What’s the Difference Between Fiber Lasers and CO2 Lasers?

The two most commonly used lasers in metal fabrication are fiber lasers and CO2 lasers.

Here at XT Laser, we have a wide range of lasers to accommodate any project, large or small.

And we always utilize state-of-the-art technology to ensure that your job is good.

That’s why we have both fiber and CO2 lasers in our shop.

Here’s a brief guide to understanding the difference between the two.

CO2 Lasers

CO2 lasers have been on the market longer, but that doesn’t meant that they’re an outdated piece of technology.

In fact, CO2 lasers are constantly developing in order to increase precision, efficiency, and quality of finish.

For fabricators utilizing thick sheets of metal, CO2 lasers are still the most effective and efficient approach to cutting.

CO2 lasers create cuts significantly faster when cutting sheets over 2mm thick in a straight line.

In our facility, we deal with materials as thick as 1 inch, which often call for a CO2 laser’s superior cutting time and power.

CO2 lasers also provide a better finish and cleaner edge when working with thicker materials.

Fiber Lasers

Fiber lasers channel and amplify light using fiber optic cables.

Light is then focused using a lens, which focuses this powerful beam onto the material that needs to be cut.

Fiber lasers are a newer technology, and as such have some impressive improvements over former options.

For example, using the amplification method specified above.

Fiber lasers are usually more energy efficient, using as little as a third of the energy needed for CO2 lasers.

Fiber lasers are also great for use on reflective materials like aluminum, brass, and copper .