For enterprises offering laser cutting services, the cost of consumables for a laser cutting machine, in particular the cost of laser gases, is highly relevant. This is often the reason for choosing questionable gas suppliers.

Let's figure out whether it is necessary to worry about the quality of the working gases of the laser or maybe TRUMPF or another manufacturer of machine tools intimidates its customers.

First of all, it’s worth deciding what “high-quality laser gas” is. To do this, open the “Operator's Manual” of your machine, Chapter 2. Installation conditions (if you do not have TRUMPF , then look for the corresponding chapter in the manual for your machine), section 3.1.

For their work CO 2 laser sources of the company TRUMPF use a mixture of gases Helium (He), Carbon dioxide (CO2), Nitrogen (N2). Since we are talking about the practical side of the issue, then in addition to the purity of the gases in the manual nothing is indicated. So, the purity of the gases should be as follows:

I did not have to buy gases for machine tools, and yet customers report that units of gas suppliers in the country can withstand such requirements, and the cost of such gases is very high and often turns out to be ten times more expensive than local suppliers of cheap gases. I think the famous fable about the priest who was chasing cheap, everyone remembers. Let's try to figure out whether it is so bad in our case of chasing cheap. To do this, consider two scenarios:

Option №1.       Ignore the requirements of the manufacturer and buy cheap gases. We get a low cost cut. Customers are delighted with the low price of laser cutting at our enterprise and run to us. However, if something is impossible, but I really want it and we do it (we use cheap gases), then we will have to pay for it. So, a year / two has passed and the quality of the cut has decreased. A service engineer has arrived and says that you need to change the output and the deaf resonator mirrors. Naturally, this surprises you, just a year or two has passed and such expenses have already happened. But if the service engineer can still be shoveled, then the machine is relentless: & nbsp; The cut quality is low and the mirrors will have to be changed. Pay for, order, wait, then wait for the service engineer, pay for the services of the service department. The machine is worth, customers are waiting for their orders.

Option №2.       We strictly follow the recommendations of the manufacturer and buy high-quality gases. In this case, you will have to think about replacing the mirrors much later. 2-3 or maybe 4 times more the machine will work, and you will avoid unplanned repair costs. Customers are satisfied with the quality of the cut and the continuity of supply. Of course, this time will depend on the mode of operation of the machine and many other factors; nevertheless, practice shows that the machine has been working with good gases without repairing the resonator for 5 or more years. We saw machines coming from Europe and machines working in Russia. Believe there is a difference and the quality of gases affects not only the mirrors of the resonator.

Which option to choose is always decided by the owner of the machine or his production manager.

It is cheaper for someone to change mirrors once every 1.5-2 years and buy cheap gas, while it is more profitable for someone to work without downtime, not to spend money on extra repairs, but to spend this money on high-quality gases. Calculate what will be more profitable. The choice is yours.

               It would seem that we, as a customer service, are interested in the 1st option, however, we are honest with our customers and always recommend what is needed so that the machine does not give the owner extra hassle. Also, do not forget that if for some reason you miss the moment when the mirror needs to be changed, for example, you usually cut a thin metal and, suddenly, decided to cut a large thickness. If the mirror melts, then your entire resonator will be covered in a coating that cannot be cleaned and you will have to change the resonator or there will be a small chance to start the resonator after replacing all components. It is very expensive and no one will guarantee results. The cost of the resonator is very high and reaches the cost of a used machine, and sometimes higher.