Since its first use in the 1970s, the CO2 laser cutting machine has been continuously improved and upgraded. And now it has become an important laser cutter machine. CO2 laser cutting machine has a wide range of applications in cutting and engraving non-metal materials. Based on different laser power, the material type and thickness that the CO2 laser cutter machine can cut also different. What do you need to know before buying a CO2 laser cutting machine? Do you know how to buy a CO2 laser engraving machine?
This article offers a comprehensive introduction of the CO2 laser cutting machine, including its definition, application, price, and how to choose. I hope this article can solve all your doubts about CO2 laser cutters.
What is CO2 laser cutting machine
The CO2 laser cutting machine, or CO2 laser cutter is a type of CNC laser machine using CO2 laser technology to cut and engrave materials. As the CO2 laser cutting machine can also engrave, the CO2 laser cutting machine is also called CO2 laser engraving machine or CO2 laser engraver. Besides, some people also call it wood laser cutter or acrylic laser cutter, etc.
The CO2 laser cutting machine uses a focusing lens to focus the CO2 laser beam onto the surface of the material to melt it. At the same time, the coaxial compressed gas blows away the molten material. The laser beam moves along a certain path, forming a slit of a certain shape. Then the cutting process completes.
Advantages of CO2 laser cutter
- Rapid cutting speed
- High cutting efficiency
- Small heat affected zone
- Narrow cutting incision
- Good for cutting non-metal materials
- Not affected by the shape of workpieces
- Material and labor-saving
Disadvantages of CO2 laser cutter
- Low photoelectric conversion rate
- High energy consumption
- High operation cost
- Including several consumables requiring frequent maintenance
Cutting material and application of CO2 laser cutting machine
A 40W CO2 wood laser cutter can make marks on steel materials and a 90W CO2 laser engraver can engrave on the steel surface directly. With oxygen as the auxiliary gas, a CO2 CNC laser cutter of 150W and above can cut a steel sheet of 1mm thick.
In general, although the CO2 laser cutting machine can process mild steel, aluminum, titanium and other alloys, the cutting efficiency is low. However, it is quite good at cutting and engraving non-metal materials. Materials that CO2 laser engraving machine can cut and engrave include:
Metal
Mild steel
Aluminum
Titanium
Alloys
Non-metal
Wood
Acrylic
Paper
Fabric
Epoxy resin
Plastic
Rubber
Crystal
Leather
Stone
CO2 laser cutters have wide applications in the industries of clothing, leather, cloth toys, computer embroidery and cutting, electronic appliances, models, handicrafts, advertising and decoration, packaging and printing, paper products and other industries.
Major parameters of CO2 laser cutting machine
| Laser type | Sealed CO2 glass laser tube |
| Working area | 900*600mm, 1300*900mm, 1400*1200mm, 1300*2500mm |
| Laser power | 60W-150W |
| Control system | RUIDA |
| Working voltage | 220V, 50HZ single phase |
| Cutting speed | 1-1000mm/min |
| Cutting thickness | 0-25mm, depending on laser power and material thickness |
| Applicable material | Non-material materials: wood, MDF, acrylic, glass, leather, paper, plastic, rubber, stone, crystal |
| Working table | Aluminum blade worktable |
| Position system | Red dot |
| Support graphic format | DST, PLT, BMP, DXF, etc. |
| Motor and driver | Stepper |
| Accessories | Stepper motor, water chiller, ball screw, air pump, lens, etc. |
| Operating temperature | 0-45℃ |
| Operating humidity | 5-95% |
Difference between CO2 laser cutter and fiber laser cutting machine
Fiber laser cutting machine is also one of the most commonly used laser cutter machine. Different from the gas laser tube and optical transmission of the CO2 laser machine, the fiber laser cutting machine uses a fiber laser and a cable to transmit the laser beam. The wavelength of the fiber laser beam is only 1/10 of that generated by a CO2 laser. So compared to the CO2 laser cutting machine, the fiber laser cutting machine can reveal better consistency and reliability, and can process finer patterns.
The principal differences between a CO2 laser cutter and a fiber laser cutter lie in the following aspects.
