Author Archives: Scott Kiser

Laser Danger: Keep Safe Around a Rofin Sinar Resonator

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Industrial laser systems are powerful, violent tools. In the hands of professionals, they do good work quickly. But high power industrial laser systems — such as this Rofin Sinar resonator  — can kill!

In this video, Laser Maintenance Group founder and president Scott Kiser shows how much power a laser system has. Peek “under the hood” of this Cincinnati CO2 laser system with a Rofin Sinar resonator. He discusses the built-in safety features that keep people away from 16,000 volts. (Don’t try this at home!)

Rofin Sinar Resonator: Part of legacy CO2 Cincinnati laser systems

Kiser is one of a few laser system technicians in the USA qualified to work on legacy Rofin Sinar resonators and older model CO2 Cincinnati laser systems. He tells people that the legacy systems — this one at the Innovative Laser & Design shop is from the early 1990s — allow laser operators to work less expensively, while producing metal laser-cut products every bit as good as the modern laser systems make.

To make this video possible, Kiser disables two Rofin Sinar resonator safety barriers. This allows the video crew – from a safe distance — to film the resinator with the hood open. This is NOT how Innovative Laser & Design’s CO2 laser system operates normally. With this view of the Rofin resonator, Kiser explains the enormous power of the industrial laser system.

Laser System Safety Videos

Kiser produced several safety videos highlighting the CO2 Cincinnati laser systems and the Rofin Sinar resonators. They’re part of a series on “industrial laser shop safety for tourists“. He came up with the videos after realising the safety measures he had to take each time a customer or friend wanted to visit him in his shop. These videos provide good advice not only for “laser shop tourists”, but also for owners and operators.

Laser Maintenance Group Consulting and Innovative Laser & Design Laser-Cut Production

To get more information on laser maintenance, including repairing Rofin Sinar resonators and legacy CO2 Cincinnati laser systems, contact Scott Kiser. Call 423-593-7206 or email lasersolutions@comcast.net. Kiser’s other company, Innovative Laser & Design, does industrial metal part laser cutting.

Laser Service Guy / LMG owner Scott Kiser tunes a Rofin Sinar resonator, part of a CO2 Cincinnati laser system.
Industrial laser service: Tuning a Rofin Sinar resonator.

Industrial Laser Shop Safety for Non-Laser Operators and “Tourists”: Videos

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Laser Maintenance Group / Innovative Laser & Design owner Scott Kiser demonstrates "sound shock" and gas venting in his Industrial laser shop safety video series.
Venting Gas: Laser Shop Safety includes preparing for sound shock surprises

If you own and operate a company that uses laser systems, you may not be concerned about industrial laser shop safety for non-laser operators who work at or visit your firm.

You should be! Most folks can’t operate industrial lasers. In fact, most visitors — even your administrative and management employees — may not think about industrial laser system and shop safety. It’s your job to protect them!

In this video series, Laser Maintenance Group / Innovative Laser & Design owner Scott Kiser, aka “Laser Service Guy“, gives safety tips for non-laser operators (and tourists and tour guides) to keep safe around legacy CO2 laser systems. Scott gives practical safety tips as he walks you through his CO2 industrial laser system shop, Innovative Laser & Design.

Laser Shop Safety Video Series:

The full 8+ minute laser safety overview video is divided into smaller segments. The series gives advice to company owners who use industrial laser systems, as well as safety tips for people who might occasionally be around industrial lasers. Each video focuses on a different aspect of laser system and shop safety. View those videos on the Laser Service Guy / Innovative Laser YouTube channel, or click on the links.

Other Laser System Safety Videos

Kiser “Laser Service Guy” also created other laser system safety videos for laser operators and “tourists”.

Laser Maintenance Group Consulting Services

Do you want a shop and laser system safety review? Would you like your work flow to be more cost effective and work/time/effort/resource efficient? Do you and your employees need industrial laser system maintenance, operations or safety training? Do you have other industrial laser system consulting needs? Contact Scott Kiser at LaserSolutions@Comcast.net, or call 423-593-7206.

Laser Maintenance Group, LLC and Innovative Laser & Design are USA Veteran-owned Small Businesses in LaFayette, Georgia, USA.

Industrial Laser Service from Laser Maintenance Group

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At Laser Maintenance Group (LMG), our industrial laser service and maintenance visits fall into three categories: Routine, Preventative, and Corrective. Almost every service call we make has components of each in it. However, there is a preference as to which type of visit we make … for both of us.

