One big plus is fiber lasers are maintenance-free machines, and they have a long service life (our lasers have a minimum of 100,000 operating hours). However, the speed advantage (up to five times greater) on thin materials (< 8 mm), 50% lower operating costs and higher outputs, the financial gains that can be achieved using fiber lasers can be game changing. This means that the optics path is completely protected from contaminants. For other materials like plastics and rubber, it can be one or the other. Given the beam delivery system is more exposed to the environment (temperature, moisture etc.) Without a traditional tool, the cuts can be very small and precise. Innovative Energy saving features on a Fiber Laser cutting machine. If you only need to cut thicker materials, a CO. laser may be a better option due to faster piercing and faster cutting speeds while producing a smoother surface finish. Operating Costs: With lower power requirements for the resonator and lower cooling requirements they power consumption required for a fiber laser is approximately 1/3rd that of it's CO2 cousin. Safety Glass this is used to allow the operator to view the cutting area while protecting them from the laser beam. For the same laser power, the maximum sheet thickness for a CO, laser is approximately a third less than that for a fiber laser (note, CO. lasers above 6 kW are rare). However, for the same power, a chiller for a CO2 laser will have higher electricity costs. and a fiber laser is the wavelength of the beam. In general, the wider spot size of CO2 lasers means for all sheet thicknesses they are able to achieve a smoother cut edge than a fiber, and the difference can become more pronounced as the sheet thickness increases. The fiber receives the light source from the resonator of the laser cutting machine and delivered it to the cutting head which is controlled by the CNC. For instance, a high-power CO2 laser and chiller will consume roughly 70kW when operating on maximum power. Do you wonder what the differences are between the two technologies? If you have any questions about laser cutting, please dont hesitate to contact us. Clearly, as the laser power increases so will the electricity costs of the machine due to the need for a larger chiller. Overall, the significantly reduced electricity costs of a fiber laser machine can result in huge cost savings for cutting applications. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! The alignment of a laser beam is important to ensure an even cut finish on all sides of a profile (Image below demonstrates the effect of a misaligned beam). Overall Flexibility: As we previously mentioned, CO2 Laser have more flexibility to cut through a wider range of materials, especially non metals. The majority of noise produced by a laser cutting machine is because of the machine movement and not because of the laser source. Table 6 shows the gas pressure and nozzle size used to cut the samples shown above and the cost using a 6 kW fiber and CO2 laser. While Fiber Laser technology is not far off as of the writing of this article today CO2 is still the leader in this area. For 1 mm, a fiber laser can cut at speeds up to 6 times higher than that of a CO. laser. The two main consumables of a fiber laser are the nozzle (the same applies for CO2 lasers) and the protective window. Table 5 shows a comparison of the cut speeds used to cut the samples shown above. The main and most costly issue with CO2 lasers occurs when the laser beam is reflected back down the beam delivery system causing damage to the expensive oscillator. The wavelength of the two lasers is shown below: The spot size of a laser is one of the factors that determines the kerf width. Fiber lasers are significantly faster at cutting thin sheets (< 8 mm) than CO, lasers, particularly when cutting stainless steel. However, if small holes/fine features are required, a laser is preferable. Whether you're looking for your first laser cutting system or your tenth the experts at Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales, Inc. can assist you in your search. A resonator, purged with CO2 gasses under high velocity (turbos or blowers) used a variety of methods to split the ions of light particles (typically RF or DC excitement) causing the light particles to collide into each other and split at an even greater intervals. While a fiber laser can cut through the plastic coating and metal in one pass, the absorption into the plastic is poor, producing dross on the underside of the cut which depending on the application may or may not be acceptable. Different types of lasers are needed for different applications. ), a good quality cut can be achieved with minimal dross and regular striations on the cut edge. However, the speed advantage (up to five times greater) on thin materials (< 8 mm), 50% lower operating costs and higher outputs, the financial gains that can be achieved using fiber lasers can be game changing. Fiber Laser, which is better? The two main consumables of a fiber laser are the nozzle (the same applies for CO. lasers use bend mirrors contained within bellows (sometimes filled with nitrogen) to deliver the beam to the cutting head. It is possible to cut thicker sheets than