Universal Maintenance
What are typical preventive maintenance (PM) events?
Each laser system consists of components that will wear naturally during normal operation. Inspection and the eventual replacement of these components is important to preserve the high quality of laser material processing one comes to expect from a ULS laser system. Typical preventative maintenance includes replacing the timing belts, bearings, idler and drive gear for the X-axis motion system approximately once every 1 to 2 years. Every 2 to 3 years the belts, bearings, idlers and drive gears should be replaced on the Y-axis motion system. While this is a general guide to preventative maintenance, there are many factors that can increase or decrease the time between preventative maintenance events such as: quality of exhaust system, material processed, duration of operation and routine maintenance (cleaning) performed.
Page 103 of the Universal Manual suggests the following:
Every 8 hours of engraving
- Clean X-Axis and Y-Axis bearings
- Clean X-Axis and Y-Axis and bearing tracks
- Clean X-Axis belt
- Check beam window, #2 mirror, #3 mirror and focus lens for debris. Clean ONLY if dirty.
Every month
- Clean cooling fan filters
- Clean Z-Axis lead screws with white lithium grease
- Check for X-Axis and Y-Axis belt wear. Replace as necessary.
- Condition belts with silicone lubricant
- Check and/or clean X-Axis and Y-Axis drive gears
- Check for X-Axis and Y-Axis bearing wear.
Every 6 months
- Clean exhaust plenum
That's a pretty comprehensive cleaning regimen that we could probably adapt to our own needs. The Boss manual lists something similar on Page 45.
I'm not sure it's feasible to suggest a DAILY clean of the belts, bearings, and optics, but if five or so folks who use it regularly were trained in how to do it, that would probably make two to three times a week realistic. We'd have to avoid diffusion of responsibility by creating a checklist/log of some sort so we could all be aware of when it's due for a clean or when you could get away with a quick cut. I would be more than happy to lend my dope office manager skillz to piloting such a program.