Fiber Laser Cutting vs. Plasma Cutting

What Is A Fiber Laser Cutting Machine?

The working principle of fiber laser cutting is to focus the power of a high-power laser onto the surface of the material to be cut. The energy in the laser beam is absorbed to the surface of the material, and the energy of the laser is converted into heat, thereby melting or evaporating the material. In addition, gas is focused or blown into the cutting area to expel or blow away molten

What Is A Plasma Cutting Machine?

Plasma cutting is the oldest form of cutting. Its history can be traced back to the 1950s and is an alternative to flame cutting. Plasma cutting is performed by jetting superheated ionized gas (ie plasma) from a nozzle toward the workpiece at a high speed. Then an arc is formed in the gas. The arc ionizes part of the gas, thereby forming a conductive channel for the plasma in the process. When the electricity from the torch travels down the plasma, it generates enough heat to melt through the workpiece. The plasma and compressed gas blow away the hot molten metal, causing the workpiece to separate.

Plasma Cutting Machine VS Fiber Laser Cutting Machine:

Advantages And Disadvantages of Fiber Laser Cutting

Advantages:

Fiber laser cutting offers several advantages over plasma cutting in various applications. Here are some benefits of fiber laser cutting compared to plasma cutting:

Higher Precision: Fiber laser cutting provides superior precision and accuracy compared to plasma cutting. The focused laser beam of a fiber laser allows for narrow kerf widths and fine detail cutting, resulting in cleaner and more precise cuts. Plasma cutting, on the other hand, can produce wider kerf widths and may have limitations in achieving intricate cuts.

Smaller Heat-Affected Zone (HAZ): Fiber laser cutting generates a smaller heat-affected zone, which refers to the area around the cut that experiences thermal alteration. This minimal HAZ reduces the risk of warping, distortion, and material damage, especially in heat-sensitive materials. Plasma cutting can produce a larger HAZ, which may affect the structural integrity of the material.

Faster Cutting Speeds: Fiber laser cutting is generally faster than plasma cutting. Fiber lasers can achieve higher cutting speeds, enabling increased productivity and reduced manufacturing lead times. Plasma cutting, although efficient for thicker materials, may be relatively slower for thinner materials.

Versatility with Material Thickness: Fiber lasers are suitable for cutting a wide range of material thicknesses, from thin gauge to thick plates. They provide consistent cutting performance across different material thicknesses. Plasma cutting is generally more effective for thicker materials, while it may struggle with precision cuts on thin materials.

Cleaner Cutting Process: Fiber laser cutting produces clean and precise cuts with minimal dross or slag formation. This reduces the need for secondary operations, such as grinding or deburring. Plasma cutting, especially at higher power levels, can generate more dross and require additional post-cutting finishing processes.

Reduced Operating Costs: Fiber laser cutting typically has lower operating costs compared to plasma cutting. Fiber lasers consume less energy and require less maintenance and consumables, such as gas and electrodes, resulting in reduced operational expenses.

Disadvantages:

High cost: Initial investment require high costs.
Low efficiency: At present, fiber laser cutting of thin plates（≤25mm） is more cost-effective. However, when cutting thick plates, the efficiency is low, so unless the quality requirements are high, it is not suitable for fiber laser cutting.

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Plasma Cutting

Advantages:

In the process of cutting medium and thick plates(≥25mm), it can reach a very high cutting speed, much higher than laser cutting and flame cutting.
The initial equipment investment is lower than the laser.

Disadvantages:

The verticality of the cutting surface is poor: the side of the cutting surface will have a large inclined cutting edge, and the verticality will be very poor.
Produce more cutting slag: Cutting slag will be generated at the bottom of the cutting surface during the cutting process. In order not to affect the quality of post-processing, this slag must be removed by grinding, which also increases labor costs.
Generate harmful gas and arc light: The principle of plasma cutting determines that harmful dust and arc light will be generated during the cutting process. However, underwater plasma cutting is also used to avoid this defect.

High cost in the later stage: More cutting nozzles are consumed in the later stage, and the cost is very high.

The Main Difference Between Laser Cutting And Plasma Cutting

· Compared with plasma cutting machine, laser cutting machine has higher precision.

· The capital investment required for laser cutting machines is much higher than that of plasma cutting machines.

· Fiber laser cutting machines are most suitable for cutting thin metal sheets(≤25mm) and can cut all metal types

· A plasma cutting machine is that it is suitable for cutting thick materials. It only needs to be cut without some beautiful shapes. If you need to cut some complete shapes, fiber laser cutting machines are better.