A Look at the Maintenance Costs of Laser Marking Machines: 3 Years of Data

The report is based on three years of actual data from users, and covers the cost of consumables, the replacement cycle for parts, and electricity costs.Using actual case studies and cost calculations, they help managers and technicians make reasonable plans and budgets for equipment maintenance, and master practical techniques for reducing long-term operating costs.

Maintenance costs are the main component of total costs.

Maintenance costs for laser marking machines are not a small sum.According to our data from the last three years, the biggest costs are in three areas: expendable materials, replacement parts, and daily energy consumption.

Consumables are the biggest part of the pie.

For example, the focusing lenses and reflectors need to be replaced every eight to ten months.Don't underestimate the importance of these "small parts." In three years they can account for 40 % of the total maintenance cost.Especially when working with metals, the lenses wear out much more quickly.

There is a lot to consider when it comes to replacing parts.

The core components of a laser have a typical life of about 20,000 hours, but in practice many users experience a drop in power output after 15,000 hours.The auxiliary equipment, such as the water pump and cooling fan, are even more delicate. Especially in the humid south, the average life of such equipment is only one year.

Electricity expenses are easy to overlook.

The monthly electricity bill for a 30 W fiber laser machine is about NT $ 200-300.If you include the cost of a cooling system, the figure goes up another 30 %.They suggest that by staggering the use of electricity, a lot of money can be saved.

The practical techniques of reducing maintenance costs.

Establish a health record for each piece of equipment.

We keep a ledger for each machine, recording the time of each maintenance and the parts that were changed.There are two benefits to this approach: It allows you to predict when the next maintenance will be needed, and it prevents you from being taken advantage of by the repair shop.

Don't be too stingy when buying consumable supplies.

The price of lenses of the same specifications can vary by as much as three times, but real world data shows that the total maintenance costs for a machine using a brand-name consumable are 15 % lower than for one using a generic consumable.After all, poor-quality consumables can damage other parts.

Maintenance is more important than repair.

Every week, spend 10 minutes doing these three things: use a lint-free cloth to clean the rail, check the fan for accumulated dust, and test the emergency stop button.The result was that the life of the core parts was extended by 20 % or more, and this was a real money saver.

Comparison of three years of maintenance costs.

We have collected data on the actual expenditures of 12 small and medium-sized enterprises.

Equipment maintenance: NT $ 12,000 per year.

Maintenance costs for equipment that is used roughly exceed NT $ 20,000 per year.

Unexpected maintenance costs: over 30 % of total costs.

How does one figure the return on investment?

He suggests that the maintenance budget be kept between 15 % and 20 % of the price of the equipment.If the ratio exceeds this level, it is time to think about an upgrade. After all, the energy consumption of new models has been greatly reduced, and the compatibility of parts is clearly better.

Repair or replace?

If the laser drops to below 60 % of its original power, or if the main board has been repaired twice, it is best to replace the machine.If you try to force the issue, you may find yourself in a vicious circle of spending more and more money.