ET Series RF CO2 Lasers

Why does the laser take some time to fire after getting command signal when it’s powered on?

To extend the service life of ET-Series CO2 laser, the internal chip is set with a 23s delay. To preheat the laser gas mixture in the optical resonator during the delay to prevent the RF power supply from being overloaded instantly.

Is external pre-ionization signal required to be given to the laser before it fires?

The laser has a built-in pre-ionization signal. When powered on, the gas inside the laser is in a pre-ionized state. Upon receiving the laser emission signal, the laser will generate laser output immediately.

If an external control card provides the pre-ionization signal, the recommended parameters are as follows: 5 kHz, duty cycle 1%–2%.At this time, the laser emission status indicator will be constantly on.

What matters during the storage and shipping of the laser?

The laser beam exit aperture has to be sealed to prevent any possible contamination to the lens. Handle it gently to protect the laser from any accidental impact.

What are the requirements for the operation environment of the laser?

The ambient temperature should be maintained at 5℃~35℃. External dust protection is necessary if the laser runs in dusty fields where the laser exit window is easy to be burnt. The humidity has to be within recommended range to ensure no condensation on the laser. The environmental pH value is neutral.

How to clean output window of the laser if it is contaminated? Can do it with a cotton swab?

The laser beam exit lens can be wiped. Wipe it gently with special lens cleaning paper dipped in alcohol after blowing away the bigger contaminants on it. If the lens surface is seriously contaminated and damaged, do not run the laser, avoid completely lens burnt, end in more damage.

If the size of the laser spot is known, how to decide the size of the optics in the external optical path?

The size of the optics in the external laser path shall be 1.5 to 2 times of the actual spot size.

Power at the laser exit is strong, but it is very low on processing materials, what would be the reasons?

Generally, there is high laser power loss in the external optical path, the following points shall be checked:

1. Check if the size and the aperture of optics in the external optical path are big enough;

2. Check if the optics in external optical path quality is reliable (the wastage of single optic shall be no more than 3%);

3. Check if there is contamination or damage on the optics in the external optical path;

4. Check if the alignment of external optical path is properly done.

What to do when the laser power output is low or unstable during operation?

1. Test if the voltage of DC power supply connected to the laser is normal or not with a multimeter;

2. Test if the command signal to the laser is normal or not with an oscilloscope.

There are many sealing labels attached on the laser, what are they for?

If the sealing label is damaged, the warranty of the laser fails.

The ET-Series CO2 laser comes with a sealed maintenance free design, only regular inspection and cleaning of optics are required. Dust and cotton fiber are the common contaminants on optics of the laser which can cause laser beam absorption and scattering, which can cause permanent damage to optics in extreme cases.  And permanent damage to the laser is also possible if the optics are removed improperly.

Regular maintenance

To ensure the long-term stable operation of the laser, in addition to strictly complying with the installation requirements in the user manual, regular inspection and maintenance of the laser’s operating environment are also required. Before operation, please turn off the equipment and disconnect the power supply.

Check whether there is any condensation on the laser housing. If so, reduce the humidity of the environment where the laser is located.

Check whether the wiring of the laser is secure. If loose, tighten it properly.

Check whether the laser housing is properly grounded, and ensure reliable grounding.

Check whether there is dust on the laser surface. If so, wipe the housing with alcohol.

Check whether there is dust on the cooling fan. Wipe it or clean it with a high-pressure air gun.

After completing the above inspections, power on the laser and check whether the fan rotates normally and whether there is vibration. If vibration occurs, check and tighten the screws on the fan cover.

Maintenance of Laser optics and external optics

Please turn off the equipment and cut the power, stop the chiller, and seal the external optical path of the laser processing equipment. Remove the lens with gloves, put it on the non-woven fabric or special lens cleaning cloth. Use cleaning cloth dipped Alcohol or acetone to clean the lens and can only move in one direction. Do not reuse the used lens cleaning cloth. If the laser is used in a dusty environment, please blow it with filtered clean air or high-purity nitrogen firstly.

Maintenance materials requirements:

Service method:

If the co2 RF laser you purchased breaks down during the warranty period, please show relevant certificates, keep the factory logo and sealed label intact, product appearance must stay intact, and contact our company for a warranty replacement.

The following circumstances are not covered by the warranty:

1. Damaged warranty label on the rf co2 laser;

2. Laser faults and damages caused by human factors;

3. Failure or damage caused by incorrect wiring, installation and use which are not in accordance with the given instructions;

4. Failure or damage caused by natural disasters and other force majeure factors (such as earthquake and fire);

5. Other faults or damages not caused by quality problems of the rf co2 laser itself.