What Are The Different Types of Laser Cutting Machines on The Market

Laser cutting has been part of industrial operations since the 1960s. With the development of laser technology, high precision, high speed, and versatility have become a major advantage of the laser cutting process, which makes laser cutting more and more important in the industrial field. Due to its unique construction and purpose, a laser cutting machine is extremely precise, especially when cutting delicate designs and small holes. According to the type of laser generator, we divide the laser cutting machine into three types: CO2 laser cutting machine, fiber laser cutting machine, and YAG/YVO laser cutting machine. In this article, we will discuss these three types of laser-cutting machines and their characteristics.

CO2 Laser Cutting Machine

CO2 laser cutting machines are widely used in cutting and engraving of non-metallic materials. Depending on the laser power, the material types and thicknesses that CO2 laser cutting machines can cut are also different. Right now, this laser cutting device is a popular choice for small businesses, schools, woodworkers, and hobbyists.

Working principle

CO2 laser cutting machines typically produce a laser beam in a gas-filled, sealed glass tube. A high voltage flows through the tubes and reacts with the gas particles, increasing their energy to produce light. There are mirrors at each end of the tube, through the refraction of several mirrors, the light is transmitted to the laser head, and then the focusing lens installed on the laser head converges the light into a point. It reaches a very high temperature so that the material is instantly sublimated into gas and sucked away by the exhaust fan, to achieve the purpose of cutting the material.
CO2 laser generator produce invisible light in the far infrared range of the spectrum, with a wavelength of 9.6μm-10.6μm. The gas mixture inside the tube is usually carbon dioxide, nitrogen, hydrogen, and helium. The ability of the laser to turn on and off very quickly with each pass of the laser head allows the machine to cut some extremely intricate designs.

What materials can be processed

Since the beam wavelength of the CO2 laser generator is 10.64um, which is easily absorbed by non-metallic materials, it is famous for cutting various non-metallic materials precisely and meticulously. Materials suitable for processing with a CO2 laser cutting machine include:

Wood and Plywood: It can cut wood and plywood, making it popular in woodworking and crafting industries.
Acrylic: It provides a clean, polished cut on acrylic sheets, often used for signage, displays, and art applications.
Plastic: It can cut all kinds of plastics, including polycarbonate (PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), etc., for sign-making, packaging, and manufacturing.
Leather: It enables intricate cuts on leather for craft, fashion, and upholstery purposes.
Fabric and Textiles: It is used in the textile industry to cut intricate patterns and designs on fabrics and other textiles.
Paper and Cardboard: It is ideal for fine cutting on paper and cardboard for packaging, card making, and other applications.
Rubber: It is capable of cutting rubber materials used for gaskets, seals, and other industrial components for various industrial and manufacturing applications.
Stainless steel and carbon steel: It can also cut thin stainless steel and carbon steel plates, but has limitations compared to fiber laser cutting machines, and is more commonly used in low-power metal cutting applications.

Advantages

High cutting quality: The CO2 laser cutting machine adopts a non-contact processing method, the cutting edge is less affected by heat and reduces workpiece deformation. Especially for soft materials such as leather and fabric, it can avoid the sag formed during cutting and generally does not require secondary processing.
High cutting flexibility: Laser processing is flexible and can process any pattern.
Fast cutting speed: the cutting speed can reach 10m/min, and the maximum positioning speed can reach 70m/min.
High cutting accuracy: positioning accuracy 0.05mm, repeat positioning accuracy 0.02mm.
Cheap machine price: small CO2 laser cutting machines usually only cost 3,000 US dollars, and large-scale CO2 laser cutting machines only cost 5,000 US dollars. This is an affordable budget for a small business.

CO2 laser cutting machines are ideal for engraving and cutting non-metallic materials, which can bring better edge results than mechanical cutting. Especially in small enterprises, investing in a CO2 laser cutting machine does not require too much cost, but it can also improve production efficiency and reduce labor costs for the enterprise.

Disadvantages

High maintenance cost: The lens of the CO2 laser cutting machine needs regular maintenance and replacement.
Low photoelectric conversion efficiency: The electro-optic conversion rate of CO2 laser generators is only about 10%.
Limited cutting of metal materials: Affected by the wavelength of the laser beam, CO2 laser cutting stainless steel and carbon steel has low efficiency and poor quality, and can only be used for products that do not require high cutting speed and cutting quality. In addition to stainless steel and carbon steel, CO2 laser cutting machines cannot process other types of metal materials.

Although CO2 laser cutting machines have some disadvantages, CO2 laser generator is still a cost-effective option compared to mechanically cutting non-metallic materials.

Fiber Laser Cutting Machine

Fiber laser cutting machine is the newest type of laser cutting equipment in the industrial field, offering unprecedented speed and precision to the metal fabrication industry. The fiber laser cutting machine can perform both flat cutting and oblique cutting, and is suitable for high-precision processing of metal sheets. Currently, fiber laser cutting technology is widely used in a range of infrastructure and manufacturing applications.

Working principle

Fiber laser generators amplify the beam using specially designed glass fibers that harvest energy from pump diodes. When this powerful laser hits the surface of a material, the high-intensity light is absorbed and converted into heat, which melts the surface. A high-velocity airflow parallel to the laser beam is used to blow away any molten material, thereby cutting the workpiece.
The fiber laser generator’s first point of contact with the material must be more intense than subsequent interactions because this first contact must pierce the material rather than simply cut it, which requires the use of high-power pulsed beams. Typically, fiber laser cutting machines use computer numerical control technology that allows cutting data to be received from a computer-aided design workstation. These techniques help control the surface of the material or the laser itself to produce a specific pattern or design.

