Recommended Maintenance: NOVA

Applies to: NOVA 10, NOVA 14 and NOVA 16

This guide shows how to maintain the components of your NOVA. Good maintenance maximizes the life of your machine and keeps it performing at its best.

Maintenance schedule

What you need

• Powder-free nitrile gloves
• Electronics air duster or compressed air
• Isopropyl alcohol, 90% or higher
• Microfiber cloth
• Lens wipes
• Allen key set
• NOVA lens tool
• Bottle brush, or a similar small scrubbing tool
• Distilled or reverse osmosis water
• Funnel
• Bucket
• Towels
• Citrus cleaning spray
• Screwdriver
• Vacuum cleaner with a hose attachment
• Dryer vent brush or lint brush

Laser head and optics

A clean lens and clean mirrors are the key to maximum beam transmission. How often you clean depends on how much you use the machine and what you work with. Some materials produce more smoke and dust than others and call for more frequent cleaning.

Lens

How often: after 40 work hours, or as needed.

Access the lens

1. Place something under the laser head, on the honeycomb or blades, to catch any small pieces that would otherwise drop into the bed of the machine.

2. Remove the air hose from the air fitting on the laser head: push on the blue retainer ring and pull the hose free.

   

   

3. On the left side of the laser head, loosen the thumb screw until the lens housing is released.

   

4. Remove the lens housing from the laser head and turn it upside down.

   

5. Using the NOVA lens tool from the tool kit, gently unscrew the retainer ring inside the lens housing until the retainer ring, silicone O-ring and lens are fully removed.

   

   

Clean the lens

Replace the lens if the coating has any scratches, chips or discoloration.

1. Blow on the lens with an electronics air duster or compressed air to remove debris. Debris left on the lens can damage the coating when you wipe it.

2. Wipe the lens with a lens cleaner in a sweeping motion from left to right.

Reinstall the lens

1. Stack the parts in this order, from the bottom up:

   • Retainer ring, with its notches facing down towards the surface it rests on
   • Silicone O-ring
   • Lens, with its convex (dome) side facing the O-ring and retainer ring

   

   

2. With the lens housing upside down, insert the stack into the housing, lens first.

   

3. Thread the retainer ring by hand until it sits flush in the lens housing.

   

4. Use the NOVA lens tool to seat the retainer ring and stack fully. Do not overtighten, which can damage the lens.

   

5. Check that the lens faces the right way. Looking at the lens through the opening in the housing, you should see your reflection right side up, as in a tiny mirror. If your reflection is upside down, the lens is upside down: remove it and flip it.

   

6. Return the lens housing to the laser head. The depth setting is personal preference. We set it to the 10 mark at the factory.

7. Tighten the thumb screw until the lens housing is firmly in place.

8. Push the air hose back into the air fitting on the lens housing and tug it lightly to check that it is fully seated.

Mirror 3

How often: after 40 work hours, or as needed.

Access Mirror 3

1. Using a 3 mm Allen key, remove the M4 mounting bolts in the corners of the bracket. Depending on the generation of the machine, the bracket has 2 or 3 mounting bolts. If it has only 2, note which corner is flat: the flat must go back in its original position. Take a photo for reference.

2. Remove the Mirror 3 bracket.

   

Clean Mirror 3

Replace the mirror if the coating has any scratches, chips or discoloration.

1. Blow on the mirror with an electronics air duster or compressed air to remove debris. Debris left on the mirror can damage the coating when you wipe it.

2. Using isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) and a microfiber cloth or a lens wipe, carefully clean the mirror in a sweeping motion from left to right.

Replace Mirror 3

1. Use a 1.5 mm Allen key to loosen one of the M1.6 bolts.

   

2. Remove the other bolts completely and set them aside.

3. Spin the retention ring out of the way and gently shake out the damaged mirror.

   

4. Insert the new mirror in the bracket with the reflective (gold) coating facing out. If your replacement mirror is not gold coated, place it with the reflective side facing out. Most silver coated mirrors that are reflective on both sides have a small arrow on the rim showing the orientation.

5. Carefully spin the retention ring back into position and line up the bolt holes.

6. Tighten the loosened M1.6 bolt first, then install the other bolts.

7. Reposition the mirror bracket on the laser head and install the M4 mounting bolts in the corners of the bracket. Make sure the flat corner is where it was when you removed the bracket. Use your reference photo to confirm.

