CO2 Vs. Fiber Laser: Which One to Choose?

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CO2 Vs. Fiber Laser Which One to Choose?
Which is better technology? CO2 vs Fiber Laser is
one of the common discussions in the
manufacturing circle for many years. Most
manufacturers utilize both CO2 and Fiber
technologies. They do so as they have noted the
difference in technologies, abilities, and
performance. Ultimately the selection of the
technology comes down to the material you are
cutting and its thickness. The common thing
between them might be Mitsubishi spare parts and
Trumpf parts. However, Mitsubishi spare parts are
superior. Lets know the CO2 and Fiber Laser
process and their advantages and disadvantages.
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1. CO2 Lasers CO2 laser development dates back
to 1964 by Kumar Patel. It is quite a convenient
process even today. CO2 lasers are the high
power continuous-wave lasers available at
present. It is one of the oldest gas lasers
available. What is CO2 laser cutting? In CO2
laser cutting, the light begins to process when
electricity runs into a gas-filled tube. The gas
tube has mirrors at both ends. One mirror is
quite reflective and the other one lets the
light come through. The mirrors lead the laser
beam to the material that needs to be slit. The
gas is usually a blend of nitrogen, helium,
hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.
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• Advantages of CO2 Lasers
• Good Finishing
• CO2 lasers can give you a finer edge on stainless
  and aluminum workpieces.
• It is Flexible
• CO2 lasers can work across the range of
  non-metals and laser applications.
• Good With Thick Materials
• Lasering a thick material is no more an issue
  with CO2 lasers. The CO2 lasers leave the
  finishing even smoother on thick materials than
  fiber lasers.
• Faster Process

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• The CO2 lasers slit the material faster in a
  straight line. Also, it offers a quick probing
  time from when the cutting is first started.
• Disadvantages of CO2 Lasers
• Maintenance
• Most of the components present in this technology
  need maintenance. This can not only disrupt your
  manufacturing process but also be expensive.
• Machine Size
• The major issue with the CO2 cutting is its
  machine size. The machines are gigantic.
  Additionally, the CO2 tube requires much space.
  In a nutshell, it can occupy a big area. It is an
  issue when you are working in a small workshop
  or running a small business.
• Difficulty in Transporting

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As it is a heavy and gigantic machine it is not
transportable. Moving the machine to another
place is a sluggish and costly process. 2.
History of Fiber Lasers Fiber Lasers invention
dates back to 1963 by Elias Snitzer. Yet, it
took 2 decades to develop before they could be
used commercially. Even after hitting the
market almost after twenty years, they are still
away from being perfect. Though the first fiber
laser was useful, it was not apt for heavy
industry use as we see today. What is Fiber
Laser Cutting? It is the heated cutting process
that utilizes a high power density laser beam to
melt, evaporate, and slit. At the same time,
high-speed airflow blows away the molten
material, gaining on the cutting process.
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• The fiber lasers are constantly expanding their
  field. Though it is not perfect, it has become
  the hot spot of industry research and
  development.
• Advantages of Fiber Lasers
• Low Maintenance
• Optic fiber transmission, without a reflector, is
  maintenance-free and can save a lot of
  maintenance cost. Its mass use of mirrors,
  bellows has a less amount of cost associated
  with maintenance.
• Speed
• There is no comparison between CO2 and Fiber
  Laser in thin materials. Fiber lasers have
  double or triple the speed.
• Numerous Varieties of Cutting Materials

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One can use the fiber lasers on a range of
materials like metal, non-metal, leather, wood,
fiber. But, different materials might require
different laser cutting techniques based on
properties.

• Disadvantages of Fiber Lasers
• Finishing of Thick Material
• One of the advantages of a CO2 laser is finishing
  on the thick materials, especially stainless
  steel and aluminum. Fiber laser technology is
  still far compared to the CO2 in this case.
• Flexibility
• CO2 lasers are more flexible as compared to CO2
  lasers. The CO2 lasers can slit a broad range of
  materials, especially non-metals.
• Up to You

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Like every other technology, these both come with
strengths and weaknesses. CO2 is older and the
Fiber lasers are gaining the market fast. With
the speed benefits, the operating cost is also
less than the CO2 lasers. Financial savings from
the fiber lasers can be game-changing. But, you
should choose technology based on material and
other resources. Like if you need to work on
thick material, CO2 lasers would offer better
finishing. For the thin material, you should go
with fiber lasers. This Article Post is
Originally Posted here https//www.sooperarticle
s.com/automotive-articles/co2-vs-f
iber-laser-one-choose-1797818.html
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