Routine laser maintenance:

Laser maintenance visits schedules LMG professionals to work on your laser centers according to a regular time interval. The suggested time is based on manufacturers’ recommendations, coupled with our experience (nearly 30 years) servicing CO2 laser systems. A prescribed set of tasks is completed that allow us to inspect the laser center as we go. In fact, LMG offers routine laser service as well as other packages, when we come out on a scheduled, periodic basis, according to the number of hours you run your laser centers.

Preventative laser service:

When laser service experts at LMG see a performance problem during routine laser maintenance, we do immediate, preventative laser service. These visits also happen our customer calls us and says their laser system seems to not function as well as usual, or differently than normal.

Close contact and cooperation with you, our customers, is vital to keeping your lasers running efficiently. When we discover laser performance issues, we will show and explain the problem to you. With your permission, we will fix the issue immediately, or make arrangements to get it repaired before it damages the laser center or, worse yet, causes it to fail. We prevent catastrophic laser failures.

Corrective laser service:

The aftermath of a near disaster with a laser-cutting machine - Industrial laser service from LMG can prevent these laser problems

When sometime breaks on the laser system and it becomes non-operational, corrective laser service is the work LMG does to return your laser center to full functionality. These situations don’t just mean that your company loses use of a laser until it can be repaired. Unfortunately, waiting until something breaks means it’s probably going to be more expensive and time consuming to fix now, than had you done routine maintenance or preventative service months ago. These problems can also lead to catastrophic laser failure, which can be dangerous to equipment and employees.

An ounce of prevention ….

LMG knows that laser components sometimes simply fail because of age, accidents, use (or misuse). However, 90% of the time, this type of laser service is avoided by doing routine and preventative maintenance.

The laser service professionals at LMG want to avoid doing corrective laser service if at all possible. They would prefer to do routine laser maintenance, on a scheduled basis. Why? Let’s face it: Corrective laser service not only disrupts your manufacturing flow and your schedule. It severely impacts our calendar. We prefer to act rather than react, to step in and eliminate the problem before it bites both of us. Murphy’s law is crystal clear on when the problem will shut your laser down: At the worst possible time. Every time!

Scheduled Laser Maintenance Case Study: A Win/Win

Here’s an example: Our lead laser service technician, “Laser Service Guy” Scott Kiser, is on the road doing routine maintenance on two Cincinnati lasers on the Gulf Coast. He’ll be there Tuesday and Wednesday. Next, he has a scheduled a routine maintenance call for a company in central Georgia. He’ll do that Thursday, which will let him head home to Northwest Georgia on Friday. Based on his schedule, everything looks great.

But then, on Tuesday, as he’s leaving the Gulf Coast, he gets a call from a client in Oklahoma. The manufacturer has a serious problem with their laser. Something went very wrong. The techs had to shut it down, and management desperately needs it to be up and running before the weekend so they can cut the parts they’ve promised to deliver by Monday.

Despite the fact that the emergency laser service call means extra work (and at a higher emergency rate), it’s not something we at LMG want to do. It costs time just to get there from so far away. It inconveniences our other customers. It’s not the best use of our time. And it is not good for the company making that emergency call. (In fact, the only happy company in this scenario is the one on the Gulf Coast that Scott just left. The one that planned ahead and did their routine laser maintenance on time!

Types of Industrial Laser Services from LMG: An Analogy:

Routine industrial laser maintenance is the sticker in your window reminding you to do the oil change, so you will go in every 3,000 miles and have your car serviced.

Preventative industrial laser service is the yellow check engine light, or the mechanic telling you that you need to get something fixed right away … and they can do it for you then.

Corrective industrial laser service is the red check engine light. You have to pull over on the side of the freeway, call a tow truck, and hope you can find someone to fix your car so you can continue.

Remember this truth: As with everything, the more routine an industrial laser service call is, the less it typically costs.

Laser Problems: Avoidable or Unpreventable

There are just two types of problems in this world: Unpreventable and Avoidable. This applies to everything, not just laser service or maintenance. It ranges from physics to medicine, from maintenance (goooood) to former spouses (baaaaaad!). It applies to everything.

No one can defend against unpreventable problems. For example: A lightning strike fries your computer. There is no amount of routine or preventative service that can stop that.

