What Is a CO2 Laser?

The carbon dioxide (CO2) Laser is the most powerful type of industrial laser presently available. It is in general use for contour cutting and deep penetration welding. The long wavelength of CO2 light, 10.6um, is absorbed by most solids. This allows CO2 lasers to process a wide variety of materials.

Advantages of CO2 Laser Beam Cutting

• Low heat input to the work piece, hence low distortion or warping of the cut components
• Very thin (as thin as 0.025mm / .001″) and flexible materials can be cut without distortion
• Cut edges are relatively smooth and approximately perpendicular to the surface and frequently need no
• further shaping or cleaning prior to further fabrication
• Because of narrow kerf width and heat-affected zones, patterns can be closely nested, resulting in material
• savings
• The process is easily automated and can be interfaced other automatic equipment
• Limited fixturing is required for many cutting jobs
• There is no tool wear as in cutting with a saw milling tool or punch press operation
• Tool changes are “soft” software changes rather then hardware changes as in the use of punches and dies, for example
• “Blind” or partial cuts can be made in some materials, particularly those with volatilized such as wood and acrylic, resulting in decoration patterns
• Difficult-to-cut materials, including very soft material, such as foam rubber, and very hard material, such as ceramics, can be cut
• Composites can be cut without tearing of edges
• There is considerably less noise than in water jet or plasma cutting