As an important processing method, laser cutting technology is widely used in the cutting of materials such as metal, plastic, and wood. Laser cutting machines can be divided into CO2 laser cutting machines and fiber laser cutting machines according to the different laser light sources. They each have unique advantages and applicable scenarios.
CO2 laser cutting machine: wide range of applications and high cutting quality
CO2 laser cutting machine is a cutting device based on CO2 gas laser source. Its laser wavelength is 10.6 microns and is suitable for cutting various non-metallic materials such as wood, plastic, paper, leather, glass, etc. The advantages of CO2 laser cutting machine are mainly reflected in the following aspects:
High cutting accuracy: CO2 laser cutting machine has high cutting accuracy and can cut very fine graphics and complex contours.
Wide range of applicable materials: CO2 laser cutting machine is not only suitable for cutting metal materials, but also can handle non-metallic materials well, especially in thin plates and complex graphics cutting.
Low investment: Compared with fiber laser cutting machine, CO2 laser cutting machine has lower initial investment, so it is especially suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises.
However, the disadvantages of CO2 laser cutting machine cannot be ignored. First, its efficiency is relatively low, especially when cutting thick metal, the cutting speed is slow. In addition, CO2 laser cutting machines require a large maintenance space and are not as energy efficient as fiber laser cutting machines.
Fiber laser cutting machine: high efficiency and energy saving, suitable for metal cutting
Fiber laser cutter is a laser cutting technology that has developed rapidly in recent years. Its main feature is that it uses optical fiber as the laser transmission medium and the laser wavelength is 1.064 microns. Fiber laser cutting machine has shown its unique advantages in many fields:
Fast cutting speed: The fiber laser cutting machine has high beam energy density and fast cutting speed. Especially when cutting metal sheets, it can provide higher production efficiency and is suitable for mass production.
Energy saving and environmental protection: Compared with CO2 laser cutting machine, fiber laser cutting machine has higher energy utilization rate, and there is almost no energy loss during fiber transmission, so it has better energy saving effect.
Low maintenance cost: The fiber system of fiber laser cutting machine requires almost no maintenance, which reduces the cost and time of frequent maintenance and improves the overall stability of the equipment.
The disadvantage of fiber laser cutting machine is that the cutting effect of non-metallic materials is relatively poor. Although it can cut some non-metallic materials, it is usually not as good as CO2 laser cutting machine. In addition, the initial investment of fiber laser cutting machines is high, which may be a considerable burden for small businesses.
How to choose a suitable laser cutting machine?
Cutting materials: If you are mainly engaged in the cutting of metal materials, especially thin sheet metal, then the fiber laser cutting machine is undoubtedly a better choice. If you need to cut non-metallic materials or some thin metals, CO2 laser cutting machines may be more suitable.
Production efficiency: If your production needs are large and you need high-efficiency and large-scale cutting, lightweight fiber laser cutting machines can provide higher production speeds and less energy consumption. On the contrary, if the production scale is small and the types of cutting materials are complex, CO2 laser cutting machines may be more cost-effective.
Budget considerations: For companies with limited budgets, the investment in CO2 laser cutting machines is low, but if the budget is sufficient and efficient cutting of metal materials is required for a long time, the high efficiency and low maintenance cost of fiber laser cutting machines will bring you long-term benefits.
Summary
CO2 laser cutting machines and fiber laser cutting machines each have their own advantages and disadvantages. Which equipment to choose should be determined according to your specific needs. If you need to cut non-metallic materials or have a tight budget, CO2 laser cutting machine will be a good choice; if your cutting needs are biased towards metal materials, especially for production that requires high efficiency and energy saving, fiber laser cutting machine is more suitable. The final choice depends on your production scale, cutting materials and budget. No matter which laser cutting machine you choose, it can bring you accurate and efficient cutting experience for your production.