Epilog or Universal would be fine. We've owned both. Currently have a Universal. Would buy another Universal if we needed another machine. Those 2 are middle of the road machines.
Epilog's have some issues to know about. They use an encoder strip that has to be cleaned. You have to remove a cover and clean the strip. It's not a huge pain, but it's something you don't have to do on the Universal.
On the Universal, you have job control software which keeps up to 2000 jobs, all settings, etc. On the Epilog, it's like a printer, once you print it, it goes to the machine and when you turn the machine off, the job and all settings are lost. The Universal also requires a computer be hooked to it at all times, the Epilog, you can print the job, turn the computer off and the laser will still run.
The Epilog has ethernet capability for hooking up, the ULS runs off of USB only, because the computer is actually running the laser.
Both have outstanding support, both will have parts next day to you if you are down. The Universal is easier to maintain. The lens come in and out super easy, for cleaning, the Epilog, not so much. If you remove the tube on the Epilog, you have to line it all up, which takes about 1 hour, on the ULS, it's made so precise, you can put a new tube in, hit the button and it'll be done.
They are the 2 mainstream suppliers. GCC is another one in that range, Trotec and Xenetech are in the upper end. Xenetech charges for tech support and has a history of abandoning support for drivers. So if you use XP, they have been known to stop all support for legacy machines a lot sooner than people would like. Trotec is the top of the line and will be very fast and very accurate.
That's my take on it all. Any specific questions, just ask. On wattage, what do you plan to do with it? Cut letters or engrave, or both?
