Laser Crystal Maintenance: Are You Shortening the Life of Your Equipment?

Laser crystals are the core components of precision equipment. However, many users fall into the trap of improper maintenance, which can actually accelerate aging of the equipment.This article reveals the most common mistakes in maintenance, from cleaning methods to environmental control to parameter adjustment, so that you can avoid "doing a good deed in a bad way" and extend the life of your equipment.

These habits may be destroying your equipment.

Many people think that the more you clean and adjust a piece of equipment, the better it will be. But in fact, a laser crystal is like a delicate work of art--if you're too rough with it, you'll do damage.I ran into an example of this last week. A technician at a certain factory used an alcohol swab to repeatedly wipe a crystal, and after three months the crystal's transmittance was cut in half.

Myth 1: Scrubbing the screen.

Do you use a cloth to wipe the crystal? Stop! The coating on the crystal is more fragile than a smartphone screen protector. The proper way to clean the crystal is to first blow off the dust with a specialized air blower, and then use an optical-grade cotton swab dipped in a special cleaning solution to gently wipe the crystal in one direction only.The trick is to "blow three times, wipe half the area, and stop if your hand starts shaking.

Mistake # 2: Ignoring humidity and temperature.

The biggest lie is that 'air conditioning is enough.'When the temperature in the laboratory is 26 ℃, the temperature inside the equipment could already be 32 ℃! It is suggested that a thermometer be placed beside the crystal module to ensure that the temperature is kept at 20-25 ℃ and humidity at 30-50 %.In summer you can prepare a small dehumidifying box to put near the ventilation port, and the results will be immediate.

Hidden traps in the parameters.

Mistake # 3: Blindly seeking maximum power.

Just as a car cannot be driven at full throttle all the time, running at full capacity for too long can cause irreversible damage to a solar cell.It is recommended that the daily usage of a wattmeter be limited to 80 % of its rated power, and that it be calibrated every two weeks.If you discover that the beam has an abnormal crescent shape, contact the manufacturer immediately for repair. The savings on maintenance costs will not make up for the cost of a new crystal.

Misconception 4: Ignoring vibration interference.

A new centrifuge has just been installed in the lab? The building next door is being renovated? These vibrations can cause tiny fractures in the crystals.There is a simple test: put a glass full of water on the equipment's housing and observe the ripples on the surface.If the vibration is clearly visible to the naked eye, then install a shock absorber.

How do you keep the right rhythm in caring for them?

Remember this rhyme: "Daily check the light spots and dust, monthly check the power, quarterly check the health.Every day before turning on the machine, check to see if the output light spot is even. Every week clean the heat dissipation holes with compressed gas. Every month adjust the system parameters. Every three months have a specialist technician do a complete checkup.It is best to keep a maintenance record book and to attach it to the side of the equipment. When a maintenance task is completed, check it off.

If you encounter an emergency situation, don't panic. Last year, one of our clients accidentally got some cutting oil on a crystal. We immediately cut the power and used specialized absorbent cotton to deal with the spill. Finally, we sent the crystal to the factory for restoration, and the basic fee was all it cost.Remember, 80 % of damage is caused by improper emergency treatment. The best tool is a cool head.