Tips to Remember When Checking or Cleaning Laser Cutter Lenses

The lens in your CNC laser-cutting machine plays an important role in the efficiency and effectiveness of your cutting equipment. Any dirt or damage to that lens can affect the quality of the laser cuts to the extent that cut edges can become uneven. Dirty or damaged lenses can even explode and damage other components of the optics system. This article discusses some tips that you should implement as you check or clean the lens of your new laser cutter.

Always Wear Rubber Gloves

You should never touch the lens with your bare hands. This is because any contaminant, such as the oil in your skin, can act as a trap for dirt and other contaminants. Such contaminants can compromise the quality of the light beam reaching the material that you want to cut. Wear rubber gloves and avoid introducing additional contaminants to your lens.

Know What to Look For

It is important for each laser operator to narrow down the list of things that he or she is looking for during an inspection of the lens. The first important thing that you should look for is any material that could have been blown back towards the lens during the cutting process. Such materials can cause burn spots to develop on the lens. Secondly, you should check for any spots that may exist at the top of that lens. Such spots usually point to the possibility that there could be leaks within the beam delivery system. Such leaks permit contaminants, such as dust particles, to reach the lens.

Use Lens Tissue

The inspection above may show you that you need to clean that lens. Did you know that you could cause more harm than good as you try to clean that lens? This can happen when you aren't selective about the surface onto which you place the lens as you clean it. The best material to use is lens tissue. Lens tissue protects the lens from abrasive damage. It also protects the lens from any dirt that could have attached itself onto the lens when you place that lens on a dirty surface.

Be Careful When Using Lens Cleaners

Many lens-cleaning solutions can end up damaging the coating of the lens if too much of that solution is used. You should therefore use the solution sparingly in order to avoid inadvertently shortening the lifespan of the lens once its coating is damaged. Ensure that the manufacturer of your lens recommends the cleaning agent that you use.

The longevity of the lens in your CNC laser-cutting machine may largely depend on how well you take care of that lens. The tips above can go a long way in prolonging the service life of that lens. Consult laser-cutting experts for extra steps that you can take to reduce the frequency of replacing the lens in your laser cutter.

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