But why fight with both problems if you can eliminate the preventable ones? Your competitor is in the same boat as you, but what an advantage you will have if you are proactive rather than reactive. Scheduling routine maintenance, asking questions when things don’t seem right, fixing potential problems as they are discovered: All these actions help eliminate the preventable side of the equation.

We at LMG are on your side. We will always be part of your industrial laser service solution. We want to be part of your laser service problem prevention.

LMG has both maintenance and industrial laser service packages. Contact us to find out about them, and get on our schedule. We can help you avoid serious industrial laser service problems that could adversely impact your production and your business.

With nearly 3 decades of industrial laser service experience, LMG’s motto is simple:

“The Performance of Your Laser is
a Reflection of the Work We Do!“

Contact Laser Maintenance Group for a Quote

Don’t wait until your high-performance industrial laser center fails. Schedule your laser maintenance visits now with LMG Founder and Chief Technology Consultant Scott Kiser (aka “The Laser Service Guy”) directly at 423-593-7206, or email:  LaserSolutions@Comcast.net.

If you need steel or other metal parts cut for your industrial and manufacturing production lines, visit LMG’s affiliate company: InnovativeLaserCutting.com

White Powder Contamination: Industrial Laser Service Case Study

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Take a little Time to Save a lot of Time (and Money) — Industrial Laser Service Case Study

Most people understand that regular, routine laser maintenance saves money over the long haul. The math supports this, just from an industrial laser service perspective. Servicing industrial lasers – inspecting the optics and mirrors, fine-tuning calibrations, and even doing essential training — lets those CO2 Cincinnati lasers keep humming along.

Laser Maintenance Group (LMG) isn’t just about laser maintenance. We understand the costs in time and money that a struggling laser center can cause in the productivity and quality aspects as well. The indirect cost of sending out poor quality parts or even good parts that are consistently late is hard to quantify. We all agree: Poor quality and late delivery is worse than direct maintenance costs.

What many companies don’t remember is that these complex laser centers eventually require rebuilds. While more costly than routine industrial laser service calls, these rebuilds are essential to keeping these CO2 lasers running at peak efficiency.

Industrial laser service case study scenario — Laser System: Cincinnati CL-7A with a 2KW Rofin-Sinar resonator
High-Level Laser Problem: Instability at High Power
Laser Resonator Internal Optics

Several factors can cause instability at high power. Based on LMG’s experience, if your laser has over 12,000 hours since the last rebuild, chances are it’s a ‘White Powder Contamination’ issue. That is, your resonator optics are being coated with tungsten dust. That disrupts the laser in the beam path as it gets circulated through the gas system. Pictured are two affected internal optics (The silver one is a rear mirror. The yellow one is an output coupler).

Laser Geek-Out: Explanation

CO2 laser white powder contamination is an eventual and normal condition for DC-excited lasers. Laser maintenance won’t prevent this; the material science doesn’t yet exist to avoid this issue.

On all CO2 lasers, the tungsten cathode pins oxidize over time. The problem can be accelerated by vacuum leaks and poor quality laser gas. Both factors contribute to the moisture content inside the system. This allows for the oxidation of the pins. This oxidation then gets distributed throughout the system. Some lands on the internal laser optics and mirrors. As the optics are coated with this dust, laser beam quality and power drop off quickly.

Root Cause Problem:

The tungsten oxide (white powder) contamination has a root cause: The resonator is way past the 12,000 hours where a white powder rebuild should be done. As a result, the tungsten oxide dust coats the optics, deforming the beam shape and lowering the laser’s power.

Short-term routine laser center maintenance solution:
Laser service: White powder contamination can be prevented by laser system rebuilds.
Laser Service Guy Kiser tunes a Rofin-Sinar resonator

Because of this problem, the optics need to be changed at every maintenance interval. Mere cleaning won’t help, since it is usually burned in. The crystal structure of the optic is stressed from absorbing too much laser energy rather than passing it through to the beam delivery. After any of the optics are replaced, we at LMG have to realign them to form a symmetrically-shaped laser beam. (In this photo Laser Service Guy Kiser tunes a Rofin-Sinar resonator.)

Only changing the optics creates what we call a performance spike. The laser runs great for a week or maybe even a month and then starts to slowly fall back to where it was. How fast the laser degrades depends on how severe the contamination is.

Long-term preventative industrial laser service solution:

The Rofin-Sinar resonators on these CO2 Cincinnati lasers should have a white powder rebuild after approximately 12,000 hours of operating time. That may be longer or shorter, as the operating condition of the resonator dictates.

