These safety measures include: It is important when purchasing a fiber laser machine that both the laser source & the machine are fully CE certified. CO2 lasers deliver faster initial piercing times, quicker straight-line cutting and a smoother surface finish when cutting materials above 5mm. Ultimately it comes down to the material you are cutting type and thickness of it. The price for CO2 laser marking systems usually ranges between $35,000 and $80,000. 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. If youre looking to mark metal, what you need to buy is a fiber laser. In general, fiber lasers have many advantages over CO2 lasers. For other materials like plastics and rubber, it can be one or the other. Again, the power (which usually ranges between 20W to 150W) will influence the cost. CO2 laser spot sizes can be up to 90% larger than a fiber laser equivalent. With CO, Plastic coated stainless steel can be cut by both laser types. Which technology is better and how does it affect your bottom line? This means for the same power laser; thicker sheets can be cut. Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales (SFMS) has been an expert in buying, selling, and brokering used machinery and used industrial equipment since the 1980's. By producing the laser light source in different wavelengths, and delivering that wavelength over a specifically tuned fiber optic cable, they are achieving better results in thicker materials and as such quickly eliminating the arguments against Fiber laser technology. However, when comparing the laser systems, fiber lasers take up less space than CO2 lasers. lasers have a warm-up time of around 10-20 minute. Safety: which technology is safer to use. Overall Flexibility: As we previously mentioned, CO2 Laser have more flexibility to cut through a wider range of materials, especially non metals. However, most laser cutting systems will be Class 1. The main difference that determines the type of materials each laser can process is the wavelength. In a previous article, Why the Kilowatt is not the King, we discovered that Fiber Lasers get more power from the resonator, or power source, to the cutting head. CO2 lasers use bend mirrors contained within bellows (sometimes filled with nitrogen) to deliver the beam to the cutting head. Fiber lasers are widely used for product traceability (direct part marking) and identification applications. CO2 lasers have an efficiency of approximately 10%, therefore to power a 6kW laser, a 60kW power supply is needed whereas, a fiber laser cutter is approximately 45% (can be up to 50%) efficient so only a 13kW supply is needed. CO2 lasers have been used for sheet metal cutting since the 1970s and have developed greatly over the years, dominating the industry. Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter! 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). Once the CO2 Resonator has created enough light it is delivered in a different manner then the fiber optic method. Increasing the power of the laser source by just 2kW can increase cutting speeds by 2-3 times for thin sheets. 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. However, the speed advantage is tiny in comparison to thinner sheets. laser will also cost around the same however, the CO, Fiber lasers have significantly lower maintenance requirements than their CO. counterparts. The following images compare the cut edge of samples cut on a 6 kW CO2 laser, a 6 kW fiber laser and a 170 A plasma machine. While Fiber Laser technology is not far off as of the writing of this article today CO2 is still the leader in this area. Investment Costs: As the solid state laser technology becomes increasingly more popular the cost of the systems are declining. 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 difference decreases to approximately 2 times faster for a 5 mm sheet. The spot size of a laser is one of the factors that determines the kerf width. However, the rapid development of fiber lasers has dramatically changed the process of sheet metal cutting. Different types of lasers are needed for different applications. Fiber lasers are significantly better at cutting highly reflective metals such as copper and brass. CO2 laser marking is ideal for a wide range of non-metallic materials including plastics, textiles, glass, acrylic, wood, and even stone. 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. The geometry of the resulting cut front enhances the absorption of the fiber laser beam. 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. textiles, wood, stone etc.). They are also smaller than CO2 lasers. 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. lasers being an older and potentially declining technology, it still serves as an excellent choice particularly for cutting non-metals. The difference decreases to approximately 2 times faster for a 5 mm sheet. 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. Industrial fiber lasers systems for demanding environment like we do usually start at $40,000 and can go up to $1,000,000 for high-power laser-cutting machines. Edge Quality: How do both laser cutters stack up? A fiber laser usually has a wavelength of 1,060nm while CO2 lasers have wavelengths in the 10,600nm range. Zoom heads allow you to adjust the focus spot diameter and hence the kerf. This determines the type of material each laser can process (see Table 3 for a summary). A CO, The smaller wavelength of a fiber laser means it is not within the absorption range of non-metallic materials (i.e. Posted By: Southern Fabricating Machinery Sales | Posted On: March 10, 2021. When cutting metals, a continuous wave (CW) fiber laser is recommended for best results in terms of cut quality and cutting speeds because of the higher average power. When it comes to marking non-metallic materials such as wood, glass, textiles and plastics, CO2 lasers are a better option. Innovative Energy saving features on a Fiber Laser cutting machine. Given the beam delivery system is more exposed to the environment (temperature, moisture etc.) 