Benefits of Fibre Laser Cutting
Our fibre laser cutting technology and machinery allows us to provide a premium laser cut service for the best range of metal products. Learn why our capabilities are the best and most efficient services available locally.
What is a Fibre Laser?
A fibre laser¹ (or fiber in the US) is a laser in which the active gain medium is optical fibre doped with rare earth elements such as erbium, neodymium, dysprosium, ytterbium, praseodymium, thulium and holmium. Fibre lasers are related to doped fibre amplifiers, that provide light amplification without lasing.
Our fibre laser cutting machine uses two-dimensional (2D) drawings over the flat plate by moving the focused infrared light along the programmed pathways to cut. The system moves the laser light with fibre optic cable to the focuser cutting head, which moves on the fixed sheet metal. The cutting process occurs by melting the material in the area, where high-power laser light focused in very small diameters allows this to occur. Different gases are used to eject melted material from the surface of plate, according to type of materials. These gases exit from the nozzle, where the laser light exists and control the quality of process.
What is a CO2 Laser?
A CO2 laser (Carbon Dioxide laser) was one of the earliest types of gas laser to be invented, and continues to be utilised today for various materials and usage types. They provide a high powered beam of continuous wave infrared light. Whilst this type of laser is still useful, the technology of a fibre laser allows several benefits over a CO2 laser.
Fibre Laser Benefits
Fibre lasers feature an extremely small focal diameter of 100 times less than a CO2 laser. This increases the efficiency and accuracy of the cut or etch. As a result, fibre lasers are far more energy efficient, using significantly less power, reducing production costs.
A fibre laser can often use less than 50% of the energy required to power a CO2 laser when completing the same task.
Fibre lasers can also cut through a wider range of material including brass and copper, where CO2 lasers are restricted.
- Efficiency
- Finer detail
- Increased material and size capabilities.
View the capabilities chart below to guide your choice for CO2 Vs Fibre laser.
Fibre Laser Vs CO2 Laser |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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Fibre | CO2 | ||
| Metal sheets | ✓ | |||
| Engraving | ✓ | |||
| Thin material width | ✓ | |||
| Thick material width | ✓ | ✓ | ||
| Rough surfaces | ✓ | |||
| Speed | ✓ | |||
| Energy efficiency | ✓ | |||
| Operating cost | ✓ | |||
Watch a video of laser cutting
Summary
In conclusion, CO2 lasers are older technology with limitations, whereas fibre lasers are new technology and offer cost, material and efficiency advantages over CO2 lasers. You can learn more about the specifics of our fibre laser on our service page.