A fibre laser is a modern laser cutting technology that uses a solid-state fibre optic laser source to generate a highly concentrated beam of light. Compared to traditional CO₂ lasers, fibre lasers offer significantly faster cutting speeds, lower running costs, reduced maintenance requirements and improved energy efficiency.

While CO₂ lasers were once the industry standard, fibre lasers have largely become the preferred choice for cutting mild steel, stainless steel, aluminium, brass and copper due to their superior performance and lower cost of ownership. Fibre lasers also require no laser gas and fewer consumable components, helping manufacturers maximise productivity while reducing operating costs.

It is more economical when compared to the CO2 and YAG laser cutting methods of yesterday. Photoelectric conversion efficiency is around 30%. Compare that to around 10% for CO2 and only around 3% for YAG and it’s easy to see a clear difference in running costs. Add further benefits such as the need for far fewer consumable and vulnerable components replacements and fibre laser machines invariably come out on top.

As well as the advantage of costs, comes the considerable benefit of convenience. Compact CNC fibre lasers take up a fraction of your workshop’s real estate and are much more easily moved and maintained. Factor in the benefits of CNC automation and you have a true industrial laser cutter that is versatile and future-proof, allowing you to say goodbye to expensive outsourcing and boosting your ability to create more, easier.

Consistent quality comes as standard with fibre laser. Thanks to intuitive CNC controls and the light guiding systems which ensure a constant distance between laser beam and workpiece. This makes fibre laser perfectly suited for quicker and more accurate sheet metal cutting, especially with reflective surface workpieces such as copper and aluminium alloys.

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Fibre Laser or CO2 Laser?

You may have heard it said that fibre laser cutting outperforms other methods of cutting by significant margins. Usually such claims come with a list of nebulous justifications. ‘It’s just better’ or ‘fibre laser is faster’ are just two of the more common ones.

Is that enough though, to justify the initial outlay of your company’s hard-earned cash? Of course, we need more information, and a closer look at the different advantages of fibre laser machine cutting will help to make an informed decision.

Superior Cutting Quality

CNC fibre laser cuts through materials using a high intensity, focused beam of light, directed at the workpiece. The effect on the workpiece is quick and dramatic; a tiny area is vaporised, and an initial spot is then quickly formed into a clean and narrow slit as the beam moves on its pre-determined route, with virtually no deformation caused to the material even in complex or intricate cuts.

High Levels of Efficiency

CNC fibre laser and cutting efficiency are synonymous. With interfaces that are intuitive, quick and easy to use combined with (often multiple) CNC controlled worktables, automation vastly improves productivity and minimal operator intervention is needed.

Faster Speeds and Quicker Turnaround Times

With far less need for clamping, fixing and repositioning of materials, the industrial laser cutting process is one of greater speeds and much more impressive productivity. Using 2mm thick low carbon steel as an example and a fibre laser cutting machine delivering around 1200W of power, cutting speeds of around 600cm per minute are possible. For non-metals such as resin plate that speed could easily double.

Non-Contact Cutting

Non-contact cutting is an important aspect of cutting materials using high-powered laser machines and with that, comes a range of benefits. Firstly, that ever-present risk of mechanical deformation or damage to the finish of materials is removed from the equation. Tool wear and changovers are also largely things of the past. If you combine those things with the sheer convenience of CNC cutting and the ease of automatic nesting of components prior to the laser cutting process then there is also the added benefit of much less waste…

A wider Range of Materials

Those faster speeds, better productivity levels and superior cuts don’t just apply to metals. Laser cutting is just as feasible for resins, leather, woods and other fibres with the right auxiliary gas such as dry air or nitrogen. Certain levels of adaptability are needed, due to the different properties of each material, but for sheer versatility, CNC fibre laser is an unbeatable choice in today’s industry. It also goes a long way towards getting your business ready for the challenges of tomorrow.

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What is the difference between waterjet, laser and plasma profile applications?

Plasma or Laser? Finding the right profiling machine for you

• Clean accurate edges
• Reductions in tool wear
• Automation
• High speed and efficiency
• High precision

• Initial outlay can be expensive – although more cost effective options are now available on the market and few machines can pay for themselves like the laser.
• For cutting thick materials, a higher kW Laser Source is required compared to the equivalent CNC Plasma (albeit quality is a different factor).

