Fiber Or CO2, Which Is Right For You?

The wavelength difference between fiber and CO2 lasers directly influences their effectiveness in cutting different materials. Fiber lasers are more suited for precise and efficient metal cutting, while CO2 lasers offer greater versatility across various materials.
Fiber Laser Cutters: These are ideal for most metal-cutting applications and the only choice for many reflective metals.
CO2 Laser Cutters: Although limited to thinner steels (up to 14ga), the HP-Series can also cut and engrave wood, acrylic, leather, and more.
What are the differences?
Fiber Laser Cutters:
Wavelength: 1.06 micrometers.
Interaction with Metals: Metals, including reflective metals like gold, silver, and brass, readily absorb this wavelength, making fiber lasers highly efficient for metal cutting.
Heat Affected Zone (HAZ): The shorter wavelength allows for a very small focus diameter, resulting in higher intensity at the focal point and a smaller heat affected zone.
Efficiency: Better wavelength absorption provides faster cutting speeds and lower power consumption than CO2 lasers.
CO2 Laser Cutters:
Wavelength: 10.6 micrometers.
Interaction with Metals: Metals do not absorb the longer wavelength of CO2 lasers as efficiently as the shorter fiber laser wavelength. This can lead to more significant heat diffusion in the material and potentially rougher edges or thicker kerf in the cut metal.
Material Versatility: Although metal cutting is limited to stainless and carbon steel, their longer wavelength can also cut and engrave non-metal materials, such as wood, acrylic, glass, and fabric, which absorb this wavelength.

Qingyuan laser was established in 2008, dedicated to fiber laser cutting machine technology, design, production and sales. We pay attention to the technology, the quality, the application, the market optimization conformity and take "higher efficiency, higher performance, higher precision" as our goal. We are committed to fiber laser cutting machines from 1500 watts to 60,000 watts and we have developed more than 90 products, each machine has reached an excellent level in domestic and foreign markets.