Fiber Laser Cutting Machine

Upfront Cost
CO2 lasers have a much lower upfront cost than equivalent fiber lasers. The most expensive fiber laser cutters typically cost 5 to 10 times the price of a CO2 cutter. However, fiber lasers offer greater cutting accuracy than CO2. Their operating life is 10 times longer than that of CO2 units, typically reported at 25,000 operating hours. And refurbishment services for fiber optic equipment are also readily available.

Applicable Materials
CO2 lasers are ideal for cutting many non-metallic materials and non-ferrous metals. For example: acrylic, melamine, mother-of-pearl, paper, mylar, plastic, rubber, non-resinous wood, cloth, cork, fabric, fiberglass, leather, dense card and plywood. Fiber laser cutters are less specific in terms of material application and are suitable for most materials, although they are best suited for cutting sizes of 20mm or less. Examples of materials are: metal (including highly reflective types such as stainless steel), glass, acrylic (PMMA), POM, paper, dense card, and most foams.

Power
CO2 lasers can range in power from a few tens of watts to approximately 100 kW. High power devices produce poor quality beams unless they are very long. Due to their very low efficiency (5-10%), larger devices require considerable cooling capacity, further increasing size. Low-power fiber lasers have the same range as CO2 lasers, but the power limit for this type is closer to 1 MW (for very large, very expensive devices). High operating efficiencies (typically above 90%) result in limited cooling requirements, especially in smaller equipment.

Wavelength
The wavelength difference between CO2 lasers and fiber lasers is about 10 times. CO2 lasers produce 10.6 µm (9.6 µm for some types) light, while fiber laser cutting machines produce 1064 nm (or 1.064 µm) light.

Cutting Speed
While fiber laser cutters are not designed for all material types, they are approximately 3 to 5 times more productive (on the right job) than CO2 machines with similar capabilities.

Cut Quality
Fiber laser cutting machines produce a more stable and often narrower beam that can be focused more precisely. They tend to produce better cut quality than CO2 laser cutters.

Safety
The hazards of lasers are related to their beam intensity (power per unit cross-sectional area) and the risk of stray light. From these perspectives, CO2 and fiber lasers present similar risks. Compared to equivalent fiber laser cutting machines, CO2 lasers require a higher energy input to achieve the same energy output. By extension, this means that the generator of a CO2 laser is a larger, more dangerous machine.

Operating Power Consumption
In terms of operating power consumption, CO2 lasers are about 5 to 10 percent efficient, which means they consume 10 to 20 times more power than they emit in the form of lasers. This compares very poorly to fiber laser cutting machines, which typically offer over 90% efficiency (i.e. only 10% of the power fails to be converted into laser light).

Applicable Industries
CO2 lasers can cut most materials and find applications in all industries, including: medical, military, communications and other manufacturing industries. Fiber laser cutters are more prevalent in high-precision and high-value market segments such as: telecommunications, medical, materials processing, automotive, and electronics. Fiber laser cutting machines can cut most materials, but work best on metals that are difficult to cut and reflective, such as titanium, brass, and aluminum.

Machines and tools, including fiber laser cutting machines, are invaluable assets to your fabrication shop. These machines can cut with high quality, speed, efficiency, and precision, making them an essential component of every shop. However, you need to maintain the fiber laser cutting machines in order to keep producing high-quality parts.
Benefits of Performing Preventative Maintenance
There are many benefits to performing preventative maintenance on laser-cutting machines. Keeping up with maintenance increases the longevity of the machine’s lifespan. Lasers are a large investment and fabricators should strive to think long term rather than short term with their equipment. Of all the benefits preventative maintenance offer, the most important benefit to fabricators is that it saves money. Cost savings that fabricators can see include reduced service bills and minimize inactivity of your laser machine. A fabricator’s dream come true would be a solution to reducing a service bill. When service is needed for a laser-cutting machine, additional time could be required for a service engineer’s visit if the laser is not cleaned prior to arrival. Having your laser machine already cleaned can reduce the cost of service and is a crucial initial step to service procedures. While a reduced service visit bill is great, fabricators really do not want an inactive machine limiting production. Performing preventative maintenance helps minimize the possibility of machine inactivity. The quicker your laser-cutting machine is active after maintenance, the faster fabricators can return to production, making parts and making money.

Check the Cutting Head
Every part of the fiber laser cutter is critical in performing well and continuing to produce high-quality cuts, but the most crucial part of your laser cutter is the cutting head. Left unchecked after each run, this incredibly fragile part will eventually become damaged. Check and clean the laser cutting head before and after every use to avoid costly damage to the cutting head.

Steel Belt
The steel belt applies pressure to the metal, ensuring that the piece stays in place during the cutting process. If the metal sheet shifts, this will result in a failed cut, which costs you time and material. Ensuring the belt is in good operating condition protects you from these failures. Periodically inspect the tension on your belt, and if you suspect the tension is off, consult your operating manual or contact Mac-Tech for support and technical assistance.

Check for Debris
With any metalwork, debris is inevitable. Those pesky little shards get stuck in the tiniest of places and can create a real headache with your machine. This is why it’s imperative that you keep the machine clean and free of debris. Keeping your workstation clean ensures that the slag drawer doesn’t jam shut, temperatures remain consistent, gas for the machine doesn’t get contaminated, and the track stays even. If you don’t regularly clean, any of these variables could affect your machine’s performance, which could lead to costly repairs.

Lubricate
On top of checking that no debris can affect the operation of the machine, you should also ensure the guide rails are properly lubricated. Cleaning them regularly also ensures that debris does not get onto the track and cause problems. But proper lubrication is also essential for the machine to have consistent, even movements.

Where to Clean on Fiber Lasers
Before grabbing any cleaning supplies, laser operators need to understand what to look for when preparing to clean a fiber laser machine. Here are recommended areas on fiber lasers to inspect for cleaning and preventative maintenance.
*Torch
The torch is the epicenter of performing laser-cutting operations. Parts of the torch that laser operators can clean include the torch body, attached lines and cables, the nozzle and the protective window. Another area to inspect for cleaning is the cover over the Z-axis. Supplies to use for cleaning the torch include using a clean lint-free rag with isopropyl alcohol. Wipe down these areas so the torch is free from any debris. By keeping the torch clean, you can achieve consistent quality in your laser operations.
*Drive System
Another component to maintain is the laser machine’s drive system. The drive system runs the X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis of the laser machine, which navigates the torch for cutting operations. Drive components to inspect are belts and bellows. To clean the belts and bellows, you can use a soft brush, vacuum, or rag to remove any byproducts from the laser-cutting process. Cleaning these drive components prevents premature failure and component wear.
*Slats
Slats also need to be inspected prior to cutting operations. It is important to measure the height of your slats periodically. Slats that are not at the proper height, due to wear, prevent your laser from initiating cutting procedures. The torch will attempt to travel below your laser’s software limits, which it cannot, therefore causing an alarm. In order to maintain proper height for your slats and to reduce slag buildup, use tools specifically made for removing slag from slats or manually remove the buildup.