WHY YOU NEED A WATER CHILLER TO PROTECT YOUR CO2 LASER ENGRAVER
Lasers are a useful tool applied in various industrial engraving applications. Lasers can be used with various materials, including wood, glassware, acrylics, and leather. However, lasers generate a lot of heat which could damage the finished items if proper temperature regulation is not achieved. Portable water chillers are an effective means of achieving optimal temperature control when industrial lasers are in use.
How Much Heat Do Laser Engravers Produce?
The laser engraving process is expected to generate significant amounts of heat. To effectively engrave a material, the laser would have to produce enough heat to successfully distort its surface thermally. For example, stainless steel melts at approximately 1400 to 1450°C. This means a laser engraver will need to sustain very high temperatures when in operation.
Why CO2 Laser Engravers Need Industrial Cooling Systems
As mentioned earlier in this article, the operational temperatures for laser engravers are quite high. If the thermal conditions are not carefully regulated while operating a CO2 laser engraver, there is an increased risk of completing a sub-standard process. Uncontrolled heat generation will not only diminish the engraving quality but also cause costly damage to the laser components.
To prevent these undesirable outcomes, it is prudent to integrate an industrial cooling system with your CO2 laser. Incorporating a CO2 laser chiller into your engraving setup is an effective way of ensuring optimal process temperatures are maintained.
Key Elements
Highlighted below are the key elements of an efficient water chiller system required for use with a CO2 laser engraver.
Water Flow
A critical component of chiller efficiency is a steady flow of water directed at the cooling process. Therefore, a laser cutter cooling system must possess a tubing circuit recirculating chilled water through the heated laser process.
Integrated Thermal Sensors and Alarm System
The temperatures within the CO2 laser engraving setup must always be carefully regulated. An effective laser water chiller includes thermal sensors that are calibrated to precisely monitor operating conditions. If there is a deviation from the desired thermal parameters, then alarm systems will go off to inform the operator to make checks, or the chiller system will try to self-regulate automatically.
Display Panels
Heads-up displays are another integral part of a good industrial chiller. At a glance, equipment operators can get a readout on current operational temperatures and compare them against the required thermal conditions. This is particularly important when operating a DIY chiller, as manual input is necessary to keep the engraving process within desired temperature ranges.
Observation Cut-outs
Industrial chillers are largely enclosed systems. As a result, most water chillers have a cut-out or window through which system operators can keep an eye on chiller fluid levels. This is to ensure the appropriate levels of cooling fluids always remain in circulation.
Mobility
While this is not always necessary, some processes require their industrial chillers to be highly mobile as cooling happens across several sites. For example, for CO2 laser engraving processes, an air-cooled or water-cooled on wheels is a good choice.
Optimal Temperature for Laser Engraver Water Chillers
While there is no precise way to estimate the perfect operating temperatures for gas lasers, most CO2 lasers will function optimally with chiller units that keep thermal conditions between 60 to 70°F.
Running a laser engraver water chiller at this temperature will improve the engraving quality and protect the laser tube from heat-related damage for longer. Overall, integrating a chiller for a laser cutting machine will boost the longevity of process equipment while maintaining high-quality material finishes.
CO2 Laser Chiller Sizing Options
To ensure your laser-cutting cooling system is appropriate for your industrial process, you must determine the scale of your operation. Lasers with higher power ratings typically require larger chillers to achieve maximal cooling. If you run a smaller operation, a portable chiller should be able to satisfy all your cooling needs.
Other vital factors to consider include ISO certification, installation chiller maintenance and installation costs, and equipment warranty.
Maintain Your CO2 Laser Engraver Temperature with Cold Shot Chillers
Cold Shot Chillers is the best choice if you are looking to optimize cooling for your CO2 laser system. Our laser cutter cooling systems are built to the highest manufacturing standards while remaining easy to install and maintain.
To learn more about our industrial chillers for laser cutting machines, contact us online.