Clean your machine. Much like other types of design equipment, a clean machine produces better results than one that is not properly maintained. Maintenance requirements are included in your laser machine user manual. If a drop in performance happens quickly, checking and cleaning the optics may be the first step in correcting the problem.
We recommend inspecting the optics in the laser (the lenses and mirrors) weekly and cleaning as needed. If you’re cutting materials that produce more residue, like wood or acrylic, you may find your optics need to be cleaned more frequently. Typically, optics are clear gold in color and are bright and shiny. If they are cloudy or have smudges or debris, it’s time to clean them.
-Amy Dallman, Epilog Laser
