Editing Laser Cutter/Full Spectrum Laser 40W/Unofficial Manual
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If your bucket has a crusty film marking where the waterline previously was (due to loss from evaporation) consider rinsing the laser with distilled water and and a small amount of vinegar; rinse with distilled water; then replace the reservoir water with clean distilled water. | If your bucket has a crusty film marking where the waterline previously was (due to loss from evaporation) consider rinsing the laser with distilled water and and a small amount of vinegar; rinse with distilled water; then replace the reservoir water with clean distilled water. | ||
= Aligning Your Laser = | = Aligning Your Laser = | ||
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== Vertical alignment == | == Vertical alignment == | ||
remove the lens from the carriage head and replace it with thermal paper as was used in previous alignment steps, ensure that the test fire pattern of the laser hits the middle of the hole where the lens would be; the darkened paper image should have no half-moon shaped, non-darkened areas.. if this is the case your angled mirror will need to be shimmed before you will get decent cuts. | remove the lens from the carriage head and replace it with thermal paper as was used in previous alignment steps, ensure that the test fire pattern of the laser hits the middle of the hole where the lens would be; the darkened paper image should have no half-moon shaped, non-darkened areas.. if this is the case your angled mirror will need to be shimmed before you will get decent cuts. | ||
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The laserhead has 4 plastic wheels. These attach to an eccentric pin through a small Phillips (crosshead) screw. If you rotate these eccentric pins then it will tighten or loosen against the aluminum X axis rail. These eccentric pins are held in position by a set screw with a hex head 90degrees from the top Philips screw. Remove the setscrew before attempting to adjust the eccentric pins. The eccentric pins need to be adjusted by inserting an extremely short FLAT head screwdriver through the BOTTOM. If you adjust the crosshead screw from on top it will have extremely limited motion for adjustment. Tighten the top crosshead screw then do all further adjustments from the bottom. To remove the pins, turn from the bottom to loosen then push from the bottom to remove. | The laserhead has 4 plastic wheels. These attach to an eccentric pin through a small Phillips (crosshead) screw. If you rotate these eccentric pins then it will tighten or loosen against the aluminum X axis rail. These eccentric pins are held in position by a set screw with a hex head 90degrees from the top Philips screw. Remove the setscrew before attempting to adjust the eccentric pins. The eccentric pins need to be adjusted by inserting an extremely short FLAT head screwdriver through the BOTTOM. If you adjust the crosshead screw from on top it will have extremely limited motion for adjustment. Tighten the top crosshead screw then do all further adjustments from the bottom. To remove the pins, turn from the bottom to loosen then push from the bottom to remove. | ||
1) Loosen the 4 eccentric pins by using the short screwdriver from the bottom. The laserhead will not be clamped to the X axis gantry anymore. | |||
2) Adjust the top 2 eccentric screws so they that the laserhead is straight with the X axis. Since they are eccentric you want the laserhead platform straight otherwise the belt will be pulled at a angle. | |||
3) Adjust the bottom 2 eccentric screws so that the laserhead is as loose as possible but all 4 wheels are just barely still rolling. | |||
4) Insert the 4x set screws with the hex heads back and tighten. Note that by putting the set screws back in it will tighten the eccentric pins slightly so that is why we say adjust as loose as possible but still rolling in step 3. | |||
5) Test it out and ensure the X axis is not binding during rastering. If you would like you can insert some WEAK thread locking glue on the screws. | |||
==X-Axis== | ==X-Axis== | ||
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== Lens == | == Lens == | ||
While its not mentioned anywhere.. the lens in the hobby laser is essentially free floating, cushioned only by a rubber washer in the head, this can cause problems in the print quality later if the lens doesn't settle flat; or if the lens wiggles due to vibration during cutting. The method i used to solve this was to make an ABS glue using acetone and small chunks of natural colored ABS feedstock from my makerbot which resulted in a thin white glue. Using three very small dabs around the perimeter of the lens was more then enough to hold the lens in place.. and daily breaks away from both the metal and the glass lens when its time to replace them. | While its not mentioned anywhere.. the lens in the hobby laser is essentially free floating, cushioned only by a rubber washer in the head, this can cause problems in the print quality later if the lens doesn't settle flat; or if the lens wiggles due to vibration during cutting. The method i used to solve this was to make an ABS glue using acetone and small chunks of natural colored ABS feedstock from my makerbot which resulted in a thin white glue. Using three very small dabs around the perimeter of the lens was more then enough to hold the lens in place.. and daily breaks away from both the metal and the glass lens when its time to replace them. | ||
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== Raster Speed and Alignment == | == Raster Speed and Alignment == | ||
Raster engraving QR codes at full speed and low power into wood or cardboard can be used to test how well the head is positioning itself. To perform this test: | Raster engraving QR codes at full speed and low power into wood or cardboard can be used to test how well the head is positioning itself. To perform this test: | ||
1) download SVG file and print it using Inkscape | |||
2) print at a low enough power not to burn the test material, but enough to brown; but be sure to print at 100% speed. | |||
3) check the alignment of the laser engraver by looking at the finished engraving along the edge's a well aligned laser head will have perfectly straight lines along both dimension; | |||
4) if you have any wobble, or wondering in the test pattern, adjust your X and Y belt tension, in general tiger is better | |||