Laser Engraving Machine Basics: CO2 vs Fiber

When selecting a laser engraving machine, the first step should be ensuring you choose the correct wavelength for the material you are working with. The wavelength will ultimately determine the results you get with various materials. The two most common wavelengths are 1 micron and 10.6 microns. At 10.6µm, CO2 laser tubes are used whilst at the 1µm wavelength; fiber is generally accepted as the best all round laser source.

1µm laser engraving machines are usually used on metals although there are a number of other materials that also mark very well such as polycarbonate. The small spot size a fiber laser engraving machine offers makes it the best choice when you are looking to mark or engrave metal with a high level of detail. The 10.6µm wavelength will not react with metal at low power although people often attempt to work around this by using chemical sprays which are generally time consuming, messy and highly toxic. Aside from the smaller spot size, one of the big advantages of the fiber laser source is that it is highly durable and is generally going to have a much longer life than the CO2 laser source which means you should get many more years of life from your machine. As expected, you are likely going to have a larger initial outlay when choosing the route of fiber technology.

10.6µm is the most common laser source and is often used to engrave wood or plastic and is what you are likely to see fitted to most standard flat bed laser cutter. Like fiber laser tubes, these can actually be delivered using both galvo and plotter systems although many people have not yet realised the major advantages of engraving with a galvo as opposed to a plotter. As mentioned, CO2 lasers are more geared towards dealing with woods and plastics so if you are working with these materials 10.6µm is certainly the way to go. One of the advantages of working with CO2 laser tubes is that their cost is generally significantly lower than their fiber counterpart. The trade off is that their expected life is shorter so you should be prepared to have to replace the tube more frequently.

Overall, there are a number of complex factors that will play a part in determining the right laser engraving machine for you. However, selecting the correct wavelength for your application should certainly be your number one priority.