Don’t let anyone tell you your laser is old, and it won’t ever make rated power again. Quite frankly, hearing that upsets me. Why? It means that person either doesn’t know about Cincinnati CO2 lasers and Rofin-Sinar resonators, or doesn’t care. If your 2000 watt resonator cannot make and hold at least 2200 watts, your tech should be embarrassed.

How laser service impacts your manufacturing and your business

At LMG, we’ve seen how the laser’s performance affects the entire plant. If a laser is not performing well, the result can wreak havoc with production schedules. When this happens, the quality of the parts you make is in jeopardy. We also know that corporate accountants are going to complain every time any manufacturing division asks for money, whether it’s to fix the roof or fix a laser.

At LMG we work with our customers to help them prepare for this expense. (In fact, right now we are working with customers to see how the Covid-19 stimulus package funds can be used for this type of industrial laser service and production improvement.) We can usually tell in advance that the performance will degrade to the point something needs to be done in order to keep up with production and quality.

Laser failure bottom line and industrial laser service solution:

What happens if your laser operators have to keep slowing down to cut decent parts? The quality folks are angry. The production leads are frustrated. Your laser operators are stressed out from being gunned down from both sides.

Solution? Let LMG take a look at your laser center and get it back to normal. We know how to make things right, from the various laser parts, to the programming, to the operations. You don’t have to live under this type of pressure, with good laser systems that aren’t functioning at their potential. Learn more about LMG’s Industrial Laser Services, then call us! We will work with you to get your laser back up to where it needs to be, and your team back to normal.

Use the Right Fire Extinguisher Around Laser Systems

To avoid laser system and optics contamination, it’s vital to have the right type of fire extinguishers in your factory. AND you should know which extinguishers to use, when, and why.

Did you know that, although CO2 fire extinquishers cost many times more than typical Class D extinguishers, they are well worth the extra cost? In this video, part of Laser Maintenance Group / Innovative Laser & Design’s Laser Safety series, Scott Kiser explains why he is a firm believer in having several CO2 extinguishers in his shop.

Another way to avoid lens contamination is to use the right kind of fire extinguisher around your laser systems.

CONTACT LMG:
To discuss how LMG can help your business, call 423-593-7206 or email lasersolutions@comcast.net

Opportunity Knocks In Tough Times

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What are opportunities available to you in the business world right now? What’s obvious can often be overlooked. During the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic, businesses slowed throughout the world. A lot of my laser service and maintenance customers, as well as businesses I do industrial laser cutting for, wondered what to do during the slowdown.

I wrote a couple of LinkedIn articles on what companies — especially manufacturing firms — can do during any sort of economic or business slowdown. This LinkedIn article deals specifically with thinking about, recognizing and responding to opportunities.  (While you’re on my LinkedIn page, why don’t you connect with me, if you haven’t already!)

This Together laser cutting home decor piece was thought up during a business slowdown -- and is a good reminder of priorities during the Coronavirus pandemic.

“Rough Draft” pre-order

After reading the article, you’ll know what to do. Or at least you’ll know who you can talk to in order to flesh out and share your ideas. Then you can stop twiddling your thumbs and get busy! (And if you still don’t know what to do, please give me a call or send me an email at lasersolutions@comcast.net — I’m certain that, together, we can think of something!)
With nearly 3 decades of industrial laser cutting and parts making experience, I’ve seen and applied a lot of laser cutting solutions. Here are some more case studies and information about industrial laser cutting (opens in a new tab). I not only discuss those laser cutting experiences, but also focus on the ability to see opportunities.

Final Home Decor Wall Art with Together Is Our Favorite Place To Be. Laser Cut Inspirational Words and Customizable Laser Etching from Innovative Laser & Design http://www.InnovativeLaserHomeDecor.com
Final Home Decor Wall Art with Laser Cut Inspirational Words and Customizable Laser Etching from Innovative Laser & Design http://www.InnovativeLaserHomeDecor.com

Laser Service Tip: Preparing For The End (of the Coronavirus Pandemic)

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Laser service — or any type of machine maintenance — can often be overlooked. During the Covid-19 Coronavirus pandemic, businesses slowed throughout the world. A lot of my laser service and maintenance customers wondered what to do during the slowdown. I wrote a couple of LinkedIn articles on what companies — especially manufacturing firms — can do during any sort of economic or business slowdown.

This article deals specifically with maintenance and service. It can be found here on LinkedIn (and, while you’re on LinkedIn, why don’t you connect with me, if you haven’t already!)

Does the Stimulus Package impact you? It might! It seems that the Federal Government’s Stimulus Package (including $10,000 in Small Business grants, as well as other low interest loans) can be used to bring in contractors, consultants and other W2 workers to perform essential services (such as maintenance). Are you experiencing a factory slowdown because of the Covid-19 pandemic? If so, it would be a great time to call LMG to come take care of your machines.)

After reading the article and checking out the Pandemic loan and grant information at SBA.gov, you’ll know what to do. Then you can stop twiddling your thumbs and get busy! (And if you still don’t know what to do, please give me a call or send me an email at lasersolutions@comcast.net — I’m certain that, together, we can think of something!)

Laser service and maintenance is definitely something to be done during slowdowns, economic hiccups ... or pandemics!

With nearly 3 decades of laser service experience, I’ve seen a boat load of industrial laser situations. Some good, some … not so great. (I’d rather do laser maintenance than laser repair!) Here are some more case studies about those laser service experiences.

Industrial Laser Placement and Layout — Lean Manufacturing Principles

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Lean manufacturing design has been around for decades. Still, as consultant, it surprises me how often industrial laser layouts in factories, manufacturers and even specialised laser cutting facilities don’t follow simple rules.

One of the basic rules of machine placement in lean manufacturing is that materials should follow the flow of work. Let’s face it: No matter how big your materials are, you are NOT going to move a 20-ton laser system around to cut it! Laser placement in your shop is vital because it is the mountain in the factory or the elephant in the room.

Yet time and time again, I see laser systems placed in the factory corner. There, materials come in and out at the same pinch point, creating a bottleneck and slowing down production.

Ideal Laser Placement

When considering your factory’s laser placement, you need to consider the following:

Proper Laser Machine Placement includes vents, oxegen and other tanks, power and work flow consideration
  • where is available ventilation?
  • laser systems require high voltage. Where is your direct power source?
  • laser placement must be near gas tanks and coolant systems. Leave room!
  • where does the raw material (typically steel) come into the factory?
  • where is the material stored? (It should be near the laser system)
  • is there a clear (forklift) path for materials to “flow” to the laser bed?
  • what size are the final parts, and where do they need to go?
  • does your laser placement give a clear (forklift) path to where the parts will be delivered?
  • can you quickly and easily get rid of scrap metal from your lasers?

Laser Placement Consulting from LMG

During LMG’s nearly 30 years in the laser maintenance and repair business, we’ve seen hundreds of laser placements and layouts. Because of our experience, as well as our training in lean manufacturing, we’re experts in consulting on laser placement.

To configure your factory floor for optimum efficiency and flow around your laser system, contact LMG Founder and Chief Technology Consultant Scott Kiser directly at 423-593-7206, or email Laser Maintenance Group at LaserSolutions@Comcast.net

If you need metal parts laser cut, but don’t have the laser systems or capacity to cut your own, contact LMG’s affiliate company, Innovative Laser & Design.

Installing Industrial Laser Systems

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Installing industrial laser systems is a big part of what we offer at Laser Maintenance Services. Whether your company is moving, configuring and installing a laser system on a different part of your factory floor, a different building in your company, or across the country, laser installation requires careful forethought, planning, configuration and management. In addition, attention to detail is vital.

Installing Industrial Laser Systems: What To Ask

It’s hard to imagine all the details, and what can go wrong, when you’re installing industrial laser systems. That’s why it’s vital to work with people who have done moved and installed these large, complex machines before. For example, have you asked:

  • Who is in charge of industrial laser system moving, configuration and installation?
    What type of truck do you need when moving and installing industrial laser systems, like the Cincinnati laser shown here?

    Moving in a big Cincinnati CO2 laser (with Rofin Sinar resonator) at Innovative Laser & Design

  • Who coordinates the laser machine’s pickup and delivery?
  • Are there special height or weight considerations on the route you are planning?
  • Can the truck delivering your industrial laser back into your driveway?
  • Will the loaded truck be too heavy for the dirt and mud it has to drive through? What about the loading dock?
  • Will the laser fit through the door at the angle you need it to?
  • Once delivered, where is the final place for the laser?
  • Will your factory floor be able to bear the load of the laser machine?
  • Did you allow enough room to load materials onto your laser when it’s finally in place?
  • Did you allow enough room to remove products from your machine?
  • Is your factory flow optimized around the laser?
  • Where is the power source? Water? Gas? Vent?
  • Is your laser placed next to a significant dust or moisture source?

