As can be seen from the names of the two lasers, the CO2 laser uses a carbon dioxide-based gas mixture. This gas mixture is electrically excited to generate a laser beam. On CO2 lasers, the laser beam is guided through the optical path by optics. A fiber laser is a solid-state laser in which a beam of light is generated in an activated fiber and directed through a conducting fiber to the cutting head of the laser machine.

 

Besides the difference in the laser medium, the other most important difference is the wavelength: the wavelength of the fiber laser is 1µm, while the wavelength of the CO2 laser is 10µm. Fiber lasers have shorter wavelengths and therefore higher absorption rates when cutting carbon steel, stainless steel, and aluminum. Better absorption means less heating of the material being processed, which is a big advantage.

 

CO2 laser cutting machine is suitable for engraving and cutting of non-metallic materials, such as wood, acrylic, glass, leather, etc. Fiber laser cutting machine is suitable for processing thin to thick carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum and non-ferrous metals(copper and brass).