Among industrial laser systems, fiber laser machines and CO2 laser machines, two prominent machines, have become important competitors. They can be used in various industries for cutting, welding, engraving and marking. For example, wood engraving machines can engrave delicate decorations and details of wooden furniture. Fiber optic and CO2 lasers offer unique advantages for specific use cases. This blog will take an in-depth look at the pros and cons between fiber lasers and CO2.
Fiber Laser Machine’s Overview
1.Working Principle
The overall concept and process of fiber lasers is extremely simple and versatile. The focus is on the transmission mechanism that uses optical fiber to concentrate all the light into a single point. Fiber lasers use high-tech fiber optic components to deliver intense beams of light that can cut different materials with ease. They are the best choice for metal processes such as etching, annealing and engraving.
2.Additional Focusing Lenses
In addition, the optical fiber features a series of additional focusing lenses, further increasing the overall accuracy of the entire system.
3.No Maintenance But High Initial Capital
Fiber lasers have no maintenance requirements. This means the total cost of operating and maintaining the machine is very low. However, the initial capital requirements for purchasing fiber lasers are quite high, which is not feasible for small and medium-sized enterprises.
CO2 Laser Machine’s Overview
1. Working Principle
CO2 lasers use a combination of resonators, purge gases, and high-speed blowers to create high-powered light particles that collide with each other to provide high-intensity light that can cut thicker materials with relative ease.
2. Reflection and Refocusing Process
In contrast to fiber lasers, CO2 lasers have a beam path delivery system that initially operates by using a reflection and refocusing process rather than a focusing lens like fiber lasers.
3.Low Initial Cost But High Operating Costs.
In general, CO2 lasers tend to be more cost-effective than fiber lasers. However, a lower initial cost does not mean it is more economical. CO2 lasers consume large amounts of power, which results in very high operating costs.
Comparisons Between Fiber Laser Machines and CO2 Laser Machines
1.Energy
Fiber lasers use LEDs to emit light that is then focused by a fiber lens, amplifying the light to deliver results. CO2 lasers, on the other hand, stimulate a mixture of gases like CO2, N2, Xe, etc., creating waves that intensify to cut different objects with ease.
2.Power consumption
Fiber lasers are very efficient. Fiber lasers consume 30% less power than their CO2 laser counterparts, meaning they can get the job done faster with fewer resources.
3.Wavelength of light
Both CO2 and fiber lasers operate in the infrared spectrum. Typically, CO2 lasers emit at a wavelength of 10,600 nm, while fiber lasers emit wavelengths ranging from 780 to 2200 nm.
4.Cutting speed
Fiber lasers offer faster cutting speeds when it comes to thinner workpieces. Generally speaking, a 2 KW fiber laser can cut just as fast as a 5 or 6 KW CO2 laser. The main reason behind this is the power density of fiber lasers. The optical system effectively focuses a large amount of energy on a single point and provides much faster cutting speeds than CO2 lasers.
5.Cutting accuracy
If you talk about exact stability and precision then fiber laser is better. However, precision has another dimension in manufacturing, and it involves the smoothness of edges. CO2 lasers perform much better in this regard, so the actual choice depends on your preference.
6.Cutting range
In the case of sheet metal, the total cutting range of a fiber laser machine is 13 mm. There are some high powered versions that can cut softer materials such as aluminum up to 30mm, but these are very expensive. CO2 lasers, on the other hand, are only limited by their power levels. CO2 lasers can easily cut different widths depending on the wattage.
7.System Configuration
Compared to CO2 lasers, fiber lasers are extremely simple and do not require any complex systems, making them easier to operate and learn.
8.Investment costs
The initial investment required for CO2 lasers and fiber lasers is significantly different. Fiber lasers are very expensive because only a few brands make these machines and the technology is fairly new. CO2 lasers, on the other hand, have been around for a while, so the machine you need isn’t as expensive as other options.
Final Thoughts
The first difference between fiber lasers and CO2 lasers is the type of material processed. Fiber lasers are the best choice for processing thin metals. For thicker parts and processing other non-metals, CO2 lasers are the better choice. Additionally, cost-wise, there is a big difference between these two options. Fiber lasers are very expensive to purchase but cheaper to run, whereas CO2 lasers are the opposite.