CO2 Lasers: Pros and Cons

This week, we are going to dive into the pros and cons of a CO2 laser. Here at Busy Bee Laser and Design, we have two 45W CO2 lasers from Full Spectrum Laser. We have both the Muse 3D and the Muse Core. Find out why we chose CO2 lasers below.

Pros

CO2 lasers are capable of cutting and engraving a wide variety of materials. These materials include acrylic, wood, stone, glass, textiles, and plastic. It can cut fairly quickly, however, a higher end CO2 laser would be needed if you want to cut or engrave a lot of items without it taking too long.

While CO2 lasers are more expensive than diode lasers, they are still a great option for a smaller budget. A hobby-level CO2 laser can range from about $2,500 to about $10,000. A hobby-level CO2 laser is typically the cheapest laser capable of handling small business needs. For a larger business, an industrial laser can range from $10,000 to $60,000.

Cons

The biggest con to CO2 lasers is that despite their versatility, they are not able to engrave or cut metals. This would require a fiber laser. A CO2 laser can engrave coated metals and metals that have been sprayed with CerMark spray. CO2 lasers do typically use more power than other types of lasers. This results in a higher cost of operation.

Overall, while CO2 lasers are not the cheapest, they are the most versatile. CO2 lasers cut a variety of materials and are pretty quick too. If you’re looking to start a laser engraving business or add it to a business you already have, I would recommend getting the highest power CO2 laser that fits in your budget.

Check out our blog post next week, where we discuss the pros and cons of a fiber laser.