The price of laser equipment is formed on the basis of a number of factors, the main ones are as follows:
Operating principle
There are several varieties of laser machines and they all differ radically from each other by the principle of laser flow formation. Two types are most commonly used: carbon dioxide and fiber optic.
Fiber lasers are designed for cutting and engraving metals and the above mentioned plastics. The heart of such devices is a fiber laser transmitter with optical fiber and pumping diodes inside, which generates a high quality single-mode laser flow and can function up to 100 000 hours (for comparison, the maximum operating time of a glass laser tube does not exceed 10 000 hours). The cost of fiber machines is one and a half to two times higher than the price of gas lasers;
Dimensions
Laser equipment manufacturers try to cover the target audience as much as possible and produce models with different dimensions and capabilities. The range includes huge units for plants for high-volume production, with a table size of up to 3 meters, medium-format machines for small production shops and workshops, and even small devices with a working area of only 20x20 cm, that can fit on an ordinary table.
Peculiarities of a laser tube
If we consider the question of pricing for carbon dioxide machines, which are the most popular laser equipment, then one of the important criteria for the formation of the final cost is the tube itself. They vary in power, manufacturer, and the presence or absence of a housing.
European and American tubes are packed into special protective boxes made of metal or ceramic with built-in air cooling systems. Unlike Chinese glass ones, these devices generate even better quality radiation and last significantly longer.
Motors
Stepper motors or servo drives are responsible for moving the laser head. The former are cheaper, but they have no feedback, so in case of an unforeseen error the machine will just keep on working, which will lead to material damage. In addition, stepper motors are characterized by microbursts during movement, which negatively affects the accuracy of the positioning of the beam.
Additional aspects
This category includes the quality of guides, upgrade options, number of cutting heads, availability of features such as table movement, autofocus, work area illumination, conveyor material feed, etc.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that no matter how much a laser machine costs, it remains a professional and high-precision equipment capable of high-quality and fast execution of tasks.