CO2 Vs. Fibre Laser Cutting
In recent years, laser cutting sheet metals has been dominated by fibre laser cutting machines. The main reasons include process reliability- there's no cut degradation due to the misalignment or contamination of mirrors- higher cutting speeds, the ability to cut reflective metals such as copper and brass, freedom from maintenance, and lower cost of ownership. CO2 lasers, however, have shown a smoother cut edge for some thicker materials (typically > 0.25" [6 mm]). That being said, this advantage is diminishing as advances in the high power fibre lasers and beam/gas delivery techniques are showing promises to close this gap.
Is Fibre Laser Cutting the Right Solution for Your Application?
Fibre laser systems have established their capability to cut metals at high quality and accommodate intricate parts, which are challenging to other processes. However, when it comes to the final decision to use a fibre laser cutting machine for their project, customers usually focus on the additional aspects specific to their case. Included is a particular system that can handle their parts' tolerances and whether it is economical to use specific fibre laser systems to produce their pieces. Below we discuss these two questions at a top-level.
Can Fibre Laser Cutting Handle Your Part's Tolerances?
Factors such as kerf size, taper, surface roughness, heat input of the process, and the variability of the process during the long production run eventually determine in practice if you can hold parts within a tight tolerance. A combination of the small kerf, low heat input, good surface finish, and stable cutting makes fibre lasers a safe choice for cutting precise parts. The cutting precision partly depends on the motion system of the cutting machine.
Is Fiber Laser Cutting Economically Viable for Your Next Project?
The capital costs and running costs of cutting processes are very different. Given the high speed and reliability of fibre lasers, and depending on the dosage of sheet metal cutting, they typically come ahead of other processes in terms of cost per part. In addition, fibre lasers have made economic parts that were not possible before (when using older generations of lasers or any other technique.) Availability of increasing laser power at a lower cost year after year will shift the cost calculation favouring fibre laser cutting even more in the foreseeable future.
Fargo Steel | Laser Cutting Services in Johannesburg
Fargo Steel is proud to offer laser cutting services for your fabrication product. We can fabricate any order, whether it includes prototypes, components, or final assemblies. We adhere to the belief that high-quality results can only be achieved through the use of high-quality equipment. Our technicians operate the AMADA ENSIS range, offering the fastest cutting speeds on the market! Laser cutting provides the ability to cut through various materials and thicknesses at high speeds, producing exact and accurate cuts.
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