Fiber laser cutting machines are used in various applications throughout the year, and regular maintenance is essential to keep them in top condition. This is especially prominent in winter or in areas where it is too cold. In order to avoid downtime and unnecessary losses, be sure to take appropriate anti-freezing measures. Here are some tips for maintaining fiber laser cutting machines in winter or cold areas.
Since the temperature drops sharply in cold conditions, operating the fiber laser cutting machine at a significant temperature below 0°C will undoubtedly cause problems. Once the cooling water freezes, its volume will expand, which will cause the internal pipes of the laser or water cooling system to rupture or deform. In turn, this will further damage other core components and cause significant losses.
Do you know how to maintain it in winter? Below are some maintenance tips for you reference.
1. Keep the ambient temperature above 0℃
In order for the fiber laser cutting machine to operate normally in winter, it is best to improve the heating facilities in the workshop and ensure that the ambient temperature is kept above 0°C.
If there is no heating equipment in the workshop, and the ambient temperature may be lower than 5°C. Keep the cooler running for 24 hours.
At the same time, in order to save energy, the temperature of low-temperature water and normal-temperature water should be adjusted to 5-10°C to ensure that the cooling water circulates and the temperature is not lower than the freezing point.
For users who add grease to the screw, please don’t forget to clean it. Otherwise it will freeze motion; when adding grease, make sure that the temperature in the workshop reaches the minimum lubrication temperature.
2. Empty the cooling water after use
After daily use, drain the cooling water from the pipeline. Use an air pump or compressor to effectively discharge water. In addition, if necessary, remove the chiller or water pump and place it in a hot place to prevent the circulation equipment from freezing.
3. Add antifreeze to the cooling water
If there are frequent power outages or the cold water cannot be drained every day, antifreeze must be used. Antifreeze usually consists of alcohol and water. It requires high boiling point and flash point, high specific heat and electrical conductivity, low temperature viscosity, low foam, corrosion to metal parts and rubber hoses. When selecting or preparing antifreeze, its freezing point should be 5°C lower than the lowest temperature of the working environment.
4. Use ethanol for short-term freeze protection
If a power failure occurs and the cooling water cannot be drained, temporary antifreeze is required. You can add ethanol (alcohol) to deionized water or purified water. The addition amount shall not exceed 40% of the volume of the water tank. Paint and rubber parts are corrosive and corrosive to metals, so they cannot be used for a long time. You must drain and clean the cooling pipe with purified water or deionized water within a week. If you still need antifreeze, you must choose a special antifreeze.
We all know many countries are facing energy crisis in this winter, if you are in metal fabrication and have a CO2 laser cutting machine, we are glad to introduce our CO2 laser retrofit solutions to you, which will help you save a lot of cost, especially electricity cost and gas cost.
