Metal Laser Cutting Machines | High-Precision Solutions by Tianchen

CO2 laser cutting was the industry standard for decades and remains a viable technology for specific applications. In a CO2 laser, the beam is generated within a gas mixture (primarily carbon dioxide) excited by an electrical discharge. The resulting infrared beam is then reflected by mirrors through a beam path to the cutting head. This technology is particularly effective for cutting non-metallic materials like wood, acrylic, plastics, and textiles, and it also performs well on thicker mild steel plates, where it can produce a very smooth cut edge. However, compared to modern fiber lasers, CO2 systems generally have higher electrical power consumption, require more maintenance for the laser gas and mirror optics, and have a lower cutting speed, especially on thin metals and highly reflective materials like copper and brass. The beam delivery system can also be more susceptible to misalignment from vibration or thermal changes. Despite these limitations, CO2 lasers are still valued in workshops that process a wide variety of materials beyond metals or for applications where exceptional edge smoothness on thick sections is the primary goal. To determine whether a CO2 or fiber laser solution is best suited for your operation, we recommend contacting our experts for a comparative analysis based on your specific needs.