Cleaning and Care for the Laser Tracker
Overview
Routine cleaning of the tracker external optics and targets is necessary to assure optimal tracker performance. Consideration must be given to the proper supplies to use when cleaning these items.
Cleaning the Embedded Mirror and Optics
Cleaning the mirror and aperture of your FARO® Laser Tracker ensures the accuracy of your measurements. The only supplies you need are Methanol and lint free cotton swabs.
This 1 minute video shows you how to rotate the cotton swabs to avoid scratching the mirror and optics. Cannot view the video? Click here to download.
Analysis
FARO has found several instances where the optics on the tracker and the targets have been cleaned with the improper supplies. The results of using the incorrect cleaning fluids and supplies has resulted in inadequately cleaned optics, more contamination being introduced on the optics, and damage to the optical coatings requiring FARO service to repair or replace.
Properly cleaning the FARO Laser Tracker requires the correct use of cotton swabs for removing vaporous contaminates, an aerosol cleaner (canned air) to remove loose particles, and either Acetone or Methanol for use with the cotton swabs.
Recommend Supplier
Below is a supplier and part numbers for the proper cleaning supplies:
Fisher Scientific
P.O. Box 3029
Malvern, PA 19355
Phone: 800-766-7000
Fax: 800-926-1166
|
Item |
Detailed Description |
Part Number |
|---|---|---|
|
Cotton Swabs |
6", box of 10 packs of 100 |
14-959-92B |
|
Aerosol Cleaner |
15 oz. pressurized can |
15-232-16 |
|
Acetone |
One Liter Optima Acetone |
A929-1 |
|
Methanol |
One Liter Optima Methanol |
A454-1 |
Optima Grade Acetone
FARO’s Optics lab uses Optima Grade Acetone from Fisher Scientific because it is an extremely pure lab quality acetone that is Certified ACS.
Being ACS Certified means the reagent chemicals meet or exceed the latest American Chemical Society specifications.
According to Fisher Scientific, Optima Grade Acetone has acids are analyzed for 65 metals by ICP/MS; impurity levels in ppt (parts per trillion) and solvent impurity levels in ppm (parts per million).There are other lab grade acetones available from other companies that may be equivalent, but FARO has not done research into every lab grade acetone manufactures so we do not have a list available.
Optima grade is recommended is because its purity level greatly reduces the chance of scratching the surface while cleaning which extends ® life. Use of non-lab grade acetone will still clean residue off the Spherically Mounted Retroreflector (SMR), but increases the chances of scratching the surface and reducing the effective life of the SMR. However, this same effect can also occur even when using Optima grade acetone while not sufficiently removing all large particles off the SMR with canned air or using dirty cotton swabs.
Note:
FARO is not responsible for part-number changes. FARO is not affiliated with Fisher Scientific.
Customers may use the equivalent supplies from other suppliers.
- To avoid damage to the optics on the tracker and targets, only use the recommended cleaning supplies.
- Acetone should be used for oil based contaminates and water vapor for water based contaminates. Using Acetone to clean a water based contaminate will cause a film on the glass. Same is true for use water to clean oil based contaminates.