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. Additionally, as the cutting table area increases so will the power requirements of the filtration system. When it comes to marking metal, a fiber laser is the best option. Regular maintenance of all machine components (laser system, chiller, extraction unit and machine) is essential to prevent costly servicing and also to prevent machine downtime. 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. lasers (above 6kW) are less common than higher powered fiber lasers. 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. 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. laser machines can have open roofs, as even if the beam is reflected off a surface, the beam is highly diffused therefore does not cause serious harm. 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. Fiber lasers have a monolithic configuration whereby the laser beam is delivered to the cutting head via a fiber optic cable. Table 4 shows the standard cutting range for different laser powers for both fiber and CO2 lasers. The footprint of the machine will largely depend on the size of the cutting bed and shuttle tables used. 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. Are you planning to purchase a laser cutter but are doubting between a CO2 and a fiber laser? For 1 mm, a fiber laser can cut at speeds up to 6 times higher than that of a CO. laser. These lasers also frequently pose a fire risk.. This being said, in some cases Plasma could be an excellent alternative on stainless steel. Both laser types will generate fumes and particulates during the cutting process. The main difference comes from the laser beam delivery system. In the next sections we will answer the most important questions regarding both laser technologies. 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. 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. If you only need to cut thicker materials, a CO2 laser may be a better option due to faster piercing and faster cutting speeds while producing a smoother surface finish. CO2 Lasers however gain an edge when it comes to material types and the flexibility to adapt to a wider range of materials. The main difference between the two technologies is cutting aluminium. Fiber lasers also have a growing demand for industrial cleaning applications such as removing rust, paint, oxides, and other contaminants. 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. Ground-breaking axis speeds, an advanced visual nesting system, and a revolutionary CNCinterface are just some of the features that make the. Operating Costs: Aside from the mirrors, lenses bellows and las gasses required to keep the beam path delivery system pure and clean, the power consumption costs are 70% higher as the CO2 Resonator, Blower, chiller etc require much more power. The smaller wavelength of a fiber laser means it is not within the absorption range of non-metallic materials (i.e. When comparing cutting speeds, it is important to remember that the cutting speeds quoted are often those when cutting in a straight line, therefore for intricate profiles, the cutting speed will be lower. The footprint of the machine will largely depend on the size of the cutting bed and shuttle tables used. 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. 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. 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. What is the Total Cost of Ownership for both technologies? Increasing the power of the laser source by just 2kW can increase cutting speeds by 2-3 times for thin sheets. When deciding on a new or used fiber laser. 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. For the same laser power, the cross-sectional area of a CO2 laser can be approximately 3 times larger and 4 times the volume requirements. The extremely small spot diameter increases the intensity of the laser; hence it is able to mark extremely fine details onto parts with excellent precision. Coupled with less Maintenance, less consumables and faster cutting make the per/part costs on a fiber laser exceedingly advantageous. Also, when cutting stainless steel or aluminium, a laser machine will always produce better results. However, for the same power, a chiller for a CO. laser will have higher electricity costs. 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). It is possible that for a sheet thickness above 10 mm, a HD plasma machine may be preferable to a CO2 laser. 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. 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. 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. The lack of moving parts in a fiber laser system means it is ready to go instantly, minimising unnecessary machine downtime. This means it is an excellent choice for product traceability and identification purposes with the marking of serial numbers, barcodes and data matrices onto metal parts. For the best cut results, two passes are required: the first to melt the plastic coating and a second to complete the cut. However, as fiber lasers have developed, an increasing number of companies are choosing to switch out their CO2 machines for a fiber laser. This may require changes to the cutting parameters to counter this variation which can be a timely process. The total cost of ownership brings together all the direct and indirect costs of owning a laser machine. This means that the optics path is completely protected from contaminants. This means that the optics path is completely protected from contaminants. Safety Glass this is used to allow the operator to view the cutting area while protecting them from the laser beam. If you need to cut non-metals, a CO2 laser is advisable. cutting speed and focal position) along with the gas pressure and nozzle size, gas consumption can be minimised. These not only can cause damage to machine components and the electronics, decreasing cutting performance, but are also extremely harmful for humans. CO. machines use different heads and lenses to achieve different spot sizes. Fiber lasers are best suited for high-contrast markings like metal annealing, etching, and engraving. 