Knackered my Trotec Speedy 300 lens!

[Mark Ward]

I'll have a go at treating it like a woman then Jit. Bryan at Trotec said I could send it him to have a look at too but I think it's probably past repair.

I have just had a new lens delivered from Trotec, the holder for this one is a metal one as apposed to the black plastic holder on our old one. I presume that this is just an updated holder rather than it meaning it's a different focus, I did ask for the 2,0" lens so I'm presuming I don't need to do anything other than stick this new lens straight in and start working or do I need to do any sort of re-focusing or anything (I don't imagine so?).

lens-ruined.jpg

[Dan Hintz]

Do NOT use oven cleaner... sheesh, you guys are treating Ferraris like disposable Yugos! Use the proper cleaning solution for your lens and mirrors so we don't have to hear your tale of woe a year from now how the power output seems to have dropped or your focal point isn't as sharp as it used to be. At the very least, go to your local liquor store and pick up a bottle of Everclear... if you don't use it on your lens, take a swig or two for your own sanity (and mine!).

[Mark Ward]

Do NOT use oven cleaner... sheesh, you guys are treating Ferraris like disposable Yugos! Use the proper cleaning solution for your lens and mirrors so we don't have to hear your tale of woe a year from now how the power output seems to have dropped or your focal point isn't as sharp as it used to be. At the very least, go to your local liquor store and pick up a bottle of Everclear... if you don't use it on your lens, take a swig or two for your own sanity (and mine!).

Oven cleaner hasn't been touched
I'll have another go with the proper cleaning solution but don't think it will make much difference.

Just to check, my new lens am I OK to just stick in and work away or does it need any sort of fettling. Looking at the box, it looks like the stats on this new one are 2,01mm and on the old one the box says 2,03mm, unsure if that will make any difference. I guess if just trying it out won't harm it I can just run a small job and see the results.

[Mark Ward]

Right, just run a test job and the lens/laser clearly needs to be re-fucussed as it has done a terrible job. I've searched and can't find a guide anywhere as to what to do, can anyone help as I've got a number of jobs I need to get done today and currently can't do any!

Just to add, I'm using the focus tool like I always have to position the height of the bed from the laser.

Also, is the silver casing of my lens (instead of black) a likely mean that it might be the wrong lens?

No answer from Trotec support is why I'm peppering the questions here at the moment!

[Keith Colson]

As far as I know there in only one adjustment and that's the height off the table. If your focus tool is not right then that means you have a different focal length lens now. If you want to empirically find the focus you can do it by trial and error. I use this pattern in raster mode for checking focus. 0.2mm to 0.5mm spacing and line width.
track_space.png
The horizontal will always have more error due to the rastering process (backlash etc). For your z height concentrate on the vertical error. Someone else may have a better solution but it sounded like you want to get going "now"

Cheers
Keith

[Mark Ward]

As far as I know there in only one adjustment and that's the height off the table. If your focus tool is not right then that means you have a different focal length lens now. If you want to empirically find the focus you can do it by trial and error. I use this pattern in raster mode for checking focus. 0.2mm to 0.5mm spacing and line width.
track_space.png
The horizontal will always have more error due to the rastering process (backlash etc). For your z height concentrate on the vertical error. Someone else may have a better solution but it sounded like you want to get going "now"

Cheers
Keith

Thanks for the quick reply Keith. I think they have sent me the wrong lens then as I was using the focus tool and not only is the holder a silver metal rather than the black plastic that the previous one was but the engraving/cutting as it is a country mile off even being close which 2 lens should be in a similar ball park at least.

Thanks for that possible work around, I may have to give it a go, although I'm hoping I might be able to go to a local(ish) Trotec showroom and run my jobs there, waiting for a call back now

[Mike Null]

I believe in some previous posts Gary Hair may have suggested that inclining a piece of anodized aluminum on the table then running test patterns on it might help determine the focal length. A search should turn up a couple of threads on the topic.

Mark

I believe the holders are color coded and a recent post identified the colors. I think it was Steve Shepherd who posted it. The two inch lens should have a black holder.

[Scott Shepherd]

Also, is the silver casing of my lens (instead of black) a likely mean that it might be the wrong lens?

Mark, you are correct, that's the wrong lens. As Mike said, the black is 2.0", the silver is 2.5". I just measured the focus tool for the silver one and it's about 12mm longer (further away) than the black one. Put the silver one in, focus it, then look at your z value in Job Control (there's an X,Y,Z value that's real time) and just lower the table by 12mm.

That will get you running until you can get things sorted out.

[Martin Boekers]

This is a long shot, but try taking the lens to a camera store and see if they have any recommendations....

[Mark Ward]

Mark, you are correct, that's the wrong lens. As Mike said, the black is 2.0", the silver is 2.5". I just measured the focus tool for the silver one and it's about 12mm longer (further away) than the black one. Put the silver one in, focus it, then look at your z value in Job Control (there's an X,Y,Z value that's real time) and just lower the table by 12mm.

That will get you running until you can get things sorted out.

Top man, this is what I did, had to switch the nose cone out for the larger holed one too. Managed to get the jobs done to more an acceptable level in the end and hopefully Trotec send the correct lense out tomorrow!

[David Somers]

Hmmmm. Listening to folks talk about knackering lenses left and right made me wonder exactly how many spare lenses it is wise to have on hand. Needless to say I am talking about Chinese machines where lenses are not as expensive as a Trotec's, and where at the time of your initial order the weight of extra lenses is not going to impact your shipping costs.

Dave

[Bob A Miller]

Dave... When I got my Chinese machine I got a spare lens in every size.... Never used one if them yet. The Trotec, exactly the opposite.. Go figure.

[Mike Null]

I have been in the business for 17 years using a ULS and now Trotec and have never replaced a lens. Nor have I ever had a spare. (KNOCK ON WOOD)

[Gary Hair]

I have been in the business for 17 years using a ULS and now Trotec and have never replaced a lens. Nor have I ever had a spare. (KNOCK ON WOOD)

I'm in the same boat as you Mike though not as long. In 8 years I haven't had to replace a lens. I do have several spares however, they came with an Epilog Radius that was given to me - I ended up with several new and several barely used lenses of various lengths. Lots of mirrors too but I have to cut them down to fit - no hurry though, again, 8 years with the same mirrors. Clean them regularly with lens cleaner and lens cloth and it's amazing how long they will last!

[David Somers]

Good to know!!! Thanks everyone!!

Dave