What materials can be processed

Fiber laser cutting machines are known for their high efficiency and versatility, especially in cutting various metal materials. The high power density of fiber lasers can cut these metals precisely and quickly:

Stainless steel: Fiber laser generators can cut various grades of stainless steel with excellent edge quality and minimal thermal distortion, commonly used in automotive, aerospace, and construction industries.
Mild Steel: Fiber laser generators are ideal for cutting mild steel sheets and plates of various thicknesses, commonly used in various structural applications and general manufacturing.
Aluminum: Fiber laser generators are ideal for cutting aluminum sheets and alloys, often used in aerospace and automotive applications.
Copper: Copper is a highly conductive metal that can be effectively cut using a fiber laser generator, making it suitable for the production and processing of electrical components, pipes, and decorative components.
Brass: Fiber lasers can precisely cut brass, a metal alloy known for its decorative applications.
Galvanized Steel: Fiber laser generators can cut galvanized steel commonly used in construction and manufacturing.
Titanium: Fiber laser generators can cut titanium, a lightweight yet strong metal used in the aerospace and medical industries.
Other metal alloys: Fiber laser generators are capable of cutting various metal alloys used in specialized applications, expanding their application in various industries.

Advantages

Low maintenance cost: Fiber laser generators are usually maintenance-free and have a long service life, at least 25,000 hours. Therefore, the life cycle of fiber laser generators is much longer than the other two types.
Strong photoelectric conversion ability: The electrical-to-optical conversion rate of fiber laser generators can reach up to 50%, which is more than three times that of CO2 laser generators, and consumes less power at the same power.
High cutting efficiency: The fiber laser generator is less affected by the environment, can achieve high energy output in a short time, and the cutting speed is fast. No tools are required to hold the sheet metal during sheet cutting, increasing cutting efficiency by reducing setup and downtime.
High cutting quality: non-contact cutting is adopted, the heat-affected area of the cutting seam is small, the cutting seam is between 0.1-0.2mm, the metal section after cutting has no burr and slag phenomenon, and generally does not need secondary processing.

Fiber laser cutting machines offer unrivaled performance in metal fabrication, cutting with precision and accuracy to achieve the best results. Fiber laser cutting can achieve high-quality results with faster speeds and lower material consumption than other types of laser cutting.

Disadvantages

Due to the complex operation and wide range of uses of fiber laser cutting machines, its price is very expensive.
Fiber laser cutting machines with lower power will have limited cutting quality when processing thicker metals.
The initial purchase cost of fiber laser cutting machine machine components is relatively high.

Despite this and some other disadvantages, fiber laser cutting still has greater advantages. In recent years, with the development of laser technology and the emergence of high-power laser generators, the price of fiber laser cutting machines has begun to decline.

Nd:YAG/Nd:YVO Laser Cutting Machine

An Nd:YAG laser makes use of neodymium (Nd)-doped yttrium aluminum garnet crystal (Y3Al5O12). Nd:YVO lasers make use of neodymium-doped vanadate crystals (YVO4) and operate in the same way as Nd:YAG lasers. Nd:YVO lasers have improved power stability when compared to Nd:YAG lasers and do not generate as much heat during cutting.

Working principle

Similar to CO2 lasers, the crystal is placed between two mirrors—one fully reflective and one semi-reflective. The pumping photon source is a xenon/krypton flash tube or a series of laser diodes. In the case of Nd:YAG/YVO crystals, the pumping source supplies photons that raise the energy level of the neodymium ions. Once a beam of coherent, high-intensity light with a frequency of 1064 nm is generated, it is directed to the cutting head using mirrors and is finally focused to a point using a lens on the cutting head.

What materials can be processed

YAG/YVO laser cutting machines are less common these days due to the rise of more efficient fiber laser generators, but they still have specific applications for cutting certain metal materials. Materials that can be cut with a YAG/YVO laser cutting machine include:

Stainless Steel: It can cut stainless steel with acceptable results, but fiber laser generators are usually more effective for this material.
Mild Steel: YAG/YVO laser generators can cut mild steel, especially where fiber laser generators are not available or practical.
Aluminum: It can cut aluminum, but it is generally less efficient and cuts more slowly than a fiber laser generator.
Copper: It cuts copper, especially thinner sheets, and is mainly used for electrical components, plumbing, and artistic applications.
Brass: It can cut brass plates, but like copper is better for cutting thinner materials, often used for decorative purposes and electrical components.
Certain Alloys: It can also treat certain metal alloys, depending on their composition and thickness.

Advantages

High cutting precision: The precision of YAG/YVO laser cutting enables micro-cutting of parts as small as 1 mm² with tolerances up to +/- 20 microns.
Compared with fiber laser generators, Nd: YAG/YVO laser generators have better beam quality and higher power density.

YAG/YVO laser cutting greatly reduces production costs and significantly improves quality results compared to traditional techniques such as wire cutting and water jetting. The unit can be easily implemented with integrated CAD/CAM and files in graphic format can be imported for more convenient operation.

Disadvantages

High operating costs: YAG/YVO laser generators require regular and expensive maintenance and high operating costs.
Poor energy efficiency: YAG/YVO laser generators have higher power densities than fiber lasers, but energy efficiency is in the single digits.
Complex structure: the power supply is bulky and requires an optical path to work.

With the development and wide application of fiber laser generators, Nd: YAG/YVO has been gradually replaced in the field of metal cutting.

Summarize

Laser cutting machines are popular among users for their versatility. Different types of laser cutting equipment have their own application fields. Choosing the right machine for your workshop is key to increasing productivity. This article introduces three types of laser cutting machines, explains how they work, and discusses their pros and cons and the materials they can process. I hope this information can provide you with reference when you purchase a laser cutting machine.
To learn more about laser cutting machines, you can contact us anytime. AccTek Laser engineers will provide perfect solutions according to your specific application, and provide you with detailed price information.

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