Laser Marking and Engraving Glass

The word ‘glass’ is an all encompassing name given to materials that can have significant variations in chemical and other properties, however, it is most commonly used to describe various forms of silica based transparent materials that are often quite fragile in nature such as spectacles, drinking vessels, vases, etc.

Aside from the chemical differences in many forms of glass, variations in process of manufacture contribute towards making glass a material that is somewhat wide in scope and inconsistent in make-up. Even glass of the same make-up and shape can vary in size due to thermal inconsistencies during the cooling process, therefore, unlike most other materials glass can be difficult to laser engrave with a highly consistent effect.

At shorter laser wavelengths glass is generally transparent, allowing the beam to pass through. For example, the lower layer of a 1µm f-theta lens found in a laser marking machine is made from glass. However, with a specially configured 532nm green laser it is possible to mark some forms of glass within the material itself to create some stunning effects.

For surface laser marking glass the 10.6µm laser wavelength is most suitable.

When marked by laser glass will not vaporise. When exposed to a 10.6µm laser, glass thermally reacts and micro cracks are formed. During the laser marking process it’s very important not to thermally overload the material as the desired micro cracks will form into larger material fractures that will flake away from the main body of the material causing an undesirable effect. To minimise this risk, techniques like marking through wetted newspaper or marking through dish soap are often used where this surface applied additive acts as a heat-sink to minimise any thermal overload to the glass itself. Use of such additives can however significantly reduce throughput.

Aside from the laser wavelength the optical configuration of the laser engraving machine has the biggest influence on how glass appears after it is laser engraved. The focal point of a galvo laser can be as many as x5 the size of a typical plotter laser. Therefore, marking hatch filled designs is best performed by a plotter laser. When using a galvo laser the best results are created by only marking vector lines.

The plano convex lens of the plotter format laser engraving machine provides for the smallest possible focal point, as small as 90µm, which delivers a high energy density and a very locallised thermal reaction the result of which is a mark closest to resembling that of chemical etching or sand blasting. This type of machine is best used for marking higher value items such as presentation awards, for example.

However, laser engraving glass with a plotter laser can be a very slow process, often taking minutes to produce.

For more industrial applications a galvo laser is often the only system that can be used because it will create a mark in mere seconds. Actually, for simple marking applications like laser marking wine glasses with volume fill lines a galvo laser can produce a mark well under a single second, so fast that the mark will appear after the laser has finished; much the same way that the sound of thunder can follow the flash of lightening.

Today, most plate glass for fenestration is marked by a 10.6µm galvo laser and whole new processes such a nucleation of beer glasses can only be produced with this type of laser marking machine because aside from the rapid marking speed a very long focal length is required for the laser to reach into the bottom of the glass.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range of laser marking, laser engraving and laser cutting machines. Our experts would be happy to recommend which configuration best suits your application.

Laser Cutting and Laser Engraving Acrylic

Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA), more commonly known simply as acrylic, sometimes with the trade names of Perspex or Plexiglas, is one of the most popular of all materials to laser cut or laser engrave.

Available in a huge range of colours and finishes, acrylic is easy source, relatively inexpensive and easy to fabricate. It’s no surprise then that acrylic is one of the top plastics used for making signs, point of sale displays and machine guards to name but a few uses of this amazingly versatile material.

Acrylic is manufactured by one of two processes: Cast or Extruded .

Each process produces a material with slightly different physical, chemical and machining properties.

Cast acrylic is by far the best material to use for general applications. It has better scratch resistance and transparency and is available in a wider range of colours and thickness. It has a higher melt point so when laser engraved it will result in a clean, off-white frosted effect similar to that of sand blasted glass.

Extruded acrylic is lower cost and of a more consistent thickness. Its lower melt point provides for an almost polished effect when it is laser engraved, which provides well for processes such as reverse paint filling and it is easier to thermoform into shapes.

In a laser cutter or laser engraving machine shorter wavelength lasers cannot be used for laser cutting or laser engraving acrylic as they pass through the material. Acrylic absorbs the 10.6µm laser wavelength, more commonly known as a CO2 laser. At this wavelength acrylic acts as a waveguide, which allows for a far greater thickness of material to be cut than other materials that do not waveguide, such as wood for example.

When laser cutting acrylic the constant wave (CW) properties of a DC (glass) CO2 laser provides for a superior smooth polished edge.

