Device maintenance

Shaft maintenance:

The slide bars are chrome-plated shafts. You need to apply lubricant to them regularly to prevent rust. Generally, apply grease after you use the device for 15 days to 2 months. The y-axis shaft is inside the chassis of the device and therefore no maintenance is required. Maintenance is required for the x-axis and z-axis shafts, as described in the following:

Frequently used, running for more than 8 hours per day. You need to apply grease to them at least once every 15 days.

Less frequently used, running no more than 2 hours per day. You need to apply grease to them at least once every 2 months.

If a shaft is dirty or impurities are found. Clean its surface and then apply grease to it.

💡For instructions on maintaining the shafts or applying grease, refer to the guide: How to Maintain the M1 Guide Rails？

Precautions for maintenance:

Before maintenance, clean away the dirt and impurities from the surface of the shafts.

During maintenance, ensure that the grease is evenly applied, wipe off excess grease, and ensure that the shaft is clean without impurities.

After maintenance, manually slide the laser module to ensure smooth operation without jams.

Maintenance on other parts:

During laser processing, smoke and dust may be generated, and some may adhere to the surface of some parts of the device. Therefore, routine maintenance is required for the device.

Disconnect the device from the power supply, use a dry cotton cloth to gently wipe the dirty parts. If a non-electronic part is difficult to clean, wipe it with a cloth moistened with a little alcohol. For the lenses of the camera and laser module, clean them with cotton swabs moistened with alcohol.

Laser lens cleaning

Lens cleaning:

During laser processing, smoke and dust may be generated, and some may adhere to the surface of the lens. The dust in the air may adhere to the surface of the lens even if the device is not used for a long time. The light transmittance decreases due to the dust and impurities, causing the attenuation of laser power. Therefore, routine maintenance is required for the laser module.

Ways of cleaning:

Way 1:

Check whether the lens is dirty by using the front camera of your smart phone.

With the front camera of your smart phone, use a cotton swab moistened with alcohol to clean the lens.

Way 2:

Disconnect the device from the power supply and remove the baseplate.

Gently place xTool M1 upside down, move the laser module to the center, and check whether the lens is dirty. If it is dirty, wipe it with a cotton swab moistened with alcohol, and then clean it with a dry cotton swab.

Cutting mat maintenance

Maintenance on a cutting mat:

Do not use it at high temperature. If the device works at high temperature, the adhesive on a cutting mat may be melted and even adhere to the device or material, becoming difficult to clean away.

Do not use it in an environment with dust and impurities, which may adhere to the surface of the cutting mat and reduce its adhesive strength.

Place the protective film back on both sides of the cutting mat to prolong its service life.

Do not place it, without the protective film, together with other objects for a long time. Otherwise, the cutting mat or objects may be damaged.

Cutting mats are consumables. The adhesive strength of a cutting mat decreases naturally over time. Replace it with a new one when it fails to hold a material.