PlanFacts · Updated 2026-10-22

AlgoLaser Alpha MK2 or Longer Ray5 as a first diode engraver: power options, working area and entry price

Disclosure: Independent article; no affiliate links or sponsorship.
Draft text was prepared with AI assistance and checked against the cited official product pages and product feeds.

The buying question this page answers: First diode engraver: AlgoLaser Alpha MK2 or Longer Ray5 — what do the published power options, working area and price get you?

Both machines are diode laser engravers sold in several power versions, and the power you pick changes both the working area and the price. This page lines up what each maker publishes for power, working area and the entry variant, so you can see what the first purchase actually covers before choosing.

Comparison

CriterionAlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi)LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers)
ModelAlpha MK2 Diode Laser Engraver[1]Longer Ray5 Laser Engraver 5W/10W/20W[2]
Laser output power20W / 40W (Laser Power option)[1]5W / 10W / 20W (Power option); spec table also has a 40W column[2]
Working area400mm*410mm (20W); 400mm*386mm (40W)[3]400×400mm (15.75x15.75inch) (5W, 10W); 400×365mm (15.75x14.37inch) (20W); 385×385mm (15.16x15.16inch) (40W); page also says 'base 400 x 365mm (15.75*14.37inch), expanding to 850 x 850mm(33.46*33.46inch)'[4]
Base price (USD)$629.00 — 20W / Machine USD[5]$159.99 — 5W / Basic Set USD[6]
Reference price629 USD
official pricing page, checked 2026-10-22[5]		159.99 USD
official pricing page, checked 2026-10-22[6]
Price historyPrice history not collectedPrice history not collected

Who it fits

AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi)
  • Buyers who already want a mid-to-high power diode module: the Alpha MK2 is sold with a 20W or a 40W laser power option, and the 20W version lists a 400mm*410mm working space.[1][3]
LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers)
  • Buyers who want to start with the smallest outlay: the Ray5 entry variant, 5W / Basic Set, is listed at $159.99.[6]
  • Buyers who want to choose among several power steps on one model: the Ray5 listing offers 5W, 10W and 20W power options.[2]

When not to buy

AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi)
  • Less suited to a very small starting budget: the cheapest Alpha MK2 variant, 20W / Machine, is listed at $629.[5]
LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers)
  • If you want the machine to come with an enclosure, note that the Longer product page in our sources does not say whether one is included or offered; ask Longer before ordering rather than assuming either way.

Key differences

General
  • Power ladders start at different points: the Alpha MK2 offers 20W and 40W, while the Ray5 offers 5W, 10W and 20W, with a 40W column in its spec table.[1][2][4]
  • The entry variants are not like-for-like: Longer's $159.99 buys the 5W / Basic Set, while AlgoLaser's $629 buys the 20W / Machine, so the gap in price is also a gap in laser power.[6][5]
  • Pick the power level first, then compare the price and working area of that exact version on each page, because both makers change the working area from one module to the next.

Limitations

AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi)
  • The working space depends on the module: 400mm*410mm with the 20W laser and 400mm*386mm with the 40W laser.[3]
  • The only Alpha MK2 price recorded in our sources is the 20W / Machine variant at $629; prices for the 40W version and for the bundled packages are not recorded yet.[5]
LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers)
  • The spec table gives a working area per module: 400×400mm for 5W and 10W, 400×365mm for 20W and 385×385mm for 40W. The same page also mentions a base of 400 x 365mm expanding to 850 x 850mm, which refers to the Large Format Expansion Kit rather than the standard machine.[4]
  • The power figures do not line up across the page: the purchase options list 5W, 10W and 20W, while the spec table also has a 40W column, so confirm which module you are actually ordering.[2][4]
General
  • Whichever machine you buy, read and follow the manufacturer's own safety instructions for it; this page does not add safety advice of its own.

Sources

  1. AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi) — Product title (all variants) · AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi) · accessed 2026-10-22 · scope: Product title (all variants)
  2. LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers) — Product title (all variants) · LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers) · accessed 2026-10-22 · scope: Product title (all variants)
  3. AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi) — Spec table, 20W and 40W · AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi) · accessed 2026-10-22 · scope: Spec table, 20W and 40W
  4. LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers) — Spec table, all module columns · LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers) · accessed 2026-10-22 · scope: Spec table, all module columns
  5. AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi) — giá gói trả phí rẻ nhất (USD) · AlgoLaser (diode laser engravers: Alpha MK2, DIY KIT, Pixi) · accessed 2026-10-22 · scope: giá gói trả phí rẻ nhất (USD)
  6. LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers) — giá gói trả phí rẻ nhất (USD) · LONGER (diode laser engravers Ray5 / Ray7 / B1 / Nano, plus UV and 3D printers) · accessed 2026-10-22 · scope: giá gói trả phí rẻ nhất (USD)

affops page-v1. Details can change; check the seller's page before buying.