General Maintenance Advice
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bradders
- CNC Guru
- Posts: 1251
- Joined: Mon 13 Feb , 2006 12:35 pm
- Location: Brighouse, England
- Contact:
General Maintenance Advice
How can I ensure a get the best performance out of my laser ?
Last edited by bradders on Fri 15 May , 2009 10:16 am, edited 1 time in total.
-
bradders
- CNC Guru
- Posts: 1251
- Joined: Mon 13 Feb , 2006 12:35 pm
- Location: Brighouse, England
- Contact:
1. Keeping the Laser system clean will ensure the highest quality
engraving and prolong the lifetime of the mechanical and optical
components.
The frequency of cleaning required will depend entirely on:
* The type of material being processed
* The performance of the exhaust system
* The operating environment
* The amount of laser system usage
Dirt or debris that is allowed to build up on the motion system
components may cause:
* Uneven or rough engraving
* Loss of engraving position
* Premature mechanical component failure
Optical contamination can result in:
* Loss of laser power
* Premature failure of Optics
After keeping the machine clean, I recommend replacing the 4 x-axis
bearings and the x-axis belt annually to ensure best performance.
2. The filters do not have a "shelf-life". They do not degrade from lack
of use. The lifetime during use is again dependant upon the material,
the process, and the amount of time in operation. I don't have any data
on average lifetime at all, and because of the variables involved this
is very hard to provide. I frankly avoid giving any actual numbers as
this only creates expectations that may not always be satisfied.
3. Lenses, windows and mirrors are not really consumed through use. It
is dirt and contamination and improper cleaning that cause them to be
consumed. If we could keep optics perfectly clean they should really
last indefinitely. Once dirt settles on an optical surface that the
laser beam reflects off or transmits through, the beam will be absorbed
into the dirt and cause it to heat, eventually burning a pit or
permanent mark on the optic. Once this happens the performance of that
optic will be impaired to a degree dependant upon the size and location
of the damage. Damage typically grows larger until laser power is
significantly diminished enough to require replacement, or until the
optic cracks from the heat.
4. From the above you can conclude that keeping the optics as clean as
possible will increase lifetime and maintain best performance. This is
certainly true. However you can actually "over-clean" optics. The optics
can have very thin and somewhat delicate coatings that can be worn away
from excessive cleaning. For that reason we suggest optics only be
cleaned when they are dirty, and not routinely if they do not really
need it. Inspect optics daily as a minimum, and clean only as required.
The less optics are handled the better. Follow the instructions in the
manual for proper cleaning technique.
Regarding the filters, keeping the pre-filter as clean as possible will
extend the life of the much more expensive HEPA filter.
engraving and prolong the lifetime of the mechanical and optical
components.
The frequency of cleaning required will depend entirely on:
* The type of material being processed
* The performance of the exhaust system
* The operating environment
* The amount of laser system usage
Dirt or debris that is allowed to build up on the motion system
components may cause:
* Uneven or rough engraving
* Loss of engraving position
* Premature mechanical component failure
Optical contamination can result in:
* Loss of laser power
* Premature failure of Optics
After keeping the machine clean, I recommend replacing the 4 x-axis
bearings and the x-axis belt annually to ensure best performance.
2. The filters do not have a "shelf-life". They do not degrade from lack
of use. The lifetime during use is again dependant upon the material,
the process, and the amount of time in operation. I don't have any data
on average lifetime at all, and because of the variables involved this
is very hard to provide. I frankly avoid giving any actual numbers as
this only creates expectations that may not always be satisfied.
3. Lenses, windows and mirrors are not really consumed through use. It
is dirt and contamination and improper cleaning that cause them to be
consumed. If we could keep optics perfectly clean they should really
last indefinitely. Once dirt settles on an optical surface that the
laser beam reflects off or transmits through, the beam will be absorbed
into the dirt and cause it to heat, eventually burning a pit or
permanent mark on the optic. Once this happens the performance of that
optic will be impaired to a degree dependant upon the size and location
of the damage. Damage typically grows larger until laser power is
significantly diminished enough to require replacement, or until the
optic cracks from the heat.
4. From the above you can conclude that keeping the optics as clean as
possible will increase lifetime and maintain best performance. This is
certainly true. However you can actually "over-clean" optics. The optics
can have very thin and somewhat delicate coatings that can be worn away
from excessive cleaning. For that reason we suggest optics only be
cleaned when they are dirty, and not routinely if they do not really
need it. Inspect optics daily as a minimum, and clean only as required.
The less optics are handled the better. Follow the instructions in the
manual for proper cleaning technique.
Regarding the filters, keeping the pre-filter as clean as possible will
extend the life of the much more expensive HEPA filter.