those stated below, however repeatability and cut quality are significantly reduced. As the sheet thickness increases (for the same laser power), CO2 lasers are able to match and surpass fiber laser cutting speeds. Also, when cutting stainless steel or aluminium, a laser machine will always produce better results. laser. In general, fiber lasers have many advantages over CO2 lasers. Please note that all fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required. What maintenance & Operating Costs should you expect? For 1 mm, a fiber laser can cut at speeds up to 6 times higher than that of a CO2 laser. CO2 vs. Maintenance: All of the above mentioned components of the beam path delivery system require maintenance which can not only be disruptive to manufacturing but also very costly. This determines the type of material each laser can process (see Table 3 for a summary). Productivity can be further improved with greater levels of automation. For details on the cutting parameters used see Table 5 for cut speeds and Table 6 for auxiliary gas usage. Previously, CO2 lasers have been used in the pharmaceutical industry, food production, the manufacturing of electronic components, fabric cutting and cutting building materials. This means for the same power laser; thicker sheets can be cut. The smaller spot size and consequent narrow kerf width means that in order to effectively eject the melt from the cut high gas pressures are needed for a fiber laser. In general however, for EC and UKCA conforming machines, no ear protection is required. For the best cut results, two passes are required: the first to melt the plastic coating and a second to complete the cut. A similarly powered fiber laser consumes approximately 18kW. All laser machines by law will be required to have a label clearly stating its class. However, solid state laser technology is becoming increasingly popular and hence the cost of laser systems is decreasing. hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2215571, '6fd2c949-61b7-44c1-b002-83d42c9c7ce7', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); hbspt.cta._relativeUrls=true;hbspt.cta.load(2215571, '295fc5b7-cd08-4779-a17a-f56d84655856', {"useNewLoader":"true","region":"na1"}); Laser cutting is a relatively new form of sheet metal shape cutting. However, the rapid development of fiber lasers has dramatically changed the process of sheet metal cutting. Additionally, because of the reduced electrical efficiency of CO2 lasers, the corresponding chiller also has a larger footprint than a fiber laser counterpart. This has been a common discussion in manufacturing circles for several years now as Laser purists insist CO2 was the better technology and others promoting the new innovations of Fiber Lasers, insist just the opposite is true. lasers have a warm-up time of around 10-20 minute. While Fiber Technology is catching up and in fact can cut Brass and Copper out of the box (CO2 Lasers struggle with these materials greatly) they do have limits to their use especially in non-metal applications. With CO2 lasers, the majority of the laser beam is reflected (due to the wavelength) back off the material which can cause significant damage to the optical components in the cutting head therefore, while it is possible to cut aluminium on a CO2 laser, it will significantly decrease the lifetime of the consumables. These lasers also frequently pose a fire risk.. Esprit Automation Ltd PlackettMill, Church Drive Sandiacre, Nottingham, NG10 5EE, United Kingdom, Company Registration No: 2113853 I VAT Registration No: GB 450 0551 90 I, Are you planning to purchase a laser cutter but are doubting between a CO, The key variables when deciding between a CO. lasers being an older and potentially declining technology, it still serves as an excellent choice particularly for cutting non-metals. To decide on the right automated laser cutting system must start with an evaluation of both your current applications, needs and limitations, and your long-term vision. But in fact, laser systems are used in many manufacturing processes. This may require changes to the cutting parameters to counter this variation which can be a timely process. An eye injury can be caused by exposure through focusing optical instruments (magnifying glasses, telescopes, microscope, etc. With CO, Plastic coated stainless steel can be cut by both laser types. As an example a 4KW CO2 in 16 GA Mild Steel using N2 as a cutting gas has a recommended cutting speed of just 260IPM whereas an equally equipped Fiber Laser has a cutting speed of Approximately 1,417 IPM, quite a difference. Further, the small kerf size means higher assist gas pressures are required to ensure the melt is ejected efficiently, contributing to the slightly rougher edge. With the speed benefits, almost half of the operating costs and three to four times greater throughput than CO2 lasers, the financial gains that can be gotfrom using fiber lasers can be game changing. A new industrial fiber laser machine can cost 275,000 550,000 and sometimes up to a million pounds. Investment Costs: Which machine has the highest acquisition cost? Both CO2 and fiber lasers can cut stainless and mild steel producing a good cut quality. However, as fiber lasers