In a fiber laser, the laser beam is generated in an optical fiber. As a result, an optical fiber is almost always used to transport the laser beam to the processing head. The CO2 laser beam, on the other hand, is generated in a CO2 gas mixture. This laser beam has a longer wavelength (10,640 nm), enabling it to process different types of materials. A fiber laser is particularly ideal for metals and some plastics, whereas a CO2 laser is capable of processing (mostly organic) materials that a fiber laser cannot handle.