron sheet up to 4 mm and aluminum and brass up to 2 mm per OMTech; copper is listed as N/A in the manual's weld depth table. Cuts galvanized, carbon steel, aluminum and stainless sheet up to about 2 mm by hand and cleans weld seams 5 to 6 mm wide. It does not engrave and is not for non-metals. Never process PVC or vinyl.
What else do I need to buy with the OMTech FCM-15CW 1500W Handheld Laser Welder, Cleaner and Cutter?
An electrician-installed 220 to 240V circuit with a dedicated two-pole 40A breaker (5 kW max input), argon (99.998%), nitrogen (99.99%) or helium with a regulator, distilled water for the chiller (the manual says replace it twice a week, or use a 30% ethanol mix below freezing, replaced twice a month), filler wire, spare nozzles and protective lenses, a grounded metal work table for the clamp, fume extraction, fire-safe screens or curtains, and wavelength-rated laser glasses for everyone nearby (one pair, a helmet and gloves are included)
How much does the OMTech FCM-15CW 1500W Handheld Laser Welder, Cleaner and Cutter cost?
From $5,500 at omtech (pre-order).
How we rank: by our own scores for power, speed, ease of use, safety and value, from the maker's published specs and independent tests where they exist. Some links earn us a commission (for example TwoTrees, SainSmart, Gweike and Amazon). That never changes a score or the order of a list (disclosure).
Sources
- OMTech Handheld Fiber Laser Welding Machine product page (US store, specs and FAQ)
- OMTech store data (variant, SKU and price)
- OMTech FCM-15CW user manual (PDF)