Mirror 2

How often: inspect it when you clean Mirror 3, and clean it if it is dirty.

1. Blow on the mirror with an electronics air duster or compressed air to remove debris. Debris left on the mirror can damage the coating when you wipe it.

2. Wipe the mirror with a lens cleaner in a sweeping motion from left to right. Do not push too hard, or you may need to realign the machine.

Mirror 1

How often: inspect it when you clean Mirror 3.

Because of where the mirror bracket sits, you should rarely need to clean or replace Mirror 1. Contact support@aeonlaser.us if this mirror needs attention.

Mirror 0

Auto focus sensor

How often: as needed.

1. Blow air into the auto focus sensor with an electronics air duster or compressed air to clear away debris.

2. Using isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) and a microfiber cloth or a lens wipe, carefully clean the outer surfaces of the sensor and plate.

Nozzle

How often: after 40 work hours, or as needed (exterior only).

Clean the exterior of the nozzle with a towel and isopropyl alcohol.

Camera

How often: as needed.

1. Remove the lens cap from the camera.

2. Blow on the camera with an electronics air duster or compressed air to remove debris. Debris left on the lens can damage the camera when you wipe it.

3. Wipe the camera with a lens cleaner in a sweeping motion from left to right.

   

Exhaust system

A clean exhaust system prevents fire hazards, keeps the machine efficient, improves indoor air quality and keeps you in line with safety standards.

How often: every 3 to 6 months.

1. Remove the external exhaust hose from the machine.

2. Using a bottle brush or similar tool, clean the accessible surfaces of the fan so it runs efficiently.

3. Check the duct hose for holes or damage. Remove any large debris from the hose with a vacuum or a dryer hose cleaning brush.

4. Reinstall the exhaust hose on the fan. Make sure the hose and fan are properly connected and sealed.

Honeycomb tray

How often: every 6 months, or as needed. If you start to see build-up, it is time to clean.

1. With a helper, remove the honeycomb from the laser bed. The honeycomb is heavy and awkward to lift. Do not try to lift it alone.

2. Soak it in a citrus cleaner.

3. Rinse off the cleaner with water. Do not use a power washer, which can bend the honeycomb.

4. Air dry the honeycomb tray quickly so it does not rust.

Blades

How often: every 6 months, or as needed. Clean them when you clean the honeycomb tray.

1. Remove the blades from the laser bed.

2. Clean them with a citrus cleaner and towels. Soak them if stains are hard to remove.

3. Rinse off the cleaner with water.

4. Dry the blades quickly with towels so they do not rust.

Laser bed and crumb tray

How often: every 6 months, or as needed. Clean them when you clean the honeycomb.

1. Vacuum any large debris out of the laser bed and crumb tray.

2. Wipe down the laser bed and crumb tray with a citrus cleaner and a towel. Spray the cleaner onto the towel, not directly onto the bed.

Chiller

Changing the chiller water routinely removes contaminants and clogs from the system and keeps cooling at its most efficient.

How often: every 2 to 3 months.

The steps are the same on every NOVA.

1. Unplug the machine from the wall outlet.

2. Find the chiller on the back of the machine.

3. Place a bucket under the water outlet.

4. Unscrew the water outlet cap and let the water drain into the bucket. If the flow seems slow, remove the water inlet cap.

5. Once the water has fully drained, screw the water outlet cap back on.

6. Unscrew the water inlet cap.

7. Using a funnel, fill the chiller with distilled or reverse osmosis water until it reaches the “FULL” section of the fill gauge.

8. Screw the cap back onto the water inlet.

Add algaecide

Algaecide reduces the chance of algae growing in the laser tube. We recommend adding some to keep the internal components of the chiller clean and extend its life.

1. Drain all the water from the chiller.

2. Add 2 to 3 drops of aquarium algaecide per gallon of distilled water.

3. Refill the chiller with the algaecide and water mix to the “FULL” section of the fill gauge.

Recommended algaecide: Tetra Algae Control Water Treatment.

Environment

NOVAs have an AC compressor and can operate as long as they stay above freezing. They run best between 60 and 90 °F (15 to 32 °C). The right setting for your workspace depends on the dew point and the location of the machine.

For the cold months, see Winterizing Your Laser.

In extreme temperatures, disconnect the exhaust duct hose from the machine so outdoor air does not connect directly to it.