All laser cutting processes have their inherent pros and cons, but it seems that fiber laser cutters have advantages far more than any other. Fiber lasers have only begun to gain traction in the past few decades or so, but the benefits it brings are quickly being realized among metal fabricators across the country. Fiber laser cutters can easily and seamlessly adapt to a wide range of applications between industries.

What are the benefits of fiber laser cutting machines?

Fiber lasers have several major advantages: the light propagating in the fiber is well shielded from environmental disturbances, fiber lasers tend to be very compact in design, they have large gain bandwidths, a wide wavelength tuning range, and the ability to generate ultrashort pulses . They operate efficiently with high power and are suitable for many types of cutting programs.

Fiber lasers can cut through thin materials at very high speeds, and they also have the ability to cut reflective materials, cutting highly reflective metals like copper, brass, and aluminum without damaging the machine.

No thermal damage to objects

The laser light emitted by a fiber laser cutter is very powerful, which is why it can easily cut thicker materials such as steel. And they’re so precise that the beam won’t cause any damage to surrounding materials.

Many industries can benefit from this. Like the electronics industry, where light beams need to work in very small dimensions without damaging any of the components necessary to make these electronic devices work.

outstanding performance

Fiber lasers offer higher performance than many of their counterparts. Fiber lasers offer higher levels of beam quality, can be highly focused for extremely high levels of precision, and increase power density. It also means that tasks can be done faster and with less power consumption.

The main reason for using fiber laser cutting technology is to reduce the mechanical stress on sheet metal parts during cutting. Lasers help eliminate shock stress that can adversely affect sheet metal products during the cutting process. Additionally, the heat-affected zone is so small that the rest of the workpiece is barely exposed to heat, thereby preserving the properties of the material being processed.

Plus, because laser cutting doesn’t negatively affect sheet metal, it helps to minimize waste—dense cuts allow more parts to be made per square meter of sheet metal.

How to maximize the benefits of laser technology

One of the goals when designing for manufacturing is to achieve a simple solution, not a complex one. After all, complex designs are more difficult to manage, increase the potential for error, and create waste in the form of materials, energy, labor, and time. Laser cutting technology is a suitable tool for creating components of all shapes and sizes and is one of the most efficient and cost-effective manufacturing methods.

Complex cuts with good edge quality can be made precisely on laser cutting equipment. A precise laser beam creates close-tolerance components in a fast, clean and efficient manner with little operator intervention. Advanced software and narrow cuts allow parts to be tightly nested, maximizing yield and reducing material waste.