Monitoring
Temperature to Ensure
Optimal Performance ofSynrad CO2 Lasers
Within any integrated manufacturing or processing system, avoiding unplanned downtime
due to component failure is critical. Modern predictive maintenance systems provide operations
managers with warnings when negative trends indicating potential shutdown are spotted. Many
critical components within a manufacturing or processing system have unique performanceindicators—for Synrad sealed CO2 lasers, one critical performance metric is tube temperature,
which has a direct impact on output power. When operated beyond specified temperature limits,
CO2 lasers can suffer a decrease in output power and correspondingly, power stability.

Laser Performance and Tube Temperature
For sealed CO2 lasers, higher tube temperatures can cause a decrease in the electrical to opticalconversion efficiency, resulting in lower laser output power.

Changes in cooling system performance during steady state operation can cause power stability fluctuations and an
overall drop in laser output power as shown in the chart above. The vi40 Temperature Broadcast feature can be used
to sense changes in machine cooling performance and respond accordingly - before a change in application performance is noticed.

©2021 Novanta Corporation. All rights reserved.

Monitoring Temperature to Ensure Optimal Performance of Synrad CO2 Lasers

2Maintaining the recommended operating temperatures for sealed CO2 lasers is critical. The use of secondary
cooling mechanisms like fans or flowing water systems are commonly added to assist cooling.

Fluctuating temperatures can also impact output power stability. It is therefore critical tomaintain the laser tube temperature within specified operational boundaries to ensure optimalperformance. There are several factors that can affect the temperature of the laser tube:• Ambient conditions – The ambient temperature of the operational environment will affectlaser performance, causing an overall increase or decrease in the temperature of the laser
tube, regardless of operational state.

• Cooling systems – Sealed CO2 lasers are generally cooled with water or forced air (fans). In
most cases these systems are sufficient, but a change in cooling system performance can havea drastic impact on laser power.

• Laser operation – The pulse width modulation (PWM) parameters of the laser also play a partin tube temperature. High duty cycle operation will drive increased laser tube temperatures.
By monitoring the laser temperature, control systems can analyze trends which may signal anissue with the machine cooling system and alert operators to take corrective action to prevent
downtime. Integrating laser diagnostics into machine control systems can allow for smart control
of cooling systems, with the benefit of reduced operational costs. This is especially true of
fan-cooled lasers, where the fans can potentially be operated at reduced levels depending onenvironmental and operational parameters.

Active Synrad CO2 Laser Temperature Monitoring
Selected Synrad CO2 lasers feature active temperature monitoring to provide real-time laser
temperature information. The temperature data can be used for preventative maintenance,
remote troubleshooting, performance optimization, and smart system design.
Users now have access to the laser tube temperature to verify the effectiveness of coolingsystems and monitor system health and performance in real time. The data can also be used topredict laser safety shutdown due to overheating, allowing corrective action to prevent potential
delays in production. Temperature data is captured and transmitted at 250 millisecond intervals
on a user output line, accessible on the laser DB-9 I/O connector. The laser chassis and laser
tube temperatures are directly proportional, and in turn have a direct impact on laser output
power and stability.
During the machine design process, system engineers can determine the most effective andcost-efficient methods for cooling by measuring temperature more easily and accurately active
temperature monitoring.

©2021 Novanta Corporation. All rights reserved.

Monitoring Temperature to Ensure Optimal Performance of Synrad CO2 Lasers

3Maintaining a constant laser tube temperature during operation can also improve long termpower stability. Drifts in laser temperature due to cooling systems or ambient conditions cancause fluctuations in laser output power. Data from active Synrad CO2 laser temperaturemonitoring can be integrated into machine cooling control systems, providing a feedback signal
for laser temperature regulation and better long term power stability.
Temperature Broadcast has many benefits and can lead to improvements in:• Performance – By closely monitoring and maintaining the laser’s temperature, users canensure
optimal laser power output and long term stability.

• Cost Savings – Reduced downtime via early warning and preventative maintenance. Smartcontrol of cooling systems can also reduce operational costs.

• Environmental Conditions – Accurate control of cooling systems is increasingly critical inmore demanding environments, allowing Synrad lasers with active temperature monitoring to
be safely integrated and operate in tougher conditions.

• System Monitoring – Real-time laser temperature data can be correlated to system healthand performance and allow remote troubleshooting.
Novanta is committed to delivering high quality solutions to real world applications wherereliability and uptime are critical. Active temperature monitoring in Synrad lasers enables users
to harness the power of diagnostic data and take control of CO2 laser system performance andmaximize productivity.

Interested in speaking to one of our knowledgeable
representatives?
Americas & Asia PacificNovanta Headquarters
Bedford, USA
P +1-781-266-5700
Photonics@Novanta.com

Europe, Middle East,
AfricaNovanta Europe GmbH
Wackersdorf, Germany
P +49-9431-7984-0
Milan, Italy
P +39-039-793-710

China

Japan

Novanta Sales & Service Center Novanta Service & Sales OfficeShenzhen, China
Tokyo, Japan
P +86-755-8280-538
P +81-3-5753-2460
Suzhou, China
P +86-512-6283-7080
Photonics.China@Novanta.com

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