When it comes to laser-cutting machines, there are various options available on the market. Two popular choices that often go head-to-head are fiber laser cutting machines and CO₂ laser cutting machines.

Both offer unique features and benefits that cater to specific needs. In this article, we will explore the differences between these two types of laser-cutting devices, helping you make an informed decision based on your requirements. So, let’s get started!

What Is A Fiber Laser Cutter?

Fiber laser cutters have fiber optic cables. The cable has rare earth materials such as ytterbium, erbium, and neodymium. A laser diode, preferably coupled with solid fiber, provides energy to the optical fiber cable. After the diode produces the light, a particular type of lens called a collimating lens channel amplifies the photon particles and forms a beam.

Fiber laser cutters are suitable for cutting thin materials. They are mainly used for engravings on metal, wood, and various other materials. Fiber laser cutters have a higher power conversion rate than CO₂ laser cutters, and they are also very precise.

Advantages Of Fiber Laser Cutter

Fiber laser cutters are great for faster operations. Besides that, they also have several other advantages as follows:

• Fiber laser cutters are faster. It can cut up to five times faster than CO₂ cutters.
• Fiber laser cutters require almost half the maintenance cost of CO₂ laser cutters.
• Fiber laser cutters do not require any warm-up time
• CO₂ laser cutters require beam path maintenance, which can only be done by expert professionals. Fiber laser cutters only need a little maintenance.
• They consume less power.
• Fiber laser cutters are smaller, so you can store them in any small place.
• High power conversion rate (30% to 50%)

Downsides Of Fiber Laser Cutter

Fiber laser cutters have some downsides as well. For instance, the initial expense is more if you want to acquire a fiber laser cutter. Here are some disadvantages of fiber laser cutters:

• Fiber laser cutters have a hard time cutting through thick materials.
• In terms of material finish, fiber laser cutters lag behind CO₂ laser cutters.
• Fiber laser cutters are less flexible. Their work area is limited; application is less than CO₂ cutters.
• Fiber laser cutters are expensive.

Applications Of Fiber Laser Cutter

In marking and engraving applications, fiber lasers typically have a pulse peak power ranging from 10 kW to 20 kW. The mean output power is generally between 10 W and 100 W. These fiber lasers are known for their high beam quality.

As a result, they are capable of engraving small structures or producing high-resolution markings and images. The combination of high pulse peak power and good focusability makes fiber lasers well-suited for precise and detailed marking and engraving tasks. 

What Is CO₂ Laser Cutter?

A CO₂ laser cutter is quite different than a fiber laser cutter. The term “CO₂” dictates how the laser is produced, unlike fiber laser. There’s a gas mixture comprises of common gasses of the earth’s atmosphere. They are mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium. Electricity passes through the tube, and the gas molecules absorb energy.

The nitrogen atom excites the CO₂ molecule. Then, the nitrogen atoms come in contact with other gas atoms and release energy in the form of photons. The photon travels back and forth inside the tube, reflects in the mirrors, the energy amplifies and is finally released through the nozzle.

The process is more elaborate; we just mentioned the gist here so you understand easily. CO₂ laser is good enough to cut metals and also lots of nonmetallic materials such as plastic, acrylic, wood, stone, etc.

Advantages Of CO₂ Laser Cutter

Just like any other laser cutting method, CO₂ laser cutters have some advantages, too. Here are the benefits of CO₂ laser cutters:

• CO₂ laser cutters can cut through thicker materials
• They produce a smoother finish
• CO₂ laser cutters make smooth cut-edge
• They can cut a wide range of materials, including metals and nonmetals
• They can cut through thicker materials easily
• CO₂ laser cutters have a faster initial piercing time than fiber laser cutters.
• CO₂ laser cutters are cheaper

Downsides Of CO₂ Laser Cutter

CO₂ laser cutters aren’t free from downsides. The most significant one is the maintenance. Here are some disadvantages of CO₂ laser cutters:

• CO₂ laser cutters use more power. So your energy bill at the end of the month will be sumptuous
• Mirrors and lenses of CO₂ laser cutters require costly regular maintenance
• CO₂ laser cutters do not work well with thin metals
• You can’t cut reflective metal with CO₂ laser cutters

Applications Of CO₂ Laser Cutter

The power range of CO₂ cutters is between 10 to 400 watts. The application of this specific range is perforating, cutting, or engraving various materials like textiles, wood, plastics etc. These lasers are effective at achieving high-quality cuts.

Power between 1 to 6 kilowatts is the go-to power range for industrial applications. These higher-powered lasers are used for hardening, remelting metals etc. Nowadays, CO₂ lasers are extensively used for oxide-free cutting. This technology is primarily used for mini batch sizes in sheet metal processing. Here is a video of a CO₂ laser cutter in action:

Comparing Between Fiber Laser Cutters And A CO₂ Laser Cutters

The differences between fiber laser cutter and CO₂ laser cutter are obvious. The mechanism, the machine size, power, application, everything differs between the two. Here is a table summarizing the key differences between the two:

Conclusion

Both fiber and CO₂ laser cutting machines have their distinct advantages and applications. Fiber laser cutting machines offer high cutting speeds, excellent precision, and are highly efficient for cutting thin materials. 

On the other hand, CO₂ laser cutting machines are better suited for cutting thick materials and can create intricate designs. The choice between the two ultimately depends on the specific needs of the project, the fabric being cut, and the desired outcome.