What is a fiber laser?
In recent years, the fiber laser has become an indispensable tool in many industrial sectors. With its impressive performance capabilities and precise processing abilities, it has established itself as a revolutionary technology. Due to its high efficiency, precision, and diverse applications, the fiber laser is now an essential part of modern production.
A fiber laser is a type of solid-state laser and stands out primarily due to its excellent beam quality and high energy density. Harder materials like Metals and Plastics are ideally suited for laser marking with a fiber laser. The following analyzes the functionality of a fiber laser, its applications, and its numerous advantages. In addition, the critical points to consider when buying a fiber laser and what to look out for are mentioned.
How Fiber Lasers Work
A fiber laser is a powerful laser source that relies on the use of optical fibers to generate laser light. The functioning of a fiber laser is based on the principle of stimulated emission, where light is amplified through interaction with active ions in a doped fiber core.
Fundamentally, a laser consists of 3 parts:
- Power source,
- Laser active medium
- Resonator
Simplified representation of the structure of a fiber laser.
The fiber laser consists of a doped fiber core surrounded by an outer cladding layer of optical fiber. The fiber core contains dopants such as rare earths, which provide the laser light with the desired wavelength. Energy is introduced into the fiber core by a pump source, exciting the active ions in the core. These excited ions then release their energy as light, creating amplified emission.
This light is converted into coherent laser radiation by the laser resonator, which consists of reflective end mirrors. The cladding of the laser medium consists of mirrors, with one part being highly reflective and the other mirror being partially transmissive. The laser beam of the fiber laser is decoupled through this mirror.
The exiting laser beam from the fiber laser is then directed with the help of two mirrors, allowing it to be precisely aligned with the marking surface. The high energy density of the laser beam is due to the fact that laser light is nearly parallel light and can be optimally focused.
A laser beam propagates at the speed of light, this means 300 km/s. The same wavelength of the wave trains also ensures that the laser beam is monochromatic.
Which radiation source is right?
Finding the right laser source is crucial for a precise and long-lasting marking result. In addition to fiber lasers, there are also CO2, UV, and green laser sources available for use.
Whether a fiber laser is suitable for your application depends on the material base and the desired marking result. It is advisable to test the parts and components for laserability in advance. We would be happy to advise you in a non-binding initial consultation and perform sample laser marking of your products. Contact us by email at info@belaser.de or by phone at 09820 221 99 40 – we will get back to you promptly.
Here is an overview of laser beam sources and their suitability for specific materials:
fiber laser
Wavelength range: 1064 nm
Material: Metal, plastic, coatings
The fiber laser is suitable as an all-rounder among laser sources for numerous applications. It is particularly well-suited for laser engraving on uncoated and coated metals of almost any kind and for high-contrast markings on plastics.
CO2 Laser
Wavelength range: 10 600 nm
Material: Wood, Organic Materials, Plastic, Textile, Glass
The CO2 laser, also known as a gas laser or carbon dioxide laser, is an infrared laser with the longest wavelength. CO2 lasers are frequently used for marking products and packaging in the pharmaceutical and food industries.
UV Laser
Wavelength range: 355 nm
Material: Glass, plastic, organic materials, wood
Due to the short wavelength, a photochemical process is used with UV lasers. This is also called „cold marking“ because no thermal deformation occurs. Therefore, the UV laser is ideally suited for marking sensitive materials such as glass and plastics without laser additives.
Green laser
Wavelength range: 532 nm
Material: Glass, plastic
The green laser has a short wavelength at only 532 nm and thus a reduced thermal reaction. The thermochemical laser process is ideally suited for gentle plastic marking. Some plastics react better to the green laser than to the IR laser.
Overview Table - Radiation Source and Suitable Materials
|
Materials → Beam source ↓
|
Metal
|
Coatings
|
Wood
|
Organic materials
|
Plastic
|
Textile
|
Glass
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Green laser |
Possible |
Possible, with limitations |
Not possible |
Not possible |
Very good |
Possible, with limitations |
Very good |
|
UV laser |
Possible, with limitations |
Possible, with limitations |
Very good |
Very good |
Very good |
Possible, with limitations |
Very good |
|
MOPA fiber laser |
Very good |
Very good |
Not possible |
Not possible |
Very good |
Not possible |
Possible, with limitations |
|
CO₂ laser |
Possible, with limitations |
Very good |
Very good |
Very good |
Very good |
Very good |
Very good |
Application Examples Fiber Lasers
We are happy to assist you in selecting the right laser marker and determining the correct laser source for you. In our laser laboratory, we can test other laser sources in addition to fiber lasers. Feel free to use our laser configurator or contact us directly.
Test our laser configurator
Click through the questions and get your personalized offer with the right light source as quickly as possible.
What are the advantages of a fiber laser?
- High Efficiency: Fiber lasers are characterized by their high efficiency, as they convert a large portion of the supplied energy into laser light. This means they require less energy compared to other laser types, leading to cost savings.
- Precision and Control: The concentrated and bundled energy of the fiber laser beam allows for precise engraving and marking on various materials. The beam's focusability enables high control over the processing, leading to high-quality results.
- Versatile Applications: Fiber lasers are used in various industries. For example, they are used across industries for material processing. This allows for both functional markings and the permanent laser etching of complex decorations.
- Compact Design: When considering the purchase of a fiber laser, space requirements also play a crucial role. Compared to other laser types, the fiber laser is compact and space-saving. Its small size allows it to be easily integrated into production facilities or laboratory environments, thus leading to efficient use of available space.
- Longevity and low maintenance: Fiber lasers have a long service life (mean time between failures over 100,000 operating hours) and low maintenance requirements. Furthermore, they are insensitive to contamination and mechanical shocks, and excellent cooling is provided by the large surface area of the fiber. Consequently, external cooling systems can be dispensed with for fiber lasers.
In which laser systems are fiber lasers used?
Whether as a compact table-top version, as a single workstation, or integrated into existing production facilities. The small size of the beam source unit allows for widespread use across numerous industries and production scales.
With a fiber laser-based system, decorative surface finishing is also easily achievable, in addition to functional markings. You can choose from 3 variants:
Do you need more information?
Our Booklet provides you with an overview of the application areas of labeling lasers and explains the application fields of the numerous beam sources.
All our laser systems with numerous expansion options can be found in our product portfolio.
Please take also by phone or per Mail Contact our expert team. Together, we will find the right laser system and adapt it to your existing production processes. With us, you can buy a fiber laser that is individually tailored to your needs and wishes.