1.Laser
A CO2 laser engraving machine uses the CO2 laser tube to generate laser beams. The working substance is mainly CO2, and O2, He, Xe, etc. as the auxiliary gas. The CO2 laser beam is reflected and focused to the laser cutter head by reflective and focusing lenses.
A fiber laser cutting machine generates a laser beam through multiple diode pumps. And then the laser beam is transmitted to the laser cutting head through a flexible fiber optic cable.
2.Processing materials
The beam wavelength of a CO2 laser is 10.64um and is more easily absorbed by non-metal materials. However, the beam wavelength of a fiber laser is 1.064um, which is 10 times shorter. Due to this much smaller focal distance, the intensity of the fiber laser cutter is almost 100 times higher than the CO2 laser cutter with similar power output. So the fiber laser cutting machine is quite suitable for cutting metal materials.
A CO2 laser engraver can cut and engrave metal materials, its efficiency is low. So the CO2 laser machine is mainly for cutting and engraving non-metal materials. For instance, wood, acrylic, paper, leather, fabric, etc.
Fiber laser cutter, also known as metal laser cutting machine, is mainly for metal materials. For example, stainless steel, carbon steel, galvanized steel, copper, aluminum, etc.
3.Production cost
A CO2 acrylic laser cutter consumes a lot of gas when they are working. But its photoelectric conversion rate is only 8% to 10%.
A fiber laser cutting machine requires less other consumption during processing, and its photoelectric conversion rate can reach 25%-30%. So the fiber laser cutter is more energy-saving than the CO2 laser cutter.
4.Maintenance cost
The CO2 laser tube has a complex structure and the optical lenses are vulnerable and expensive. Replacement of these consumables requires a lot of expenses. So the maintenance cost for a CO2 laser cutting machine is high.
Fiber laser cutting is basically free of maintenance and has fewer vulnerable pars. It is capable of enduring harsh working environments and has a high tolerance for dust, shock, impact, humidity, and temperature. Therefore, the maintenance cost for a fiber laser cutter is low.
5.Cutting efficiency
The CO2 laser engraving machine has a large beam divergence during processing, which is not suitable for large-size processing. Although the cutting seam is relatively small, the speed is very slow when processing thick plates.
The features of a fiber laser cutting machine include high density and intensive laser beam, high brightness, and high conversion rate. For thin plate processing, the cutting speed of a fiber laser cutting machine is 2-3 times higher than that of a CO2 laser cutter with the same power.
CO2 laser cutting machine price
When you plan to buy an acrylic laser cutter, you may wonder about the CO2 laser cutting machine price. Based on different specifications and configurations, the CO2 laser cutting machine price varies from about $3,000 to $20,000. If you want to buy from abroad, you also need to pay additional fees, such as shipping costs, taxes, customs clearance fees, etc.
Factors that affect the CO2 laser cutting machine price
As I mentioned before, different specifications and configurations lead to different CO2 laser cutting machine price. So you need to communicate with the CO2 laser machine manufacturer to get the specific and detailed price list. Then, what factors can affect the CO2 laser cutting machine price?
Brand
The brand influence of a CO2 laser engraver is reflected in the quality, operation and service of the machine. Large-brand CO2 laser machines typically adopt good quality parts and components to ensure a stable and reliable operation.
Parts and components
As the major device to generate laser beams, the CO2 laser tube is the most important core part of a CO2 laser cutting machine. Besides, there are also other major parts and components, such as optical lenses, guide rail, rack, stepper motor, chiller, etc. Large-brand parts and components have excellent quality, stable performance and long service, and corresponding high price.
CO2 laser tube power
The thickness of the materials cut by a wood laser cutter varies according to different CO2 laser power. The higher the CO2 laser power, the thicker the CO2 wood laser cutter can cut. For the CO2 laser tube of the same brand, the higher the power, the higher the price.
Size of worktable
The CO2 CNC laser cutter usually doesn’t come with large-size worktable. The common size of the worktable includes 600*900mm,1300*900mm, 1400*1200mm, and 1300*2500mm. The higher the worktable size, the higher the CO2 laser cutting machine price.
Service
Service, whether before sales or after sales, is also an important factor. All-round services offer customers machine safety and timely maintenance of the CO2 laser engraver machines. Reliable CO2 laser machine manufacturers can provide complete and consistent services, and their CO2 laser machine has high quality and high price accordingly.
How to choose a CO2 laser cutter
Overall, finding the best wood laser cutter for your needs is going to require some deep consideration on many matters. For example, what you will use it for, the materials you plan to use, ease of use you require, and your price range. So before buying a CO2 laser engraver, you need to do the following preparations.
Figure out your processing requirements.
This includes what materials you plan to cut or engrave, dimension and thickness of such materials. It helps you determine the machine size and power of the CO2 laser cutting machine you need. The CO2 laser engraving machine is good at cutting and engraving non-metal materials of thickness within 0-25mm. If you want to engrave or cut any other surface than plain sheets, such as glass, you may need a rotary device.
Choose a suitable CNC laser cutter machine manufacturer.
There are so many CO2 laser machine manufacturers on the market. It is necessary to take time to do some investigations and select a suitable one. Such investigations shall include the professionalism, production capacity, delivery capacity, service level and other aspects of the CNC laser cutter machine manufacturers.
Consider the machine price.
When you get the quotation, you need to pay attention to the specific configuration of the CO2 laser engraver. Don’t be tempted by the low price blindly Because it may have some parts of poor quality.
In short, I would not advise making the choice based on the CO2 laser cutting machine price only. Because I believe that you get what you pay for. Low-priced laser machines are likely to use poor-quality parts, resulting in high maintenance costs in later use.
Remember to sign a contract with the manufacturer.
After you have reached an agreement with the manufacturer and prior to paying the advance, remember to sign a purchase contract. Stipulating the rights and obligations of both parties is helpful for safeguarding the rights and interests of both parties.
Affordable CO2 laser cutter for sale
Here I’d like to introduce the Blue Elephant CO2 laser cutter for sale. Blue Elephant has been dedicated to the development and production of CNC equipment for over ten years. Its laser cutter machine has been sold to many countries and regions, and has received many positive comments. Blue Elephant CO2 laser cutting machine has characteristics of rapid cutting speed, high precision, small cutting incision, smooth and stable operation.
| Model | 1390 CNC wood laser cutter machine | 1325 CNC acrylic laser cutter and engraver |
| Processing area | 1300mm*900mm | 1300mm*2600mm |
| Laser power | 100-150W (optional) | 80W/100W/150W (optional) |
| Protection cover | Yes | No |
| Functions | Cut, engrave, etch, mark | Cut, engrave, etch, mark |
| Price range | $3,000-$5,000 | $5,000-$10,000 |
1.1390 CNC wood laser cutter machine
It is equipped with a rotary device, which makes this CO2 laser cutter suitable for engraving cylindrical workpieces, such as glass. This CO2 laser engraver has a protection cover, which can protect the operator from being hurt.
The CO2 laser cutting machine price varies from $3,000 to $5,000. For the price, you need to consult with Blue Elephant based on your processing requirements, such as type and thickness of the cutting materials, cutting speed, etc.
2.1325 CNC acrylic laser cutter and engraver
The CO2 laser cutting machine price is about $5,000 to $10,000. It can achieve several functions, such as cutting, engraving, marking and etching various non-metallic materials. The laser head of this CO2 laser machine can focus and adjust the depth of cutting and engraving automatically. So there is no need to making the second processing.
Conclusion
CO2 laser cutting machine is quite popular with the workshops engaging in non-metal material cutting and engraving work. A qualified CO2 laser cutter machine is a good weapon to gain profits because of its high efficiency, good precision and extensive application. However, the CO2 laser engraving machine also has shortage, for example, low photoelectric conversion rate, high energy consumption and high operation cost. But in my opinion, the advantages of a CO2 laser cutter far outweigh its disadvantages. It is worthwhile to buy one to develop your business.
Choosing a CO2 laser cutting machine shall take many factors into consideration. You can determine the CO2 laser machine type, power, dimension and other configuration according to your production needs and processing materials. Great laser power, imported components, large working size and buying from overseas can all cause extra money to the CO2 laser cutting machine price.