have developed, an increasing number of companies are choosing to switch out their CO2 machines for a fiber laser. In the next sections we will answer the most important questions regarding both laser technologies. When the fiber laser beam is directed at thicker materials, it is only able to interact with the top part of the cut. The difference decreases to approximately 2 times faster for a 5 mm sheet. The smaller wavelength of a fiber laser means it is much better suited in general to cutting metals as more of the beams energy is absorbed into the material and less is reflected. Fiber lasers are significantly better at cutting highly reflective metals such as copper and brass. Cutting plastics and other combustible materials will produce highly toxic fumes, while metals will produce fine particulates. However, even with CO2 lasers, particularly for thicker sheets, two cut paths are required as with a fiber laser. Although each laser does have its strengths and distinct use cases, CO2 is an older technology and fiber lasers are gaining market fast as the technology advances. a door is open. The beam is then reflected multiple times to reach the lower surface causing a rougher surface with fine striations. Investment Costs: As the solid state laser technology becomes increasingly more popular the cost of the systems are declining. Table 3: What materials can each laser type cut? A fiber laser usually has a wavelength of 1,060nm while CO2 lasers have wavelengths in the 10,600nm range. Our team of expert engineers can help you identify the right CNC cutting machine for you and theyd be delighted to talk you through the specific requirements and how Esprit Automation could help you to meet them. High power CO2 lasers (above 6kW) are less common than higher powered fiber lasers. In the cutting head the laser is emitted form the end of the fiber optic cable and refocused through a series of focal lenses into a near perfect dot on the material's surface. CO2 lasers use bend mirrors contained within bellows (sometimes filled with nitrogen) to deliver the beam to the cutting head. CO2 laser spot sizes can be up to 90% larger than a fiber laser equivalent. Posted By: Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales | Posted On: March 10, 2021. This means for high powered machines, fiber lasers are able to achieve faster cutting speeds for all sheet thicknesses. The following data is for 6 kW lasers and a 170A plasma. Known Technology: As CO2 Lasers have been around for some 30+ Years the technology, and thus the results are quite predictable. What is the difference between CO2 and Fiber Laser? However, the speed advantage is tiny in comparison to thinner sheets. Due to the different wavelengths they can generate, they are widely used in industrial environments to perform cutting, marking, welding, cleaning, texturing, drilling and a lot more. A CO2 laser really refers to the method of generation of the laser itself. Ground-breaking axis speeds, an advanced visual nesting system, and a revolutionary CNCinterface are just some of the features that make the Photon 5G a new benchmark in lasercutting. Fiber Laser Cutting Head cutting 1 mm stainless steel. The optimum cutting speed may not always be the fastest, as it may be more efficient and cost effective to prioritise consumable lifetimes and gas usage. than fiber lasers, CO2 lasers experience higher levels of variation in the quality and output of the laser. The key variables when deciding between a CO2 and fiber laser are: Despite CO2 lasers being an older and potentially declining technology, it still serves as an excellent choice particularly for cutting non-metals. As the material thickness increases, the geometry of the cut front starts to favour the wavelength of the CO2 laser. lasers being an older and potentially declining technology, it still serves as an excellent choice particularly for cutting non-metals. The cost of a fiber laser system will greatly vary depending on your applications. CO2 lasers have been used for sheet metal cutting since the 1970s and have developed greatly over the years, dominating the industry. This means for high powered machines, fiber lasers are able to achieve faster cutting speeds for all sheet thicknesses. A CO2 laserbeam is absorbed by the plastic coating therefore only one cut pass is required. 5 mm stainless steel cutting sample CO2, 5 mm stainless steel cutting sample Fiber. For the same laser power, the maximum sheet thickness for a CO2 laser is approximately a third less than that for a fiber laser (note, CO2 lasers above 6 kW are rare). If you are mainly cutting stainless steel, and you are looking for more information on fiber laser cutting machines, we could recommend this helpful guide on how to find the best stainless steel fiber laser. Additionally, as the cutting table area increases so will the power requirements of the filtration system. Automation for both CO2 and fiber lasers can come in the form of a full lights out operation and also in the form of automatic nozzle changing and lens autofocus which eliminates the need for manual interventions as well as reducing machine idle time. Cutting, etching, and bending operations occur in most of the companies that specialize