In CO2 laser cutting technology, carbon dioxide gas is the medium for generating the laser beam. However, fiber laser works through diodes and fiber optic cables for transmission. Instead of transmitting the beam through a reflector, a fiber laser system generates a laser beam by pumping it through multiple diodes and then transmits it through a flexible fiber optic cable to the laser cutting head. This has a number of advantages, starting with the size of the cutting bed. Unlike gas laser technology, where the mirrors must be set at a certain distance, fiber laser technology has no range limitation. And it is even possible to mount the fiber laser next to the plasma cutting head of a plasma cutting machine, which is not an option with CO2 laser cutting technology. Likewise, the ability to bend the fiber makes the system more compact when compared to a gas cutting system of the same power.
2. Comparison in terms of electro-optical conversion efficiency
The most important and meaningful advantage of fiber optic cutting technology should be its energy efficiency. With the fiber laser complete solid-state digital module, a single design, fiber laser cutting system has a higher than carbon dioxide laser cutting electro-optical conversion efficiency. For the individual power supply units of a CO2 cutting system, the actual general utilization rate is about 8 to 10 percent. For fiber laser cutting systems, users can expect a higher power efficiency of about 25% to 30%. In other words, the overall energy consumption of a fiber cutting system is about 3 to 5 times less than that of a CO2 cutting system, resulting in energy efficiency improvements of greater than 86%.
3. Comparison of cutting results
Fiber lasers have a short wavelength, which improves the absorption of the beam by the material to be cut, and makes it possible to cut materials such as brass and copper as well as non-conductive materials. The more concentrated beam produces a smaller focal point and deeper depth of focus, so the fiber laser can quickly cut thinner materials as well as more efficiently cut medium-thickness materials. When cutting materials as thick as 6mm, a 1.5kW fiber laser cutting system can cut as fast as a 3kW CO2 laser cutting system. Since the running costs of fiber cutting are lower than those of a typical CO2 cutting system, this can be interpreted as an increase in output at a lower commercial cost.
4. Comparison of Maintenance Costs
Fiber laser cutting is more environmentally friendly and convenient when it comes to machine maintenance. CO2 gas laser systems require regular maintenance; mirrors need to be maintained and calibrated, and resonance cavities need to be maintained on a regular basis. On the other hand, fiber laser cutting solutions require almost no maintenance. Carbon dioxide laser cutting systems require carbon dioxide as the laser gas, and due to the purity of the carbon dioxide gas, the resonant cavity can become contaminated and require periodic cleaning. This can cost at least $20,000 per year for a multi-kilowatt CO2 system. In addition, many CO2 cuts require high-speed axial turbines to deliver the laser gas, and the turbines need to be maintained and refurbished.
From the above comparison, although CO2 cutting ability is very strong, but in terms of energy saving as well as the cost of this aspect, the fiber is still occupying a higher advantage, fiber optic economic benefits than CO2 to be much higher in the future development trend, the fiber laser cutting machine will occupy the position of mainstream equipment.
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Based on the different laser generators, the market can be roughly divided into three kinds of laser cutting machine: CO2 laser cutting machine, solid-state (YAG) laser cutting machine, fiber laser cutting machine three.
Smaller often receive calls from customers asking what the difference between these three kinds of laser cutting machine, their advantages and disadvantages, today we will briefly introduce the characteristics of the three kinds of laser cutting machine:
The first type of YAG solid-state laser cutting machine
YAG solid-state laser cutting machine has a low price, good stability, but the energy efficiency of the low general < 3%, most of the current product output power below 800W, due to the small output energy, mainly used for punching and thin plate cutting. Its green laser beam can be applied in the case of pulsed or continuous wave, with a short wavelength, good convergence suitable for precision machining, especially in the pulse under the hole processing is the most effective, can also be used for cutting, welding and lithography, etc. The wavelength of the YAG solid-state laser cutting machine laser is not easily absorbed by non-metallic, so it can not cut non-metallic materials, and YAG solid-state laser cutting machine needs to be resolved is to improve the stability of the power supply And life, that is, to develop large-capacity, long-life light pump excitation light source, such as the use of semiconductor light pump can make the energy efficiency increased dramatically.
The main advantages: can cut other laser cutting machine are unable to cut aluminum, copper and most non-ferrous materials, machine purchase price is cheap, low cost, maintenance is simple, most of the key technologies have been mastered by the domestic enterprises, the price of spare parts and maintenance costs are low, and the machine is simple to operate and maintain the quality of the workers do not require a high level of personnel.
