Is Your Laser Tube Failing? How to Diagnose a Dead Laser Tube in ULS Machines

Universal lasers use a carbon dioxide tube that generates ultraviolet light through high voltage. Over time, this diode seal can wear, causing the CO2 to leak and reducing the laser’s power output.

To check if your laser tube is dying, we’ll start by looking at the laser tube itself. To access it, simply open the two latches on either end of the machine in the back. Here, you’ll see a plate that displays the laser tube’s serial number and date of manufacture.

Typically, laser tubes start to fail between 5-8 years, so this is the first indication if you need a new one. But, unless you have a laser tester, it can be difficult to get an accurate reading on the health of the laser tube.

If you’re noticing a lack of performance, your laser tube is older than 5 years, and you’ve ruled out other potential issues such as CPU malfunction, optics or alignment issues, and power issues, there’s a good chance your laser tube is failing.