When laser engraving acrylic the superior beam quality and speed of pulse of the RF (metal) CO2 laser provides for a excellent uniformity of mark and a higher resolution too, especially when laser engraving at high speed.

If the job allows, the protective film should be left on while the acrylic is cut and careful consideration should be given to the type of machine table used because acrylic is easy to damage through backward laser reflection. A table with lamella bars is by far the best to use to minimise this.

Careful attention should be given to the rate of extraction and air assist delivered through the nosecone. Too little and the material may flame, potentially catching fire; too much and the degree of polishing of the edge will be diminished.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range laser, marking and engraving solutions ideally configured for laser cutting and laser engraving acrylic. Our experts would be happy to recommend which configuration best suits your application.

Cooling for a Low Power CO2 Laser

CO2 lasers generate heat as a by-product of the beam generation process. If this heat is not removed effectively it can cause the laser to overheat and at best perform unreliably and shorten the working life of the laser or in a worst scenario the laser can fail catastrophically.

An effective and efficient cooling mechanism is therefore a vital element of the laser cutting or laser engraving machine design and function.

For low power (<100w) laser cutters there are in simple term two types of laser source:

1)DC excited; generally made from glass

2) RF excited; generally made from metal with some now being made from a ceramic.

DC lasers are significantly less efficient than RF lasers and as a consequence they generate a higher heat load so they must be water-cooled. Most modern RF lasers are so efficient that air-cooling is perfectly adequate up to 100w.

Air-cooling is performed by positioning a number of fans around the laser cavity and by moving ambient temperature air over the surface of the laser the heat is removed. Air-cooling is a much tidier, lower cost method of cooling a laser, however, it can be somewhat noisy, especially for higher power lasers where the air flow must be increased to remain effective.

Water-cooling RF lasers is a more reliable and efficient cooling method, however, it adds significantly to the cost of the laser cutting machine so it’s not common to find RF lasers being water-cooled that are <100w. Higher power RF lasers generate significantly higher heat loads and so must be water-cooled.

All DC lasers require water-cooling. Some very low cost machines incorporate what is no more than an aquarium pump to recirculate a reservoir (a bucket) of water. This is a wholly inadequate and somewhat unsafe design for cooling a laser as the water temperature will consistently rise to a point where the coolant (water) is too hot to effectively remove heat from the laser. Also, it is wholly unsafe to have open containers of water close to any electrical device.

Professional, well designed laser cutting machines incorporating a DC laser will use a specifically configured recirculating water chiller. Here the coolant is pumped around the laser to pick-up the heat then returned through a cooling mechanism, which lowers the coolant to a set temperature. The function is similar to that of a radiator in a car. The coolant temperature is monitored by the unit, which self-adjusts to increase/decrease the rate of cooling and maintain the set-point.

It is important to note that devices like this require periodic maintenance, such as frequent replacement of the coolant for example. If the coolant is not changed frequently it can contaminate and in turn cause contamination of the laser itself resulting in a catastrophic failure.

Well designed water-cooled laser cutters will also incorporate a flow sensor so that the laser cannot be accidentally operated when the cooling unit is not powered-on or should the cooling unit fail.

I cannot emphasis enough just how important it is to effectively cool the laser source as significant variance in thermal load to the laser is the single biggest cause of premature laser failures.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range laser, marking and engraving solutions and we have installed machines all over the World to the widest range of environments. Our experts would be happy to advise you on this or any other aspect of your laser system installation.

Choosing the Correct Focal Length of a Lens for a Laser Cutter

In a previous article we explained the types of lens that can be used in a laser cutting machine. The most common lens type used in a low power (<100w) laser cutter is the Plano convex lens.

These lenses are available in a variety of focal lengths to provide for a range of varying beam profiles and focal point sizes. When laser cutting sheet materials many people get confused about which focal length of lens to use.

A short focal length lens, like 1.5” for example, provides for a very wide beam profile with a very small focal point to deliver maximum energy density. For laser cutting applications this lens is best used for thin materials such as laser cutting paper, laser cutting card and laser cutting wood veneer because the smaller focal point provides for minimal kerf; kerf is the width of the cut.

When thin materials retain heat they are susceptible to warping, which causes a defocus leading to deteriorated output quality and material waste. The smaller focal point of the 1.5” lens delivers less heat into the edge of thin materials so the 1.5” lens can help to minimise warping.

A long focal length lens, such as one with a 4” focal length, provides for a narrower beam profile but a larger focal point. When laser cutting thick materials the profile of the beam is the most important factor because a narrower profile will be more consistent in width as it passes through a material of greater thickness.

As a very rough guide, you can use a simple formula to choose the appropriate lens for the thickness of material you want to cut as follows:

Focal length of lens in inches x n = max material thickness in mm where n is 2 for the shortest focal length and for each lens thereafter is n+1.

For example:

A lens with focal length 1.5” x2 = Change to a longer focal length after the material is 3mm thickness

A lens with focal length 2” x3 = Change to a longer focal length after the material is 6mm thickness

A lens with focal length 2.5” x4 = Change to a longer focal length after the material is 10mm thickness

A lens with focal length 4” x5 = Change to a longer focal length after the material is 20mm thickness

No matter what the lens used, considerations with regard to available maximum power and the wave guiding properties of the material must be considered too. For example, it’s generally not viable to use a 4” focal length lens with a 10w laser.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range of laser cutting, laser marking and laser engraving solutions. We pride ourselves on the quality and depth of knowledge of our support staff. Our experts would be happy to advise you on this or any other aspect of your laser system operation.

Preventing Fires in a Laser Cutting Machine

Some suppliers include warning devices within their laser cutting machines designed to indicate the presence of a fire and would have you believe that material flaming during laser cutting of potentially flammable materials, such as laser cutting acrylic, laser cutting wood or laser cutting card is a normal part of the process.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Allowing the material to flame is at best an incorrect use of a laser cutting machine and at worst a very dangerous risk of causing a major fire. Flaming during the laser cutting process will damage the material as well as deteriorate the system optical components leading to wasted time, wasted materials and expensive repairs.

Allowing the flaming to develop into igniting the material is extremely dangerous and nothing short of user negligence.

If the material is flaming it indicates a serious fault in the process that could relate to a misguided use of the equipment (incorrectly specified machine and/or inappropriately trained operator), incorrect parameters being used, incorrect focus or optical configuration (lens) and a variety of other common user errors.

In most cases flaming during laser cutting can be related to two specific causes:

1) An inadequate rate of laser fume extraction and/or air assist. If the vapours generated during the laser cutting process are not quickly and effectively removed from the path of the laser beam they can combust. In vapour form the material will ignite much easier than it will as a solid.

The best way to remove these fumes is by way of aggressive extraction from the underside of the material combined with a targeted delivery of high pressure through a small bore nosecone. This keeps the vapours away from the cutting point, preventing flaming.

2) An inappropriate use of the laser cutting machine. Some suppliers would have you believe that it is perfectly safe for a 30w laser to cut 20mm thickness acrylic. Just because the machine can do such a thing doesn’t mean it should. Using a laser of very low power to cut thick materials requires a very slow feed rate and sometimes multiple passes.

Also, using a lens with a short focal length (anything less than 127mm or 5” f/l) to cut thick material (>12mm or ½”) means that even for waveguide materials, such as acrylic, the majority of the material is being cut with a beam significantly out of focus. This maximises the heat absorbed by the edge of the material and in so doing brings closer the flash-point where the material ignites.

It is therefore more important that when using a lower power laser to cut thicker material, the user is even more vigilant with their supervision of the process.

Whenever the machine is laser cutting, no matter what the materials are in terms of type or thickness, the laser cutting machine should NEVER be left unattended for more than a few moments at most. We train operators to have a constant ‘line of sight’ to the machine at all times that it is laser cutting. In the event that flaming appears the process must be stopped and the system configuration and/or parameters adjusted accordingly. In the event that flaming still occurs our advice is not to continue with the process. If the user has no option but to continue while the material is flaming then we advise to do so with a great degree of caution and a real understanding of the risks being taken.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range laser, marking and engraving solutions and we pride ourselves on the quality and depth of knowledge of our support staff. Our experts would be happy to advise you on this or any other aspect of your laser system operation.

Control Options for Efficient Use of a Laser Cutter

Although there are now a large number of suppliers of laser cutting machines there are primarily just two design principles of how to control the machine.

Some manufacturers prefer to use an on-board user interface with a buffer to which the user downloads a file via some kind of graphics or CAD package through a print driver. The user then selects the file to run via the laser cutting machine user interface. This type of control for a laser cutter has a limited level of functionality and will have a finite buffer file storage capacity, so there is a limit to the number/size of files that can be downloaded to it. Another downside of using this design is that the commonly used buttons, such as START for example, will wear-out at which point the whole panel needs changing, which for some machines can be an expensive part swap.

An alternative way to control the laser cutter is directly from a PC. This kind of control is more like the advanced CAD/CAM interface found on high-end CNC machines with the most functionality and virtually no limit to the size/complexity of the job file. However it can be more risky to control the laser cutter like this if during production the skill or experience of the user is limited or even, for example, for security reasons the operator is not allowed access to the PC. Controlling the laser cutting machine in this way can also be more time consuming, especially if the system is of a larger format and the PC is some distance away from the main laser cutting area.

Some laser cutting machines offer a combination of both of the above options so that the operator can select the method that is best suited to the skill of the operator and the application at hand.

Sometimes the operator can use the two methods for one job. For example, during initial set-up a skilled operator will use the enhanced CAD/CAM functionality of controlling the laser cutter from the PC but at the point where production starts and possibly another lower skilled worker is used for the labour, the operator can download the file to the laser cutting machine so that that all the operator has to do is to handle the materials and press the START button on the machine interface.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range laser, marking and engraving solutions. All of our laser cutting machines incorporate both of the control methods described above. Our experts would be happy to advise you on this or any other aspect of how best to configure a laser cutter for your application.

7 Tips to Buying a Laser Engraving Machine

1) Focus on the core application: laser engraving or laser cutting It is easy to be allured by how many other applications a machine can perform. A good all-rounder is a compromise machine in almost every aspect. Just because a machine can cut as well as engrave doesn't mean it can do both functions very well. Machines designed for a specific purpose will always perform the core application better so it should be no surprise that a laser cutter will cut better than a laser engraver and vice versa.

2) Throughput (how many parts produced per hour) is almost always the key to commercial success. Speed of production is of paramount importance even if right now your business volume is low. Higher throughput will deliver the opportunity to lower your sales price while simultaneously increasing your margin and you can deliver faster too. These three elements are the key to competitiveness, winning and growing your laser engraving business.

3) Consider carefully the true cost of ownership as this has a huge impact on profit erosion. Nobody intends to buy a laser engraving machine to use for just a year and then throw it away. To most this is a long term investment but the majority of buyers focus primarily on the purchase price. The real cost of a machine should be judged by the cost of ownership over its entire working lifetime, which for a good machine will be approximately 10 years. Commonly, cheap machines cost far more to own by way of replacement parts, excessive maintenance and lower output quality/productivity. The best indicator for a high cost of ownership is a machine built with consumable components so be wary of sales hype such as 'easy to change' or 'cheap to fix'.

4) Consider the technology first then consider the brand. We often see whole workshops installed with rows of the same laser engraving machines where the buyer has made purchases based on 'we always by brand X'. If a brand can supply the right machine for the job then brand loyalty certainly has many advantages, however, performance of the technology should be a bigger priority.

If we all stuck to brand only purchases then we'd all be using Nokia or Motorola phones today. It's often newer and sometimes smaller companies that deliver innovation simply because they have to in order to enter a market or even to survive so before you buy, take a good look at what else is available from the lower profile brands before you consider buying what you are used to. A look beyond page #1 of Google can save you a small fortune.

5) Buy from a well established, reputable supplier that has knowledge of applications as well as the kit they are selling.

You would expect most providers of machinery to understand the product they are selling but this should never be taken for granted. Before buying push the salesperson to test their knowledge of the product, how it functions and especially their knowledge of applications. Don't settle for a preset demo that's been tried/tested by the manufacturer.

If the salesperson does not understand your application how can they recommend to you an appropriate system configuration? Remember that many sales people will try to sell you what they want to sell rather than what you should be buying. It is unfortunately all too common that we see companies using the wrong tool for the job because they were misinformed.

6) Look carefully at warranty and support guarantees.

Despite the hype, especially on the Internet, the only guarantee that you can rely upon is that nothing lasts forever: all machines will fail at some point. The more successful you are then the harder your laser engraving machine will work and the more likely it is that it will suffer a fault. If you are fortunate enough to be successful there is never a good time to have a machine down.

