Well, I know most of us are in the same position, the fear of the day when the laser stops working. Of course it would happen when the shop is loaded with work.
Worked all weekend to try to get caught up. Laser was working fine... then all of a sudden I could no longer cut 1/8" colored acrylic. Checked all the usual suspects, cleaned optics, mirrors and checked alignment. Alas after attempting several passes I was able to get through enough to make it work.
What I noticed was, when running at 100 pwr the beam was actually skipping, turning off and on, no real set pattern, would cut for 1/4" and then skip an inch or so then cut 1/2" then skip again then cut for 4" and so on...but when lowering the power to say 80 it would burn a nice beam consistantly, no skipping, but not as usual with the power. My belief is it is the power supply, maybe the RF. Not thinking the tube, if it was losing power (gases)it would be skipping it all power levels.
Currrenty waiting on the powers at Epilog to discuss the issue and get back to me.
Just throwing this out there to see if any of you may have experienced this.
This is on the EX32 60 FYI.