Laser Markers: Monthly Electricity Bills Much Lower Than You Might Expect

After testing the actual power consumption of a laser marking machine in normal use, we found that the monthly electricity bill was less than NT $ 50.By combining the power consumption of equipment, usage patterns and energy-saving techniques, it helps small and medium-sized enterprises to understand the actual energy consumption of their operations, and dispel the misconception that "industrial equipment uses a lot of electricity.

How much power do laser etching machines consume?

Many people think that a piece of industrial equipment has to be expensive to run, but when we tested a 30-watt fiber laser, we found that it cost less than the price of two cups of milk tea per month to run it for eight hours a day! (The exact figure depends on the local electricity rate.)

Basic conditions of the measuring equipment.

The test was conducted on a 30-watt machine, the most common type in the factory. The power meter indicated that the standby power consumption was about 50 watts, while the peak power consumption during marking was 180 watts.Assuming that it is actually used for six hours a day (including warm-up and tuning), and left on standby for two hours, it will use about 1.2 kWh a day, or 438 kWh a year.

Three key details for saving electricity.

Just turn off the sleep mode.

It may not seem like much power is being used when the machines are on standby, but it adds up to a significant expense.The recommendation is to turn off the computer at lunchtime or when it will be unused for a long period. Tests show that this saves about 15 % of standby power.

Set reasonable parameters for marking.

Increasing the speed by one gear and lowering the power by 5 % not only does not affect the marking effect on most materials, it also reduces the energy consumption per piece by about 8 %.The exact figures will vary, and the artist must try several times to find the right balance.

The company has also installed a computerized system to control power consumption and to avoid peak hours.

Some areas have peak and off-peak electricity rates, and the labeling work is concentrated in the evenings after ten o'clock, when the cost of electricity is two or three cents per kilowatt hour cheaper.This is particularly advantageous to the mass processing industry.

Actual electricity consumption.

At 1.2 degrees per day, 36 degrees per month, and NT $ 1 per degree, the monthly bill would be NT $ 36.And if the electricity is from the public utility (0.5 NT per kilowatt-hour), the cost can be halved.Compared to the hundreds of dollars that may be spent on consumables, the cost of electricity may not even be as much as your cell phone bill.

Long-term use suggestions.

Clean the cooling fan and laser head every three months. Dust can cause a decline in device efficiency and an invisible increase of 5-10 % in electricity consumption.If you find that your old machine is abnormally hot, contact the manufacturer for a checkup. It could be that some of the internal parts have aged and are "stealing" energy.

Note: Different brands and power levels will vary. It is recommended that you use a power meter to get the most accurate results.