DIY Laser Maintenance Saves Tens of Thousands

Learn how to maintain your laser marking machine and save NT $ 10,000 a year on maintenance costs! The book provides detailed instructions on daily maintenance and troubleshooting, as well as tips on replacing parts. It helps users to deal with aging equipment and misaligned laser beams, extending the life of the machine.

Why do I recommend that people do their own maintenance?

Many friends think that laser marking machine maintenance must be done by the manufacturer, but in fact 80 % of the daily problems can be solved by themselves.For example, last week a colleague who does metal working had a laser marking machine that was producing blurry marks because the lens was dirty. He spent NT $ 3000 to have somebody come and fix it. All the technician did was clean the lens. Wouldn't it have been better to have used that money to buy materials?

These are the three things that you absolutely have to do to maintain your car.

Gentle cleaning is important.

Don't wipe with a tissue! Use a special dust-free cloth dipped in alcohol, wiping in a circular motion from the center out.He has seen cases where people have scratched their lenses with alcohol-soaked cotton swabs, and replacing the lenses can cost several hundred dollars.

Don't be lazy about lubricating the rails.

The tracks can get stuck after a while. Just wipe them with a thin layer of sewing machine oil once a month.Don't use butter, because it will accelerate wear when it gets dirty.One trick is to put a piece of A4 paper on the track. If it slides with no resistance, then you know the lubrication is sufficient.

Watch out for the cooling system.

Fans often get clogged with dust, so use a brush and vacuum cleaner to clean them once a month.The most extreme example I ever encountered was a machine whose fan had been clogged with cotton lint. The laser tube became overheated and was ruined. The repair costs were enough to buy half a new machine.

Common malfunctions and how to fix them.

The results of the marking are not as noticeable.

First he checks that the lenses are clean, then he checks the laser power setting.If the device is accidentally set to a lower level, readjusting the parameters will solve the problem.If that doesn't work, it may be that the laser tube is worn out and needs professional testing.

The equipment is frequently sounding alarms.

Ninety percent of the time, it's a heat dissipation problem, or a loose connection.First check the temperature of the case, then check to see if the various plugs are firmly in place.On one occasion, when there was a rush order, the machine broke down. It turned out that the power cord was loose, and once it was plugged in tightly, the machine immediately came back to life.

Accuracy is reduced.

First, you adjust the optical path.If the chain still slips, adjust the tension of the belt.It's much faster to mix your own than to wait for the supplier to deliver, especially when there's a tight deadline.

It really wasn't necessary to spend this money.

Maintenance packages offered by manufacturers include basic items such as cleaning and lubrication, which account for 60 % of the total cost.If you buy a tool kit (less than NT $ 200) you can use it for a whole year.There are also a lot of generic parts like lenses and leather belts that are half the price of the original.But be warned: If you run into problems with the circuit board or laser source, you should still seek out a professional. Safety is the most important thing!