What is the difference between Fiber Laser Cutting Machine and CO2 Laser Cutting Machine?
Q: What is the difference between Fiber Laser Cutting Machine and CO2 Laser Cutting Machine?
A: At present in the metal processing market, fiber laser cutting machines have gradually replaced CO2 laser cutting machines and traditional processing methods, and have become the mainstream equipment in sheet metal processing. What is the difference between fiber laser cutting machine and CO2 laser cutting machine, and what are the advantages?
1. Different luminous media
In the CO2 laser cutting machine, gas is the medium that generates the laser beam, and the beam is transmitted through the mirror. Fiber lasers are transmitted through diodes and fiber optic cables. Multiple diode pumps generate laser beams, which are then transmitted to the laser cutting head through flexible fiber optic cables, instead of transmitting the beams through mirrors.
2. Fiber Laser Cutting Machine looks more compact
Due to the different laser transmission structure, the fiber laser cutting machine with the same power in appearance and size is more compact than the CO2 laser cutting machine, thereby saving workshop space.
3. Fiber Laser Cutting Machine has higher electro-optical conversion efficiency
With fiber laser complete solid-state digital module and single design, fiber laser cutting machine has higher electro-optical conversion efficiency than carbon dioxide laser cutting. The actual utilization rate of each power supply unit of CO2 laser cutting machine is about 8% to 10%, while for fiber laser cutting machine, this value is about 25% to 30%. The overall energy consumption of fiber laser cutting system is more than that of carbon dioxide cutting. The system is about 3 to 5 times less, which increases the energy efficiency to more than 86%.
4. Fiber Laser Cutting Machine has better processing effect
Fiber laser has the characteristics of short wavelength, which improves the absorption of the cutting material to the beam, and enables cutting such as brass and copper as well as non-conductive materials. When cutting materials up to 6mm thick, the cutting speed of a 1.5kW fiber laser cutting machine is equivalent to that of a 3kW carbon dioxide laser cutting machine.
5. Fiber Laser Cutting Machine has lower maintenance cost
The CO2 laser cutting machine uses gas as the luminous medium. Due to the purity of the CO2 gas, the resonant cavity will be contaminated and needs to be cleaned regularly. The reflector needs to be maintained and calibrated, so the daily maintenance workload is greater. For a multi-kilowatt CO2 laser cutting machine, this item requires at least US$20,000 per year. In summary, fiber laser cutting is more environmentally friendly and convenient in the daily maintenance of equipment.