Faults that may occur with laser cutting machines and their corresponding solutions
1.Mechanical system failure
Stalled or abnormal noise of moving parts
·Possible causes:
Insufficient lubrication or presence of dust and impurities on the guide rails and screw rods.
Wear, loosening or poor meshing of the transmission gears.
Loosening or damage of the motor coupling.
·Solution:
Clean the guide rails and screw rods, and apply special lubricating oil (such as lithium grease).
Check the tightness of the gears, replace severely worn gears, and adjust the meshing gap.
Tighten the coupling screws, and replace the coupling if necessary.
Excessive vibration of the cutting platform
·Possible causes:
The platform anchor bolts are not level or loose.
The motor drive parameters are set improperly (such as excessive acceleration).
The transmission belt is loose or worn.
·Solution:
Use a level gauge to calibrate the platform, and tighten the anchor bolts.
Reduce the motor acceleration or re-set the motion parameters (refer to the equipment manual).
Adjust the belt tension or replace the belt.
Inaccurate movement of the worktable
·Possible causes:
Faults in the limit switches or position offset.
Damage to the encoder or abnormal feedback signals.
Mechanical structure deformation (such as distorted guide rails).
·Solution:
Clean or replace the limit switches, and re-calibrate the origin position.
Check the encoder connection lines, and replace the damaged encoder.
Contact the manufacturer for calibration or replacement of deformed mechanical components.
2.Optical system failure
Laser power drops / Cutting capability weakens
·Possible causes:
Laser tube aging, increased loss of medium inside the cavity.
Dirty, scratched or misaligned surfaces of the reflector / focusing lens.
Insufficient or faulty output power of the laser power supply.
·Solution:
Use a power meter to measure the laser tube power. If it is below 80% of the rated value, replace it.
Wipe the lens with anhydrous ethanol + dust-free cloth and re-adjust the lens angle.
Test the output voltage of the power supply, repair or replace the laser power supply.
Poor spot quality (diffraction, double image)
·Possible causes:
Unstraightened optical path (angle deviation of the reflector, focusing lens).
Improper installation of the focusing lens or damaged lens.
Loose laser tube support causing deviation of the optical path.
·Solution:
Re-calibrate the optical path (start from the first reflector and gradually adjust to the focusing lens).
Check the installation direction of the focusing lens (distinguish the front and back sides), replace the damaged lens.
Tighten the screws of the laser tube support and the fixed components of the optical path.
Rough cutting surface / With burrs
·Possible causes:
Incorrect focus position (too high or too low).
Inconsistent cutting speed and power (too fast or insufficient power).
Insufficient auxiliary gas pressure or clogged nozzle.
·Solution:
Use focus test paper to determine the optimal focus position.
Reduce the cutting speed or increase the power.
Check the pump pressure (usually 0.5-1MPa), clean or replace the nozzle.
3.Electrical system failure
The equipment cannot be powered on / The power indicator light is not lit.
·Possible causes:
External power supply failure (such as circuit breaker tripping, loose plug).
Internal fuse melting or power module damage.
Main control board or switch power supply connection line detachment.
·Solution:
Check the power supply lines, restart the circuit breaker or replace the socket.
Replace the fuse of the same specification (such as glass tube fuse), test the output voltage of the power module (such as 24V DC).
Check the connection terminals of the main board, reinsert the connection lines.
The motor does not operate / The movement is out of control.
·Possible causes:
Driver failure (such as overload, overheating alarm).
Poor contact or damage of the motor signal line.
Incorrect control software parameters (such as incorrect pulse increment setting).
·Solution:
Check the alarm code on the driver display (refer to the manual), power off and restart. If the alarm still occurs after restarting, repair or replace the driver.
Replace the motor signal line, check if the connection terminals are loose.
Reset the software parameters (such as pulse increment, motor direction), restore factory settings and try again.
Sensor failure (such as limit, red light positioning)
·Possible causes:
Sensor surface has dust or obstructions.
Sensor signal line broken or connector oxidized.
Sensor damaged (such as photoelectric switch, proximity switch failure).
·Solution:
Clean the detection surface of the sensor, ensure there is no obstruction.
Replace the signal line or re-weld the connector.
Use a multimeter to test the sensor output signal, replace the damaged sensor.
4.Preventive Maintenance Recommendations
·Regular cleaning: Wipe the lenses and guide rails weekly, and clean the water tank and gas filter monthly.
·Lubrication and maintenance: Add lubricating oil to the guide rails and screw rods every 200 hours, and inspect the wear of gears once a year.
·Optical path calibration: Check the straightness of the optical path every quarter to prevent deviation due to vibration.
·Electrical inspection: Every six months, tighten the connection terminals and test the stability of the power output.
·Parameter backup: Regularly back up device parameters and cutting process files to prevent data loss.
--Rayther Laser Camila Wang