Why Invest in Fibre Laser Cutting?

There are times and places for different types of laser cutting. Here are five key reasons why customers choose fibre laser cutting services.

The use of fibre optics is constantly evolving. The introduction of fibre optics into the digital, data-driven world has increased the speed and volume of data transmission. Instead of sending information over telephone or copper wires, fibre optics consists of multiple strands of diodes and uses light beams for transmission.

The ability to send beams has been transferred to lasers, as the amount of light directed and amplified through fibre optic cables allows the production of powerful beams that are 200% more efficient than CO2 lasers without the need for expensive optical reflectors. Laser cutting systems. For companies wishing to invest in laser cutting or requiring laser cutting services, the move to fibre laser cutting offers many advantages over other alternatives. Here are the first five advantages.

GS6025 Closed Double Platform Laser Cutting Machine

1. Increased cutting speed

Another advantage of using fibre laser cutting is the increase in cutting speed. When cutting straight lines up to 1 mm thick, fibre-based lasers can cut up to three times faster than conventional lasers. This includes cutting materials such as stainless steel. When cutting 2 mm thickness, the time improvement does drop to twice as fast, but never less, and it still represents a considerable improvement.

2. Cheaper

Probably the most valuable advantage of fibre laser cutting is the price. The cost overhead of this technology represents a significant saving on the initial purchase and over the lifetime of the laser. Firstly, it does not require expensive optics as other laser technologies do. In addition, the focusing lens is not exposed, but rather sealed inside the cutting head. Therefore, if properly maintained, the focusing lens will extend the life of the fibre rather than breaking down and requiring constant replacement as in other laser applications.

LD-A6022T Auto Feeding Tube Laser Cutting Machine

3. No moving parts

Moving parts can lead to higher maintenance costs and increased operating costs. As the light pulse is sent through the fibre optic cable, it does not require moving mirrors to produce the necessary laser light. Other forms of lasers utilise fast moving mirrors to increase the power of the laser. In order to prolong the life of the mirrors, regular maintenance is required. This can lead to a reduction in productivity. However, without regular maintenance, the chance of material damage increases, which not only takes the laser offline, but also increases operating costs.

4. Higher electrical efficiency

Conventional CO2 lasers require a considerable amount of energy to produce the laser beam. In fact, a 2 kW fibre laser cutting unit uses a third of the power of a 4 kW CO2 machine. This means that the fibre-optic configuration not only saves power every time it is used, but it also helps to extend the life expectancy of the hardware due to the lower energy requirements.

5. Cutting reflective materials

One of the main problems when using conventional lasers is the reflective material. The laser can bounce off the reflective material and in turn damage the equipment. For this reason, conventional lasers are not usually used when cutting brass, aluminium and copper. With fibre lasers, however, this problem of reflected material is no longer an issue, which in turn allows these materials to be cut.

In summary

There is a time and a place for every laser type. However, these are the five most important advantages of fibre lasers over other, more traditional CO2 lasers. Request a quote to learn more about the right laser cutting process for your material.

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