¶ Introduction
Instructions to clean the lens and mirrors on the laser cutters.
¶ Skills Required
A Community Technician, Site Supervisor, or Shop Manager should perform all machine maintenance.
¶ Before you Begin
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¶ Time to complete
- Less than 30 minutes
¶ Tools Required
- Lens removal tool
- Needle nose tweezers
- Nozzle removal tool
¶ Materials Required
- A paper towel
- Isopropyl alchohol (ISO)
- Q-tips
- Latex gloves (OPTIONAL)
¶ Instructions
¶ Removal and Disassembly of the lens housing
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Retrieve the laser cleaning kit from the Community Technician tool cabinet. The laser cleaning kit contains the lens removal tool, needle nose tweezers, and nozzle removal tool.
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Set out a paper towel on the table. This will be your cleaning station. Have your ISO and q-tips accesible.
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Power on the laser cutter. Bring the main lens housing to the front of machine where you can easily reach it.
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Loosen the friction set screw on the main lens housing while holding the lens tube to ensure that it does not fall and get damaged.
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Disconnect the air assist.
You have successfully removed the lens housing!
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Bring the lens housing to your cleaning station. Release the nozzle using the nozzle removal tool by aligning the teeth of the tool with the keys of the nozzle.
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With the lens removal tool, unscrew the slotted ring nut.
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Now, carefully remove the silicone O-ring using the needle nose tweezers.
¶ Cleaning
- With the lens housing disassembled, use the ISO and q-tips to thoroughly and gently clean the lens. If there are brown spots on the lens, gently work on the spots with multiple passes.
¶ If the lens is damaged:
Burned brown all over: soak it in the ISO for several minutes before gently scrubbing it. If it doesn't come clean after that, replace it.
Cracked, chipped, or otherwise severely damaged: replace it.
- Clean the lens housing, ring nut, silicone O-ring, and nozzle. You should clean each component with the ISO and q-tips.
Allow the components a moment to dry before reassembly.
¶ Reassembly and Installation
- Now we will reassemble the laser head. First, replace the lens with either your freshly cleaned lens, or a new lens if the previous lens was badly damaged.
- Following the lens, replace the silicone O-ring and then use the lens removal tool to secure the ring nut.
- Reattach the lens housing to the main lens housing. Secure the washers and the air assist.
¶ Cleaning the mirrors
Gently wipe the mirrors with ISO and a clean, lint free cloth or q-tip.