Frequently Asked Questions
A fiber cutter is an industrial machine used to process and manipulate metallic materials, in other words, metal fabrication. It is not meant for engraving or marking metals, though you can do simple stuff such as serial number or barcode engravings. Intricate pattern engraving is not what a fiber cutting machine is meant for. It is not recommended for cutting organic/ acrylic/ plastic/ glass materials.
Aerospace manufacturing, automotive parts, construction, furniture manufacturing, art sculptures/installations
60-90 days. From the starting point of getting your customized machine built, shipping logistics, to the machine's QC process here at Anaheim, California . We make sure that everything is perfect before it is shipped to you. We will then schedule a machine installation and training date, including electrician setups and a fork-lift rental.
The fiber cutter machines are manufactured overseas with highest quality of parts sourced from all over the world. We perform thorough quality control checks and distribute our machines out of our factory located at Anaheim, California.
IPG laser is a US-based photonics company with a 2-warranty attached to it. They have their own technical support team, and are highly recommended for mass production and precise manufacturing. On the other hand, MAX is an overseas laser head brand with a dial based fiber source and an economical power usage model. It is great for prototype manufacturing and it requires slightly more power to be comparable with IPG laser sources.
We'd highly recommend it if your fiber machine is performing at 3kw or higher. We also recommend having a covered model if you have a busy workshop with a continuous workflow or have flammable materials laying around the machine.
If your machine is operating in colder weather, you would need an antifreeze coolant to keep the laser flow constant, otherwise it will cause issues within the laser optical system. If you are operating in a very hot environment, we would recommend having AC within your workshop to prevent machine from overheating. Furthermore, you will need to switch on your industrial water chiller and wait for it to get to an optimal temperature of 22-23 degrees celcius before switching on your laser source. If your machine is operating in humid weather, moisture may effect the laser powersource, and it can cause the machine to shut-down.
First of all, make sure the laser optics are clean to maintain precise cutting. Maintain properly deionized water (chiller system) and airfiltration system every 3 months. Check on the electrical cabinet every 6 months, dust off any unwanted debris, check on the transformers and tighten the connectivity to make sure machine runs properly.
We have partnered with First Citizen Bank to provide machine financing options of up to 7 years (84 months). For more information, please have a look at our machine financing page.
Check out this Cutting Parameter table to find out what type of fiber laser machine can cut through specific thicknesses of material.
Our 4-Core Dust Collector comes with 5.5KW of power; we recommend this collector for laser machines between 1.5-6KW. If you are looking for dust collector systems for a laser-cutting machine over 6KW, contact our sales representatives for a comprehensive rundown of our different products.
Our fiber-laser cutter machines come with their own built-in ventilation system to expel exhaust from the workspace. This system includes an exhaust fan and duct to suck up the pollutants and vent them out the back of the fiber-cutter machine.
Fiber-laser cutters 4KW and below should utilize 15KW air compressors, while fiber cutters 6KW and above should use a 22KW air compressor. Ensure your air compressor has dry, clean, and filtered air so that it can proficiently work with your fiber-laser machine.
CypCut is the only software available with our fiber-laser cutting machines. Any files used with Cypcut must be a .DXF file. Once inside the application, we convert the files into LXD, a specific CypCut file.
For the fiber-laser cutter’s interface, we use an FS controller to operate with the CypCut software.
The difference between the enclosed-bed and open-bed fiber cutters is their power levels, software, and laser head. An open-bed fiber-laser cutting machine can sustain a power of 1.5-4KW, while an enclosed fiber-laser cutter can sustain a power of 6KW and above.
Additionally, the enclosed fiber-laser marking machine uses different software and different laser heads.
No, our fiber-laser engraver does not warp metal. Fiber-laser machines are specifically designed for precision and control to eliminate quality issues like those caused by CNC plasma cutters.
The fiber-laser cutter runs off a 3-phase connection and requires a standard voltage of 380V. A transformer and stabilizer are included with the purchase of a fiber cutter, allowing for 220V, 240V, and 480V to be used as well.
The amperage for a fiber-cutting machine is based on the fiber-laser source, its power, the voltage utilized, and the unit itself. If you want to calculate the amperage draw of your laser cutter, use this calculator.
The kerf width of the fiber-cutting machine depends on the cutting chemical.
The tolerance for the fiber-laser cutter is 0.1mm.
Fiber cutters and plasma cutters both cut metal, but they differ in their mechanisms and capabilities. Here are some key differences:
- Cutting mechanism: Fiber-laser cutters use a laser beam to melt and cut metal, while plasma cutters use a superheated stream of plasma to cut the material.
- Materials: Plasma cutters can cut all types of metal, including thicker, low-quality materials up to 3 inches. Fiber cutters can cut all types of metal (including high-quality metal) of thin to medium thicknesses.
IPG
- Made in USA
- Industry's leading Fiber Laser Source in the US for metal fabrication
- CypCut is the 1 Software that is used for troubleshooting
- Price Rating: Expensive
- Designed specifically for highly reflective materials in its componentry, called a G5 feature
MAX
- Made in China
- Industry’s leading Fiber Laser Source in China for metal fabrication
- CypCut is the 1 Software that is used for troubleshooting
- Price Rating: Moderate
- Can add G5 feature to MAX as an additional purchase, for highly reflective materials (6KW and above only)
The main difference between the IPG and MAX power sources we use for our fiber-laser machines is their country of origin. IPG is the industry’s leading fiber-laser source in the US, while MAX is the leading fiber-laser source in China.
MAX presents a moderate price rating, while IPG is more expensive. However, units with IPG receive faster repair time in the US. Most importantly, IPG is designed specifically for highly reflective materials. This G5 feature is built into the IPG power source but is an additional purchase for the MAX (available for 6KW machines and above).
The most common wattage of our fiber cutters is 1.5-6KW. However, our highest KW laser-cutting machine available is 20KW.
On our 20KW fiber-laser cutter, you can cut up to 2” carbon steel or 1.5” stainless steel—as the cuttable thickness differs depending on the material.
Fiber-Cutting Machine KW
- FC-44: 1.5KW - 3KW
- FC-105: 1.5KW - 4KW
- FC-105T: 1.5KW - 4KW
- FC-105C: 1.5KW
- FC-510: 1.5KW - 4KW
- FC-105SA: 6KW
- FC-105SH: 12KW & 20KW only.
The fiber-cutting machine uses nitrogen and oxygen, depending on the material. Use oxygen for carbon steel, and nitrogen for stainless steel, aluminum, and brass.
Cutting gas is considered a consumable product of a fiber-laser cutter. Nitrogen gas will last for 15 minutes of continuous use, while oxygen will last for 2-3 hours.
Customers can replace the gas by coordinating with their local gas company. Check with gas companies in your area to see their available replacement services.
The fiber-cutting machine cannot engrave, but it can mark metal. For example, the fiber cutter can create simple name markings or part numbers on metal material.
For more information, please contact our experts: