Laser Machine Service near Portsmouth, on a Universal VLS 3.50 machine – Miltoncross Academy
A visit to a customer, Miltoncross Academy was requested by our partner RS Design and Technology as the customer had said that their Universal laser machine was in need of a service as the laser machine would intermittently stop cutting during jobs. With no errors and the laser head still moving. The fault was occuring at random positions and at varying times throughout the processing. The laser service of the Universal machine was conducted by our highly experienced service engineer ‘Gavin Edwards’. The laser service visit included: –
Universal VLS 3.50 – 40 watt
Upon arrival at Miltoncross Academy the universal machine and the reported issues were visually inspected. The customer also advised that the laser source had been re-gassed approximately five years ago and has not performed correctly since.
The optics were inspected and the protective window between the laser chamber and the main enclosure was found to be missing. The second mirror was found to have visible scratches. All mirrors and lens were cleaned.
Due to the protective window between the two main chambers was missing the laser chamber was found to be heavily contaminated with dust. This was cleared and was noted that the laser type was not the same laser type that normal is with universal machines of this type.
All fans filters were cleaned and electrical connections to and from the laser source were checked and found to be secure.
Beam alignment was checked and was found to be slightly off to the right hand side of the machine. Slight adjustments were made to correct the beam alignment across all corners of the bed.
The laser power supply was checked for output voltage and was measured at 48V. This dropped slightly to 47.9V during processing. However this is not an amount to cause any issues with the laser.
The laser power was measured at the exit aperture of the laser nozzle. This was shown to be reading 15.8w at the nozzle. It was also measured at the exit of the laser source directly. This was shown to be reading 28W.
The focal distance was tested and appeared to be incorrect. The bed was lowered and this improved the cutting performance. Airflow through the nozzle was also increased, which further improved the cutting performance.
The remaining items were completed with some only minor issues-
- Inspect, Clean and Lubricate all Linear/Guide Rails
- Inspect, Clean and tension belts
- Calibrate Bed Level
- Inspected Interlocks and Chiller Alarms
- Inspected and checked electrics, sensors and switches
- Safety Interlocks Inspection & Test
A number of test runs were completed on the machine and the machine performed satisfactorily following adjustments.
Due to the age of the machine, the degraded condition of components ( including optics and missing protective windows. The ongoing inconsistencies with the re-gassed laser source. It was recommended to the customer that plans be made to replace the laser machine in the near future.
Any of the consumable items mentioned above, Lens, Mirrors, Laser tubes, Power supplies are all available and can be bought separately in our online shop.
If you would like further information on our Laser Machine Service near Portsmouth capabilities or anywhere else in the country, or any other Laser Training requirement or Laser Application, please request a call back or, talk to one of our service engineering specialists by going to our contact page – link below.
Contact Us for Laser Engraving, Marking & Cutting Ad
Frequently Asked Questions:
How do I improve Inconsistent Cutting Depth?
Verify that the laser head is correctly focused for the material’s thickness
Check for debris or dust on the mirrors and lenses.
Ensure that the cutting bed is level across the entire work area.
How do I stop the laser from cutting unevenly?
Inspect and clean the optical components (mirrors and lenses).
Check that the work bed is level; an uneven bed will affect cutting depth.
Ensure the material is flat and secured in place on the bed.
How to stop the laser head dragging on Material
Ensure that the material is flat and not bowed or warped.
Check the height adjustment of the laser head and set the correct z-axis distance.
Verify that the workpiece is secured properly on the bed.
Does Thinklaser Service all Flatbed lasers
Short answer is Yes, we service a wide variety of flatbed laser models from the cheaper end of the market to the higher end the likes of Universal, Epilogue, GCC and more – Put us to the test!
