Fiber laser cutting machines are also one of the most commonly used laser cutting machines. Unlike CO2 laser machines that use gas laser tubes and optical transmission, fiber laser cutting machines use fiber laser sources and cables to transmit the laser beam. The wavelength of the fiber laser beam is only 1/10th of the wavelength produced by CO2 lasers. Therefore, compared to CO2 laser cutting machines, fiber laser cutting machines offer better consistency and reliability, allowing for the production of finer patterns. The main differences between CO2 laser cutting machines and fiber laser cutting machines are as follows:

Fiber laser cutting machines are also one of the most commonly used laser cutting machines. Unlike CO2 laser machines that use gas laser tubes and optical transmission, fiber laser cutting machines use fiber laser sources and cables to transmit the laser beam. The wavelength of the fiber laser beam is only 1/10th of the wavelength produced by CO2 lasers. Therefore, compared to CO2 laser cutting machines, fiber laser cutting machines offer better consistency and reliability, allowing for the production of finer patterns. The main differences between CO2 laser cutting machines and fiber laser cutting machines are as follows: 
                                       
 

1. Laser Source:

   • CO2 Laser Cutting Machine: Uses CO2 gas lasers to generate the laser beam. The working gases primarily include CO2, with additional auxiliary gases such as O2, He, Xe.
   • Fiber Laser Cutting Machine: Generates the laser beam through multiple diode-pumped fiber lasers and transmits it through flexible fiber optic cables to the cutting head.

2. Material Processing:

   • CO2 lasers have a wavelength of 10.64 micrometers, making them more easily absorbed by non-metallic materials. CO2 laser machines are suitable for cutting and engraving non-metallic materials like wood, acrylic, paper, leather, and fabrics.
   • Fiber lasers have a wavelength of around 1.064 micrometers, which is approximately 10 times shorter than CO2 lasers. This shorter wavelength, combined with higher beam intensity, makes fiber laser cutting machines highly effective for cutting metals, including stainless steel, carbon steel, galvanized steel, copper, and aluminum. 

3. Production Costs:

   • CO2 laser machines consume a significant amount of gas during operation, resulting in higher operating costs. However, their optical-to-electrical conversion efficiency is relatively low, typically ranging from 8% to 10%.
   • Fiber laser cutting machines have lower operating costs as they consume fewer resources during processing, and their optical-to-electrical conversion efficiency can reach 25% to 30%. This makes fiber lasers more energy-efficient.

4. Maintenance Costs:

   • CO2 laser tubes have a complex structure, and their optical lenses are fragile and expensive to replace. As a result, CO2 laser cutting machines have high maintenance costs.
   • Fiber laser cutting machines are virtually maintenance-free and have fewer vulnerable components. They can withstand harsh working environments and are highly resistant to dust, impacts, humidity, and temperature variations. Consequently, fiber laser cutting machines have lower maintenance costs.

5. Cutting Efficiency:

   • CO2 laser engraving machines have relatively high beam divergence and are not suitable for large-scale cutting. While they may produce narrow kerfs, their cutting speed is slow when processing thick materials.
   • Fiber laser cutting machines are characterized by high beam density, intensity, brightness, and conversion efficiency. For thin sheet processing, fiber laser cutting machines can achieve cutting speeds 2 to 3 times faster than CO2 laser cutting machines with the same power."