Fibre laser

How a fibre laser works, advantages over other beam sources, possible applications

What is a fibre laser?

In recent years, the fibre laser has become an indispensable tool in many branches of industry. Its impressive performance and precise machining capabilities have established it as a revolutionary technology. Thanks to its high efficiency, precision and wide range of applications, fibre lasers have become an integral part of modern production processes.

A fibre laser is a solid-state laser and stand out above all due to its excellent beam quality and high energy density. Harder materials such as metals and plastics are ideal for laser marking with a fibre laser. The following is an analysis of how a fibre laser works, the possible applications and the numerous advantages. The critical points when buying a fibre laser and what to look out for are also mentioned.

Fibre laser functionality

A fibre laser is a powerful laser source based on the use of optical fibres to generate laser light. The operation of a fibre laser is based on the principle of stimulated emission, in which light is amplified by interaction with active ions in a doped fibre core.

Basically, a fibre laser consists of 3 parts - the energy source, a laser-active medium and a resonator.

The fibre laser consists of a doped fibre core surrounded by a layer of glass fibre. The fibre core contains dopants such as rare earths, which give the laser light the desired wavelength. A pump source introduces energy into the fibre core, which excites the active ions in the core. These excited ions then release their energy in the form of light, resulting in increased emission.

This light is converted into coherent laser radiation by the laser resonator, which consists of reflecting end mirrors. The cladding of the laser medium consists of mirrors, whereby one part is highly reflective and the other mirror is partially transparent. This mirror decouples the laser beam of the fibre laser.

The outgoing laser beam of the fibre laser is then directed with the help of 2 mirrors and cann thus be aligned with the utmost precision on the marking surface. The high energy density of the laser beam is due to the fact that laser light is almost parallel light and can be optimally focussed.

A laser beam propagates at the speed of light, which means 300km/second. The same wavelength of the wave trains also ensures tat the laser beam is monochrome.

Which beam source is the right one?

Finding the right beam source is the be-all and end-all for precise and durable labelling results. In addition to the fibre laser, there are also CO2, UV and green laser beam sources to use.

Whether a fibre 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 consulation and carry out a sample laser treatment of your products. Contact us by e-mail at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by telephone at +49 9820 - 221 99 40- we will contact you immediately.

Here you will find an overview of the laser beam sources and their suitability for the respective materials:

Fibre laser

Wavelength range: 1064 nm
Material: Metal, plastic, coatings

As an all-rounder among laser beam sources, the fibre laser is suitable for numerous applications. It is particularly suitable for laser engraving on uncoated and coated metals of almost any kind 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 glass laser or carbon dioxide laser, is an infrared laser with the longest wavelengths. CO2 laser is often used for the marking of products and packaging in the pharmaceutical and food industry.

UV laser

Wavelength range: 355 nm
Material: Glass, plastic, organic materials, wood

Due to the low wavelengths, a photochemical process is used in the UV laser. This is also called ‘cold marking’ because no thermal deformation occurs. Therefore the UV laser is ideal 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 low wavelength of only 532nm and therefore has a reduced heat response. Since thermochemical laser process is best suited for gentle plastic markings. Some plastics react better to the green laser than to the IR laser.

Uebersicht Laserstrahlquellen mit Materialeignung

pattern lasing

What are the advantages of a fibre laser?

Overview of laser systems

High efficiency: Fibre lasers are characterized by their high efficieny, as they convert a large part of the supplied energy into laser light. This means they require less energy compared to other types of lasers, which leads to cost savings.
Precision and control: The concentrated and bundled energy of the fibre laser beam can produce precise engravings and markings on different materials. The focusing power of the beam allows high qualitiy results.
Versatile applications: Fibre laser are used in various industries, for example in material processing across industries. On the one hand, not only functional markings are realized, but also complex decorations are permanently lasered.

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Compact design: When considering buying a fibre laser, the space requirement also plays a decisive role. The fibre laser is compact and space-saving compared to other types of lasers. Its small size allows it to be easily integrated into production facilities or laboratory enviroments, thus leading to efficient use of available space.
Longevity and low maintenance: Fibre lasers have a long life cycle (average service life over 100,000 operating hours) and low mainetenance requirements. They are also insensitive to contamination and mechanical vibrations, and the large surface of the laser provides excellent cooling. As a result, an external cooling system can be dispensed with in the case of fibre laser.

In which laser systems fibre laser are used?

Whether as a compact table variant, as an egg workstation or integrated into existing production plants. The small size of the beam source unit allows for a nationwide application in numerous industries and production sizes.

With a fibre laser based system, functional markings and decorative surface finishing can be easily realized. You can choose between 3 variants:

Table top laser

Workstation

Integration laser

You need more information?

Brochure as PDF

Our Booklet gives you an overview of the application areas of laser marking and explains the applications of the numerous radiation sources.

All our laser systems with numerous expansion options can be found in our Product portfolio.

Please contact our team of experts by phone or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Together we find the right laser system and adapt it to existing production processes. You can buy a fibre laser individually to your needs and wishes.

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