in fabricated products manufacturing, and while shop owners have been Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales, Inc. 10417 South County Road 39Lithia, FL 33547. The acquisition cost of any laser machine depends on a wide range of factors such as: An industrial, second hand CO2 laser system can cost around 150,000 upwards. For fiber lasers, only a single lens needs adjusting. The difference decreases to approximately 2 times faster for a 5 mm sheet. Safety: which technology is safer to use. Laser cutter enclosure to protect against retina damage. Read on to find out which cutting technology will best suit your business. laser system can cost around 150,000 upwards. This leads to more efficient cutting. However, there has been a rapid uptake of fiber lasers being used in the medical, aerospace, automotive and electronics industries due to their rapid cutting speeds, excellent cut quality and high precision. Ground-breaking axis speeds, an advanced visual nesting system, and a revolutionary CNCinterface are just some of the features that make the. But who is right? These can briefly be defined as: Class 1 Laser systems that are safe in normal operation even with prolonged direct observation of the laser beam and even if the exposure occurs in connection with optical instruments (magnifying glasses or telescopes)., Class 2M Laser systems that emit visible radiation that is safe for the naked eye only in event of brief exposure. Fiber is double to triple the speed in gage materials. The footprint of the machine will largely depend on the size of the cutting bed and shuttle tables used. The main difference comes from the laser beam delivery system. Plus due to the high electrical efficiency of fiber lasers, they use significantly less power than CO2 lasers, resulting in huge cost savings for cutting applications. Cutting Speed: Which technology cuts faster? A plasma machine will be able to cut 10 mm mild steel quicker and produce a smoother cut edge. The fiber beam delivery method greatly simplified the process of building a laser and as such many machinescame to the market at greatly reduced prices. These not only can cause damage to machine components and the electronics, decreasing cutting performance, but are also extremely harmful for humans. The defining factor on the type and quantity of fumes emitted is not the laser type, but the material being cut. A Fiber Laser is simply a term used for the fiber optic delivery method of bringing the intense and amplified light source to the cutting head of the laser machine. For a lot of people, lasers are small boxes that shoot red dots, which drive cats crazy. Plastic is most commonly used; however, the optical density must be suited to the laser source. However, when comparing the laser systems, fiber lasers take up less space than CO, Additionally, because of the reduced electrical efficiency of CO. lasers, the corresponding chiller also has a larger footprint than a fiber laser counterpart. Further as the cost for Fiber Lasers are being drastically lowered, they are coming in the range of a ordinary small to medium sized fabrication shop whose technology was typically out of reach. lasers (above 6kW) are less common than higher powered fiber lasers. As the material thickness increases, the geometry of the cut front starts to favour the wavelength of the CO, The following images compare the cut edge of samples cut on a 6 kW CO. laser, a 6 kW fiber laser and a 170 A plasma machine. Fiber lasers have the option of either zoom or non-zoom cutting heads. They are used in pharmaceutical and food packaging as well as the marking of PVC pipes, building materials, mobile communications gadgets, electrical appliances, integrated circuits, and electronic components. Table 6 shows the gas pressure and nozzle size used to cut the samples shown above and the cost using a 6 kW fiber and CO, When it comes to electricity costs, fiber lasers are significantly cheaper and more environmentally friendly than CO, Clearly, as the laser power increases so will the electricity costs of the machine due to the need for a larger chiller. Fiber lasers have the option of either zoom or non-zoom cutting heads. Fiber lasers are widely used for product traceability (direct part marking) and identification applications. This being said, in some cases Plasma could be an excellent alternative on stainless steel. CONTACT US For all your stainless steel laser cutting needs. If you need to cut non-metals, a CO2 laser is advisable. What applications can be cut with a fiber and CO. The exact requirements of the system will depend on a range of factors such as the laser power and the size of the cutting table. Fiber lasers are best suited for high-contrast markings like metal annealing, etching, and engraving. The footprint of the machine will largely depend on the size of the cutting bed and shuttle tables used. and fiber lasers can come in the form of a full lights out operation and also in the form of automatic nozzle changing and lens autofocus which eliminates the need for manual interventions as well as reducing machine idle time. Are you planning to purchase a laser cutter but are doubting between a CO2 and a fiber laser? The main difference comes from