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In modern manufacturing, laser cutting technology has become an important process in the field of metal processing due to its high precision, high efficiency and flexible processing capabilities. Among them, fiber laser cutting, as one of the fastest-growing laser cutting technologies in recent years, is widely used in automobile manufacturing, aerospace, electronic equipment and other industries with its excellent cutting quality, low energy consumption and low maintenance cost.

This article will introduce the basic concepts, working principles, key process parameters and different types of fiber laser cutting in detail to help readers fully understand the core characteristics and application advantages of this advanced processing technology.

What is fiber laser cutting?

Fiber laser cutting is an advanced processing technology that uses high-power fiber laser beams to accurately cut metal or non-metal materials. The core is to generate a high-energy laser beam through a fiber laser, which is focused and irradiated on the surface of the material, causing the material to melt, vaporize or ablate rapidly, and at the same time, the slag is blown away with the help of auxiliary gas (such as oxygen, nitrogen or air), thereby achieving efficient and high-precision cutting.

Fiber laser cutting is widely used in automobile manufacturing, aerospace, electronic equipment, metal processing and other industries due to its high efficiency, high precision, low energy consumption and low maintenance cost.

How does fiber laser cutting work?

The basic process flow of fiber laser cutting is as follows:

1. Laser beam generation: The fiber laser generates laser through an optical fiber doped with rare earth elements (such as ytterbium Yb), and forms a high-energy-density beam through a reflector and a focusing mirror.
2. Beam focusing: The laser beam is focused by a lens or a curved mirror to form a very small spot (usually 0.1-0.3mm) to increase the energy density.
3. Material heating and melting: The laser beam irradiates the surface of the material, and the local temperature rises rapidly to the melting point or vaporization point, and the material melts or evaporates.
4. Auxiliary gas blows away slag: High-pressure auxiliary gas (such as nitrogen, oxygen or compressed air) blows away the molten material to ensure a clean cut.
5. CNC system controls the cutting path: The movement of the laser head is precisely controlled by the computer numerical control (CNC) system to complete the cutting of complex shapes according to the preset path.

What are the main parameters of fiber laser cutting?

The processing quality and efficiency of fiber laser cutting is affected by a number of key parameters, the following are the core parameters when using fiber laser technology:

1.Laser mode

There are two main modes of fiber laser cutting: continuous wave (CW) and pulse wave (PW). Pulse mode emits short pulses for scenarios with severe requirements for the heat-affected zone; The continuous wave mode continuously outputs a laser and is often used to quickly cut thin materials.

2.Laser power

Laser power is measured in watts (W) and represents the average energy of the laser pulse. The higher the power, the more thick and hard materials can be cut. CW laser power is stable, such as a 100W CW laser with a continuous output of 100W; Pulsed lasers have extremely high instantaneous peak power, with a 100W pulsed laser peaking at 10,000W.

3.Pulse frequency

Pulse frequency refers to the number of laser pulses per second and is measured in hertz (Hz). A high frequency can speed up the cut and make the edges smoother, but too high will enlarge the heat-affected zone.

4.Beam diameter

The beam diameter reflects the thickness of the laser beam, and the smaller beam diameter can achieve narrow incision and high-precision cutting, which is suitable for precision parts processing.

5.Atmospheric pressure

Air pressure is an auxiliary gas system parameter that relates to the gas pressure or flow rate that blows away the molten material. Appropriate air pressure can be discharged in time to ensure cutting quality and efficiency.

6.Cutting speed

The cutting speed is measured in inches per minute (IPM) or millimeters per minute (mm/min), the thinner the material and the higher the laser power, the faster the cutting speed, but too fast will make the cutting surface rough, too slow will expand the heat-affected zone.

7.Thickness of the material

The thickness of the material affects the cutting, and the thicker material requires higher power and slower speed, which is prone to problems such as uneven cutting surface and slag hanging, and the cutting quality decreases with the increase of thickness.

8.Condition of the lenses

The state of the focusing lens of the cutting head affects the laser focusing effect, keep the lens clean and avoid damage or dirt, otherwise the cutting quality and efficiency will be reduced.

9.Focus

The focus is where the laser energy is concentrated, and the workpiece needs to be accurately placed to the appropriate focus position according to the thickness of the material and the cutting depth.

10.Type of material

Due to the difference in physical properties, different materials have different laser absorption and conduction capabilities, such as different cutting parameters of metal and non-metal materials.

11.Preheat the material

For materials with high melting point and poor thermal conductivity, preheating is required before cutting to reduce the difficulty of cutting and improve the success rate.

12.Cutting paths

The straight cutting path is simple and fast; Complex paths, especially with sharp and angular patterns, reduce the cutting speed and require higher control accuracy of the laser cutting machine.

What are the types of fiber laser cutting?

According to the laser structure and application scenarios, fiber laser cutting is mainly divided into the following types:

(1) Continuous Fiber Laser Cutting (CW)

• The laser output is a continuous wave, which is suitable for high-precision, high-speed cutting, such as sheet metal fabrication.
• It is mainly used for fine cutting of stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum alloy and other materials.
  

(2) Pulsed Fiber Laser Cutting (QCW/Pulsed)

• The laser is output in the form of pulses and is suitable for highly reflective materials (e.g. copper, brass) or precision micromachining.
• It is often used for fine cutting and drilling in electronic components, precision instruments and other fields.
  

(3) Multi-mode fiber laser cutting

• It is suitable for medium and heavy plate cutting (usually < 30mm), with a wide beam pattern and uniform energy distribution.
• It is mainly used for industrial-grade sheet metal processing.
  

(4) Single-mode fiber laser cutting

• The beam quality is higher, the spot is smaller, and it is suitable for high-precision cutting of ultra-thin materials (<3mm).
  
• It is often used in the electronics industry, precision instrument manufacturing, etc.

What materials can be cut with fiber lasers?

With its high energy density, high beam quality and excellent focusing performance, fiber lasers can efficiently cut a variety of metallic and non-metallic materials, and are widely used in industrial manufacturing. The following are the main applicable material classifications and cutting characteristics:

1. Metallic materials (main application areas)

(1) Carbon steel (low carbon steel, medium carbon steel)
Applicability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (Best Fit)
Cutting features:

• The fiber laser has a high absorption rate of carbon steel, a fast cutting speed, and a smooth incision.
  
• Oxygen (O₂) is often used as an assist gas to improve cutting efficiency by oxidation reaction.
• Cutting thickness: typically 0.5mm–30mm (ultra-high power fiber laser can cut thicker).
  

(2) Stainless steel (304, 316, etc.)

Applicability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cutting features:

• Nitrogen (N₂) is usually used when fiber laser cutting stainless steel to avoid oxidation and keep the cut silver and slag-free.
  
• Compared to CO₂ lasers, fiber lasers cut stainless steel faster and are especially suitable for thin sheets (<6 mm).
• Cutting thickness: usually 0.1mm–20mm.
  

(3) Aluminum and aluminum alloys

Applicability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (highly reflective material, high power required)
Cutting features:

• Aluminum has a high reflectivity to laser and requires a high-power (≥1kW) fiber laser with nitrogen or compressed air for cutting.
  
• Slag is easy to occur during cutting, and parameters need to be optimized (e.g., increasing air pressure, adjusting focus).
  
• Cuttable thickness: usually 0.5mm–15mm.

(4) Copper and copper alloy (brass, copper)

Applicability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (high reflection, high thermal conductivity, difficult to cut)
Cutting features:

• Copper has an extremely high laser reflectivity (>90%) and requires either a pulsed fiber laser or a high-power CW laser (≥2kW).
  
• Nitrogen (N₂) or compressed air is usually used to assist in cutting to avoid oxidation.
• Cutting thickness: usually 0.1mm–5mm (thicker materials require special processing).
  
  

(5) Titanium alloy

Applicability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (commonly used in aerospace and medical industries)
Cutting features:

• Inert gases (e.g. argon) need to be used to prevent oxidation at high temperatures.
  
• The incision quality is high and there are no heat-affected zone (HAZ) issues.
• Cuttable thickness: usually 0.5mm–12mm.
  

(6) Other metals (galvanized sheet, nickel alloy, etc.)

• Galvanized sheet: suitable for cutting, but the parameters need to be controlled to avoid volatilization of the zinc layer to contaminate the lens.
  
