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Comparison of CO2, YAG and fiber laser cutting machines
In laser cutting machines, CO₂, YAG, and fiber lasers are three major laser sources, each differing in performance, cost, and applicable
materials. Here's a detailed comparison of these three laser cutters:
Feature | CO₂ Laser | YAG Laser | Fiber Laser |
Wavelength (µm) | 10.6 | 1.06 | 1.06 |
Power Range (W) | Tens to tens of kilowatts | Hundreds to thousands of watts | Hundreds to tens of kilowatts |
Efficiency | Moderate | Low | High |
Beam Quality | Moderate | Good | Excellent |
Maintenance Cost | Moderate, requires gas changes | High, complex maintenance | Low, long lifespan, easy maintenance |
Initial Cost | Low | Moderate | High |
Size | Large | Moderate | Small |
Primary Applicable Materials | Non-metals (wood, acrylic, leather, etc.), some thin metals | Metals and non-metals | Metals (stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum alloys, etc.), some non-metals |
Cutting Speed | Moderate | Moderate | Fast |
Summary:
CO₂ Laser: Lower cost, suitable for cutting non-metallic materials such as wood and acrylic, and some thin metal materials. However, it has relatively low efficiency, more complex maintenance, and poor cutting performance on high-reflectivity metal materials.
YAG Laser: Performance falls between CO₂ and fiber lasers. It can cut both metals and non-metals, but its efficiency and beam quality are inferior to fiber lasers, and its maintenance cost is relatively high.
Fiber Laser: High efficiency, good beam quality, fast cutting speed, excellent cut quality, small heat-affected zone, and easy maintenance. It is particularly suitable for cutting metal materials, especially showing significant advantages for materials like stainless steel. However, the initial cost is higher.
The choice of laser depends on specific application requirements and budget. If primarily processing non-metallic materials, a CO₂ laser is a good option; if high-efficiency, high-quality cutting of metal materials is needed, especially with high precision requirements, a fiber laser is the best choice; a YAG laser can be considered when both metal and non-metal material processing are required. A trade-off between cost, performance, and maintenance needs to be considered to make the final decision.
