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Does anybody here use a co2 laser?
Hi Folks, brand new on here, are there many co2 laser cutters users on here. Thanks Dave.
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24 Replies
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i have one i use it as a hobby, really interesting when you get into them!.
David
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Had one since December, wish I’d bought one years ago
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I’ve had mine 8 years or so……..great tool.
John
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Yeah it is a good tool, only using it for hobby myself but I have a problem with it and I can’t find an engineer to repair and service it. Who do you use and can anyone point me in the right direction, thanks Dave. I am in Manchester UK by the way.
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what type do you have a chinese one or a named one? i might be able to point you to a guy who services chinese lasers.
david
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It is a 60w chinese laser David thanks.
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I do my own maintenance on all my equipment, my laser has only needed a tube and a PSU replaced.
What is the issue? locate the problem and replace the part.
John
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Unfortunately John I don’t have the knowledge or tools to do much with it myself,give me a piece of metal or wood and I will make you anything. The problem is loss of power, I am having to slow the cutting down really slow to cut, it’s that bad now it only just cuts cardboard at 6mm ps @ 70% power which are ridiculous figures. I had a new tube fitted about 20 hrs ago and serviced by a so called professional and the machine was fine. I called the same engineer with the problem and he suggested it could be the power pack, but since then he wont reply to texts or answer his phone to me. I was perfectly polite to him so i have no idea what his problem is.
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running Chinese CO2 tubes beyond 65/70% power shortens their life dramatically and actually produces less cutting power at the head as the tube is being "over driven" ( I found that out after my first tube burned out prematurely).
My PSU failed just after my tube ( 3 years into ownership)…..my symptom was no output at all as no power was getting to the tube….a replacement PSU simply bolted in and I was up and running againIs the alignment OK? mirrors clean? Focus lens not damaged as I have heard they can crack?
John
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ive had the same problem it was caused by the focus mirror not being clean enough and actually had a burn on it , you can get different types for different substrates also which helps with using less power on a faster setting.
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I have never used it above 70% except when I tested the cut once at 85% but that was less than a minutes use.I have checked and cleaned the mirrors, lens is okay and the alignment gives a full circle at the output, the engineer showed me how to do all these and reset the alignment if needed. The power loss has been gradual to the point now where I can’t cut anything apart from paper with it.
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what is the amp meter reading when its fired? if thats low then its the power supply if its fireing ok but no power its the tube
hope this helps
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I don’t know how to check it David or what readings it should even be. I would like an engineer to check it out for me as my confidence in the previous service engineer (who wont even answer his phone) has dwindled. The new tube fitted has only done a few hours work.
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how was the tube fitted? sometimes if the join between the new tube and the machine is not strong enough the current wont be transferred fully which can also cause arcing if not connected properly and the machine unknown to you is discharging inside the casing of the machine which would be lethal if its not earthed properly as i know some of the Chinese ones come with no earth cables or plugs :shocked: , what exact machine do you have? i can check with someone i know in Wolverhampton if its something he can help with.
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I am not home at the moment David but will check in the morning. The new tube was fitted by a trained engineer though and worked perfectly at first.
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Hi David, I have checked the machine and there is no manufacturers information on it, all I can tell you is it is a chinese machine 60w with a 700mm x 400mm flatbed. Thanks Dave.
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Hi David Gwyndaf Povah, could you ask your friend if he would be prepared to help me solve my co2 laser problem. I need an engineer and am quite prepared to pay for it. Thanks Dave.
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Where abouts are you based?
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I am in Manchester Phil, but I am quite prepared to pay whatever it costs if anybody has to travel. The main thing is I need my machine fixing. Thanks Dave.
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Its quite a small machine, maybe call HPC Laser up and see if you can drive to them in Elland, Halifax. They will fix and diagnose others machines. Give them a call, they are very helpful!
If I was in Manchester I would pop over with my tools, but its not something I do (I have 7 machines here and replace tubes, realignments, or as one machine I have, completely rewired). Sadly, I am unable to pop over at any point as I am about 3-4 hours away!
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Thanks Phil, I will give them a ring tomorrow. One question, can I put a 50w power pac in my machine with a 60w tube? Dave.
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quote David E Robinson:Thanks Phil, I will give them a ring tomorrow. One question, can I put a 50w power pac in my machine with a 60w tube? Dave.
Technically you could.
However, you need to look at the high voltage output of the PSU and ensure that the tube operates at the same HV output.
Also, do you have an analogue mA reader installed? If not you definitely need one to see your operating current to ensure you are not over driving the tube.
I am currently having some similar power loss issues; again its a chinese cutter, 80W tube. I run my cutter at 65% power which gives me a 23mA operating current. However, after about 20 minutes of continuous cutting the mA is reading 19mA? I’m not sure if this is the PSU at fault or the tube is at fault. The tube is brand new. We only replaced it as the old tube was cracked.
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Current dropping as coolant temperature rises?
Is it a CW 3000 cooler?John
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quote John Thomson:Current dropping as coolant temperature rises?
Is it a CW 3000 cooler?John
Hi John,
Thats what i initially though, however I have monitored the coolant temp every 5 minutes and ambient is say 12oC and its increasing to probably 15oC so presumed it could be a faulty PSU.
I dont have a standalone cooler unit just yet but have a 32L box full of de-ionised water.
I’ve just done a bit of reading and watching a couple of SarbarMultiMedia (Russ’s) videos and I am led to believe that the HV PSU’s are constant current drivers as opposed to the tube being a load. With this in mind, I suspect that the PSU is loosing current as the temperature within the PSU is increasing deeming the PSU faulty?