the laser beam delivery system. In conclusion, on average a fiber laser will use approximately 40% more nitrogen per hour than a CO2 laser when cutting stainless steel and approximately 20% more oxygen when cutting mild steel. However, for the same power, a chiller for a CO. laser will have higher electricity costs. Additionally, when cutting nests, a machine will spend more time completing the traverse movements between profiles rather than actual cutting therefore the acceleration and deceleration of the machine must also be factored in when purchasing either type of machine. CO2 laser marking is ideal for a wide range of non-metallic materials including plastics, textiles, glass, acrylic, wood, and even stone. However, most laser cutting systems will be Class 1. Table 6: Auxiliary Gas Consumption for different laser cutting technologies. Fiber lasers also have a growing demand for industrial cleaning applications such as removing rust, paint, oxides, and other contaminants. As the sheet thickness increases (for the same laser power), CO. lasers are able to match and surpass fiber laser cutting speeds. Edge Quality: How do both laser cutters stack up? lasers means for all sheet thicknesses they are able to achieve a smoother cut edge than a fiber, and the difference can become more pronounced as the sheet thickness increases. Known Technology/Comfort Level: If you are currently running one or more CO2 laser systems inyour facility you're likely to sway very heavily in that technology direction initially as it is thedemon you know vs. the one you do not. Plastic coated stainless steel can be cut by both laser types. However, the speed advantage (up to five times greater) on thin materials (< 8 mm), 50% lower operating costs and higher outputs, the financial gains that can be achieved using fiber lasers can be game changing. Maintenance: Without the Beam Path Delivery System and its myriad use of mirrors, bellows, gasses wetc the Fiber laser (specifically the solid state resonator type) has greatly reduced the amount of maintenance required and as such the costs associated with that maintenance. They do so as they have seen there is a marked difference in the technologies, capabilities and more importantly their performance in certain materials, thicknesses and special applications. textiles, wood, stone etc.). Purged with cutting gasses such as NO2 and O2 around the laserthe material to be machined is quickly vaporized in the intense heart and blown away as particlesof dust. Interlocks stop the laser from firing if the laser is no longer fully enclosed i.e. Once the laser is reflected to the cutting head it is refocused and emitted in the same manner as the Fiber machines would utilizing a series of lenses to refocus and a shield of high velocity cutting gasses to purge the machinedpath. The price for CO2 laser marking systems usually ranges between $35,000 and $80,000. For details on the cutting parameters used see Table 5 for cut speeds and Table 6 for auxiliary gas usage. Once the CO2 Resonator has created enough light it is delivered in a different manner then the fiber optic method. If you need to cut thinner materials (< 8 mm), a fiber laser is the ideal choice as they can offer significantly higher cutting speeds than a CO. laser and excellent cut quality (minimal dross and regular striations on the cut edge). )., Class 4 Laser systems for which direct viewing of the beam and skin exposure are dangers and for which even the viewing of diffused reflections can be dangerous. A CO, The smaller wavelength of a fiber laser means it is not within the absorption range of non-metallic materials (i.e. CO2 lasers deliver faster initial piercing times, quicker straight-line cutting and a smoother surface finish when cutting materials above 5mm. When it comes to electricity costs, fiber lasers are significantly cheaper and more environmentally friendly than CO2 lasers. Zoom heads allow you to adjust the focus spot diameter and hence the kerf. Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales (SFMS) has been an expert in buying, selling, and brokering used machinery and used industrial equipment since the 1980's. They produce an extremely small focal diameter (resulting in intensity up to 100 times higher than a CO2 system), making them the ideal choice for permanent marking of serial numbers, barcodes, and data matrix on metals. While increased automation will significantly increase the acquisition cost of a laser system, the increase in productivity, combined with a reduction in unwanted machine downtime caused by human error can reduce the total cost of ownership. This determines the type of material each laser can process (see Table 3 for a summary). The main difference between the two technologies is cutting aluminium. The table below provides a summary on how the different laser technologies compare on the most important factors. This is because the laser source is fully enclosed with a range of safety measures incorporated to prevent any potential injury to the skin and eyes. A clue to the answer is the realization that most manufacturers offer BOTH CO2 and Fiber Laser Technologies in their machinery product offering.
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