Need Help!- newbie needs help with laser alignment

[herby08]

hi my friend
did you do the adjustment like a had described??? I dont think you did it right.
1. mirror2 needs to be adjusted with the setscrews of mirror 1 the way that the beam hits the same spot in the front and in the rear , first you take the gantry in the rear hit a beam and adjust with the setscrews of mirror 1 till it hits the center of mirror 2, then you take the gantry to the front of the machine and adjust the beam with the setscrews of mirror 1 again that the beam hit s the first spot. thats all on adjusting mirror 2.
then you tape over the whole on the laser head and hit a beam the gantry in the rear of the machine and the head closest to the mirror 2 ajust with the setscrews of mirror 2 that the beam hits the opening on the head about center then you take the gantry to the front of the machine hit the beam again and adjust with the setscrews of mirror 2 that the beam hits the first point after this is done then you take the gantry to the rear and the head to the right hit the beam and adjust again with the setscrews of mirror 2 that the beam hits the two previous points ( what should be actually only one point) if this is done you take the gantry to the front of the machine and the head to the far right and hit the beam again this should hit the other points exactly, you have to do this whole [procedre a few times but you wil get there .
like said previously the frist time it could take hours till you finally have it this whole beam adjustment is nothing what can be done in a hurry or quick quick.
I am still not sure without picture that you did the tube and laser head adjustment right.
did you check the gantry square to the Y axis?
did you checkt the laserhead opening that it hits the mirrro dead center and that the laserhead is paralell to the gantry ( like my pictures)
this are most importand checkups
greetings
walt

Originally Posted by dominic gailgan I spoke too soon because the beam is not set properly. I thought it was but the problem is between mirror 2 and the laser head. I can not control the beam here it moves so much. I think the mirror is not set at 45 degrees. I have set the tube parallel to the gantry and it's level. It's set in the middle of the first mirror. But there is a little movement in the second mirror from back to front in the machine. The beam goes from the middle when the mirror is closest to the tube but when I move it to the front the beam moves to the edge. But the beam is about 10mm high and 10mm left on the laser head with the mirror unadjusted when the head is closest. When it's far away it's 55mm left and 35mm high. Any help? Thanks Dom

[herby08]

Hi my friend
here is a link where it is explained exactly from a laser company

Laser Beam Alignment

greetings
walt

[dominic gailgan]

As far as I can see the second mirror is not reflecting the beam properly. As I said when it has no adjustment the beam is not in the middle of the laser head. And the beam is too far away to adjust it with the mirror screws. That's why I say the mirror is not set right on it's bracket. It's not at 45 degrees. You say 3-4 hrsto set the beam well I've been at this now for 3 weeks trying to set this beam. Ill post some photos. I do believe the middle of the laser head and the second mirror don't line up. But I don't know how to fix this problem.

Thanks Dom

[dominic gailgan]

I have already posted photos Walt in this thread ok

[herby08]

Hi dom
the first what you have to do start over again with a cool head .
now check the mechanical site:
square the gantry towards Y-axis on both side
paralell head to gantry
head to 2nd mirror
45 to gantry axis Take a speed square and put it on the gantry axis and on the 2nd mirror bracket usually the fastening screw holes are a bit bigger that you can move the mirror holder in to the 45 position.
greetings
walt

Originally Posted by dominic gailgan As far as I can see the second mirror is not reflecting the beam properly. As I said when it has no adjustment the beam is not in the middle of the laser head. And the beam is too far away to adjust it with the mirror screws. That's why I say the mirror is not set right on it's bracket. It's not at 45 degrees. You say 3-4 hrsto set the beam well I've been at this now for 3 weeks trying to set this beam. Ill post some photos. I do believe the middle of the laser head and the second mirror don't line up. But I don't know how to fix this problem. Thanks Dom

[herby08]

I just looked at your picture.
I recomend that you bring all the setscrews back to zero because they are allready to far out
start with mirror # 1 take the setscrews back then mirror #2 take the setscrews back.
now start with the alignment of mirror #2 like described ,
then adjust the head mirror like described .
the mirrors have a few settings where you can adjust but if they are to far out you can not fine tune
greetings
walt

Originally Posted by dominic gailgan As far as I can see the second mirror is not reflecting the beam properly. As I said when it has no adjustment the beam is not in the middle of the laser head. And the beam is too far away to adjust it with the mirror screws. That's why I say the mirror is not set right on it's bracket. It's not at 45 degrees. You say 3-4 hrsto set the beam well I've been at this now for 3 weeks trying to set this beam. Ill post some photos. I do believe the middle of the laser head and the second mirror don't line up. But I don't know how to fix this problem. Thanks Dom

[dominic gailgan]

I have already taken the screws all the way back every day last week and I can't set the beam from the second mirror to the head. How do I know when the mirror is at 45 degrees? That's were the problem is I'm sure of it ok.
Thanks Dom

[herby08]

like I said right before take a speed square ( carpenter square) and put it on the gantry ( see picture)
loose the bracket screw if you have to adjust
greetings
walt

Originally Posted by dominic gailgan I have already taken the screws all the way back every day last week and I can't set the beam from the second mirror to the head. How do I know when the mirror is at 45 degrees? That's were the problem is I'm sure of it ok. Thanks Dom

[dominic gailgan]

Thanks Walt ill have a look at this and see what I can figure out.

Thanks Dom

[dominic gailgan]

How do I check the first mirror is at 45 degrees to the tube?
Thanks Dom

[herby08]

he hey my friend
I just replaced one of my lasertubes and adjusted the beam within 3 hours
complete
first I set the lasertube pralell to the front wall of the cavity where the lasertube and the first mirror is in then I take the same square and use this wall to set the 1st mirror to 45 degree. this wall is also used as the set point

see picture
greetings
walt

Originally Posted by dominic gailgan How do I check the first mirror is at 45 degrees to the tube? Thanks Dom

[FanFan]

Dom, Some questions. This is a new laser, right? Why did you have to change the mirrors? Which mirrors did you change? If you take a test shot at the first mirror. Would the shot be center? It should be. Now if you take test shots at the second mirror. First with mirrors #1 and #2 as close to each other. Is the test shot centered on mirror two? It should be. Now move mirror #2 half way the distance that you can move away from mirror #1. Take a test shot. Is it centered? It should be. Okay now move mirror# 2 the furthest away it can be away from Mirror # 1. Take a shot. Is it center? It should be. Don't adjust anything at this point in time. You should try to look at how the test shot dots are moving. If all the holes are not center than it is trying to tell you where the error is. The laser beam wants to travel in straight line , It should follow the path set by the mirrors. It should be taking only 90 degree turns at the mirrors if everything is lined up properly. If you want and if you get a chance please let us know how the beam tracks.

Please be very carefully.
Thanks
FanFan