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.