Laser power decrease is a typical manifestation of laser cutting machine aging or improper maintenance, directly affecting cutting quality and efficiency. The root causes can be attributed to three categories: optical path contamination, laser generator aging, and peripheral auxiliary failure.

First, optical path contamination (most common). Protective lenses, focusing lenses, or reflecting lenses accumulate dust, metal spatter, or oil mist during long-term operation, leading to reduced laser transmittance. Energy is absorbed and converted into heat, causing lens burn-out or power attenuation. Data shows that approximately 70% of power decrease problems are caused by lens contamination. Solution: Clean lenses daily using high-purity anhydrous alcohol and following the correct wiping technique.

Second, laser generator performance degradation. For CO₂ lasers, depletion or imbalance of the working gas (such as CO₂, N₂, He); for fiber lasers, aging of the pump source or fiber coupling point, both directly lead to output power attenuation. Solutions: 1. Record laser operating time and regularly check gas pressure or compare beam patterns. If attenuation is severe, replace the gas or return the laser for repair.

2. Third, peripheral auxiliary system failure. A water chiller malfunction can cause the laser temperature to rise excessively (above 35°C), triggering automatic power reduction for self-protection. Insufficient auxiliary gas pressure or nozzle center misalignment can alter the optical path transmission environment, resulting in a decrease in actual cutting power. Solution: Check the water chiller's set temperature (recommended 22±1°C) and the actual water temperature, and calibrate the coaxiality of the optical path and nozzle.

Summary: In actual repairs, it is recommended to follow the principle of "external before internal, clean before repair": start by cleaning the lens and checking water temperature and gas pressure. After eliminating over 90% of common faults, then delve into the laser source itself.