3 Steps to Better Laser Maintenance

Laser machine users know it, but often ignore it. Laser manufacturers swear by it, but often don't push it. It's maintenance, and it should be the watchword of anyone who owns and operates a laser. With lead-times decreasing, margins thinning, and raw material prices always proving to be unpredictable, proper machine maintenance can save a shop plenty of headaches at crunch time. Instead of aspirin, these three tips can help laser operators avoid pounding head pains and keep their equipment operating at top performance.

All laser machines are manufactured identically, but the shop environments they enter once they are purchased influence the laser cutting devices in completely different ways. Many factors, such as ambient temperature, the type of material being cut, operator knowledge, shop cleanness, and air quality, make each setting unique. For instance, one shop's air source-perhaps a defective air dryer or an old compressor-might contaminate focal lenses faster than in the shop next door. In another example, the type of cutting, such as nitrogen-assisted cutting of aluminum or stainless steel, might require more frequent equipment maintenance checks.