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Fiber laser vs CO2 laser: Two Lasers Explained
When deciding between a fiber laser and a CO2 laser, it’s important to consider the materials you’ll be working with and how much you value performance. Fiber lasers are ideal for cutting metal and handling high-speed tasks. However, CO2 lasers still excel at cutting thick plates and are widely used in medical applications.
The market trend shows fiber lasers increasing their share from 30% to nearly 60% by 2025, thanks to their faster returns on investment and growing use in the automotive and electronics industries. This post will compare fiber laser vs CO2 laser to help readers choose the best option for their needs.
Main Comparison Between Fiber and CO2
- Fiber lasers are perfect for laser engraving on metal. They use less energy. They need less care than CO2 lasers. This saves money over time.
- CO2 lasers work best on things like wood, acrylic, and glass. They cost less at first for small businesses.
- Fiber lasers are very precise. They last a long time. They are great for cutting thin metal. They can be used in car and electronics factories.
- CO2 lasers can cut thick metal and many other materials. But they need more care. They cost more to run.
What is a Fiber Laser?
Fiber lasers work by doping optical fibers with rare-earth elements—like ytterbium—and then energizing them using diode pumps. When these elements get excited, they release photons. These photons bounce back and forth inside the fiber, gradually forming a highly concentrated laser beam.
Because the fiber acts like a natural light guide, it tightly confines the light, producing a laser that’s both powerful and stable. The beam is then delivered to the laser head, where lenses focus it onto the workpiece. A computer controls the movement of the laser spot to perform cutting, marking, or welding.
Pros
- Perfect for laser engraving on metal like stainless steel.
- High efficiency, speed, and precision—making them especially good at cutting thin metal sheets.
- They’re energy-efficient, have a long lifespan (often up to 100,000 hours), and require very little maintenance.
- Users basically just need to clean the lenses regularly and check the fiber cables.
Cons:
- That said, they do have downsides: they’re more expensive up front, not ideal for cutting thick metals or non-metallic materials.
- It can struggle with highly reflective metals like copper.
- A fiber laser is often used for metal cutting, but as a desktop laser engraver, its power is limited and usually only capable of cutting thin metals (around 5mm).
What is a CO2 Laser?
CO2 lasers with a wavelength around 10.6 micrometers generate beams using a glass tube filled with carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and helium. When an electric current passes through, it first excites the nitrogen molecules, which then transfer energy to the CO2 molecules. These CO2 molecules release photons that bounce between mirrors at both ends, amplifying the energy until a laser beam is emitted through a partially reflective mirror.
Pros:
- CO2 lasers are highly absorbed by non-metallic materials. That makes them ideal for cutting and engraving wood, acrylic, glass, fabric, rubber, and more.
- They’re good at laser cutting jobs, making them a popular choice for small businesses and studios involved in engraving and prototyping.
- CO2 laser beam has a stable mode, producing smooth and neat edges in cutting and engraving.
In short, a desktop fiber laser engraver is much more friendly for craftmen whose marking processing is mainly about metals. What's more, a mopa fiber laser can do color laser engraving on stainless steel.
Cons:
- On the downside, CO2 lasers aren’t very effective on metals—especially thick or reflective ones.
- They cut slower and with less precision compared to fiber lasers.
- Maintenance is also more involved: the glass tube needs regular replacement, mirrors and lenses require frequent cleaning, and the system relies on gas cooling.
- They’re also much less energy-efficient.
All in all, CO2 lasers are better suited for non-metal processing and creative applications—like engraving wooden boards, cutting fabrics, and making gifts or decorations.
Brief Comparison
The energy conversion efficiency of fiber lasers can reach 42%, while CO₂ lasers only achieve 10%–20%. This is one of the reasons why fiber lasers have lower operating costs.
Laser Engraving Materials
Fiber laser engravers perform best in metal processing, capable of engraving steel, stainless steel, aluminum, copper, and brass with clean and precise cuts. However, they are not suitable for glass, raw wood, transparent acrylic, or most plastics.
A CO₂ desktop laser engraver usually comes with ~40W of power. CO₂ lasers are more advantageous for non-metal materials such as wood, acrylic, rubber, plastics, ceramics, and glass. While they can also cut certain metals, the results are less effective compared to fiber lasers, often requiring higher power and producing rougher cuts.
How Much Does a Laser Engraver Cost?
From the data above, we can get the final comparison of costs:
A desktop fiber laser engraver has a higher upfront investment, with new machines starting around $2,000, while high-power models exceed $4,000. Fiber lasers are energy-efficient and require almost no consumables, keeping maintenance costs low.
Therefore, while fiber lasers are more expensive initially, they are more economical in the long run.
A desktop CO₂ laser engraver usually costs more, with most models (≥40W) starting at $3,000. This is why many users consider purchasing second-hand CO₂ machines. CO₂ lasers, however, consume more power and require frequent maintenance and gas refills, leading to higher long-term costs.
CO₂ lasers have both higher purchase and operating costs, with more downtime due to frequent maintenance.
How to Choose the Right Laser Equipment
Before purchasing, consider the following questions:
- What materials will you cut or engrave? (metal, wood, plastic, glass, fabric)
- What is the thickness of the material?
- Do you prioritize speed or cutting smoothness?
- What is your budget for purchase and operation?
- How much time and money can you dedicate to maintenance?
- Will the machine be used for small batches or mass production?
- Do you have enough space for a large machine?
If you want to process both metal and non-metal materials, consider a hybrid system like a dual laser engraver. It offers greater versatility but comes with a higher price, larger footprint, and higher maintenance needs.
Choosing between fiber laser and CO₂ laser depends on your material type, budget, and processing needs. The best choice balances speed, cost, and future application scenarios, ensuring the system fits both current and future projects.
