COMPARISON BETWEEN LASERS

LASER CUTTING MACHINES

Parameter Fiber Laser CO2 Laser YAG Laser DISK Laser
Photo-Electric Conversion Rate 30% 10% 3% 15%
Max. Power Output 50kW 20kW 6kW 8kW
Gas Mixture, CO2,
Laser Medium Fiber with Ytterbium Crystal Bar Crystal Disk
Nitrogen, Helium)
Wavelength (µm) 1.06 10.6 1.06 1.03 Color Indication
Fiber Laser Diameter d/mm 0.1-0.2 N/A 0.6 0.15-0.2 Excellent
Laser Transmission Fiber Cable Lens Fiber Cable Fiber Cable Good
Max. Transmission Length 200m 10m N/A 200m Satisfactory
BPP <2.5 6 25 8 Poor
Pump Life >200,000 hrs N/A 1,000 hrs 10,000 hrs
Occupation <1M 2
3M 2
6M 2
4M2
Initial Investment High Middle Low High
Operation Cost $2 $20 $35 $8
Maintenance Seldom Frequent Frequent Occasional
Flexibility Excellent Bad Good Good
Stability Excellent Good Bad Excellent
Movability High Low Low Low
Absorptivity % -- Steel 35 12 35 35
Absorptivity % -- Aluminum 7 2 7 7
Consumption Low High (Esp. Gas) High (Esp. Light) Low
Time-Parting Operation Yes Not Suggested Yes Yes
Job-Parting Operation Yes Not Suggested Yes Yes
Collocated Requirment Low High High Low
Enviroment Endurance High Low Low Middle
Warm-Up Time Little Long Short Short
Material Accessibility Metal Metal & Non-Metals Metal Metal
High Reflection Sensibility Low High Low Low