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. 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. Fiber lasers are significantly faster at cutting thin sheets (< 8 mm) than CO, lasers, particularly when cutting stainless steel. Table 4 shows the standard cutting range for different laser powers for both fiber and CO, The main difference between the two technologies is cutting aluminium. From our base in Nottingham, we supply a range of advanced sheet and plate metal cutting solutions for customers throughout the world. For more information on what quality you can expect with plasma we would like to refer to our article on. A plasma machine will be able to cut 10 mm mild steel quicker and produce a smoother cut edge. Although, fiber lasers should not be completely ruled out for cutting thick plates, as with careful balancing of the cutting parameters (speed, focal position, gas pressure etc. 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. 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. 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. Table 5 shows a comparison of the cut speeds used to cut the samples shown above. 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. lasers have been used in the pharmaceutical industry, food production, the manufacturing of electronic components, fabric cutting and cutting building materials. The two main consumables of a fiber laser are the nozzle (the same applies for CO2 lasers) and the protective window. Table 6: Auxiliary Gas Consumption for different laser cutting technologies. Example of a compact fiber laser by Esprit Automation. However, for the same power, a chiller for a CO2 laser will have higher electricity costs. Both CO2 and fiber lasers can cut stainless and mild steel producing a good cut quality. For fiber lasers, only a single lens needs adjusting. However, solid state laser technology is becoming increasingly popular and hence the cost of laser systems is decreasing. 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. 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). 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. An eye injury can be caused by exposure through focusing optical instruments (magnifying glasses, telescopes, microscope, etc. The heat of the laser often causes the mirrors to distort, reducing the power supplied to the cutting head leading to the misalignment of the laser beam. While the acquisition costs of a fiber laser cutting machine, the significantly faster cutting speeds (for thinner materials) will increase productivity which combined with the energy savings results in a low cost per part. When it comes to electricity costs, fiber lasers are significantly cheaper and more environmentally friendly than CO2 lasers. 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. As mentioned previously, CO2 lasers have been around longer than fiber lasers and hence have dominated the market. CO2 Laser vs Fiber Laser Technology is an argument that is slowly fading from our industry. The safety glass can be a translucent window and is significantly cheaper than the window required by a fiber laser. 5 mm stainless steel cutting sample HD Plasma, 10 mm stainless steel cutting sample CO2, 10 mm stainless steel cutting sample Fiber, 10 mm stainless steel cutting sample HD Plasma, 15 mm stainless steel cutting sample CO2, 15 mm stainless steel cutting sample Fiber, 15 mm stainless steel cutting sample HD Plasma, 5 mm mild steel cutting sample HD Plasma, 10 mm mild steel cutting sample HD Plasma, 15 mm mild steel cutting sample HD Plasma. The main difference between a CO2 and a fiber laser is the wavelength of the beam. CO2 machines use different heads and lenses to achieve different spot sizes. We know the applications, they best ranges and have the solutions you need in both CO2 AND Fiber laser cutting technologies. Table 3: What materials can each laser type cut? If you need to cut thicker materials, its best to go with CO2 lasers. This new capability, buffered by lower investment costs promises a bright future for Fiber. Fiber lasers have significantly lower maintenance requirements than their CO2 counterparts. However, the speed advantage is tiny in comparison to thinner sheets. than fiber lasers, CO. lasers experience higher levels of variation in the quality and output of the laser. 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. When cutting thicker materials, a reasonable amount of noise is produced by the assist gas, in particular when cutting with nitrogen due to the high pressures. 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. ), a good quality cut can be achieved with minimal dross and regular striations on the cut edge. As the material thickness increases, the geometry of the cut front starts to favour the wavelength of the CO2 laser. Laser light (both direct and reflected) has the potential to cause significant damage to both the skin and eyes. 5 mm stainless steel cutting sample CO2, 5 mm stainless steel cutting sample Fiber. We work in and with machine shops, tool dies, mold and fab shops just like yours, running the very machinery we now offer as solutions for your manufacturing needs! 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.
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