Glacier Maintenance & Care
¶ 1. Maintenance Schedule
| Item | Recommended cleaning frequency |
|---|---|
| Window lens | Heavy use: once a day. Light use: once a week. |
| Air assist inlet | Heavy use: every two weeks. Light use: once a month. |
| Chiller filter | Every 20–25 days. |
| Cooling water | Replace every 45 days. |
| Profile guide rail | Every 500 hours of operation. |
¶ 2. Cleaning the Protective Window and Focusing Lens
Refer to the Glacier window lens cleaning video.
Click to play video on YouTube
- Why it matters: a contaminated protective window blocks laser energy, so engraving power drops. Heat then builds up on the window, which can damage the window itself and eventually the focusing lens behind it.
- Tools: a lint-free cloth or optical-grade lint-free swabs (ordinary cotton swabs shed fibres). Use 99% anhydrous ethanol or a professional optical lens cleaner — avoid anything containing ammonia or acetone.
- Method: apply the cleaner, then wipe in one direction only, for example spiralling from the centre outwards. Rubbing back and forth scratches the coating.
- Check afterwards: inspect the lens under strong side lighting to make sure no water marks or fibres are left.
- Frequency: heavy users, once after each day of use; light users, once a week.
Important: the focusing lens is not removable. Do not pry it open or take it apart — that damages the sealing structure of the laser module and voids the warranty. Once the protective window is unscrewed the focusing lens is visible behind it, as shown below.
¶ 3. Cleaning the Air Assist
Refer to the Glacier air assist cleaning video.
Click to play video on YouTube
- Tools: lint-free cloth, anhydrous ethanol.
- Frequency: in a dusty environment, once every two weeks. A blocked pump intake makes the pump overheat and can damage it.
- Method: wipe the dust off the air intake on the air assist housing with a lint-free cloth and anhydrous ethanol. Then open the housing and clean the dust inside the casing and at the pump's own air inlet.
Note: if you unplug the air pump power connector, watch the polarity when you reconnect it. The side marked with a red dot is the positive terminal.
¶ 4. Cleaning the Chiller
Refer to the Glacier chiller cleaning video.
Click to play video on YouTube
- Suitable cooling water: purified water, distilled water or high-purity water.
- Frequency: clean the filter screens every 20–25 days; replace the cooling water every 45 days.
- Tools: lint-free cloth, anhydrous ethanol.
- Method: wipe dust and stains off the chiller housing with a lint-free cloth and anhydrous ethanol. Then remove the filter screens on both sides and clean out all dust and debris. Finally remove the two fans at the back and clean them.
Note:
- Do not clean with corrosive liquids, and do not add corrosive substances to the cooling water.
- Tap water is not suitable for long-term use — it leaves scale, which will eventually block the water channels.
- If the temperature is below 5 °C and the machine will be idle for a long period, drain all water from the chiller so it cannot freeze and crack.
¶ 5. Cleaning the Machine Frame
- Tools: 99% anhydrous ethanol, lint-free cloth and grease. For grease, NLGI grade 2 or 3 is recommended — grade 2 below 15 °C, grade 3 above 15 °C.
- Frequency: every 500 hours of operation.
- Method: wipe the dust off the frame with a lint-free cloth and 99% anhydrous ethanol. After cleaning the linear shafts and bearing steel surfaces, apply an even layer of grease to them.
Note: do not clean with corrosive liquids. The linear shafts and bearing steel surfaces must be lubricated evenly with grease after wiping.