Main disadvantages and shortcomings: can only cut materials below 8mm, and cutting efficiency is quite low
Main market positioning: 8mm cutting, mainly for self-use small and medium-sized enterprises and processing requirements are not particularly high in most of the sheet metal manufacturing, home appliance manufacturing, kitchenware manufacturing, decorative furnishings, advertising and other industry users, and gradually replace the wire cutting, CNC punching, water cutting, small power plasma and other traditional processing equipment. Small power plasma and other traditional processing equipment.
The second type of fiber laser cutting machine
Fiber laser cutting machine because it can be transmitted through the optical fiber, the degree of flexibility unprecedented increase in the number of points of failure, easy to maintain, fast speed, so in the cutting of 4mm or less thin plate fiber cutting machine has a great advantage, but by the solid-state laser wavelength of the impact of the thicker it is in the cutting of the quality of the plate is poor. Fiber laser cutting machine wavelength of 1.06um, not easily absorbed by non-metal, so can not cut non-metal materials. Fiber laser photoelectric conversion rate of up to 25% or more, in the electricity consumption, supporting the cooling system and other aspects of fiber laser advantages are quite obvious. According to international safety standards, the laser hazard level is divided into 4 levels, fiber laser due to the short wavelength of the human body due to eye damage, belongs to the most hazardous level, for safety reasons, fiber laser processing needs to be fully closed environment.
Main advantages: high photoelectric conversion rate, low power consumption, can cut stainless steel plate within 12MM, carbon steel plate, is the fastest of the three machines to cut thin plate laser cutting machine, cutting slit is small, spot quality is good, can be used for fine cutting.
Main disadvantages and shortcomings: most of the core key technologies of fiber laser are mastered in Europe and the United States and other countries in the hands of one or two manufacturers, so most of the machines are expensive, most of the machine price of more than 1.5 million, small power is also basically in the 500,000 yuan or so, cutting due to the optical fiber slit is very thin gas consumption is huge (especially in the nitrogen cutting), in addition to the fiber laser Fiber laser cutting machine is difficult or even impossible to cut aluminum, copper plate and other highly reflective materials, and in the cutting of thick plate speed is very slow.
The main market positioning: 12mm cutting, especially the high-precision processing of thin plates, mainly for the addition of precision and efficiency requirements of manufacturers, it is estimated that along with the emergence of 5000W and above, fiber laser cutting machine will eventually replace most of the CO2 high-power laser cutting machine market.
The third type of CO2 laser cutting machine
CO2 laser cutting machine, can be stabilized to cut carbon steel within 20mm, stainless steel within 10mm, 8mm below the aluminum alloy.CO2 laser wavelength of 10.6um, relatively easy to be absorbed by non-metallic, high-quality cutting of wood, acrylic, PP, plexiglass and other non-metallic materials, but the photoelectric conversion rate of CO2 laser. The photoelectric conversion rate of CO2 laser is only about 10%.CO2 laser cutting machine is equipped with nozzles for blowing oxygen, compressed air or inert gas N2 at the exit of the beam to improve the cutting speed and the smoothness and cleanliness of the cut. In order to improve the stability and life of the power supply, for CO2 gas laser to solve the discharge stability of high-power laser. According to international safety standards, the laser hazard level is divided into 4 levels, CO2 laser belongs to the least harmful level.
The main advantages: high power, general power are between 2000-4000W, can cut 25 mm within the full-size stainless steel, carbon steel and other conventional materials, as well as 4 mm within the aluminum plate and 60 MM within the acrylic plate, wood material board, PVC board, and in the cutting of thin plates at a very high speed. In addition, due to the CO2 laser output is continuous laser, its cutting, is the three kinds of laser cutting machine in the cutting section effect of the smoothest and best.
Major disadvantages and drawbacks: Because most of the core key technology of the CO2 laser are in the hands of European and American manufacturers, so most of the machines are expensive, most of the machine price of more than 2 million, and accessories and consumables and other related maintenance costs are extremely high, in addition to the actual use of the operating costs are very high, and the cutting of the gas consumption is very large.
The main market positioning: 6-25 mm medium-thickness plate cutting processing, mainly for large and medium-sized enterprises and some pure external processing of laser cutting processing enterprises, but because of its laser maintenance wear and tear, host power consumption and other insurmountable factors, in recent years, its market by the solid-state laser cutting machine and the fiber laser cutting machine of the huge impact of the market is in a state of significant shrinkage, it is estimated that after the further development of the laser in the future, and ultimately, the laser cutting machine will be used in the future. It is estimated that after the further development of future lasers, eventually CO2 laser cutting machine will be replaced by fiber laser cutting machine.
Customers in the process of evaluating the laser cutting machine, should be based on their own needs and cutting purpose, to choose different cutting equipment.