Guide To Buying Fiber Laser Cutters

29 December, 2023

Do you already have a standard laser cutter in your workshop? In that case, you might wonder why you would want a fiber laser cutter. Well, there are some differences between the two. For instance, the diameter of the fiber laser’s beam spot is smaller than the standard one. Plus, regular lasers make wider or thicker cuts on the material.

As a result, the typical laser cutter lacks the preciseness and quality of the fiber machines. This is a serious issue if you supply to sectors like medical, military, or automobile. Fiber laser cutters would also be more cost-effective and friendlier for the environment. Find out how to buy your business the most suitable fiber laser cutter.

Why Should You Buy A Fiber Laser Cutter?

Here’s a table to help you understand why you should choose fiber laser cutters over ordinary lasers and flame cutters.

Aspects	Fiber Laser Cutters	Standard Laser Cutters	Flame Cutters
Precision	Fiber lasers promise superior precision over others. Its wavelength is ten times smaller than standard CO2 lasers. As a result, it can focus the beam to a spot size of <0.01mm. This allows the laser to carve advanced and complicated designs.	Standard lasers usually have a spot size of 0.1mm. Therefore, it lacks the accuracy and precision of fiber lasers.	Flame cutters aren’t precise at all. They are primitive machines that can only cut rough, straight lines or simple curves on the target piece.
Reflective Materials	An essential use of Fiber laser is in cutting reflective materials. It can cut Gold or Silver without damaging the machine. It can also cut materials and metals of varying thickness with the same precision.	Typical lasers are based on mirrors. Therefore, reflective metals can send the beam back to the machine and damage it. Consequently, cutting reflective metals with standard lasers is difficult and risky.	You might cut some reflective metals with flame cutters. However, you cannot work with thin metal films or similar pieces. The flame cutter will warp or melt the material.
Cost-effectiveness	Fiber laser cutters consume less power than other laser machines. Plus, its design and mechanism make it low-maintenance. Therefore, it’s one of the best cutters in terms of cost-effectiveness.	Standard laser cutters consume more power for its operations. Plus, you have to frequently change the lens and mirrors of the machine. Therefore, it costs more to run and maintain.	Flame laser cutters are, of course, the cheapest. However, they don’t have much application in industries that require high-quality cutting.
Kerf width and heat-affected zones	Fiber lasers have a kerf width of 0.2mm and a 0.5 mm heat-affected zone (HAZ). Besides promising precision, these low values also promise minimal material wastage.	Most standard laser cutters have a kerf Width of 0.5mm and heat-affected zones of 2mm. That means less accurate and more material waste.	A flame cutter’s kerf width is 3mm. Heat-affected zones are 10mm. Therefore, these are only good for some rough cutting.
Fumes	A fiber laser cutter doesn’t emit any fumes of its own. Depending on the material, there might be some fumes. But it’s still low due to the minimal HAZ. Therefore, it’s one of the safest cutters for operators.	CO2 and Nd: YAG laser cutters emit some carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide gas. The greater HAZ creates much fumes from the material, too.	Flame cutters emit the most toxic gas, which contains sulfur and metal oxides.

What Type Of Fibre Laser Cutter To Buy?

You probably understand how much better things can be with fiber laser cutters. If you decide to buy one, you should first understand the types of laser cutters the market offers. You must choose carefully and invest in the one suitable for your industry. Here are your options-

Continuous Fiber Laser cutters: These cutters produce a non-pulsating laser beam. Its power ranges from hundred to several hundred kilowatts. You can cut and weld various metals with precise but macroscopic precision.
Quasi Continuous Fiber laser cutters: The beam of these fiber laser cutters isn’t truly continuous. Therefore, it can work on the spot longer with minimal warping and high precision. These are ideal for spot weld and drilling.
Pulse Fiber Laser cutters: These are low-power (sometimes milliwatts) pulsating fiber laser beams. So, you can mark or engrave on thin metal pieces without melting them away. Industries that require microscopic precision can benefit from Pulse fiber laser cutters.
Operation-Specific Fiber Laser Cutters: You can find laser cutters designed for specific tasks. For instance, there are Metal Sheet fiber laser cutters, Metal tube cutters, and 3D cutters.

Things To Consider Before Buying A Fiber Laser Cutter

A fiber laser cutter can dramatically improve the quantity and quality of your production. It can also help you save money on materials and energy. To get the most out of your investment, consider these few factors before buying a Fiber Laser Cutter-

Staff Training

Laser-cutting operations require skill, training, and experience. Otherwise, even with the best machines, you might not get the desired results. If you put this machine in the workplace, you must have an operator with proper knowledge of running and maintaining the machine. They should also know the safety protocols for working with laser cutters.

In this case, you can hire a new operator for the fiber laser cutter or train the existing staff. Entrusting the machine to someone inexperienced is risky for the workplace and the laser cutter.

Industry

There are a variety of fiber laser cutters available in the market. If you are producing intricate equipment for the medical industry, you will need a laser cutter that permits microscopic precision. Meanwhile, you might need a less precise and more powerful beam if you are cutting metal pipes.

You should also consider the type of material you are working with. Fiber laser cutters are universal and cut a range of materials. However, they mainly work with shiny metals that might reflect beams and damage standard laser machines.

Laser cutting isn’t generally recommended for leather, PVC, and Carbon Fiber materials. If those are the materials you usually work with, buy a waterjet cutter since they produce zero heat-affected zones.

Budget

Fiber laser cutters are cheaper to maintain than other laser machines. However, the initial investment is still significant. These machines cost in the range of $30,000-$600,000. Buying a costly machine might not be wise for start-ups dealing in small orders and not having enough positive cash inflow.

It’s also important to consider the type of work you will be doing. For instance, there is no point in buying a super advanced costly fiber laser cutter if your task doesn’t require the utmost precision.

After-sale Service

Fiber laser cutters are a relatively newer technology. Therefore, you won’t readily find technicians who can help you with the installation and troubleshooting.

So, buy from a manufacturer who promises long-term after-sale service and an adequate warranty. Also, this manufacturer might be the only one able to supply spare parts to you in the future.

Brand

The increasing demand for fiber laser cutters has made them the product of choice for many aspiring businesses. So, if you browse the internet, many brands might come forward with attractive offers. However, not all of them can sell you authentic products. Therefore, it is important to research a brand before buying from them.

Before buying, research a brand for reviews and authenticity. A reputable manufacturer will have a proper website and responsive customer service. You would find informative content on fiber laser cutters on their websites. This is proof that the seller intimately understands the product he is selling to you.

Check for reviews from customers who had previously purchased fiber laser cutters from the brand. A reputable brand shall also provide you with staff training and after-sale service. They can also recommend the best machine for your industry.

Conclusion

Fiber laser cutters are cost-effective and more accurate than ordinary cutters. Any business looking to achieve a higher production quality must deploy them in the workplace. If you have trouble deciding on the type of fiber laser cutter to buy, our experts at IVY CNC can help.

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