If you cut metal, a fiber laser cutter is worth a serious look. It is faster than a CO₂ laser on metal, it needs less upkeep, and it costs less to run. These are the five main reasons shops choose one.
1. Faster cutting
A fiber laser focuses a lot of energy on a very small spot, which lets it cut quickly without losing quality. That means more parts in less time and an easier time meeting tight deadlines. The Ascent fiber laser cutter has a maximum speed of 130 m/min, and a shuttle table lets the operator load the next sheet while one is being cut.
2. Cut quality
The concentrated energy gives cleaner, smoother cuts with little heat damage to the material, so there are fewer imperfections and less rework. The Ascent cutter lists a positioning accuracy of ±0.05 mm and a repeated positioning accuracy of ±0.02 mm.
3. A wide range of metals
Fiber lasers handle metals that older CO₂ lasers struggle with, because metal absorbs fiber laser light much better. The Ascent cutter cuts carbon steel, stainless steel, brass and aluminum, and the table on the product page gives the maximum thickness for each at each power. Carbon steel goes up to 0.8 in. at 3000W and 1.0 in. at 4000W. The Ascent dual gantry cutter also lists copper.
A fiber laser is a metal cutter. It is not the right laser for acrylic, wood or leather. For those, use a CO₂ laser, or choose a machine that has both, such as the Ascent dual gantry CO₂ and fiber laser cutter.
4. Low maintenance
A fiber laser source is solid state. There is no laser tube to replace and no mirrors to align inside the source, which means fewer parts to wear and less downtime than a CO₂ laser. You still need to clean the lenses, replace nozzles and protective lenses, and look after the cooling.
5. Cost and energy use
A fiber laser costs more to buy than some other machines, but it uses less energy than a CO₂ laser and needs less maintenance, so it often costs less to run. It still needs an assist gas, such as nitrogen, oxygen or compressed air, to blow the molten metal out of the cut. The Ascent cutter can cut aluminum on dry compressed air in place of nitrogen when the material and thickness allow.
Industries that use fiber laser cutters
- Manufacturing and metalworking. Parts for machinery, automotive components and structural elements, with little heat distortion.
- Automotive. Body parts, engine components and exhaust parts.
- Aerospace. Metal parts that need precise cuts, including aluminum and titanium.
- Electronics. Small, intricate components.
- Jewelry and metal art. Detailed designs in metal.
A note on mold repair
A fiber laser cutter is not a mold repair tool. Mold repair uses a laser welder that adds metal to a worn spot. If that is what you need, see the Ascent mold repair laser welder.
Choosing a fiber laser cutter
Match the power to the metals and thicknesses you cut, and check the work area, accuracy, safety enclosure and support. A fiber laser cutter is a Class 4 laser. See our laser safety page. Installation and operator training at your facility are included in the price of an Ascent cutter, and the 5x10 fiber cutter has a 1-year warranty on workmanship and non-consumable parts.
Ascent Lasers Pro sells fiber laser cutters for industrial and custom fabrication. Contact us to talk about your work.
