Confused between selecting CO2 and Fiber laser? This article discusses the advantages and disadvantages of both methods so that you can choose one.

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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.
Let’s 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 Laser’s 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.sooperarticles.com/automotive-articles/co2-vs-f
iber-laser-one-choose-1797818.html
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