As the mainstream cutting solution, fiber laser and CO2 laser play an important role in the modern laser industry. However, if you go deep into the laser machine, you will find the difference between the two technologies.
Which laser type is suitable for which application?
Optical fiber laser cutting machine
Speed – It is faster than CO2 laser in thin materials, because the laser can be absorbed when cutting with nitrogen (melt cutting), and the speed is slightly increased.
Single piece cost – lower than CO2 laser, depending on sheet thickness.
Safety – strict safety precautions must be taken (the machine is completely closed), because the laser (1 µ m) can pass through a very narrow opening in the machine frame, causing irreversible damage to the retina of the eyes.
Beam guidance – optical fiber.
CO2 laser cutting machine
Quality – The quality is consistent across all thicknesses of material.
Flexibility – High for all material thicknesses.
Safety – The rack can better absorb CO2 laser (10 µ m), thus reducing the risk of retinal damage. Personnel should not directly watch the cutting process through the acrylic panel on the door, because bright plasma may also be invisible for a period of time. (It is similar to looking at the sun.)
Beam guidance – mirror optics.
Cutting with oxygen (flame cutting) – There is no difference in quality or speed between the two lasers.
Seven advantages of optical fiber laser cutting machine
In addition, let's learn some advantages that make fiber laser stand out.
1. The fiber laser is transmitted through the laser cable instead of the reflector and channel used by the CO2 laser cutter, thus reducing the power loss and improving the energy efficiency. This can directly reduce production costs.
2. The wavelength of fiber laser is ten times shorter than that of CO2 laser. A more focused laser beam will be generated to interact with different metals.
3. The optical fiber laser machine can have two interchangeable platforms, on which materials and finished paper can be loaded or unloaded automatically to reduce boring repetitive work and save a lot of time.
4. With the increasing popularity of sheet metal in the manufacturing industry, sheet metal processing plays an increasingly important role in various metal businesses. Fiber laser machine can fully meet this demand, while carbon dioxide laser machine is more suitable for thick plate cutting.
5. Maintenance is also an important part of the machine. The optical fiber laser machine hardly needs to be maintained and replaced, thus saving trouble and money. On the contrary, a CO2 laser machine requires regular and annual maintenance and replacement of components.
6. The optical fiber laser metal cutting machine has higher cutting accuracy and perfect cutting edge, because tons of cutting table ensures the stability of the whole cutting process, and the gas will blow away the residues generated by cutting materials.
7. The advantages of fiber laser technology have attracted continuous investment and attention from industry experts, researchers and investors, so the field of fiber laser has great development potential.