Fiber vs. CO2 Comparison
| CO2 Laser (3000W) | Fiber Laser (3000W) | |
|---|---|---|
| Laser System | Laser based on a gas mixture in which light is amplified by carbon dioxide molecules. | Diode Pumped Laser with a doped fiber as gain medium where most of the laser module is made of fiber |
| Reflectivity | CO2 lasers are less effective for cutting highly reflective materials, since much of the beam is reflected back towards the source and not absorbed by the substrate. As a result, higher power levels are required for cutting as compared to fiber lasers. | Much less power is required for cutting reflective materials like aluminum or copper since more of the laser energy is absorbed by the substrate. This allows for intricate highquality cutting at higher efficiencies than comparable laser cutting systems. |
| Reliability (MTBF) | Only around 20,000 hours | 50,000 to 100,000 hours |
|
Power Consumption Electrical Power Requirements (Average United States)'s Average Power Cost: $0.1002 per kWh Based on 2 10-hour shifts and 250 working days per year. |
High Power Consumption Laser Consumption: 54 kW Chiller Consumption: 32 kW (Estimate) Calculation: 20h/day * (54kW+32kW) * $0.1002/kWh * 250days $43,086 per year |
Very Low Power Consumption Laser Consumption: 14 kW Chiller Consumption: 11kW (Estimate) Calculation: 20h/day * (14kW+11kW) * $0.1002/kWh * 250days $12,525 per year |
| Maintenance | Maintenance & Service Costs: $35,000 per year Estimated Purge Gas Consumables: Nitrogen, Carbon Dioxide, Helium Estimated Gas Cost: $7.66/h Calculation: $7.66/h * 20h/day * 250days $38,300 per year |
• Minimum Maintenance • Low Consumables • No cleaning of or alignment of mirrors for beam path |
| Power Efficiency Electrical Power Efficiency |
Only as high as 6-7% | Greater than 30% |
| Beam Quality & Spot Size | — | TEM00 (<1.15) beam profile results in significantly higher power density directed to the material surface. Requires less power for the same result in comparison with CO2 systems. |
| Optical Path/Beam Path | Mirrors and optical path Loss of beam quality and significant power drop |
Flexible Cable (up to 50m) |
| Cooling | 50,000 BTU | 10,000 BTU |
| Total Cost of Ownership First Year (Estimation) |
$116,386 per year | $12,525 per year |