No one rises higher than Peak!
If you’ve spent some time reading around the cutting videos, then you’ll know that fiber lasers aren’t the only type of laser on the market. The other two main types of laser are gas lasers, which mostly use carbon dioxide (CO2), but also occasionally helium-neon, and crystal lasers, which uses neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet
As gas lasers, and CO2 lasers in particular, are the most commonly used lasers on the market, we thought it would be useful to have a comparison of fiber lasers vs CO2 lasers. You can find more on that below.
Advantages of Fiber Lasers
Fiber laser cutting offers several advantages over CO2 laser cutting in various applications. Here are some benefits of fiber laser cutting:
- Higher Efficiency: Fiber lasers are more efficient than CO2 lasers, converting a higher percentage of input energy into laser light. This increased efficiency leads to lower power consumption and operating costs.
- Faster Cutting Speeds: Fiber lasers are capable of achieving higher cutting speeds compared to CO2 lasers. The concentrated and intense laser beam produced by fiber lasers allows for faster material processing, resulting in increased productivity.
- Greater Precision: Fiber lasers provide superior beam quality, which enables precise and accurate cutting. The focused laser beam allows for narrow kerf widths and smaller heat-affected zones, resulting in cleaner and more precise cuts.
- Versatility with Materials: Fiber lasers are well-suited for cutting a wide range of materials, including metals (such as steel, aluminum, and copper) as well as non-metallic materials like plastics and composites. CO2 lasers, on the other hand, are primarily used for non-metal materials.
Good with thin materials
Although fiber lasers are good at working with materials of all thicknesses, they are particularly great at working with thin materials, including metals. Using the same comparison of lasers as above, the fiber laser is three times faster at cutting in a straight line on something like stainless steel with a 1mm thickness, and two times faster if the same material is 2mm in thickness.
Reflective metals
Fiber lasers can cut reflective materials without having to worry about back reflections that could damage the machine.
- Lower Maintenance and Operating Costs: Fiber lasers have a simpler design with fewer moving parts compared to CO2 lasers. This leads to reduced maintenance requirements and costs. Additionally, fiber lasers typically have a longer lifespan, providing more reliable and cost-effective operation over time.
- Compact Size: Fiber laser systems are generally more compact and take up less floor space than CO2 lasers. This makes them suitable for installations in smaller work environments.
It's worth noting that while fiber lasers excel in many areas, CO2 lasers still have their own advantages in certain applications, such as thicker materials and engraving. The choice between fiber and CO2 lasers depends on the specific requirements of the cutting application, material type, thickness, and desired outcome.
Advantages of CO2 Lasers
Works well with thicker materials
Fiber lasers can work with thicker materials no problem, but generally a CO2 laser will leave a surface finish that is smoother.
Faster in a straight line
A CO2 laser is faster at cutting in a straight line, as well as having a quicker piercing time when the cut is first started.
Disadvantages of CO2 lasers
The main disadvantages of CO2 lasers are where the advantages of fiber lasers lie. Firstly, CO2 lasers are sensitive machines that require alignment, so should this get knocked out of place, usually an expert is required to fix it, resulting in long periods of down time when the laser is not being productive.
This also means they need more regular servicing, and the costs of this maintenance are higher. Alongside this, more power is needed, resulting in higher electrical costs. CO2 lasers are also slower at cutting thin materials, and aren’t able to work with reflective metals ( brass, aluminum etc) to a good degree.
Bodor Laser - 3000w, 6000w and 12000w Fiber Laser Cutting Comparison
Bodor Laser 40kW Fiber Laser
Bodor Laser 12kW Fiber Laser Cutting 12mm Carbon Steel
Additional product information linked below