The RVD SmartFibre C Ultra Compact Fibre Laser is our smallest table size machine. Popular with educational settings, or producers of small parts who just need that in-house capabilities, these compact machines are available in up to 3kW. With a small 0.9m x 1.3m static table, these machines virtually fit anywhere, and are a great resource to the small workshops who have them.

The machine features a fully enclosed design that meets CE standards, ensuring radiation-safe operation. High-precision motors and heavy-duty drive systems deliver reliability, cutting accuracy, and consistent performance.

The Morgan Rushworth XE is a great starting point, with a single pull-out 3 x 1.5m Table, it makes for a highly compact machine, while still bringing you the advantages of a full sheet size laser cutter. Perfect for scenarios where the laser is going to be used on an occasional basis, to supply your own parts on an adhoc basis.

With the pull-out table, material can be easily loaded and unloaded outside of the machine enclosure, giving the option to load material by crane as well as manually. Available with up to 6kW Laser Sources, these are highly capable, yet compact machines for any workshop.

The Morgan Rushworth XL takes your throughput capabilities even higher, with an integrated twin-shuttle table, it means you can be cutting on table 1, while unloading cut parts, and loading fresh material onto table 2. Available in a range of bed sizes and kWs, this machine is a great entry-point for workshops looking to bring profiling in-house, where the demands for cut parts would benefit from the shuttle table capabilities.

With a host of advanced features, this range caters to various cutting needs while maintaining a compact and user-friendly design. Class-leading components ensure excellent cut quality, high reliability, and minimal downtime. Ranging up to 12kW, these are highly capable machines.

The Morgan Rushworth XP Fibre Laser is a highly capable mid-range machine. With a heavy duty frame, and a bed size of 3m x 1.5m, the XP can be supplied with up to 12kW of power for high levels of cutting.

All XP models are supplied with an automatic shuttle transfer table, allowing the operator to easily load and unload the material while cutting continues.

An uprated specification of this model features an even sturdier frame, uprated mechanisms to support up to 2G Acceleration, and the option of an automatic loading and unloading system.

The Morgan Rushworth XLT is a unique machine we offer that features both a flat bed laser, and a separate tube laser rotary attachment. The same laser torch is used across both areas, and opens up the profiling of both flat sheet material and tubular products.

The advanced CNC laser cutting system, combined with high-quality components and a meticulous assembly process, ensures safe and stable operation, exceptional cutting efficiency, and high precision.

The Morgan Rushworth XRM is what is known as a “gantry machine”. In a design more akin to a CNC Plasma, there is a single static table for the machine, and then a smaller CE Rated cabin that moves up and down the 3m x 1.5m cutting bed, taking up a minimal footprint, and reducing costs with the smaller protective cabin.

The range covers from 6kw or 12kw which with the high performance rack and pinion system for X & Y axis and rigid gantry and frame structure, results in fast acceleration, fast positioning speeds and fast cutting times.

The Morgan Rushworth XSM also features a moving laser cutting cabin, but features power options from 3kW to 20kW, meaning it delivers precise, high-speed cutting using a rigid gantry, robust frame, and advanced rack and pinion system.

Unlike the XRM though, the bed size range is extensive, with widths from 2 – 4m, and lengths from 6m all the way up to 24m! Meaning you can have an extremely large processing area, without the need for double the length again for a shuttle table, minimising the footprint of a large surface area machine.

The Morgan Rushworth XR Fibre Laser range offers a 3m x 1.5m cutting area with an automatic shuttle table and dual pallet changer, enabling uninterrupted cutting while loading and unloading. Its compact design, with the laser source and chiller housed within the machine, is perfect for smaller workshops and ensures rapid setup from delivery to operation. High-quality components deliver excellent cut precision, reliability, and minimal downtime.

With power options of 3kW or 6kW, the XR range features a robust gantry, rigid frame, and high-performance rack and pinion X and Y axes for exceptional speed and efficiency. A user-friendly CNC touch screen supports on-screen programming or file imports from a PC, offering operational flexibility.

The Morgan Rushworth XS is our flagship machine. With power options from 6kW to 30kW, the XS range delivers rapid acceleration, positioning, and cutting via a robust gantry, frame, and high-performance rack and pinion X and Y axes. Linear motors and guides are available for even faster acceleration. The user-friendly touch screen CNC control supports on-screen programming and PC imports for flexible operation.

Automation options include compact or full-size tower systems for enhanced productivity, offering fully automated cutting and loading, capable of lights-out manufacturing.