74,924 Reasons to Upgrade a CO2 Laser to a Laser Photonics Fiber Laser System

Orlando, FL, March 25, 2009 --(PR.com)-- When lasers were invented in 1960, they were called "a solution looking for a problem." Since then, they have become ubiquitous, finding utility in thousands of highly varied applications in every section of modern society, including consumer electronics, information technology, science, medicine, industry, law enforcement, entertainment, and the military.

Now with so many diverse industries using so many various applications, lasers have firmly rooted themselves as a necessary solution for new problems encountered. Today, end users have perhaps more choices than Einstein ever dreamed possible -- from laser types, to methods of processing, depths of cuts, marks and engravings, focal lens lengths, power settings, frequency, speed, number of passes and more.

Selecting the Right Laser System
Due to all the options available to end users, selecting the right laser for an application can be an arduous process and deciding to upgrade from a CO2 to a fiber laser system may bring even further challenges. Laser Photonics can help answer those tough questions and has provided our customers with a new tool to compare systems. Using the Cost Comparison Calculator found on the home page of www.LaserPhotonics.com, customers can key in their location, the power of their CO2 laser and their typical daily use. The calculator will then reveal pertinent information such as: the tremendous cost savings, increased reliability, and enhanced beam quality and spot size of Laser Photonics Fiber Laser Systems. Users will quickly see what was once the top of the line CO2 laser system, and the best solution several years ago, now greatly pales in comparison to a new Laser Photonics Fiber Laser System.

Sample Comparison
Let’s say a plant in Florida is currently running a 1000w CO2 laser for 8 hours a day. The electric power consumption with the CO2 laser is very high. Based on Florida’s average power cost of .1045 per kWh, that 8 hour daily shift, working 250 days per year, will cost $7,942 in electric costs per year.

Then, consider the yearly maintenance of $45,000 and estimated assist gas consumables (6 l/h Nitrogen, 1 l/h Carbon Dioxide, 13 l/h Helium) at a cost of $11.67/h per year. That will add another $23,340 per year in costs.

Total cost to run that CO2 laser each year? A staggering $76,282.

Now, let’s take that same scenario, same run times and cost per hour figures and look at using a new Laser Photonics Fiber Laser System. The 1000W CO2 Laser System currently being used can be replaced with a 500W Fiber Laser System which has equal cutting quality and speed. With a new fiber laser, much less power is required for cutting reflective materials like aluminum or copper since more of the laser energy is absorbed by the substrate. This allows for intricate high-quality cutting at higher efficiencies than comparable laser cutting systems.

The new fiber laser will have very low power consumption. Using the same sample data to compare -- a plant based in Florida, running a 1000w Co2 laser, 8 hours a day for 250 days a year, will incur power costs of only $1,359 per year. Remember, this is based on Florida’s average power cost of .0145 per kWh -- other states average power cost may be higher or lower.

Maintenance costs are easy to calculate for a new Laser Photonics Fiber Laser System -- $0. The fiber laser has no maintenance costs, no consumables and no cleaning of or alignment of mirrors for beam path is needed.

In the end, the yearly cost to run a new Laser Photonics Fiber Laser System? Just $1,359. That’s a savings of $74,924.

Additional factors to consider:

Reliability (mean time between failure) – the CO2 lasers window is 20,000 hours where the fiber laser is between 50,000 and 100,000 hours.

Power efficiency - CO2 laser is only as high as 20% where the fiber laser is up to 50%.

Beam Quality and Spot Size – The fiber laser TEM00 (<1.15) beam profile results in significantly higher power density directed to the material surface. Requires less power for the same result in comparison with CO2 systems.

Optical Path/Beam Path - Due to the CO2 lasers mirrors and optical path, there will be a loss of beam quality and significant power drop-off where as the fiber laser features a flexible cable (up to 50m).

Chiller - A CO2 laser also requires a larger chiller in comparison to the fiber laser system.

Laser Photonics is the largest fiber laser equipment manufacturer is the USA providing laser marking, cutting and engraving systems for a variety of industries, such as; aerospace, automotive, medical, solar and semiconductor to name a few. Laser Photonics exceeds in manufacturing high quality, performance driven turnkey solutions for these and many other industries and believe in providing the best products overall in respect to quality, performance, range, and price.

###