These are only a few of the issues which must be addressed when getting ready to install a laser. Fortunately, the experts at Laser Maintenance Group have decades of experience in installing industrial laser systems.

Contact Laser Maintenance Group Directly

To discuss how Laser Maintenance Group can help your company move, configure, install and maintain your industrial laser cutting systems, contact CEO and Owner Scott Kiser directly at 423-593-7206, or email us at LaserSolutions@Comcast.net.

Installing industrial laser systems -- CO2 Cincinnati Laser by Laser Maintenance GroupLaser Maintenance Group, a US Veteran-owned small business, installed this Cincinnati CO2 laser at their Innovative Laser & Design facility in Lafayette, GA. This photo shows the exhaust duct attached.

 

 

 

 

Click here to see what other industrial laser maintenance, repair and consulting services LMG offers. We also can build and repair lasers, using parts and components from Cincinnati, Rofin (resonators), Laser Experts (turbines and other parts), and more. Our sister company, Innovative Laser & Design, offers industrial laser cutting services.

Laser Shut Down Prevents Catastrophic Breakdown

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We at Laser Maintenance Group encourage our customers to do routine laser maintenance. Why? We’d rather catch a problem before it becomes a catastrophic breakdown. Still, sometimes people forget. Or they’re too busy. Or … they come up with any number of excuses. And things break. In this post, IF you insist on pushing the limits, running your machine “just a little while more” before maintenance, I’ll show what one company did to prevent a catastrophic breakdown.

In this case study, the laser-owning company didn’t tighten a bolt on a shroud. Because of the laser system’s poor design, it was difficult to do. (Still, routine laser maintenance — such as our laser techs here at LMG do — would have caught and fixed the problem.)

The bolt wiggled loose. The laser beam fried the bolt, sending debris into the output coupler. The coupler nearly cracked all the way through, which would have led to a catastrophic breakdown. The beam also reflected away from its normal path, cutting a water hose. That spewed liquid into a number of sensitive electrical components.

The misguided laser beam also went into the copper tip. It super-heated the tip, fusing the opening almost completely shut. With all this laser energy going in all the wrong directions, things were ripe for a catastrophic breakdown.

Shut Down Prevents Catastrophic Breakdown

Despite their mistake in not getting routine laser maintenance, the laser operators responded correctly in this emergency situation. When they saw the laser wasn’t cutting, they shut down the machine. That simple action prevented a catastrophic breakdown.

So many times I see companies where the laser isn’t working quite right. Something is off. Things smell, look, sound or feel “funny”. They know something is wrong. But they keep going. They keep trying to make it work. They adjust a few minor things. They accept that the laser is going slower … and slower … and slower. They don’t perform laser service. And a catastrophic breakdown happens.

In this case, the laser operators simply shut down the laser. They could see it wasn’t cutting. They smelled the rubber hose burning. They knew something was wrong. They shut down their laser system … unlike these folks, who took a video of their failing laser cutting machine bellows:

An example of what NOT to do: Don’t take a video of a disaster waiting to happen!

Are you getting the message? “Shut Down to Prevent Catastrophic Breakdown!”

When they called LMG for laser service and repair, I was able to come out and repair the machine fairly quickly. They were only off-line for a couple of days. The parts that needed to be replaced were not that major or expensive. It could have been much, much worse. So, in that regard, they did the right thing. HOWEVER …

Scheduled, Routine Laser Maintenance And Service Is Always Cheaper Than Catastrophic Breakdown

Believe it or not, we at Laser Maintenance Group would rather do routine laser maintenance / laser service than emergency laser repair caused by catastrophic breakdown. It’s for purely selfish reasons:

  • Routine laser maintenance lets us schedule our out-of-office trips
  • Laser service usually takes less time
  • Maintenance is less of a crunch / panic mode
  • That makes the trips much less stressful
  • Even though maintenance and laser service visits bring in less money than repairing catastrophic breakdowns do, we’d rather save our customers time, effort and money
  • Maintenance is much less difficult and less dangerous than repairing and cleaning up the carnage of a catastrophic breakdown

How Often Should Routine Laser Maintenance Be Done?

