For those of you who work with laser machines, you will know just how important it is to ensure they are properly maintained.
Laser maintenance is perhaps one of the most important elements of the laser cutting process. Yet for a lot of people in the industry, this doesn’t quite register. Instead, you will find that some individuals will happily start a job without following the appropriate guidelines.
This is unacceptable.
Here at Subcon Laser we understand that proper laser maintenance can be the difference between a good job and a terrible one. So for that reason we’ve gone ahead and created a simple three step guide to help make you a laser cutting expert…
The three steps to better laser maintenance
Upholding high levels of maintenance should be a priority, especially when you’re working with lasers. With business moving at an incredible rate and turnaround times shrinking, it’s imperative that you incorporate proper machine maintenance.
With that being said, here are three simple steps to ensure you’re performing at your best:
Step 1: Know your environment
Pretty much all laser machines are manufactured identically, the same can be said of laser cutting software too. Once they enter the different shop environments after they have been purchased however, they can be influenced by a number of different factors.
These include fluctuations in temperature, the impact of different materials being cut, the cleanliness of the shop, air quality and even the level of knowledge the operator has. All of these elements and more make each laser machine unique.
Once the laser operator has familiarised themselves with this information, they will then be able to create a preventative maintenance program which can be tailored to each individual shop’s needs.
Step 2: Be wary of your surroundings
The main thing you should take away from this is that you should always keep an eye on the little things. On the surface your laser could be in fine working order, but there’s always the possibility that a loose fragment could have intercepted the machine and may be causing it untold levels of damage.
By checking basic laser components such as the alignment of inner and outer nozzles, focus lenses and assist gases, a laser operator can keep on top of their laser maintenance and avoid any unfortunate mishaps.
Good communication should never be underestimated, especially when you’re working with such sensitive machinery. If you share your machine with other workers, it’s imperative that you keep each other informed of the jobs you’ve performed, as well as highlighting any errors you may encounter to keep safety standards at an acceptable level.
Step 3: Keep on top of your consumables
If your consumables are even slightly out of spec, then you could be facing an uphill battle to maintain your performance. Laser consumables can also affect the laser cutting process if not properly maintained, meaning that you may have to pay for a new replacement.
If you cut corners on maintenance you will ultimately be damaging your own company. For those who are unaware, by simply not cleaning your laser cutter it’s performance will be significantly reduced. A clean machine will run at 100 inches per minute through carbon steel, while it may only run at 80 or 90 IPM when left dirty.
Now this may not seem like a lot, but over time this could result in you slowing down production and losing out on custom. If you really want to be sensible, you will keep on top of maintenance and have enough spare parts to ensure you are constantly running.
Laser maintenance at Subcon Laser
As one of the UK’s leading laser cutting experts, we take laser maintenance very seriously. Keeping your lasers safe and clean is the first step towards ensuring that you maintain high levels of performance, as well as ensuring the wellbeing of staff and equipment.
It’s because of this why we have such a happy list of clients, many of whom we have retained for repeat business over the years. Not only can we help enhance the way your business works, our lasers make it possible for us to achieve our shared goals faster than ever.
If you’re looking for some first-rate laser cutting jobs, then please get in touch with us today on 024 7664 2221. You can also leave a message using our contact form and one of our experts will be in touch as soon as possible.
