Yes! Laser cutting has revolutionized manufacturing, providing precision and efficiency that traditional methods are hard to match. In this field, two prominent technologies are emerging, namely fiber laser cutting and CO2 laser cutting. People often wonder what is the difference between these two technologies? This is crucial for anyone looking to make informed decisions about their cutting needs. Today we’ve prepared this article for you that will provide an in-depth comparison of these two technologies to help you better understand their differences.

Technical principles

Fiber laser cutting: Fiber laser cutting uses optical fibers to transmit a laser beam, and the laser source usually uses rare earth elements such as yttrium, ytterbium or erbium. This technology is known for its efficient energy utilization and is suitable for high-precision cutting of materials such as metal.

CO2 laser cutting: CO2 laser cutting uses mixed gas (usually carbon dioxide, nitrogen, helium) as the laser medium. They have longer wavelengths and therefore are less efficient at absorbing metals, but work well with non-metallic materials.

Material suitability

Fiber Laser Cutting: Fiber laser cutting technology excels in metal cutting, especially for thin to medium thickness metals. They are very effective for high-speed cutting of materials such as steel, aluminum, copper, etc.

CO2 laser cutting: CO2 laser cutting technology is very versatile in cutting non-metallic materials, including wood, plastic, acrylic, glass, etc. They can also be used for metal cutting, but may be less speedy and efficient.

Cutting speed and accuracy

Fiber Laser Cutting: Fiber laser cutting is known for its excellent cutting speed and high precision. They excel in applications requiring rapid production and cutting of complex geometries.

CO2 Laser Cutting: CO2 laser cutting technology is just as precise, but usually slightly slower in cutting speed. This makes them more suitable for scenarios where speed is less critical.

Energy efficiency and maintenance

Fiber Laser Cutting: In previous articles we have learned that fiber laser cutting technology is very energy efficient and consumes relatively little energy reducing operating costs. Additionally, because there is no liquid cooling system, they generally require less maintenance.

CO2 laser cutting: CO2 laser cutting technology requires more energy, which can result in higher operating costs. In addition, they require regular maintenance, including gas refills and adjustments to optics.

Cost factor

Fiber Laser Cutting: The initial cost of a fiber laser cutting machine is relatively high, but the overall cost can be lower over time due to lower operating costs.

CO2 Laser Cutting: CO2 laser cutters have a lower initial cost, but higher operating costs can drive up the overall cost.

Application areas

Fiber laser cutting: Fiber laser cutting machines are widely used in metal processing, automobile manufacturing, aerospace and other fields.

CO2 laser cutting: CO2 laser cutting technology is widely used in wood processing, printing industry, sign manufacturing and many other fields.

When choosing between fiber laser cutting or CO2 laser cutting technology, your specific needs need to be carefully considered. If you primarily work with metallic materials, especially for applications that require high-speed cutting and precision, fiber laser cutting may be a better choice. But if you need to cut a variety of different types of materials, including non-metallic materials, CO2 laser cutting technology offers greater versatility, although it may come with slightly higher operating costs.

Our company has a variety of laser machine cutting products, please click here for more product information, and if you need our help determining what type of machine you need to meet your production needs, please feel free to contact us!