Laser cutting and plasma cutting are both methods of thermally cutting metal materials using high-energy beams or arcs and are widely used in industrial manufacturing fields. However, there are obvious differences between the two cutting methods in terms of principles, performance, scope of application, cost, etc. Users should make reasonable comparisons and choices based on their own needs and conditions when choosing cutting equipment. This article will conduct a comparative analysis of fiber laser cutting machines and plasma laser cutting machines from the following aspects.
1. Differences in cutting principles
Fiber laser cutting machine uses the high-power density laser beam generated by the fiber laser to irradiate the surface of the workpiece to quickly melt or vaporize the workpiece locally. At the same time, it uses high-speed airflow coaxial with the laser beam to blow away the molten or vaporized metal material. , thus forming a cutting method of the slit. The cutting process of the fiber laser cutting machine is non-contact, does not cause mechanical stress on the workpiece, has high cutting accuracy, a small heat-affected zone, a narrow slit, and good cutting quality.
A plasma laser cutting machine is a cutting method that uses high-temperature and high-speed plasma arc as a heat source to melt the metal being cut partially and uses high-speed airflow to blow away the molten metal to form a slit. The cutting process of the plasma laser cutting machine is contact-based and requires a certain distance from the workpiece. The cutting accuracy is low, the heat-affected zone is large, the slit is wide, and the cutting quality is poor.
2. Differences in cutting performance
Fiber laser cutting machines and plasma laser cutting machines have different performance in terms of cutting speed, cutting thickness, cutting material, cutting accuracy, etc., as follows:
1) Cutting speed:
The cutting speed of fiber laser cutting machines is generally higher than that of plasma laser cutting machines. Especially when cutting thin plates, the cutting speed of fiber laser cutting machines can reach more than 10m/min, while the cutting speed of plasma laser cutting machines is generally around 3m/min. When cutting thick plates, the difference in cutting speed between the two is small, but the fiber laser cutting machine still has certain advantages.
2) Cutting thickness:
The cutting thickness of plasma laser cutting machines is generally higher than that of fiber laser cutting machines. Plasma laser cutting machines can cut steel plates with a thickness of more than 100mm, while the cutting thickness of fiber laser cutting machines is generally less than 20mm. This is because the cutting heat of plasma laser cutting machines is greater and can melt thicker metals. In contrast, the cutting heat of fiber laser cutting machines attenuates as the thickness increases, resulting in a decrease in the cutting effect.
3) Cutting materials:
The fiber laser cutting machine has a wider range of cutting materials. In addition to cutting various metal materials, such as carbon steel, stainless steel, aluminum alloy, copper alloy, etc., it can also cut non-metallic materials, such as wood, plastic, rubber, glass, etc. Plasma laser cutting machines are mainly suitable for cutting metal materials, especially thick steel plates, but have poor cutting effects on non-metallic materials.
4) Cutting accuracy:
The cutting accuracy of fiber laser cutting machines is generally higher than that of plasma laser cutting machines. The cutting accuracy of fiber laser cutting machines can reach 0.05mm and the repeatability can reach 0.02mm, while the cutting accuracy of plasma laser cutting machines is generally around 1mm and the repeatability is within About 0.1mm. This is because the fiber laser cutting machine has a small spot and high energy density, and the cutting process is not affected by electrode wear, while the plasma laser cutting machine has a large spot, and low energy density, and the cutting process is greatly affected by electrode wear.
3. Differences in cutting costs
Mainly reflected in the following aspects:
1) Equipment cost:
The equipment cost of fiber laser cutting machines is generally higher than that of plasma laser cutting machines. This is because the core components of fiber laser cutting machines, such as fiber lasers, laser cutting heads, fiber transmission systems, etc., are high-precision and high-tech products. , its price is relatively high. The core components of plasma laser cutting machines, such as plasma power supply, plasma cutting head, gas supply system, etc., are relatively mature, low-tech products, and their prices are relatively low.
2) Consumables cost:
The cost of consumables for plasma laser cutting machines is generally higher than that of fiber laser cutting machines. This is because during the cutting process of plasma laser cutting machines, a large amount of gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc., are consumed, and wearing parts such as electrodes and nozzles are also required. They also need to be replaced frequently, which increases the operating costs of cutting. During the cutting process of a fiber laser cutting machine, only a small amount of auxiliary gas, such as nitrogen or oxygen, is needed, and the fiber laser, laser cutting head and other components have a long life and do not need to be replaced frequently, which reduces the operating cost of cutting.
3) Energy consumption cost:
The energy consumption cost of fiber laser cutting machines is generally lower than that of plasma laser cutting machines. This is because the photoelectric conversion efficiency of fiber laser cutting machines is high, which can reach more than 30%, while the photoelectric conversion efficiency of plasma laser cutting machines is low, generally around 10%. the following. This means that the fiber laser cutting machine needs to consume less power during the cutting process, thus saving the energy cost of cutting.
To sum up, in terms of cutting costs for fiber laser cutting machines and plasma laser cutting machines, although the equipment cost of the former is higher, the cost of consumables and energy consumption of the latter are higher, and the cutting efficiency and quality of the former are also higher. , Therefore, in the long run, the cutting cost advantage of fiber laser cutting machines is more obvious. DXTECH fiber laser cutting machine is a high-performance, high-efficiency, high-quality cutting equipment, suitable for cutting various metal and non-metal materials, and is an ideal choice in the field of industrial manufacturing. If you are interested in DXTECH laser cutting machine, please contact us and look forward to cooperating with you!
