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Maikel Poppelaars

I need help and can’t find it,
My mirrors tube to mirror 1 =centered
Mirror 1 to mirror 2 perfectly straight top and bottom.
Mirror 2 to 3 bottom left and right perfect
Top left and right perfect
Top right and bottom right beam moves about 5mm down. How is that possible?
I cannot align 3th mirror to bed if it moves 5mm my beam will go side to side in the laserhead. Is there anyone that can help me with this problem?

Charles

All the template it’s engraving very well the problem I have is cutting working with 3mm acrylic and rubber sheet. And my k40 not outputting the design.

FBoss

Thanks for the solution HP

Cutter

I’ve encountered a situation, probably of my making, that I think should be addressed here. Cuts running front to back through piece of 5mm acrylic are perpendicular, but those running left to right angle rearward by several degrees. Before knowing better I loosened the laser head and then realized that there was no mechanism to square it with the incoming beam. I realigned it by eye, but I’m pretty sure that the cause of my problem is the head and mirror being slightly rotated. The only way I can think of to align the head is to remove the mirror and put a piece of wooden dowel in the opening to simulate the beam path. Any thoughts?

Thanks for sharing.

Ben Smith

I’m stuck! Your guide is fantastic though!

My X axis is off 4mm vertically (Horizontal is perfect)

X Bottom Left higher than Bottom Right
X Top Left higher than Top Right

This tells me that the X axis on the left needs to go up to match it, but I have run out of room to move the rail up!

Its 4mm and its driving me crazy!

Any suggestions?

Kris

Great tutorial. I’m having an x axis issue where dot is moving left, my question is where are the bolts that need to be loosened to square the x axis? Thanks in advance!

Kris

Thanks for the info!

Kris

Hey Persson,

One last question. The main goal here is to get just the 3 mirror (head) dot center correct? When I make adjustments to get the head mirror dot center it throws the second mirror dot off center. That shouldn’t matter as long as the head mirror is hitting center correct?

Doug

Excellent tutorial that I hope will work for me. My gantry is all made together in a square but I was able to square it pretty much by shifting it a little and then tightening the bolts down. For more adjustments would you suggest adjusting the brackets that attach the mirror assembly to the gantry? Any help you can give to the three screws and what affect each has?

Rich Lee

Excellent tutorial HP, I have been battling with mirror alignment since day one. Your instructions seem straightforward and they’re easy to understand. Thank you.

Erik

Hi,

Maybe a good idea to include the advice to disconnect the motors to prevent blowing up your drivers when manually moving the laser head ?

Grtz,
Erik

Jon

HP, this I’ve been thinking of starting blog since I went down K40 path several months ago to help others with issues I have encountered (but apparently I’m like the many, rather than the few that only “think about it” :). Anyhow, you have some excellent points (most of which I found the hard way).

Regarding “blowing up your drivers” by moving the steppers. I just wanted to put some information on this (I’m a EE that has many years motor control/servo experience so want to help where I can)
Yes, there is back-emf (energy) generated by the steppers when they are rotated, that energy is routed back through the H-bridges (drivers) to the 24-vdc supply. On my system, it will actually light up the power supply LED a little. The energy is quickly dissipated in losses in the power supply.
This behavior is no different than when the system is operating normally (while powered).
Personally I see no need to disconnect the motors (obviously never “fight” the control when it is trying to hold position), move the axis at reasonable speeds (but it would be near impossible to cause damage in my opinion).
But if someone is more comfortable disconnecting, I won’t argue with them 🙂

Phil reed

please hurry with the results bit. my gantry came not screwed down so its like i put thethe together myself. i can get so for but the last but always is off by 1-2mm. its driving me nuts cos no matter what i try it wont setup.

Bernard

I’m getting 4 dots when I hit the pulse trial shot….. am I still just looking at an alignment problem…

christophe guerbette

Hakan !! I never saw or read this aspect of a true alignment, bravo to you !!
Even if the setting steps are scary !!!
Thank you!!!!