Laser cutters are specialist tools that create designs and patterns in the way of cutting into a material. The laser beam on these devices is what vaporises, burns, or melts, the material to create intricate patterns, designs, logos or wording as necessary.

Laser cutting is described as a type of fabrication process that utilises a focused and thin laser beam to etch and cut materials into customised shapes, patterns, and designs. This thermal-based, non-contact fabrication process works well on a number of materials, including plastic, metal, paper, glass, wood, and gemstone.

The Three Main Types Of Laser Cutters

There are a number of different types of laser cutters used in the industry however there are three main types. C02 Laser Cutters, Crystal Laser Cutters and Fiber Laser Cutters.

The laser cutter differences include the type of laser used in the machine. In general, the high-powered lasers are suited to applications whereby larger sections of metal or plastic require cutting. The low-power lasers are used for materials that are thinner such as wood, paper, card stock, wood, and plastics.

  1. C02 Laser Cutters/Gas Lasers

Cutting is achieved with the use of electrically-stimulated CO2. The CO2 or gas laser is created using a mixture that contains other gases such as helium and nitrogen.

The CO2 laser emits a 10.6-mm wavelength, which contains enough energy and power to penetrate through thicker materials when compared to the fiber lasers. This laser also provides smoother finishes when cutting through thicker materials. The CO2 laser is the more common laser cutter type as they are inexpensive, efficient and able to raster and cut through a range of materials. CO2 lasers are commonly used to cut through leather, glass, acrylic, wood, and paper-based products.

  1. Crystal Laser Cutters

The crystal laser cutter generates beams from nd:YAG and nd:YVO. This a laser that is capable of cutting through stronger and thicker materials. The common materials that these lasers cut through include metals, plastics, and ceramics (certain types).

  1. Fiber Laser Cutters

The cutting with this laser is done with the use of fiberglass. This laser originates from what is known as a “seed laser” before it is amplified through special fibers. When compared to the gas lasers, the fiber laser does not have any moving parts. These lasers are a lot more energy-efficient and have the ability to cut through reflective materials. This laser is suitable for both non-metal and metal materials.

Out of these 3 lasers, the CO2 lasers are most commonly used by professionals and makers. They are mainly used for non-metal materials, despite the fact that many of the latest models can now cut through different types of metals.