What are the differences between fiber and diode lasers in cutting machines?

A laser cutter is a device that cuts materials with a laser, and it has many advantages. The important part of a laser cutter is the laser source, which affects the performance and usage of the laser cutter. Nowadays, there are two common types of laser cutters on the market: fiber laser cutters and diode laser cutters. What is the difference between them? This article will give you a detailed introduction.

Fiber laser cutting machine is a laser cutting machine that uses fiber laser as the laser source. Fiber laser is a solid-state laser that uses optical fiber as a gain medium, and it emits laser light by coupling pump light into the optical fiber so that the doped ions in the fiber are excited. The wavelength of a fiber laser is typically between 1-2 microns, which is in the near-infrared spectral range.

A diode laser cutter is a laser cutter that uses a diode laser as the laser source. A diode laser is a solid-state laser that utilizes semiconductor material as a gain medium, and it emits laser light by injecting a current into a semiconductor junction so that carriers at the ends of the junction are excited. The wavelength of the diode laser is generally between 0.8-1 micron, which also belongs to the near-infrared spectral range.

1. Fiber laser cutting machine: fiber laser cutting machine has high output power, good beam quality, high cutting accuracy, processing heat effect is small, easy to realize automation and so on. Compared with other types of laser cutting machines, fiber laser cutting machine has obvious advantages in cutting thick metal plates and large workpieces, and at the same time, due to its high power and high precision, it is more suitable for fine cutting and complex shape cutting. However, the cost of fiber laser cutting machines is relatively high and the maintenance is also relatively complicated.

2. Diode laser cutting machine: The diode laser cutting machine adopts a solid-state laser, which is characterized by a simple structure, lower cost and easy maintenance. It is more suitable for small and medium power-cutting needs, especially for processing occasions with high requirements for cutting speed and efficiency. In addition, diode laser cutting machines are more suitable for continuous automated production, especially for continuous cutting operations on production lines. However, the accuracy and beam quality of diode laser cutting machines is slightly inferior compared with fiber laser cutting machines.

Fiber laser cutting machine and diode laser cutting machine although both belong to the solid-state laser cutting machine, but due to the different laser source, they are in the following aspects there are obvious differences:

Output power: fiber laser output power is high, has reached more than 10 kilowatts of the level and can cut up to 50 mm thick metal materials. Diode laser output power is low, at present generally at the level of 1 kilowatt or less, and can only cut the thickness of 10 millimeters below the level of metal materials.

Wavelength: the wavelength of fiber laser is generally between 1-2 microns, for ferrous and non-ferrous metals with high absorption rates, the cutting effect is good. The wavelength of the diode laser is generally between 0.8-1 micron, the absorption rate for ferrous metals is low the cutting effect is poor, and the absorption rate for non-ferrous metals is high and the cutting effect is good.

Cutting thickness: Fiber laser has a large cutting thickness, due to its high power and high wavelength, it can cut metal materials up to 50 mm thick, and even cut some hard-to-cut materials, such as stainless steel, aluminum alloy, copper alloy and so on. It is suitable for fine cutting of thick plates and large areas. The diode laser’s cutting thickness is small, due to its low power and low wavelength, can only cut the thickness of metal materials below 10 mm, for some high reflectivity materials, such as aluminum alloy, copper alloy, etc., the cutting effect is not good, for the small and medium-power cutting needs more suitable.

Cutting materials: fiber laser cuts a wide range of materials, due to its high wavelength and high beam quality, it can cut a variety of metallic and non-metallic materials, such as steel, iron, aluminum, copper, wood, plastic, glass, ceramics, and so on. Diode laser has limited cutting materials, due to its low wavelength and low beam quality, it can only cut some metal materials with low reflectivity, such as steel, iron, etc. For some non-metallic materials, such as wood, plastics, glass, ceramics, etc., the cutting effect is poor or unable to cut.

Fiber laser cutting machine and diode laser cutting machine are suitable for different industries and fields due to their respective advantages and differences. For example, in the metal processing industry, fiber laser cutting machine and diode laser cutting machine can be used, such as sheet metal processing, machining, mold processing and so on. But fiber laser cutting machine is more suitable for cutting metal materials with large thickness, high precision and fast speed, while diode laser cutting machine is more suitable for cutting metal materials with small thickness, low power consumption and low noise.

According to the above introduction, we can see that fiber laser cutting machine and diode laser cutting machine have their advantages and differences, then, how to choose the right laser cutting machine according to their own needs and conditions? Please refer to the following table:

This article introduces the concept, characteristics, differences, application areas, selection methods and other aspects of fiber laser cutting machine and diode laser cutting machine, and hope to help you have a comprehensive understanding of these two laser cutting machines. If you want to know more about laser cutting machine, or have any questions or needs about laser cutting machine, welcome to contact Blue Elephant Laser, we will provide you with satisfactory laser solutions.