What is the lifetime of Trotec laser machine?

The high-quality design of your Trotec laser secures itself to a long service life. Generally, we expect your laser to be in use for 10 years. We prodive training on the best handling of your laser machine in addition to system maintenance through our Technical Support to provide the longest possible service life for your laser machine. Continue reading to discover a variety of tips on what you should do to keep your laser running like new.

This allows you to optimize the service life of your Trotec laser machine

Ideal temperature for a laser: 20-25 degrees Celsius

Choose the ideal location for your laser

The area in which your machine will be operating is incredibly important. A temperature of around 68-77 degrees Fahrenheit at normal humidity (40-70% relative humidity) is optimal for the system. Direct sunlight and differing extreme temperatures negatively impact the operation and service life of your machine. The waste heat of the laser rises as the laser power rises. Therefore, it is crucial to control the specified temperatures and administer proficient ventilation - the distance between the laser system and the wall is important to allow for excellent circulation to the laser source. In colder months, it is crucial not to run the laser at room temperature below 59 degrees Fahrenheit. It is also important to note that the laser needs a bit of time to reach room temperature, i.e. before continuing full operation, remain in standby mode until the laser source has reached operating temperature.

Find further information on the optimal environmental conditions for the laser:

The perfect environment for your laser

Regular cleaning of the laser

Regular laser cleaning is highly suggested for optimal operation. The air ducts of the laser may get blocked by material residue, and flames may form from deposits. Regularly check the following components for deposits and material residues:

Optical components: Lenses and mirrors
Nozzle
Work area and processing space

Details on cleaning your laser can be found in the operating manual or in this article

Cleaning and dust extraction for Trotec laser machines

Only use materials that are suitable for the laser

There are some materials that should not be processed with a laser machine. The laser may get damaged or the health of the operator may even be affected. We have assembled a list of unsuitable materials for you in this article.

Unsuitable materials for laser processing

Use an exhaust system

Trotec laser machines are tailored to protect electronics and motors from smoke and dust with InPack technology. Smoke and dust may be created depending on the material being processed. Both should be extracted from the laser's processing area in order to avoid damaging the machine. We suggest Atmos exhaust systems to remove smoke and dirt. The Atmos system will inform you on the display when you need to replace the filter inserts. Here you can find out more about our exhaust systems.

Additionally, Trotec offers nozzles for Air Assist circulation, which is integrated from the compressor or external compressed air to the work area. The nozzles are part of the air flushing concept, which saves the lenses and mirrors from corruption. We would love to educate you on exhaust systems, compressed air nozzles and package offers before you make a purchase.

Avoiding flame formation

Acrylic is one of a few materials that can flame during laser cutting. For this, we suggest adjusting the suction, the Air Assist, and the laser parameters so that flames are prevented during processing. Our acrylic cutting grid and acrylic slats also help to avoid the accumulation of flames. Always replace molten or dirty acrylic work tables within an appropriate time.

Likewise, processing residues that have fallen into the table can ignite, so regular cleaning of the processing space is important.

Regular maintenance

Trotec offers a wide array of maintenance options or service contracts to keep your laser running longer. Our certified service technicians check your system, set it up and give you tips on handling. If you need it, we even replace maintenance and wear parts such as the lens.

Which laser components are subject to wear and tear?

Optical components

The optical components of a laser, such as mirrors or lenses, are susceptible to normal wear and tear, which greatly depends on the operation. This means that how often you run the laser each day, which laser outputs you use, as well as which material is processed directly influences the wear of the optical components. Additionally, for applications with a lot of dust being generated or flames forming, the proper use of Air Assist is a great influencing factor. Dirty and poorly cleaned laser lenses become increasingly impervious over time. This can lead to an increased loss of heat and inevitably - if not replaced beforehand - lens destruction. Regularly inspecting and cleaning the optical components avoids untimely failure.

Laser source

The laser beam is generated by the laser source, the heart of the laser system. Trotec mainly uses CO₂ laser sources with our patented Ceramicore® interior, which are defined by a particularly long service life. The laser source's service life can vary based on a few different factors, the most important being the environment it is in and how it is operated. E.g. quick operations with high performance operation hurt the laser source more than regular work with an average range of performance.
More tips and information on the service life of your laser source can be found here:

How to get max CO₂ lasertube lifetime

Kerf cut: Cutting technique for bending applications

Ambient conditions

What affects the laser system, as described above, can also be applied to the laser source - when your operating temperature is too high or too low, the service life of your laser source can decrease greatly (see above)

Because individual requirements require individual advice.
We’ll advise you free of charge.