Would anyone be involved in large quantity production work on a regular basis with an Epilog 32 EX? I’m wondering how well the equipment holds up under continuous use situations (24/5)?
I can’t give you an estimate on 24/5, sorry that’s only a dream of mine to get to. We run an average of 56 hours a week of constant run time. We are now looking at implementing a second shift. We have been in business now for 2 years and unfortunately just had the honor of recharging our laser tube. ($2900.BILL) I guess the laser tube is said to last 20,000 hours. What I didn’t know was that means weather it is running or not. The life of the tube is a total of 20000 hours. So if you have the work, I would definitely be running 24/5 to get as much life out of the tube as you can. By the way, I have a Legend EX 60 WATT and I believe you shouldn’t have a problem as long as you have a schedule made up for routine cleaning of your laser.
Thanks for the info on the total tube life, that’s a small detail that was left out of the sales pitch I got. You’re right about the regular up keep of the equipment, it will reduce the chance for unexpected operational problems and extend the equipment life, that is except for the laser tube itself it sounds like.
24/5 is only a dream for me as well. I’m running a Universal and was told that the more it runs the longer the tube should last. It somehow keeps the gasses mixed and less helium escapes. Of course, it was a salesman that told me that.
I have a different point of view as in I am from India, change in weather, all together different working hours I am Having ULS V-400 35 watts running last 3 years in two shift almost 16-18 hrs a day and yes we have 7 days a week working, at the same time I agree that whenever production work comes some or the other way we face problems it can be alignment it can be use of more power though we give rest to machine after 5 hrs of working.