CO₂ lasers and fiber lasers are two common types of industrial laser cutting sources, but they differ significantly in principle, performance, and applications. CO₂ lasers use carbon dioxide gas to generate far-infrared light, making them suitable for cutting non-metal materials such as wood, acrylic, and fabric, as well as thin metals. Fiber lasers use rare-earth-doped optical fibers to produce near-infrared light, which is highly efficient for metal absorption and ideal for cutting metals like stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum.