Some knowledge about CO2 laser cutting machine

The CO2 laser cutting machine has begun in the last century. With the development, CO2 laser cutting technology has continued to improve and upgrade. It has now become an important machine than in all walks of life. The CO2 laser cutting machine has a wide range of applications in terms of non-metallic materials, and can also be applied to metal materials. Different laser power is selected depending on the type and thickness of the customer cutting. What do you need to know before purchasing a CO2 laser cutting machine? Do you know how to choose a suitable CO2 laser engraving machine?

What is a CO2 laser cutting machine?

CO2 laser cutting machine is a CNC laser for cutting and engraving materials using CO2 laser technology for cutting and engraving. Since the CO2 laser cutting machine can also be engraved, the CO2 laser cutting machine is also referred to as a CO2 laser engraving machine or CO2 laser sculpture. In addition, some people are also referred to as wood laser cutters or acrylic laser cutters.

The CO2 laser cutting machine uses a focus lens that can be gathered to the surface of the material to melt it. At the same time, the molten material is blown away by the compressed gas equipped with the machine. The laser beam moves along a certain path to form a certain shape of the slit. The cut process is then completed.

Advantages of CO2 laser cutting machine

Fast cutting speed

High cutting efficiency

Small heat affected area

Narrow cutting incision

Suitable for cutting non-metallic materials

Do not direct contact with processing materials

Not being limited by the shape of the cutting material

Materials and effort

Disadvantages of CO2 laser cutting machine

Low-optical conversion rate

High energy consumption

High operating cost

Several consumables that require frequent maintenance

Application of CO2 laser cutting machine

40W CO2 wood laser cutters can be made on steel, and the 90W CO2 laser engraving box can directly shape steel structure. As the oxygen is used as the auxiliary gas, 150W and above CO2 CNC laser cutters can be cut 1 mm thick steel sheet.

In general, although the CO2 laser cutting machine can work with a soft metal such as aluminum, titanium, but the cutting efficiency is low. So the CO2 laser cutting machine is very good at cutting and engraving non-metallic materials. CO2 laser engraving machines can cut and engraved materials include:

Metal: mild, steel, aluminum, titanium, alloy.

Non-metallic: wood, acrylic, paper, fabric, epoxy, resin, plastic, rubber, crystal, leather, stone.

CO2 laser cutting machine has extensive applications in applications in clothing, leather, fabric toys, computer embroidery and cutting, electronic appliances, models, hand technology, advertising, decoration, packaging, and printing, paper products.

Difference between CO2 laser cutting machine and fiber laser cutting machine

Fiber laser cutting machines are also one of the most commonly used laser tools. Unlike the gas laser tube and optical transmission of the CO2 laser cutter, the fiber laser cutting machine uses a fiber laser and cable transmission laser beam. The wavelength of the fiber laser beam is only 1/10 produced by the CO2 laser. Thus, the fiber laser cutting machine can be disclosed better consistency and reliability as compared to the carbon dioxide laser cutting machine, and a finer pattern can be processed.

The main difference between the CO2 laser cutter and the fiber laser cutter is located in the following aspects.

1. Laser

CO2 laser engraving machine produces a laser beam using a CO2 laser tube. As a auxiliary gas, the working substance is mainly CO 2, HE, XE, etc. The CO2 laser beam is reflected on the laser head by reflection and focusing lens.

The fiber laser cutting machine produces a laser beam through a plurality of diode pumps. The laser beam is then passed through the flexible cable to the laser cutting head.

2. Treatment of materials

The beam wavelength of the CO2 laser is 10.64 um and is more susceptible to non-metallic materials. However, the beam wavelength of the fiber laser is 1.064 um, which is 10 times shorter. Since this focal length is much smaller, the intensity of the fiber laser cutting machine is almost 100 times that of the CO2 laser cutter having a similar power output. Therefore, the fiber laser cutting machine is well suited for cutting metal materials.

The CO2 laser engraving box can also cut and engrave metal materials, but the efficiency is relatively low. Therefore, the main use of the CO2 laser machine is to cut and engrave non-metallic materials. For example, wood, acrylic acid, paper, leather, fabric, etc.

Fiber laser cutting machine, also known as metal laser cutting machine, mainly used in metal materials. For example, stainless steel, carbon steel, copper, aluminum, etc.

3. Production cost

CO2 acrylic laser cutter consumes a lot of gas during operation. However, its photoelectric conversion rate is only 8% to 10%.

The fiber laser cutting machine requires less other consumption during processing, and its photoelectric conversion rate can reach 25% -30%. Therefore, the fiber laser cutter is more energy efficient than the CO2 laser cutter.

4. Maintenance cost

CO2 laser tubes have complex structures, optical lenses are susceptible to harm and expensive. Replace these consumables requires a lot of costs. Therefore, the maintenance cost of the CO2 laser cutting machine is high.

Fiber laser cuts are basically not maintained and fragile weak poles. It is capable of long-lasting harsh working environment with high dust, impact, impact, humidity and temperature. Therefore, the maintenance cost of the fiber laser cutter is low.

5. Efficiency

The CO2 laser engraving machine has a large beam divergence during processing, and is not suitable for large size processing. Although the cutting is relatively small, the speed is very slow.

The characteristics of the fiber laser cutting machine include high density and strong laser beam, high brightness, and high conversion. For thin plate processing, the cutting speed of the fiber laser cutting machine is 2-3 times higher than the CO2 laser cutter having the same power.

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