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Designed by OEMs, a fiber laser head is the “business end” of a fiber laser machine, focusing the laser during various fabrication processes. The efficiency and quality of work of a laser cutter are affected by the fiber laser head. For that reason, it is important to note that not all laser heads are the same, nor do they all require the same consumables.

What are the 5 Most Common Consumables for Fiber Laser Heads?

There are five common consumables for fiber laser heads. We will work our way down from the top of the sensor head.

1. Fiber Laser Head Protective Windows

Protective windows, also known as screens, shields, covers, along with other names, protect the 1 Micron lenses from back spatter and debris. There may be a couple of windows above and below the collimating and focal lenses.  The top window protects the inside of the fiber laser head from contamination, while the bottom window takes the brunt of abuse to protect the focal lens from damage.

Fused silica is the most commonly used material for making protective windows, and sapphire is another common medium. The coating on the protective windows assists with reflection and window maintenance.

2. Fiber Laser Head Lenses

Lenses help to collect and shape the light passing through the fiber laser head. Manufacturers make optics from fused silica material. There are two lenses installed in a fiber laser head. The first lens is a collimating lens, which creates a parallel beam of light that passes through the focal lens. The focal lens curves the laser light, bringing it together at a specific point to create a focused spot for precise cutting.

3. Fiber Laser Head Insulating Discs

Insulation discs help maintain a more stable and optimal temperature in the nozzle and reduce the transfer of heat from the high-temperature nozzle to the nozzle holder and its surrounding components.  Manufacturers use a variety of materials to make insulation discs, including ceramic, PTFE (Vespel) and plastic. Although ceramic is the most common, technicians prefer Vespel because of its durability and high resistance to heat. Ceramic tends to crack or break easily, and plastics can break down. While the exact number of discs varies depending on the fiber laser, having at least one is the most common.

4. Fiber Laser Head Nozzle Holders

The nozzle holder features a brass post embedded within it that transmits and collects electrical signals from the laser head to the nozzle. It has several functions, including shielding the laser head from impact and contamination, dissipating heat and ensuring stable operation.

There are two styles of nozzle holders: the standard threaded ceramic and the Automatic Nozzle Changer (ANC). The primary material for fiber nozzle holders is ceramic, due to its ability to withstand high temperatures and provide insulation. Other nozzle holders use a PTFE (commonly known as Teflon®) material or brass.

If the nozzle holder is damaged, it can lead to instability in signal transmission, preventing accurate sensing of the distance between the cutting head and the metal sheet. This instability increases the risk of the cutting head colliding with the workpiece.

5. Fiber Laser Head Nozzles

The laser nozzle controls the flow of auxiliary gas and the focal position of the laser beam. In addition, it prevents slag, molten material and debris from bouncing back into the cutting head and damaging the focal lens. To maintain the highest cut quality, operators must use the correct nozzle diameter, thread size and orifice size based on the material type and thickness being cut.

Nozzles are available in several different materials, including copper, copper with a chrome tip, chrome-plated steel, hard chrome-plated steel, and brass. They are also available in single or double styles.

Some lasers have a standard nozzle holder where the nozzles are threaded into the nozzle holder or cutting head. Newer fiber lasers have an ANC where the nozzles pop onto the ceramic and could be hexagonal in shape.

Selecting the most efficient nozzle is dependent upon the type of material and its thickness that you are working with. Selecting the incorrect orifice size can cause the molten material to splash up during cutting, potentially blowing up in the nozzle and contaminating the lens.

Trust Mate for High-quality Fiber Laser Head Consumables

To ensure the quality of your cuts, you need to select the right fiber laser head consumables. Fortunately, Mate offers a range of consumables and access to product experts with the knowledge to help improve your performance.

For more information on the range of high-quality consumables that Mate offers, visit our fiber laser consumables page. You can also review our laser technologies resources to help ensure the performance of your fiber laser cutter.