From Data to Life: A Laser Health Evaluation Standard Manual

By analyzing data, the system is able to predict the life of a laser and provide a practical standard for evaluating its health. The system covers laser life evaluation methods, health detection processes and key maintenance indicators, helping users scientifically manage their equipment and extend its life.

Why is it so important to maintain the health of the laser?

Lasers are like the "heart of the equipment," and when their health declines, the lightest effect is a drop in efficiency, while the worst is a total shutdown.Through the monitoring and analysis of data, it is possible to detect problems such as power decay and temperature abnormalities in advance, thus avoiding the losses that can result from sudden shutdowns.For example, in an industrial cutting environment, a laser with insufficient health will result in a drop in the precision of the cutting, and even the scrapping of the product.

These two figures are the most important indicators of the laser's health.

Stability of output power.

The fluctuation in power is a "weather gauge" for the health of the system.If the output power drops more than 5 % over a period of continuous monitoring, there is a high probability that the internal components are aging or that the cooling system is not doing its job.You've got to check it out quickly, or you'll regret it when it's too late.

Trends in temperature change.

Is the laser's temperature too high when it is operating? Be careful not to "overheat" and burn out its core components! By comparing real-time temperature data with historical records, we can determine whether the cooling system is functioning normally.For example, if the long-term operating temperature of a fiber laser exceeds the set threshold by 10 %, it will cut the life of the laser in half.

Beam quality parameters.

These details, such as the divergence of the beam and the uniformity of the spot, have a direct impact on the results of the processing.The M2 factor is used to quantify the beam quality, and the closer the number is to 1, the more stable the beam quality.When the figures are abnormal, quickly check the optics or the resonant cavity.

Three steps to health.

Don't be lazy about recording everyday data.

The power, temperature, and energy consumption are all basic data that I record for five minutes every day.I recommend using monitoring software that automatically generates reports. This saves time, and you can also generate trend graphs so you can see problems at a glance.

A monthly deep "physical exam.

Once a month, when there is some free time, a complete inspection is carried out, including cleaning the optical window, calibrating the sensors, and checking the coolant flow.Don't be put off by the hassle, this can save a lot of trouble later.

Annual performance evaluation.

If the key indicators have dropped by more than 20 %, then it's time to consider a major overhaul or replacement.Remember, the cost of repairs may be more than the cost of a new machine.

Practical skills for extending life.

Environmental control is a basic skill.

Dust, humidity, temperature-these invisible killers can be fatal. Installing an air-conditioned cabinet with a filter for the equipment costs less than 1 % of the price of the laser, but can extend the lifespan of the equipment by more than 30 %.

Changing consumables at the right time.

Don ’ t wait until the scratches are so dense that you can ’ t see out of them. It is suggested that laser crystal be replaced every 8000 hours, and optical lenses polished every 5000 hours.The specific cycle is based on the actual workload in the equipment log.

Don't forget to update your software.

The firmware updates pushed out by the manufacturers contain optimized algorithms, which can automatically adjust power consumption and cooling strategies.After one model was upgraded last year, the failure rate dropped by 40 %, so we have to pull the wool over the eyes of the competition!