Physician to Physician Discussions > Finding laser repairmen
My husband is looking to get into a school for laser repair, RLS, do you have that information?
Maureen
LaserRN
LaserRN: I have heard about a program in Connecticut at Three Rivers Community College. You can call for info at (860)886-0177.
Good luck.
med spa guy
This was found simply by Googling "aesthetic laser repair class"- I have no idea if it is legitimate or not.
http://www.lasertraining.org/laser_repair.htm
RLS
Most laser repair classes are worthless in teaching real world repair. Laser repair requires more than basic understanding of how they work, which is what you'll learn. Many companies also use software that not only requires know how in how to access it but also how to read and use when servicing these machines. Be aware also that if you do get some training that there are units producing huge high voltage levels. Your outlet is is 110-220Volts. A laser high voltage supply can reach 10,000 plus volts. Now add water or liquid cooling systems and you have a scary dangerous machine that an amateur should think twice about messing with.
The problem with laser companies right now is that there are few large companies and many small ones and the number of technicians trained by the oem are very limited, unlike 7 or so years ago. There are so many models out there it's near impossible for any one group of technicians to know enough about the systems to work on all of them. Many systems had problems through the entire time it was produced and many technicians won't touch them.
The honest truth is lasers are far from booming technology right now. The boom in lasers was over 15 or so years ago. The IPL technology is as old as lasers, they haven't changed much from years ago, but many companies are bringing them back and marketing them as new technology. If you or someone out there wants to go to school for laser, good luck, the market is full of tons of technicians, many that are not very good. It's a tough career and you more than likely will have to move to another state/city for one company, and if you lose that job you may have to relocate half way accross the country to get another job. The money is ok, but average is $50k-80K, most near the lower end. You can make good money working for yourself, but you honestly need at least 5-10 years of experience to work on only a handfull of systems. These OEMs make there lasers with the intentions of not making it easy for anyone but them to work on them, and it's worst now than ever.
There are really not many good schools left that will give you appropriate traing, and if you don't get some training from an oem or a group of technicians in the business, it's not that easy to just leave school and think you know what your doing. It's much more than that.
I would advise those on this web page to post there locations and models of lasers needing service or parts(including consumable) and maybe I or someone else can assist you. I know a technician or two in Texas that may be able to help as well as other areas.
I am located in Wisconsin and will travel a ways to provide service.
The school I went to is no longer teaching, too many students leave the state for work and it was a political move for them to get rid of it in order to keep more students of a different profession in the state/community.
Leon
Leon,I have a Palomar 1540 Handpiece. Do you service this piece? Palomar no longer will service their equipment if purchased from a third party. They require $15,000 up front to service or warranty. Thanks, Dave
Dave
I am looking for a laser repairman who does repairs on Palomar Starlux 300 units. Can anyone help? Thanks,Dave
Dave
The problem with laser repair is the manufacturers, and their refusal to abide by US law. When the medical community realizes this, and decides to do something about it as a whole (in general for all medical devices), that is when we will have true health care reform. I've never heard one politician mention medical device manufacturers, but the problem starts there.
Regarding lasers, 21 CFR 1040.10-11 requires every laser manufacturer to make available the service information, special tools, and any software required to properly service the laser and maintain the integrity of it's operation as stated to the FDA in their initial 510k filing. When filing a 510k, every laser manufacturer purports to be in compliance with 21 CFR 1040.10-11. This means they are claiming their service information is available upon request to anyone who requests it. We all know this is a lie. At my company we provide consultation services to acquire this service information, as we have, from many manufacturers. Through our efforts we have gotten manufacturers fined, we have gotten them to schedule training, send us information, provide us with tools, etc.
With regard to parts, the issue is antitrust, tying in, and anti-monopoly laws. This is the law that manufacturers use the most against each other, but is rarely employed by consumers. Tying in is when a vendor manufactures a part exclusively, and will not sell it to you unless you purchase another product or service which they do NOT offer exclusively. For example, Cutera sells an accessory to help you remove the handpiece window. The handpiece window itself, and the removal tool are both sold and made exclusively by Cutera. Cutera will not sell you this product if you did not purchase your laser from them, unless you have your unit "recertified" and "deemed safe" by Cutera. Because Cutera's service information is "supposed" to be available to all who request it, any trained laser service technician (one who meets minimum safety and technical standards accepted by ANSI, TJC, OSHA, and others who may have rules for laser operation) can deem the unit safe. Anyone with an Ophir meter, a service manual, and knowledge of laser laws and regulations can deem a Cutera unit safe for use to an equivalent or excessive of manufacturer standards. Because the service is not exclusive, yet it is required to purchase an exclusive tool and accessory that is necessary to maintain proper functionality of the unit, this is tying in.