• Nickel alloys (e.g. Inconel): can be cut, but requires a high-power laser.

2. Non-metallic materials (partially applicable)

Fiber lasers are mainly optimized for metal cutting, but some non-metallic materials can also be cut, but the effect is not as good as CO2 lasers or UV lasers:

(1) Plastics (ABS, acrylic, etc.)

• Can be cut, but easy to melt, the edges may be carbonized, low power + high speed cutting is required.
• CO2 laser or UV laser processing is more recommended.

(2) Composite materials (carbon fiber, glass fiber)

• Can be cut, but the resin matrix may burn, and gas protection needs to be optimized.
• Professional composite material cutting usually uses water jet or ultrafast laser (picosecond/femtosecond).

(3) Wood, leather, cloth

• Theoretically, it can be cut, but the heat effect is large and the edges are easy to burn. CO2 laser is more suitable.

3. Materials not suitable for fiber laser cutting

• Highly reflective materials (such as gold and silver): The reflectivity is too high and the laser head is easily damaged.
• Ceramics and glass: They are easy to crack and are more suitable for ultrafast laser (picosecond/femtosecond) or water jet cutting.
• PVC and other chlorine-containing plastics: Toxic gases will be generated during cutting, so laser cutting is prohibited.

Fiber laser cutting is most suitable for metal materials, especially carbon steel, stainless steel and aluminum, but its cutting ability for highly reflective materials (such as copper) and non-metallic materials (such as plastics) is relatively limited. It is necessary to select the appropriate laser type according to specific needs.

What are the advantages of fiber laser cutting?

Fiber laser cutting has many advantages over other industrial cutting technologies. These include:

1. High energy efficiency: Photoelectric conversion efficiency reaches 30%-50%, which is much higher than CO2 laser (10%-15%), and energy consumption is lower.
2. High precision: Good beam quality (M² close to 1), small spot diameter (0.1-0.3mm), suitable for fine cutting.
3. Fast speed: Cutting thin plates is 2-3 times faster than CO2 laser (such as 1mm stainless steel can reach 30m/min).
4. Simple maintenance: No need for reflector calibration, maintenance-free optical fiber transmission, and service life of more than 100,000 hours.
5. Low cost: Low power consumption, no need to regularly replace gas laser tubes, and the comprehensive use cost is more than 30% lower.
6. Material adaptability: Especially suitable for cutting highly reflective metals (aluminum, copper) and thin medium plates.

What are the disadvantages of fiber laser cutting?

Fiber laser cutting is a widely adopted technology with a wide range of uses. Even so, fiber laser cutting machines still have some limitations for some users. These limitations include:

• Material limitations: Certain materials, such as plastics that release toxic gases, cannot be cut with fiber laser cutting machines. These materials include PVC, ABS, polycarbonate, and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
• Maintenance and care: Fiber laser cutting machines require proper care and regular maintenance. Neglecting maintenance can cause damage to internal parts such as the focusing lens, which can significantly reduce cutting performance.
• Initial cost: While fiber laser cutting machines have low operating costs, they still require a certain initial investment to purchase the equipment. The only consumable for this type of laser is electricity.
• Material thickness: Fiber lasers can only cut materials up to a few centimeters thick. This may not be sufficient for some applications.

What are the differences between fiber laser and CO₂ laser?

The difference between fiber lasers and CO2 lasers lies in the type of laser system. Fiber lasers use a rare earth material doped fiber laser cavity to produce an amplified beam. On the other hand, CO2 lasers use a gas discharge tube to produce the laser light.

Comparison item	Fiber laser	CO₂ laser
Working principle	Fiber doped with rare earth elements emits light	Gas discharge excites CO₂ molecules to emit light
Wavelength	1.06μm (high metal absorption rate)	10.6μm (good non-metal absorption)
Cutting speed	Thin plate 2-3 times faster	Thick plate (>15mm) slightly better
Energy consumption	30%-50% conversion efficiency	10%-15% conversion efficiency
Maintenance	Basically maintenance-free	Need to clean the lens and replace the gas regularly
Applicable materials	Metal (especially highly reflective materials)	Metal/non-metal (such as acrylic, wood)
Equipment cost	Medium and high power models are more expensive	Low power models are less expensive

What are the applications of fiber laser cutting machines?

