Understanding the Difference Between a Fiber Laser and a UV Laser
Fiber and UV lasers are leading technologies for marking, engraving, and cutting materials. Both offer high precision and efficiency, but operate on different principles and suit distinct applications. Knowing their differences helps you select the best tool for your project.
How Fiber Lasers Work
Fiber lasers use optical fibers doped with rare-earth elements, such as ytterbium, to generate a laser beam. The amplified light in the fiber core produces a focused beam at around 1064 nm in the infrared spectrum.
This wavelength interacts well with metals, making fiber lasers ideal for engraving and cutting metal surfaces such as stainless steel, aluminum, brass, and titanium. They also work on some plastics and ceramics that absorb infrared light.
Fiber lasers deliver speed, efficiency, and longevity. The beam travels through an optical fiber, creating a compact, low-maintenance setup. Their high efficiency and low costs make them popular in industrial uses such as:
Metal engraving and cutting
Marking serial numbers or barcodes on tools and components
Laser welding and micro-machining
However, fiber lasers are unsuitable for heat-sensitive materials or those that poorly absorb infrared light, such as glass or transparent plastics.
How UV Lasers Work
UV lasers operate at shorter wavelengths—about 355 nm—produced by harmonic generation, which converts infrared light to ultraviolet light.
UV lasers, or “cold lasers,” use this short wavelength for non-thermal marking and engraving. Instead of melting or burning, the UV beam breaks molecular bonds, producing fine, high-contrast marks with minimal heat impact.
These traits suit UV lasers for delicate or heat-sensitive materials, including:
Glass and quartz
Certain plastics (like ABS, PET, and PVC)
Silicone and ceramic materials
Medical devices, circuit boards, and microelectronics
Because UV lasers can mark nearly any material without distortion or discoloration, they are widely used in precision and cleanliness-sensitive fields, such as electronics, medical manufacturing, and aerospace.
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