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Maintenance of laser metal cutters is necessary to maintain cutting quality, increase service life of equipment and ensure safety. Regular inspections and cleaning prevent unexpectedly high repair costs and risk of accidents. Failure to follow these procedures may also lead to loss of warranty.
Cleaning and maintenance
Proper operation of a laser metal cutter requires following these maintenance rules:
Checking and calibration
Checking alignment of the laser beam and calibrating equipment regularly, necessary points in maintaining cutting accuracy.
General cleaning
After each shift, a huge amount of dust and debris remains, cleaning the machine using vacuum cleaners or air compressors to remove small particles.
Filters
Check cooling system filters and dust filters regularly. If it is needed, replace filters, necessary according to manufacturer’s recommendations.
Conditions of use
Operation of a laser metal cutter includes several key aspects to maintain its efficiency and durability:
Temperature control
Keep an eye on the temperature of the laser source and coolant. Built-in sensors and monitoring systems will help you with this.
Keep temperature within limits recommended by the manufacturer to prevent overheating and damage to equipment.
Calibration
To ensure cutting accuracy, regularly check and adjust alignment of the laser.
Use calibration tools and software provided by the manufacturer to maintain accurate settings.
Replacing the coolant
Change the coolant according to manufacturer’s recommendations or if there are visible signs of contamination.
Check liquid level and condition before each equipment start-up.
Electrical maintenance
It is an important point to ensure its reliable and safe use. Below are some key steps and recommendations for maintenance of electrical equipment for laser metal cutting:
Regular inspections
Inspect all electrical panels weekly for overheating or burning smell. If darkening or smell is detected, disconnect equipment and check connections.
Cleaning and filters replacement
The cooling system, more specifically air filters need cleaning with compressed air every three months. If the filter is too dirty, replace it with a new one.
Ensure free air flow in ventilation systems to prevent overheating.
Temperature calibration
Check calibration of temperature and current sensors using reference instruments on a quarterly basis. If sensors show deviations, calibrate them according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Grounding
Check grounding of all electrical components annually using an ohmmeter to measure resistance. Make sure that ground resistance meets regulatory requirements (usually less than 1 ohm).
Software update
The software is constantly being refined and tends to become more convenient, check for updates on the manufacturer’s website every six months. If available, install them by following the user’s guide.
Fuses and protective devices
Check the condition of fuses in electrical cabinets monthly. If a tripped fuse is detected, find out the reason for its operation and fix the problem before replacing the fuse.
Routine maintenance
Create a maintenance schedule that includes tasks every quarter to check cable connections and terminals for loose connections and corrosion. If you want to know how to change and install a CO2 laser tube, click here.
Following these recommendations will help to keep the electrical part of the laser metal cutter in working order, minimizing risks of breakdowns and ensuring high productivity and safety of equipment.
Personnel training
Working with machine requires careful preparation to ensure safety and efficiency. Here are main steps and recommendations for organising such training:
Theoretical training
- Overview of operating principles: start with basics by explaining how laser metal cutting works, including physical principles of laser cutting, types of lasers, and materials that can be processed.
- Safety: pay special attention to security measures. Explain risks associated with lasers, such as vision damage, burns, and methods to prevent them, including use of protective equipment and compliance with established regulations.
About equipment
- Structure and components: familiarise employees with main parts of the laser metal cutting machine: laser source, optical system, control system, cutting table, and cooling and waste disposal systems.
- Interface: train staff to work with software and management interface. Show how to enter cutting parameters, download programs, and manage the cutting process.
Practical training
- Setup and launch: conduct hands-on training on how to set up equipment, turn it on, and start it up. Make sure that each employee knows how to properly prepare the machine for operation.
- Cutting and processing: train staff in cutting techniques for various materials, adjusting cutting parameters to achieve optimal results, and controlling cutting quality.
- Diagnostics and troubleshooting: show how to identify and fix common problems such as insufficient laser power, laser beam deflection, or failures in cooling system.
Regular knowledge updates
- Professional development: organize regular trainings and seminars to improve staff skills. Include new techniques, software updates, and innovations in the field of laser cutting in program.
- Mistakes analysis: analyze mistakes and incidents that occurred during the work process. This will help prevent similar situations from happening again and improve staff skills.
Documentation and resources
- Instructions and manuals: provide access to detailed instructions and operating manuals for equipment. These can be both printed materials and digital resources.
- Video tutorials and webinars: develop training videos and organize webinars to help employees better understand and assimilate material.
Conclusion
Systematic maintenance of a laser metal cutter is a key factor to ensure its reliable and efficient use. Regular inspections, cleaning, calibration, and timely software updates help prevent breakdowns and minimize downtime. Trained personnel, following established instructions and recommendations, will be able to quickly identify and fix problems. Introduction of routine maintenance helps to extend service life of equipment and maintain high cutting quality. Thus, a systematic approach to maintenance not only increases productivity, but also significantly improves safety and cost-effectiveness of laser metal cutting. Want to know more about laser cutters? To read our article tap here!
