Talk to a specialist
Talk to a specialist
Machine price is just the tip of the iceberg. The cost that determines the investment is the total over the years: energy, gas, consumables and maintenance. This calculator estimates the total cost of ownership (TCO) of BODOR fiber laser against CNC plasma, in reais, with your operation numbers.
CNC plasma costs less to buy, but changes consumables (electrode, nozzle, swirl ring) frequently and cuts slower. Fiber laser requires higher investment and consumes more energy, but has lean consumables and high speed. On recurring volume of thin to medium sheet, the laser's lower operating cost usually recovers the investment difference in a number of months (the payback) and comes out ahead in the total of five years. Above about 20 mm in heavy carbon steel, plasma still tends to win.
Adjust assumptions to match your factory reality. Starting values are market estimates, not quotes.
Higher investment, low consumables, high speed.
Cheaper machine, high consumables, slower.
Adjust the fields to see the result.
How the account is done: operating cost per hour = consumption (kW) x rate + gas + consumables + maintenance ratios. To compare at the same cutting volume, plasma runs more hours than laser in the speed ratio you provided (that extra time represents the shifts or machines plasma would need to equal laser output). TCO sums machine investment with operation in the chosen horizon. Default values are market estimates to guide the count, not quotes. For a closed TCO with your sheet real numbers, thickness and rate, talk to Birisoldas.
Technical honesty: CNC plasma remains more economical on very thick sheet, typically above about 20 mm in heavy carbon steel, where plasma's cost per meter is lower and the initial investment weighs more. Birisoldas works both technologies (BODOR fiber laser and Hypertherm plasma) precisely to point out the right one per application, not push the more expensive one.
For thin to medium sheet, which is most of metalwork, ironwork, metal frame and implements inland, fiber laser wins on speed, finish and cost per part. That is where this calculator's TCO usually tips toward laser.
Cost per hour sums energy, gas, consumables and maintenance. Laser consumes more energy, but has much cheaper and durable consumables. Plasma has a cheaper machine, but changes electrode, nozzle and swirl ring frequently. On thin to medium sheet, the laser's higher speed reduces cost per part even with higher energy. The exact value depends on your rate and volume, and Birisoldas lifts your operation's real numbers.
On recurring volume, it usually does. Lean consumables, less rework, and higher speed make laser's operating cost stay below plasma, and the investment difference is recovered in a number of months, the payback. The calculator estimates that payback from the price difference between machines and monthly savings in your scenario.
Those rarely on the tag: frequent consumable changes, burr rework and oxide removal before paint or weld, slower speed and longer machine time per part. Added up over the years, these costs match or exceed laser's total cost on volume production.
On very thick sheet, typically above about 20 mm in heavy carbon steel, where plasma's cost per meter is lower and the initial investment weighs more. For thin to medium sheet, fiber laser wins on speed, finish and cost per part.
Birisoldas lifts your thickness, material, volume and rate and hands back the real cost per part and the payback of the right machine, without pushing the more expensive one.