When a failure occurs you want to know how quickly it can be fixed and what the overall cost will be so look carefully at the small-print of system warranties and look even more carefully at the support resources of the supplier. If you can, talk to a support technician or two as well as the salesperson as these types of people often speak very differently about the same product.

7) Remember the core fundaments to a good system design is a careful balance of Functionality, Affordability, Reliability.

A system that is more functional is often by default less affordable and can actually be less reliable. A system that is more affordable is by default less functional and can also be less reliable. Logically, an average machine will be a happy medium of all of these things but an average machine will most likely deliver no more than average results.

It's therefore of vital importance to 'buy right' and choose a system that can deliver to the demands of today with a percentage of ability to cover some of the demands of tomorrow.

This consideration is not just about laser power, laser marking speed, etc but is also about software capabilities too. Today you may need to mark text and logo but tomorrow you may need to laser mark barcodes, for example.

Don't buy a Ferrari if you have 3 kids to take to school and don't by a Nissan Micra if you want to race along the German Autobahn. If you need to do both then in this analogy you actually need two different machines. The same is often true for a good laser engraving workshop.

The Importance Of A Good Environment For A Laser Cutter

The environment where you operate your laser cutter or laser engraver has a fundamental influence on the efficiency, reliability and long-term working life of the machine and its components.

All lasers generate heat as a by-product of the process inefficiencies so the room temperature is of a major concern. over heating can cause a catastrophic and somewhat expensive failure of the laser. The effective removal and control of this heat is key to prolonged and reliable use. All lasers will have an inbuilt cooling mechanism by way of fans (air-cooling) or some kind of chiller unit (water-cooling).

Most people understand this, however, an often overlooked aspect to temperature is how cold the environment gets, especially when the laser cutter is not in use. Even in the hottest of countries the temperature can fall to below freezing overnight.

During weekends and other non-working days, some environments are not temperature controlled so the temperature can fall/rise to abnormal levels. Extremes of temperature will cause many elements within the machine to expand and contract. This is particularly bad for RF lasers manufactured from metal.

Humidity is another influencing factor. High humidity, especially when combined with rapid changes in temperature, can cause condensation to form on sensitive electronics components, in turn causing those components to short-circuit.

An ideal ambient temperature for the room is between 15-30c. Rapid changes in room temperature can also cause adverse reactions. For these reasons we see spikes in support calls after times of long public holidays, such as Christmas for example.

TDusty and oily environments are not suitable to site a laser cutting machine because a build-up of dust/oil can cause components to overheat, moving parts can seize-up and optical components can fail through external contamination

Laser cutting machines should not be placed near to any source of heat/cold/air such as radiators, fans or air conditioning units and they must not be placed near to south facing windows where solar gain may cause overheating issues.

As with any form of electrical device a laser cutter must be protected from water and any form of moisture as well as unstable power supplies.

Some workshops incorporate machines that generate significant vibration, which can cause optical elements in the laser cutter to misalign

The floor type is often overlooked as a potential influencing factor. All laser cutters should be placed on a flat and stable floor. As the machine becomes larger and heavier this is more of an issue. Mezzanine and other flexible types of floor are not suitable as they can cause the system frame to twist in turn causing the motion system to bind.

If the environment is industrial and the above factors cannot be mitigated consider building a room within it where the laser can be isolated from the potentially harmful factors of the main factory area

As a general rule of thumb, the best environment to place your laser cutter is one where you are comfortable to work while wearing normal, office style clothing.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range laser, marking and engraving solutions and we have installed machines all over the World to the widest range of environments. Our experts would be happy to advise you on this or any other aspect of your laser system installation.

The Effective Use And Maintenance Of Lamella Bars In A Laser Cutting Machine

For most applications where you are laser cutting sheet materials, such as laser cutting acrylic or laser cutting wood, by far the best form of cutting table is one that incorporates lamella bars.

Lamella bars are stronger and more resilient than other forms of cutting table and we’ve written other articles to explain this in detail. With this article we shall overview the best way to use and maintain your laser cutting machine lamella table.

One of the main benefits of a lamella bar cutting table is the way in which it deflects any laser power that passes totally through the material away from the underside of the material. This prevents adverse material reaction and minimises the risk of flaming

If the machine is fitted with an underside extraction design the larger spacing of lamella bars also provides for greater efficiency of laser fume extraction.

The surface edge of each bar supports the weight of the material. These bars are very strong and will not deform under the heaviest of materials being placed inside the laser cutter.

Depending on the job at hand, it’s often desirable to remove as many of the bars as possible so that the overall surface area of the bars holding the material is minimised. This further increases the cutting quality and extraction efficiency.

Judge carefully how many mars to remove. Too few bars and the material may deform. Also, it’s important to consider how the cut parts will fall through the gaps in the bars. Spacing bars that allow materials to kink upwards but not fall through completely must be avoided, especially where the laser cutter is fitted with a nosecone moving close to the surface of the material as kinked/traps parts may collide with the nosecone

High debris applications, such as laser cutting wood and laser cutting card will contaminate the cutting table faster and to a greater degree. Unlike other forms of laser cutting table lamellas are not consumable items and can be cleaned. We recommend setting aside a small number of bars that can be in the cleaning process while others are being used in the laser cutter.

Lamella bars can be cleaned by simply wiping them down with a light detergent. If they are highly contaminated then they can be soaked overnight in a weak mixture of light detergent and water. Be careful not to use a corrosive cleaning agent as the bars will be made from aluminium and when old some of the protective anodised layer will be removed

In the UK we have the brand products Cilit Bang and Mr Muscle. Both brands make products for degreasing, usually labelled as a kitchen cleaner, and these are good for cleaning lamella bars in a laser cutter.

Spray each bar directly with the cleaner. Allow it to sit for 1-2hrs. Dilute 1 part cleaner to 20 parts water and use a decorator’s plastic wallpaper tray to hold enough solution to cover the bars. Place the pre-soaked bars in the tray and leave overnight to soak. In the morning, remove the bars and wipe down with a clean, wet cloth. Usually, the bars will then look as new.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range laser, marking and engraving solutions and we pride ourselves on the quality and depth of knowledge of our support staff. Our experts would be happy to advise you on this or any other aspect of your laser system maintenance.

Contaminated Optics within a Laser Cutter

Some of the most important components of a laser cutter are the optical elements. These are components that either deflect the beam (mirror) or allow the beam to pass through (lens).

Even when completely new, all optical components will cause some degree of attenuation: in other words, remove a small amount of laser power. Therefore, especially when the design of a laser cutter incorporates a large number of optical elements the laser power that arrives at the lens is less than the power that emits from the laser source.

Contamination of the optical elements of a laser cutting machine causes further attenuation and if left unchecked can have a massive detrimental effect on cutting speeds and in turn production efficiency.

Attenuation is more of an issue where the laser cutting machine incorporates a laser source of a lower power.

For example, if a laser cutter outputting 30w incorporates four mirrors, a combining optic for a positional diode and finally the lens, then if each element draws 2 watts of power the net attenuation is a 27% (almost 1/3rd) power loss.

Contaminated optics can often draw much more than 2w of laser power so it’s quite possible that a laser cutting machine <50w can be losing more than half its potential power simply through optical attenuation and/or contamination.

Laser optics will suffer accelerated contamination if the main application creates a high amount of debris; for example, laser cutting wood or laser cutting card. An ineffective or incorrectly specified exhaust system will further compound this problem

Low levels of contamination of laser optical elements can be easily cleaned, however, if the contamination is allowed to build-up too much it is often impossible to remove. At some point an over-contaminated optic will draw so much power that the heat generated will cause it to fail catastrophically.

For these reasons optical elements within a laser cutting machine are deemed consumable items so for users where the laser cutter is of strategic importance it’s a wise precaution for the user to hold stock of replacement optics.

Over-cleaning of optical elements can cause undesirable removal of the coatings, which is almost as bad as not cleaning them enough. As a general rule of thumb it is the frequency of checking for contamination that is more important and optics should only be cleaned if they show obvious signs of contamination.

With most system designs, optics that are closer to the focal point will contaminate faster than those that are closer to the laser source so, for example, inspection of the lens should be performed far more frequently than the first mirror.

We cover the cleaning of laser optics in another article.

At Lotus Laser Systems we manufacture a wide range laser, marking and engraving solutions and we pride ourselves on the quality and depth of knowledge of our support staff. Our experts would be happy to advise you on this or any other aspect of your laser system maintenance.