For those reasons, and others, LMG encourages customers to schedule routine laser maintenance (here’s a video) on a regular basis. Most Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) recommend laser service / maintenance after approximately 800 to 1000 hours of operating time. In the case study mentioned earlier, the laser was being run for two shifts a day, totalling about 20 hours a day. As a result, their maintenance schedule should have been about every six weeks.

It wasn’t (and look what happened!)

Most machines actually run less than a full shift (because there is setup, loading and unloading, etc.) Typically we find that having a routine maintenance visit once every three to four months is enough. Again, it depends on how much you are running your laser. 800 hours to 1000 hours is a solid benchmark. (Go here to find out about LMG’s laser service packages.)

Trust the Laser Services Experts at LMG

To schedule laser service, including maintenance, analysis or repair visits, phone LMG at 423-593-7206 or email: lasersolutions@comcast.net. Our consulting technical support staff is on call to answer any questions you may have about your laser equipment.

Take care! 

Scott, the Laser Service Guy
LaserSolutions@Comcast.net
423-593-7206

To see this video — and others — on routine laser maintenance, laser operations tips, and other laser services we provide, check out the video on our Laser Service Guy / Innovative Laser YouTube channel … and please subscribe!)

Almost a catastrophic breakdown: The bolt on the laser shroud was loose. It caught the laser, which sent particles into the lens and cut a water hose. The beam super-heated the copper tip, fusing it shut. Fortunately, the laser operator did the smart thing: Shut Down Prevents Catastrophic Breakdown. Important Laser Service Rule
Laser Service Guy Scott Kiser

Regular Laser Maintenance Visits Prevent Costly Repairs

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You wouldn’t drive your high-performance car thousands of miles without scheduled maintenance and checking. Yet many industrial laser owners do just that: Put off regular laser service or maintenance visits until something breaks. They claim they “forget”, or it’s “something we’ll get around to.” But they don’t. And repairing CO2 laser systems are much more costly and time intensive than regular laser maintenance.

Laser Service Guy Scott Kiser tuning a Rofin-Sinar resonator on a Cincinnati laser
Laser Service Guy Scott Kiser tunes a Rofin Sinar resonator on a Cincinnati laser

LMG Laser Maintenance Visit Packages

We at LMG would rather maintain your laser systems, not repair or replace them. That’s why we offer scheduled laser maintenance visit packages. Pricing for these packages varies based on the type of machines you have, and the amount of hours you run your machine.

Rules of Thumb for Laser Maintenance Visits

Just like high-performance vehicles, CO2 laser systems best operate if they are serviced every 800 to 1,000 hours. If you are like most companies, you’ll run your industrial laser systems between 40 and 60 hours a week. In this scenario, LMG recommends scheduling us for a laser maintenance visit every three months. If you operate more than one system at your facility, it’s beneficial to schedule all the CO2 laser systems for maintenance at the same time. This video with LMG owner Scott Kiser gives more detail.

What Happens During LMG’s Maintenance Visits?

Your CO2 laser is a highly complex system, but LMG’s experts — with decades of experience — have laser maintenance visits down to an exact science and process. We will:

Almost a catastrophic breakdown: The bolt on the laser shroud was loose. It caught the laser, which sent particles into the lens and cut a water hose. The beam super-heated the copper tip, fusing it shut. Fortunately, the laser operator did the smart thing: Shut Down Prevents Catastrophic Breakdown
Video: Why Routine Laser Maintenance?
  • Change the oil
  • Check fluid levels
  • Perform compression tests (check for gas leaks)
  • Check hoses (did you know: Hoses often change color just before they fail!)
  • Check all moveable parts
  • Run diagnostic tests
  • Clean your laser system
  • Adjust and realign Rofin Sinar resonators
  • Check critical alignment points
    … and more!

If there are potential trouble spots, if your laser system needs consumable parts, or if a standard part is wearing down, LMG will give you a fast and fair estimate. Often, these types of repairs can be done during the same visit, thus preventing dangerous laser failure situations, expensive part replacement, and costly down time.

With nearly 3 decades of industrial laser experience, LMG’s motto is simple:
“The Performance of Your Laser System is a Reflection of the Work We Do!“

Contact Laser Maintenance Group For a Quote

Don’t wait until your high-performance industrial laser system fails. Schedule your laser maintenance visits now with LMG Founder and Chief Technology Consultant Scott Kiser (aka “The Laser Service Guy”) directly at 423-593-7206, or email:  LaserSolutions@Comcast.net.