Recommended Maintenance: REDLINE NOVA S

Applies to: REDLINE NOVA 10S, NOVA 14S and NOVA 16S

This guide shows how to carry out routine maintenance on your REDLINE 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 (an air duster is in the contents box)
• Optics removal tool (in the contents box)
• Isopropyl alcohol, 90% or higher
• Optics cleaning swabs (in the contents box)
• Lens wipes (in the contents box)
• Bottle brush (in the contents box)
• Distilled or reverse osmosis water
• Funnel (in the contents box)
• Bucket
• Towels
• Cleaning spray
• Phillips head screwdriver
• Vacuum cleaner
• Dryer vent brush or lint brush
• Drive rail grease (in the contents box)
• 6 mm hose (in the contents box)

Laser head and optics

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. Find the air hose connection on the right side of the laser head. Push the blue retainer ring into the brass part of the fitting, then pull the air hose free.

   

   

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

   

4. With the thumb screw loose and the air hose disconnected, remove the sliding lens cartridge from the laser head.

   

5. Gently wiggle and pull the red lens housing free. It is held by magnets, so no tools are needed.

   

   

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. Using isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) and an optics cleaning swab or a lens wipe, carefully clean the lens in a sweeping motion from left to right.

   

Replace the lens

1. Remove the white retaining ring that holds the lens in the housing by gently pulling up on it.

   

2. Remove the lens and set it aside.

   

3. Fit the new lens the right way round. To check, look at your reflection: viewed from the top down, your reflection should be right side up, like looking in a tiny mirror.

4. Reseat the white retaining ring by gently pressing it into the housing above the lens. Take care not to dirty the lens.

5. Reinstall the lens housing in the laser head.

Mirror 3

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

Access Mirror 3

1. With your fingers, remove the two thumb screws that hold the black retainer plate over the mirror, and set them aside.

   

   

2. Remove the black retainer plate that holds Mirror 3 in place and set it aside.

   

3. Remove Mirror 3 with the optics removal tool.

   

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 an optics cleaning swab or a lens wipe, carefully clean the mirror in a sweeping motion from left to right.

   

Replace Mirror 3

1. Remove the damaged mirror from the housing.

2. Wipe or blow any debris out of the mirror housing.

3. Gently place the replacement mirror in the housing on the laser head, with the reflective (gold) side facing down towards the lens. If your replacement mirror is not gold coated, place it with the reflective side facing down. Most silver coated mirrors that are reflective on both sides have a small arrow on the rim showing the orientation.

4. Put the black retainer plate back over Mirror 3.

5. Screw the thumb screws back in.

Mirror 2

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

Access Mirror 2

1. Press in on the rear of the mirror bracket retainer and turn it until the retainer unlocks from the mirror bracket.

   

2. Set the retainer aside and remove the mirror with the optics removal tool.

   

   

Clean Mirror 2

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 an optics cleaning swab or a lens wipe, carefully clean the mirror in a sweeping motion from left to right.

   

Replace Mirror 2

1. Unlock and remove the retainer as described above, then remove the damaged mirror.

2. Wipe or blow any debris out of the mirror housing.

3. Gently place the replacement mirror in the housing, with the reflective (gold) side facing in towards the inside of the machine. If your replacement mirror is not gold coated, place it with the reflective side facing in. Most silver coated mirrors that are reflective on both sides have a small arrow on the rim showing the orientation.

4. Put the retainer back into the mirror bracket in the correct keyed position, as shown.

   

   

   

5. Push on the retainer and twist it until it locks in place.

Mirrors 0 and 1, and beam combiner

How often: inspect them when you clean Mirror 2, and clean them if they are dirty.

Auto focus sensor and nozzle

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 an optics cleaning swab or a lens wipe, carefully clean the outer surfaces of the sensor and nozzle.

Camera

How often: as needed.

1. Remove the lens cap from the camera if it is fitted.

   

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. Using isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) and an optics cleaning swab or a lens wipe, carefully clean the camera lens in a sweeping motion from left to right.

   

Exhaust system

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

How often: every 3 to 6 months.

1. Unplug the machine from the wall outlet.

2. Remove the external exhaust hose from the machine.

3. Remove any large debris clogging the exhaust fan, by hand or with a vacuum.

4. Clean the accessible surfaces of the fan with a bottle brush or similar scrubbing tool, or with cleaning spray or wipes. You may need to bend the top of the bottle brush to reach inside the fan.

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

6. 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.

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 and chiller. 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

REDLINE NOVAs have three internal cooling options, depending on the tube: a water cooled glass CO2 tube, an air cooled metal RF tube, or a water cooled metal (Ceramicore) RF tube. Keep the machine in a temperature controlled space whichever tube you have. The machines work best at normal room temperature, 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. This is especially important for machines with a water chiller, because freezing water can damage internal components.

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

Grease the linear rail

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. Gently wiggle and pull out the small black silicone plug next to the laser head, as pictured. Set the plug aside somewhere safe. This piece is extremely important. Do not lose it.

   

   

3. Take the linear rail grease from the contents box.

   

4. Dispense one whole syringe of grease into the grease port.

   

5. Fit the plug securely back in place.

6. Jog the laser head left and right across its full range of motion to spread the grease.

Drain the air compressor

1. With the machine off, find the Oil-Water Separator Drain panel on the rear bottom corner of the machine, next to the chiller.

   

2. Remove the silver thumb screw and gently pull the panel out until it stops.

   

3. If needed, drain the water and oil separators attached to the panel. The 6 mm hose from the contents box fits the drain plugs on the bottom of the separators.

   

4. Attach the 6 mm hose to the drainage port as shown. Push the hose into the fitting and tug it gently to check that it is fully seated.

   

5. Feed the other end of the hose into a bucket or similar container. Make sure the hose is secure, because pressurized air and water will come out of it. It helps to have someone hold the hose in place.

   

6. Go to the keypad. With the machine on and idle, open the drain option:

   • Press Menu.
   • Go to Diagnosis and press Enter.
   • Go to Air Compressor Drainage and press Enter.
   • Press Menu to move to the Drain option.

   

   

   

   

7. Press Enter to drain the tank. When draining is complete, press Esc to back out of the menus.

8. Discard the drained water.

9. Push the Oil-Water Separator Drain panel back into the machine and refit the silver thumb screw.

Summary

Regular care of the optics, exhaust system, laser bed and chiller prevents costly repairs, reduced engraving quality and malfunctions. Make maintenance a routine part of using your laser.