Re: Laser life

From: Darius Daruwala (darius@dukat.rpc.msoe.edu)
Date: Tue Feb 10 1998 - 18:19:06 EET


On Mon, 9 Feb 1998 tas7@chrysler.com wrote:

> Ingrid,
>
> At Chrysler (Detroit MI.), we start our build from a DOS prompt - vs -
> the menu. When a build is complete the laser does not shut off
> automatically. I believe that leaving the laser on if you have builds
> back to back, or within 24 hours of your last build, the laser life is
> prolonged. Our average laser life is ~7200+ hours with ~20 mW at the
> vat. When the laser power dips below 20 mW we replace the laser. I
> believe our own personal record for laser life was ~7690 hours with 13
> mW at the vat. As a side note we do a Cad re-melt every 500 to 600
> laser hours. If the laser power is below what we would consider the
> norm (laser hours - vs- mW ) then we will do 4 or 5 re-melts back to
> back to increase the laser power.
>
>
>
> Thomas A. Sorovetz
> Chrysler Corp.
> 313.493.2032
> tas7@Chrysler.com
>
> For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/
>

Tom,

Do you have a maintenance contract with 3D Systems? To fully use our
service contract, we usually swap our lasers out before they die or even
go as low as 20 mW. I am sure that many people do the same.

Darius

************************************************************************
Darius Daruwala
Milwaukee School of Engineering
Rapid Prototyping Center
1025 N. Broadway
Milwaukee, WI 53202
Tel. (414)277-7189
Fax (414)277-7470
daruwala@msoe.edu
************************************************************************

For more information about the rp-ml, see http://ltk.hut.fi/rp-ml/



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