Do you still don't know the differences between the fibre laser and the CO2 laser when it comes to machining? If you take a look at our blog you will see that the fibre laser has many advantages over other types of technology, although CO2 is more recommendable when working with some materials that you should know.
Below we are going to make a fibre laser vs CO2 laser and other mechanisms so that you can compare their most important characteristics.
The CO2 laser system works on organic materials such as wood, leather, cardboard and rubber; plastics (although a contrast in the engraving is not always achieved) and methacrylate; it is also highly recommended for ceramic materials such as glass, granite or marble, as well as painted or anodised metals.
The fibre laser is more recommended for materials such as iron, metal, stainless steel, aluminium or brass, among many others.
An industrial machine of these characteristics can perfectly have a production of between 2600 and 8400Hs per year, so electricity consumption can be a very important expense.
CO2 lasers, apart from having a low yield (between 3 and 5%), generate large amounts of heat that require a water cooling system which, in turn, needs large amounts of energy to circulate the water and remove the heat from it.
En canvi, el fiber lase has a performance that is 4 or 5 times higher than the CO2 laser, which apart from consuming much less electrical energy, translates into a minimum generation of heat, making it possible for powers of up to 260W not to require liquid cooling (only forced air) or for laser powers of the order of 500W to require less than 800W in terms of cooling.
Since the fibre laser cutting machines are operated through a CNC-PC controlled from computer programs, they offer higher accuracy compared to manually operated mechanical machines.
Moreover, as the machines are controlled by software and integrated computer programs, processes are completed earlier and the number of errors decreases, resulting in an overall improvement in productivity.
The operations on the fibre laser cutting machines are programme-driven, so workers are not in direct contact with or exposed to the cutting tools.
This means that workers are safe and secure in their workspaces.
The Fibre laser cutting machines help reduce metal waste, as they are designed with scrap management systems, which accumulate in workshops without any control.
The automatic fume removal they incorporate produces cleaner workspaces.
Therefore, these systems provide an optimal solution for working with metals in different shapes. They improve the management of the cuts to get the most out of them, eliminating all the fumes generated by the laser.
One of the most common problems with CO2 lasers is the alignment of the laser beam by means of mirrors through an optical course and the maintenance of the mirrors. In the case of the fibre there are no mirrors, as the fibre arrives directly into a sealed module, where the focal lens is installed.
It is also important to note that the resonator does not need a gas mixture or any kind of start-up procedure, as in axial flow lasers. To start working with a fibre laser, it is sufficient to activate the power switch.
The laser beam of a fibre resonator is produced from arrays of diodes. The light is conducted through a fibre optic cable similar to that used in data transfers. Finally the laser light, as it leaves the fibre, is collimated and then focused onto the material by a lens in the cutting head.
The generation of the laser beam is approximately 200% more energy efficient than a CO2 laser and the beam handling to the cutting site is much simpler by using an optical fibre instead of a complex mirror system.
With the addition of fibre laser cutting machines, companies can perform the most complex operations within minutes without the intervention of a machine operator or engineer.
This significantly reduces the costs of incorporating and training machine operators, and also minimises the human errors and accidents that occur in traditional processes.
In fact, a single person can supervise several cutting machines, as once they have been programmed they can be left to work autonomously as a general rule. Sometimes only occasional replacement of cutting consumables is necessary.
