If you caught our previous look at the WeCreat Lumos Ultra, you know it’s already an incredibly capable machine. But today, we are diving into the game-changing add-on that completely transforms its capabilities: the WeCreat Lumos Ultra MOPA Module.
Today, we are putting this MOPA module through a gauntlet of tests to see exactly what it can engrave, how it handles deep 3D relief work, and whether it’s the ultimate upgrade for your workshop.
What is the WeCreat MOPA Module?
In short, this module converts your Lumos Ultra into a functional fiber laser.
Standard diode or UV lasers have limitations when it comes to metals, but a MOPA fiber laser unlocks an entirely new world of maker projects. With this module installed, you gain the power to:
• Deeply engrave most metals.
• Cut through thin metal sheets.
• Effortlessly engrave into ceramics, slate, and rocks.
• Instantly strip paint, anodized coatings, and rust off metal surfaces.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE WeCREAT LUMOS ULTRA
Setting It Up
Getting the module up and running is surprisingly straightforward. The installation process only requires a few quick steps:
1. Connect the module's dedicated power supply.
2. Plug the auxiliary communication cable between the Lumos Ultra and the MOPA module.
3. Slot the MOPA laser head into the mounting position at the top of the Lumos Ultra.
4. Swap out your standard UV lens with the specialized MOPA lens.
With the hardware switched over, it’s time to look at what this laser can actually do.
Project 1: Surface Marking Painted Aluminum
Our first test was a quick, clean surface marking project on a painted aluminum tin. Instead of cutting deep into the metal, the goal here is to cleanly vaporize the painted coating to expose the bare aluminum underneath.
Using the Lumos’ built-in camera feature, aligning the artwork precisely on top of the tin was incredibly easy. Because keeping a perfect focus across the piece is critical, the engraving was run in two separate parts.
• The Result: The finished tin turned out incredibly crisp. It almost looks like the design was professionally printed or painted right onto the surface rather than lasered. When a MOPA laser strips paint from aluminum, it leaves behind a brilliant white finish, making it a perfect technique for customized promotional gear or personalized tins.
🔧 Painted Aluminum Settings:
Power: 35% | Passes: 1 | Pulse Width: 150 | Frequency: 50 | DPI: 600 | Dot Duration: 100
Project 2: Brilliant Color Engraving on Stainless Steel
One of the most sought-after features of a MOPA laser is its ability to create permanent, vibrant colors on stainless steel and titanium by precisely controlling heat layers. To test this out, we grabbed some stainless steel bottle openers.
When attempting color engraving, the secret weapon is inside the WeCreat MakeIt software. Under the "Toolbox" menu, you can run a Color Engraving Test. This automatically fires a test matrix grid onto your material, showing you exactly how different frequency and pulse settings react with your specific metal.
• The Result: Even though the reflective metal makes it a challenge to capture perfectly under bright studio video lights, the colors on the bottle openers turned out remarkably solid and vibrant. If you want your metal engraving projects to stand out from the standard dark or frosted look, this is how you do it. Note: These settings change drastically depending on the specific grade of stainless steel you are using, so always run a test matrix when swapping materials!
Project 3: 3D Deep Relief Engraving on Rock & Slate
MOPA lasers aren't just for metal; they do an incredible job on stone and ceramics. For this test, we experimented with deep relief carvings into rocks and slate coasters.
Pro-Tip: Before engraving, spray your stones or slate with a clear coat of lacquer. This simple step creates a massive contrast boost, making the finished engraving visually "pop" right out of the background.
For the rock project, we used a highly detailed grayscale depth map of industrial gear work. Because it’s processed as a 3D relief, the software instructs the laser to engrave the image in dozens of micro-layers, carving deeper into the darker areas of the image to create a physical 3D structure.
• The Result: The depth on the rock was incredible—it genuinely looks like there is an intricate mechanical gear system physically embedded inside the stone! A second test featuring a snake emerging from a crack in a rock yielded equally impressive results.
• The Slate Surprise: When running the same gear depth map onto a slate coaster, the laser was so powerful that it actually engraved entirely through the slate. Even though the speed was doubled, it cut completely through, leaving a completely unintentional but incredibly unique stencil-like effect.
🔧 Rock Relief Settings:
Mode: Relief (Convex) | Layers: 60 | Power: 100% | Speed: 600 | Pulse Width: 250 | Frequency: 48 | Line Density: 280 | Z-Axis Descent: On (0.01mm down per layer)
Project 4: Custom Engraved Brass Coins
Brass coins are a staple project for fiber lasers, providing an excellent canvas for both flat marking and heavy 3D carving. We took a standard blank brass coin and decided to do a standard single-pass design on one side, and a heavy 60-layer deep relief carving on the other using an Egyptian-themed depth map.
After using the camera for a rough placement, the software's contour framing feature ensured the artwork was centered down to the millimeter before pressing start.