Fiber laser cutting machines are widely used in various industries, including:

• Automobile manufacturing: cutting of precision parts such as body sheet metal, exhaust pipes, gears, etc.
• Aerospace: processing of high-temperature resistant materials such as titanium alloy casings and aluminum alloy skins.
• Electronics and electrical appliances: cutting of microstructures such as mobile phone middle frames, PCB templates, and heat sinks.
• Metal processing: stainless steel kitchenware, metal artworks, building steel structures, etc.
• New energy: cutting of lithium battery pole pieces and solar brackets.

How to choose a fiber laser cutting machine?

The choice of fiber laser cutting machine directly affects processing efficiency, cost and product quality. The following are the key factors to consider when purchasing to help you choose the most suitable equipment:

Power Options:

1. 500W-1kW: suitable for 0.5-5mm thin plates (e.g. electronic components).
2. 2kW-6kW: mainstream industrial grade, can cut 3-20mm carbon steel/stainless steel.
3. 8kW-20kW: Thick plate cutting (>20mm) or high-speed production needs.

Processing Format:

1. Small machine (1.5m×3m): Precision parts.
2. Standard machine (2m×4m): General purpose sheet processing.
3. Customized oversized countertops: shipbuilding, construction machinery industry.

Core Configuration:

• Laser brands: IPG, Ruike, Chuangxin, etc.
• CNC system: Baichu, PA, Siemens.
• Guide rails/gears: high-precision linear guides/helical gear transmissions.
  
  

Accessibility:

• Autofocus: Adapt to different thickness materials.
• Changing workbenches: Increase continuous production efficiency.
• Dust removal system: Handling of cutting fumes (optional).

Budget & After-sales:

• Domestic equipment (100-3 million yuan): cost-effective, fast after-sales response.
• Imported equipment (300-8 million yuan): ultra-high precision, suitable for high-end manufacturing.

Summary

Fiber laser cutting is an advanced processing technology based on high-brightness fiber lasers, which generates high-energy laser beams through fiber media doped with rare earth elements, and cooperates with precisely controlled parameters such as power, speed, focus and auxiliary gas to achieve efficient precision cutting of metals and other materials. Its core advantages lie in excellent beam quality, high energy conversion efficiency and flexible processing adaptability, the main types include continuous, pulsed and ultrafast fiber laser systems, which are widely used in sheet metal fabrication in industrial manufacturing, auto parts production and other fields, and have become an indispensable key process for modern precision manufacturing.

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FAQs

1.What are the parameters of the laser cutting process?

The main parameters of the laser cutting process include laser power, cutting speed, focus position, type and pressure of the assist gas, pulse frequency (for pulsed lasers), nozzle diameter and nozzle height, etc. These parameters need to be adjusted and optimized according to the type of material being cut, the thickness and the desired cut quality in order to achieve the best cutting results.

2.What is Fiber Laser Cutting?

Fiber laser cutting is an advanced processing technology that uses a high-energy-density laser beam generated by a fiber laser to cut materials. It focuses the laser energy on the surface of the material, so that the local area is rapidly melted or vaporized, and at the same time, the molten substance is blown away with the help of high-pressure auxiliary gas, so as to achieve a high-precision, high-efficiency cutting process, especially suitable for precision cutting of metal materials.

3.What are the 4 important parameters of the laser cutting setup?

The four most critical parameters in laser cutting are: laser power (which determines cutting capacity), cutting speed (which affects productivity), focus position (which controls the energy density distribution), and assist gas pressure (which affects slag removal). The proper matching of these parameters directly affects the cutting quality, speed and cross-sectional finish, and needs to be finely tuned according to the specific material and thickness.

4.What is the process of a fiber laser?

The core process of fiber lasers is to produce high-brightness lasers under the excitation of a pump source through fibers doped with rare earth elements such as ytterbium as a gain medium. Process features include an all-fiber construction to ensure beam quality, multimode pumping for high power output, a flexible fiber transmission system for energy delivery, and an intelligent control system for precise parameter adjustment to meet a variety of industrial processing needs.