One of the quiet advantages of laser cleaning is how little the machines need looking after. This guide explains the maintenance a pulsed fibre laser cleaner needs, why it is so low, and what affects its lifespan.
Key takeaways
- Pulsed fibre lasers have no consumable abrasive and few wearing parts, so maintenance is low.
- Routine care is mainly keeping the optics clean and the air cooling clear.
- Air-cooled machines avoid the upkeep of water cooling and chillers.
- Looked after well, a fibre laser source is rated for a long working life.
Why fibre lasers are low-maintenance
Fibre laser cleaners are low-maintenance because they have no abrasive consumable, no chemicals and few moving parts, so there is little to wear out or replace compared with blasting or chemical equipment. The technology is inherently simple to keep running.
This is part of why running costs are so low. There is no grit to reorder and no waste stream to manage, just routine care of the machine itself.
What routine care involves
Routine care mainly involves keeping the protective optics clean, keeping the air-cooling intakes and vents clear, and following the manufacturer guidance on checks. It is simple, regular attention rather than heavy servicing.
Clean optics keep the beam working efficiently, and clear cooling keeps the machine within its operating temperature. Both are quick checks.
The benefit of air cooling
Air-cooled machines avoid the maintenance burden of water cooling, with no coolant to top up, no chiller to service and no risk of leaks or freezing. The FLT-P range is air cooled for exactly this reason.
That also makes the machines simpler to deploy from a van, running from a standard single-phase supply. See power requirements for the supply detail.
Want to run these jobs yourself?
LaserStrip sells and hires FLT-P pulsed fibre laser machines (200W, 300W and 500W) with training and UK support. From £10,500 plus VAT.
How long they last
Looked after well, a pulsed fibre laser source is rated for a long working life of many thousands of hours, which is part of what makes the machine a sound long-term investment. The core of the machine is built to endure.
Combined with low running costs, that longevity supports a strong return over time. See machine cost for the wider economics, or talk to us about support on the contact page.