To keep the carving clean during the intense 60-layer relief process, a cleaning layer was enabled to run automatically every 10 layers. This sweeps away the accumulated brass dust and debris so the laser can continue carving crisp details into fresh metal. To finish it off, a final dedicated cleaning pass was run to smooth out the background.
• The Result: The level of detail the MOPA module captured from the depth map was stunning. To bring out the details, the coin was hit with a wire brush, treated with a chemical darkener (Brass Black), and lightly buffed back. The contrast between the dark, recessed valleys and the polished, raised brass highlights makes the coin look like an antique artifact.
🔧 Brass Coin Single-Pass Settings:
Power: 100% | Pulse Width: 100 | Frequency: 100 | DPI: 500 | Dot Duration: 100
🔧 Brass Coin 60-Layer Relief Settings:
Mode: Relief (Convex) | Layers: 60 | Power: 100% | Speed: 500 | Pulse Width: 250 | Frequency: 45 | Line Density: 300 | Z-Axis Descent: On (0.01mm/layer)
• Intermittent Cleaning Layer (Every 10 Layers): Power: 30% | Speed: 3500 | Line Density: 300 | Frequency: 100 | Pulse Width: 350 | Passes: 1
• Final Post-Processing Cleaning Pass: Power: 30% | Speed: 3500 | Passes: 2 | Pulse Width: 100 | Frequency: 100 | Line Density: 300
Project 5: Engraving & Cutting Brass Pendants
Can a desktop module actually cut through thick sheet metal? To find out, we attempted to create custom jewelry pendants out of a hefty 1.5mm thick brass plate.
Instead of using the software's standard "cut" feature—which can sometimes leave charred or jagged edges on thick metals—we used a clever workaround. We created a small offset border vector around our 3D relief artwork and told the software to process that border as its own deep relief engraving. By continuously carving away layers over 70 passes, the laser cleanly steps its way through the metal sheet.
• The Result: This technique worked flawlessly, leaving incredibly clean, smooth edges that required minimal cleanup. After a quick pass with a wire brush, some Brass Black, and a final buff, the finished pendants looked spectacular. We also replicated the process on an aluminum blank using Aluminum Black for a sleek, dark-contrast look. For a first attempt at making custom metal jewelry, the results exceeded expectations.
🔧 Pendant Cutting Settings (Offset Relief Method):
Mode: Relief (Convex) | Layers: 70 | Power: 100% | Speed: 200 | Pulse Width: 350 | Frequency: 30 | Line Density: 280 | Z-Axis Descent: On (0.01mm/layer)
Project 6: The Ultimate Masterpiece – Custom Engraved Hammers
For our final showcase, we wanted to combine the best of both worlds by engraving a complete tool from top to bottom. We took a heavy sledgehammer, using the MOPA module to carve a deep ram scrollwork design into the hardened stainless steel head, and then swapped back to the UV laser source to engrave a detailed 3D design directly into the wooden handle.
Hardened stainless steel is notoriously difficult to deeply carve, but the MOPA module bit right into it over 60 layers. Once the steel head was finished, we unscrewed the MOPA lens, reinstalled the UV lens, flipped the software source back to UV, and engraved the wood handle over 30 layers.
To give the final tools a premium look, the steel heads were treated with a metal bluing chemical and lightly sanded back with a disc to create striking contrast in the recessed details. The wooden handles were finished with a protective coat of Osmo Polyx Oil in a satin finish.
A Crucial Lesson in Wood Selection
We actually ran this project twice—once on a sledgehammer and once on a standard claw hammer—which taught us a valuable lesson about material selection:
• Ash Wood Handle (Sledgehammer): Ash has a very wide, aggressive grain structure. Because the wood density changes drastically between the grain lines, the UV laser's 3D relief engraving lost some of its finer details.
• Hickory Wood Handle (Claw Hammer): Hickory has a much tighter, more uniform grain. As you can see on the finished claw hammer, it held the grayscale depth map beautifully, resulting in a perfectly clear and incredibly detailed 3D handle.
🔧 Sledgehammer Steel Head Settings (MOPA):
Mode: Relief (Convex) | Layers: 60 | Power: 100% | Speed: 400 | Pulse Width: 250 | Frequency: 35 | Line Density: 300
🔧 Wood Handle Settings (UV Laser):
Mode: Relief (Convex) | Layers: 30 | Speed: 500 | Frequency: 48 | Line Density: 300
Final Verdict: Is the WeCreat MOPA Module Worth It?
The WeCreat Lumos Ultra MOPA module is an absolute home run for makers, crafters, and small businesses alike. By effectively giving you a two-in-one machine, it provides a highly affordable pathway to owning both a precision UV laser and a powerful MOPA fiber laser without taking up double the workshop space. From delicate color marking on steel to aggressive deep relief carving into stone and hardened metals, it handled everything thrown at it with impressive results.
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE WeCREAT LUMOS ULTRA
What do you think? Are you ready to add a MOPA laser to your workflow, or is there a specific material you want to see us test next? Comment on my YouTube video and let me know!