A fibre laser cuts metal faster, costs less to run and handles reflective materials that CO2 lasers struggle with. A CO2 laser offers broader material versatility, including non-metals like wood, acrylic and textiles. 

For most sheet metal fabrication workshops, fibre laser technology is now the stronger investment, but CO2 still earns its place in specific applications.

Choosing between the two depends on what you cut, how thick it is, and how your workload is likely to change over the next five to ten years. This comparison breaks down where each technology performs best so you can make that decision with confidence.

How the Two Technologies Differ

Both fibre and CO2 lasers cut by focusing a high-energy beam onto a workpiece, melting or vaporising the material along a programmed path. The difference is how they generate that beam.

A CO2 laser passes electricity through a sealed tube filled with a gas mixture, primarily carbon dioxide, nitrogen and helium. The gas molecules become excited and emit infrared light at a wavelength of around 10,600nm. That beam is then guided to the cutting head using a series of mirrors.

A fibre laser generates its beam inside a doped optical fibre. Semiconductor diodes pump energy into the fibre, and the resulting light is amplified and delivered through a fibre-optic cable directly to the cutting head. The wavelength is much shorter, around 1,060nm, and the beam never leaves the fibre until it reaches the workpiece.

That shorter wavelength is the reason fibre lasers absorb more efficiently into metal surfaces, and why they’ve overtaken CO2 for the majority of metal cutting work.

Cutting Speed and Efficiency

On thin to mid-thickness metals, fibre lasers are considerably faster. A high-powered fibre laser can cut up to five times faster than a CO2 laser on material under 5mm. Even on mid-range thicknesses (6-12mm), the speed advantage holds, though the gap narrows as material gets thicker.

Energy efficiency tells a similar story. A fibre laser converts roughly 30% of the electricity it draws into usable cutting power. CO2 lasers manage around 10-15%. In practical terms, a fibre laser uses one-third to one-half the electricity of a CO2 system producing equivalent results. Over a year of two-shift production, that difference adds up to thousands of pounds in reduced energy bills.

The Ermaksan Fibermak range, available through AFM’s fibre laser machinery collection, uses FlyCut technology that pushes cutting speeds up to three times faster than standard fibre lasers on certain profiles, with acceleration rates of up to 4G between parts.

Material by Material: Where Each Technology Wins

The right choice depends heavily on what comes through your workshop door. Here’s how the two compare across the most common materials.

Mild Steel

Both technologies cut mild steel well. Fibre lasers are faster on everything up to about 15mm. Beyond 20mm, CO2 lasers have traditionally produced smoother edge quality, though modern high-power fibre lasers (10kW and above) are closing that gap rapidly. For the vast majority of mild steel work in fabrication shops, fibre wins on speed and cost per part.

Stainless Steel

Fibre lasers produce clean cuts in stainless steel up to 12mm (on a 6kW source) with excellent edge quality. CO2 can handle stainless but at slower speeds and higher operating costs. If stainless is a significant part of your workload, fibre is the clear choice.

Aluminium, Brass and Copper

This is where fibre lasers pull away decisively. CO2 lasers struggle with reflective metals because the longer wavelength bounces off the material surface, which can damage internal optics over time. Fibre lasers, with their shorter wavelength, absorb into these materials far more effectively. If you regularly process aluminium, brass or copper, a CO2 laser creates unnecessary risk and slower production.

Non-Metals

CO2 lasers cut wood, acrylic, textiles, leather, plastic and composites. Fibre lasers cannot. The shorter fibre wavelength passes through most non-metallic materials without cutting them. If non-metal cutting is a significant part of your operation, CO2 remains the only viable laser option.

Running Costs: The Numbers That Matter

The purchase price of a fibre laser and a CO2 laser may not be dramatically different, but the cost of ownership over five to ten years tells a very different story.

Electricity. A fibre laser uses 50-70% less power than a CO2 laser for equivalent cutting work. On a machine running two shifts, that difference alone can amount to several thousand pounds per year.

Consumables. CO2 lasers require regular replacement of mirrors, lenses, bellows and laser gas. The beam path delivery system needs periodic alignment. Fibre lasers have no beam path mirrors and no laser gas. Your main consumables are cutting nozzles, protective lenses and assist gas, all of which are cheaper and less frequent.

Laser source lifespan. A fibre laser source typically lasts 80,000 to 100,000 operating hours. A CO2 laser tube lasts 20,000 to 30,000 hours. Replacing a CO2 resonator is a significant expense, and you’ll face it two or three times before a fibre source needs attention.

Maintenance labour. CO2 lasers need more hands-on maintenance: mirror alignment, gas system checks, beam path cleaning. Fibre lasers require less routine attention, which means less downtime and lower service costs. That said, planned servicing and preventive maintenance remains important for any CNC machine running production hours.

When CO2 Still Makes Sense

Fibre dominates the metal cutting conversation, but CO2 lasers haven’t disappeared for good reason.

If your workshop processes a mix of metals and non-metals, a CO2 laser gives you one machine for both. Fabricators who cut signage from acrylic and steel, or manufacturers working with composite panels alongside metal components, may still find CO2 more practical than running two separate systems.

CO2 also produces a marginally better surface finish on very thick stainless steel and aluminium plate (20mm+), where the wider kerf and slower cutting speed can actually improve edge quality. For workshops specialising in heavy plate work with tight finish requirements, CO2 remains competitive at the top end of the thickness range.

For everyone else, the economics and performance of fibre laser technology have moved too far ahead.

Upgrading from CO2 to Fibre

Many workshops now running CO2 lasers are evaluating the switch. The question is usually timing rather than whether to switch at all.

Consider upgrading when your CO2 laser is approaching its second or third resonator replacement, your energy costs have become a noticeable overhead, or you’re losing jobs because competitors on fibre lasers are quoting faster turnaround times on reflective metals.

The transition is straightforward. Modern fibre lasers use similar CNC interfaces and CAD/CAM workflows to what your operators already know. Most experienced laser operators adapt to a fibre machine within a few days. The main adjustment is learning the different parameter settings for each material, as fibre lasers respond differently to speed, power and focus changes compared to CO2.

AFM supplies both the Ermaksan Fibermak and Glorystar fibre laser ranges, covering everything from entry-level machines for workshops making their first move to fibre through to high-power production units. 

Both ranges are available through AFM and can be seen at our Cramlington showroom, where we run live demonstrations for customers evaluating their options.

Making the Right Decision for Your Workshop

For most fabrication workshops cutting metal, fibre laser technology offers faster cutting, lower running costs, less maintenance and better performance on reflective materials. CO2 remains the right tool for specific applications, particularly mixed metal and non-metal work or heavy plate with strict surface finish requirements.

The decision comes down to your material mix, your typical thicknesses and where you see your workload heading. If you want to understand how fibre laser cutting compares to your current setup in practical terms, explore AFM’s fibre laser range online or book a visit to our Cramlington showroom to see both Ermaksan and Glorystar machines cutting your typical materials. For a broader look at the technology itself, our guide to how fibre lasers work, what they cut and why they matter covers the fundamentals.