Selection of Fiber Laser and CO2 Laser

When a merchant buys laser equipment, how to choose among so many laser products in the market? Which is better when comes to fiber laser and CO2? Can these two lasers replace each other?

We provide users with complete information and balanced opinions from many aspects and perspectives, in order to receive the effect of dispelling doubts.

Ⅰ. The blind zone of fiber laser and CO2 cutting process.

1. The blind zone of fiber laser machine

Fiber laser machine cannot cut non-metals, including wood, plastic, leather, cotton and linen fabrics.

Automotive interior parts are mostly non-metallic materials, using a high-precision robot + CO2 laser processing system to cut the space surface. Such a processing system needs to solve the problem of laser beam transmission between the robot's joints.

Fiber lasers machine cannot cut materials with a coating on the surface, such as ordinary coated stainless steel and special steel plates with anti-rust coatings. Some users did not pay enough attention to this, and chose fiber lasers and had to cut out ordinary coated stainless steel. If you want to use a special coating for fiber lasers, the cost will increase.

2. Blind area of CO2 laser

CO2 laser cannot cut copper materials, including brass and red copper.

For CO2 lasers, copper is a highly reflective material, and almost all of the laser is reflected but not absorbed; the reflected light returns to the laser, which will cause harm.

The reflectivity of CO2 laser to aluminum alloy is also high. The installation of back reflection isolator can effectively protect the CO2 laser, so that aluminum alloy can be cut safely.

Ⅱ. Cutting speed: fiber laser vs CO2

Cutting speed, perforation efficiency, section quality and other aspects constitute laser cutting efficiency, which is a comprehensive index for evaluating lasers (machines).

Fiber lasers have advantages in cutting thin plates, especially those with a thickness of less than 3mm. The advantages are obvious. Compared with CO2 lasers, the maximum cutting speed ratio can reach 4:1; and 6mm is the critical thickness at which the advantages of the two lasers can be interchanged. Fiber laser has no advantage when cutting sheets with a thickness of more than 6mm; as the thickness increases, CO2 gradually shows its advantage, but it is not significant.

In general, fiber lasers have advantages in cutting speed.

Ⅲ. Which is better, fiber laser machine or CO2 laser machine?

With the above data, it is not difficult to draw a logical conclusion and make a rational choice. It cannot be roughly said that fiber laser is good, nor can it be said that CO2 laser is good. It should be analyzed and judged based on specific applications. We see that fiber laser machines and CO2 lasers have their own advantages and disadvantages when facing specific application requirements. At present and for a period of time in the future, fiber lasers and CO2 lasers cannot replace each other, but can only coexist and complement each other.