Understanding the Prices of Replacement Tubes for Laser Machines

Most continuous lasers today are based on replaceable or serviceable tubes that are responsible for doing the heavy lifting. These critical components typically carry fairly significant price tags of their own, with a variety of factors influencing the cost of each. Fortunately, it tends not to be difficult at all to understand why certain laser tubes cost more or less than others.

Straightforward Considerations That Combine to Determine Pricing

A quick look at laser tube prices online will reveal that these figures range quite widely. While this could at first seem perplexing, an assessment of the situation will show that the following factors tend to contribute to this diversity of pricing.

Type. Many tubes are made from blown glass that is permanently sealed at the time of manufacture. Just as once-ubiquitous glass vacuum tubes were adept at keeping surrounding air out thanks to this design, so can modern glass tubes used in lasers do a good job of keeping a blend of gas held securely within. An alternative is a metal-based design, where a somewhat less impermeable enclosure is fitted with a valve that can be used to add more gas as the original charge diminishes. Glass tubes tend to be less expensive but must be replaced entirely when too much gas escapes.

Brand. There are many companies producing tubes today, and each has its own approach to the business. Some manufacturers provide generous warranties that reflect a deep commitment to turning out the best tubes possible. Others charge quite a bit less in order to court budget-minded buyers but might enable that by cutting corners in various ways.

Rating. Another fundamental consideration is the amount of electric power that a given tube is able to convert into a laser. A 100 watt CO2 laser tube that is capable of cutting fairly substantial metal will almost always cost more than one with a significantly lower rating that will be used only for engraving. By the same token, an even beefier 150w laser tube will typically be priced quite a bit higher still.

A Bit of Understanding Makes the Best Choice Clear

While it can initially seem confusing to assess which tube will provide the most value for its price, the question often ends up being easier to answer than might be supposed. These fairly straightforward considerations combine to largely determine the prices of most tubes used in laser machines today, with only an occasional wrinkle to be encountered otherwise.