Fiber Laser vs CO2: Which Machine for Your Shop?
The material list decides the machine family. Here is the short version.
The choice between fiber and CO2 is decided by materials, not by price.
Fiber laser
Cuts metals: mild steel, stainless, aluminum, copper alloys. Fast, low maintenance, no mirrors or gas lasers. Typical range 0.5-30 mm depending on power.
CO2 laser
Cuts non-metals: acrylic, wood, leather, textiles, glass. Cannot cut steel economically, and cannot cut aluminum at any useful thickness.
The mixed-material shop
If you cut both metal and acrylic, one machine cannot do both well. Most shops in that position run a fiber machine for metal and a CO2 machine for signage work.
For a longer comparison including running costs, see CO2 vs fiber laser. Trumpf and Hypertherm both publish technology overviews worth reading before you commit to a family.