Quality laser repair is scarce because it is big business. Many technicians don't care about the rules or regulations- they only care about billing you, and moving on to the next customer. They won't show you error lists, they won't discuss troubleshooting steps, won't give best/worst case scenarios, etc. The vast majority of laser repair technicians do NOT have a medical device repair background. As such, they are ignorant to medical device repair laws, NFPA99, TJC, ANSI, and other standards that apply to all medical devices. This ignorance comes with a lack of respect for the industry, and this is what you end up with- the choice of an expensive manufacturer providing a service at ridiculous markups, or a semi-expensive technician with a few classes who understands a few laser models, but not lasers in general, providing a service at a ridiculous markup at mediocre quality. The industry has to be fixed from the inside out...
Hi,
I have a Palomar Starlux 300, and today an error message popped up "044" can anyone help me out? There is no 001-044 only 044 ... It happens when you turn it and it performs system check and then right away it comes on. Please help.. I bought my machine from third party so I assume Palomar won't repair it without me forking out big $$ .. Any info would be appreciated to what that Error stands for.
Thank you
Magda
mag
Magda,
Palomar Starlux Error 044. I have the same error at the moment. I am aware of an issue with the touch-screen, but I'm not sure it is related. Did you check your deionized water? (level and quality).
Let me know if you find the issue.
Steven
steven
Error 44 or 044 or even 001-044 are all the same. Indicates a problem with the power supply.
To quote the service manual "internal PFC output voltage exceeds 400Vdc +-10%.
Can happen from turning machine on and off a few time fast. But usually indicates the PFC charger in the power supply is bad.
Hope that help.
Rmacgurn
Noi.ca
They are the professional service carrier in Canada.
They do service us clinics too if I were not wrong.
Vivi
Hey RLS. I am in Houston also. Get jn touch with me.....
w9661
Hi
Everyone
I don't know how old this thread is but for any service you guys might need just contact me .
We are located in NJ
I'll be glad to help here with any tech question .
Ty
70
We provide laser service for the Deka, Cynosure, El En, and Sharplan CO2 lasers. My company does the laser tube regas and optics replacements. I have independant service engineers currently located to cover Florida, all of the midwest and Southern California. My network is growing so if you read this and are not in an area mentioned please give me a call at (715) 617-3106. Also many of these techincians service other makes of lasers. Through my contacts it is likely I can help you find just the right person. Most of my work has been in industrial laser systems for which we developed a very robust CO2 laser tube. I was contacted by a dentist two years ago with a Deka 20 watt laser that was experiencing very low power. I drove to his office in Mississippi, picked the unit up and took it back to my shop in Wisconsin. I repaired and regased his laser tube and it has been running great ever since. Hence my entrance into the medical arena. I am currently working on bringing our robust industrial tube technolgy to replace damaged Deka, Cynosure, Sharplan and Laser Engineering tubes. We have two working prototypes but are still making improvements. Replacement tubes should be available by the end of 2016. If you have a problem give me a call!
Colin Snook
I have a Palomar Starlux 300, error 109 and 107 ???
Carlos Ospina
Hi Carlos,
Where are you located! Once I know I will check with service engineers I know in your area and see if we can't find someone to assist you!
Thanks,
Colin Snook
NLC Laser
Colin Snook
I have starlux 300, after turning on the switch, display shows 110 with yellow triangle symbol and key with an arrow. The key and the emergency switch has no effect.
I have replaced a new software memory card with ver 7.2.
Any suggestion would be helpful. located calgary Alberta, Canada
Ramesh
The previous topic of purchasing used lasers brings up the question of trying to find local and hopefully independent service techs. I live in Houston, and despite a Google search and a yellow pages search, there is nothing. Of course the hand full of laser renting companies in town are not about to help you get your machines repaired (assuming they have laser techs themselves!). I realize that each company has proprietary parts that may be all but impossible to get, but having a "laser guy" that is at least can diagnose and possible treat some of the more common ailments of lasers would be of great benefit.
I even see there is some sort of laser repair training course in Ohio. It is a bit over $6,000 and who knows if you actually learn anything beneficial, I assume they would have to have some sort of overview for each laser on the market to be able to make a repair.
With the explosion of this technology, it would seem that a cottage industry of independent laser repair techs would spring up. With what these companies charge to repair, I just may quit my medical practice, get a sweet looking jumpsuit and a set of righteous tools and start "aesthetic laser repair services"
Look for me on the NASDAQ in a few years.