A common question we get asked is, how long your Trotec laser should last. We typically expect you to be able to sucsessfully use your laser system for 10 years. Thanks to its high-quality workmanship, your Trotec laser is designed for a long service life. To ensure the longest possible service life for your laser machine, we offer you training on the optimal handling of your laser machine as well as system maintenance through our Technical Support. In the rest of this article you will also find a number of tips on what you should do to ensure the longest possible service life of your laser machine.
This allows you to optimize the service life of your Trotec laser machine
Ideal temperature for a laser: 20-25 degrees Celsius
Choose the ideal location for your laser
The operating environment is particularly important for the system. A temperature around 20-25 degrees Celsius at normal humidity (40-70% relative humidity) is ideal for the system. Heat, cold, high temperature differences during operation as well as direct sunlight negatively affect the operation and, ultimately, the service life. The higher the laser power, the higher the waste heat of the laser. It is therefore important to maintain the specified temperatures and provide adequate ventilation - the distance between the laser system and the wall is essential to provide sufficient circulating air to the laser source. In cold seasons, it is very important not to operate the laser at a room temperature below 15 degrees Celsius. It should also be noted that the laser needs some time to reach room temperature, i.e. before resuming full operation, wait in standby mode until the laser source has reached operating temperature.
Regular cleaning of the laser is highly recommended for smooth operation. Because deposits can lead to flame formation and material residues in the laser can block air ducts. The following components should be checked primarily for deposits and material residues:
Only use materials that are suitable for the laser
Not all materials are suitable for processing with a laser machine. Some materials may damage parts of the laser or even affect the health of the operator. We have compiled a list of unsuitable materials for you in this article. Unsuitable materials for laser processing
Use an exhaust system
Thanks to InPack technology, Trotec laser machines are designed to protect motors and electronic components from dust and smoke. Depending on the material used, however, smoke and dust may be produced during laser processing. Both should be extracted from the processing area of the laser to avoid contamination on the machine. For this, we recommend Atmos exhaust systems for the removal of smoke and dirt. They notify you by a signal or a warning on the display when the filter inserts need to be replaced. Find out more about our exhaust systems
In addition, Trotec offers nozzles for Air Assist circulation, which is fed from the compressor or external compressed air to the work surface. The nozzles are part of the air flushing concept, which protects the lenses and mirrors from contamination. We would be happy to advise you on exhaust systems, compressed air nozzles and package offers before purchasing.
Use the acrylic slat cutting table for laser cutting acrylic.
Avoiding flame formation
Some materials such as acrylic tend to flame during laser cutting. Here, we recommend adjusting the suction, the Air Assist and the laser parameters so that flames are avoided during processing. The use of special work tables (acrylic cutting grid or acrylic slats) also helps to prevent the formation of flames. Be sure to replace molten or dirty acrylic work tables in a timely manner.
Likewise, processing residues that have fallen into the table can ignite, so regular cleaning of the processing space is important.
Regular maintenance
Trotec offers a variety of service contracts or maintenance options to optimize the service life of your laser. Our certified service technicians check your system, set it up and give you tips on handling. If necessary, we replace maintenance and wear parts such as the lens. Find out more about service contracts:
Which laser components are subject to wear and tear?
Optical components
The optical components such as lenses or mirrors are subject to normal wear and tear, which very much depends on the operation. This means that how long you work with the laser per day, which laser outputs you use and which material is processed directly affects the wear of the optical components. In addition, for applications with heavy dust generation or flame formation, the correct use of Air Assist is a significant influencing factor. Dirty and improperly cleaned laser lenses become increasingly impervious over time. This can lead to increased heat loss and eventually - if not replaced beforehand - destruction of the lens. Regularly inspecting and cleaning the optical components prevents premature failure.
Laser source
As the heart of the laser system, the laser source is responsible for generating the laser beam. Trotec primarily uses CO2 laser sources with a ceramic interior (Ceramicore®), which are characterized by a particularly long service life of the gas filling. The service life of the laser source depends on several factors, the most important of which are the ambient conditions and the operating mode. E.g. short laser operations with high operating performances burden the laser source more than continuous work with a medium range of performance. Further information and tips on the service life of your laser source can be found in our this document: How to get max CO2 lasertube lifetime
Ambient conditions
What applies to the laser system, as described above, also applies to the laser source - operating temperatures that are too high or too low can significantly shorten the service life (see above)
Contact for TechSupport
Do you have questions about the service life or maintenance of your laser machine? Our technical support will be happy to help you.
