How many hours of printing have I done so far?

Community Support
#1

On small mowers/motors, there’s a best practice of having a runtime counter on the machine. My cars have it. I love it.

Where’s the meter for the printer I’m using? How many hours total have I done? I’d like to keep up with cleaning if I have a reference as to how many hours I’ve done so far, so I don’t needlessly take apart the head to find that it’s still spotless and clean. Which I just did.

Just wanting to keep ahead, and just want to prevent a problem.

6 Likes
#2

I recommended GF adds a counter months ago, too–would be so easy for them to do, since each time we run our GF, they post the time.

But still waiting for it!!

2 Likes
#3

Although they say to plan on cleaning every 40 hours, that’s not hard & fast. It’s not as much time based as time & material & operations based. 3D engraving MDF (or Draftboard) is a far messier operation than cutting paper. I never go 40 hours without cleaning at least the mirror and the head window. I clean the lens in the head only when PG cuts on flat material stops cutting all the way through. Hours don’t matter.

4 Likes
#4

This has been requested many times. Since they absolutely have this data available, I hope they listen and give it to us!

1 Like
#5

@jamesdhatch is right, cleaning schedule is largely dependent on materials.
The 3,000 dual side token job I’m on requires me to clean the windows about every 4th sheet (400+/- pieces) of proofgrade, and the lens about every 8th sheet. Far under 40 hours, more in the neighborhood of 12.

I would like to have the benefit of cumulative hours on my tube though, just to help me benchmark it’s sevice life.

3 Likes
#6

Most of what I cut is thick (.08”) chipboard and I’m on about the same cleaning regiment. It gunks up the laser head window pretty quick.

1 Like
#7

Yeah, both of the windows are the first to show it, the gantry window is a little worse, I think because the head window faces downstream of the smoke exhaust route while the gantry window faces into it.

#8

Draft board is the worst stuff I’ve dealt with so far. Tried etching to make some signs. Never again! And yes, 40 hrs is only a guideline!

#9

Just so you know, the Proofgrade plywood’s have draftboard in the middle.

#10

Thanks for the suggestions! I’ll make sure the team gets them.

3 Likes
#11