It's an Laguerre 01 profile Rich, not unusual
page1-789px-Laguerre-Gauss.pdf.jpg
very much soI think there is nothing to be gained by that, and a lot to be lost.
cheers
Dave
It's an Laguerre 01 profile Rich, not unusual
page1-789px-Laguerre-Gauss.pdf.jpg
very much soI think there is nothing to be gained by that, and a lot to be lost.
cheers
Dave
You did what !
just a thought but has the operating/ambient/chiller temperature changed recently?
could impact power output
Trotec Speedy 300 50W
Gantry CNC Router/Engraver
Various softwares
Always keen to try something new
Please don't steal - the government hates competition
Thanks for your input guys, I'll retry the focal length and play with the power/speed of the cut. I wonder if the new lens I put in has anything to do with it. I noticed the one I took out had a convex side and a very gentle concave side, and the one I put in has a convex side and a flat side. From what I've read that makes a wider cut and is less focused. I'll also invest in a Mahoney 100 watt laser power probe.
And of course I'll let you know how it all goes. Next laser cutter I buy I think I'll buy new so I can get some support with it.
Meniscus is curved both sides (the best type of lens) the other one is a Plano-Convex, although a slightly less defined beam shape it won't affect things in a noticeable way at anything under 500 watts or so.
Save your money Rick, they aren't very accurate and only really provide a *best guesstimate*, good for comparing a tube when it's new to later on in it's life but for actually measuring power they are pretty dire (not a quality issue as such just that they can be affected by a lot of external factors)I'll also invest in a Mahoney 100 watt laser power probe.
Failing that, make one yourself using Dr Lindsay Wilsons instructions.
http://imajeenyus.com/optical/201304...ly/index.shtml
If it's a direct import from China don't bet on support being much betterNext laser cutter I buy I think I'll buy new so I can get some support with it.
cheers
Dave
PS:
Very valid point and can make a big differencejust a thought but has the operating/ambient/chiller temperature changed recently?
could impact power output
You did what !
morning Dave!
I was curious about your suggestion on the power meter. I had pondered getting one for use someday when a laser actually shows up at the house. My thought was to wait a few weeks till I have some time on the tube and it has settled in, (an EFR tube) and then make a few measurements to establish a baseline power for the tube when new. That way I had a point of reference if I had problems later in its life. If I am reading you right, that was how you were suggesting a meter had some value as opposed to looking at a discreet power level reading taken out of context? Or do you think it is not worth the dollars even for that use?
I was not looking at it as a tool that would give a single discreet measurement, but one that might provide a trend overtime. In the way that a BP cuff is not really accurate in a single use given all the externals involved in getting a measurement, but is pretty good at looking at longer term trends.
Dave
900x600 80watt EFR Tube laser from Liaocheng Ray Fine Tech LTD. Also a 900x600 2.5kw spindle CNC from Ray Fine. And my main tool, a well used and loved Jet 1642 Woodlathe with an outboard toolrest that helps me work from 36 inch diameters down to reallllllly tiny stuff.
pretty useful for that my friend, trends rather than outright measurement of power. For pure measurement of raw power you would need a power wizzard wand or an Ophir set up (my Ophir was just under $5,500 so not cheap)but one that might provide a trend overtime.
cheers
Dave
You did what !
Last edited by Rick Underwood; 11-18-2014 at 6:27 AM.
I've played around with the settings - and are still continuing to do so. I've also played with the focal lengths and worked out what works best. It seems with the lens I put in a difference of just 1mm can affect the cut.
Now I've cleaned all the mirrors and the lens again it is back to doing a good cut on the Y axis and a poor cut on the X axis. Frustrating.
The pic below is of the back of the 1.8mm chipboard and the test rectangle below is 45.5mm by 7.1mm. As you can see the Y axis/horizontal cuts fine.
20141122_153459.jpg
I'm starting to wonder if this laser is just a hobby laser and we shouldn't be trying to make a business from it, just like you wouldn't start a printing business from a home printer.
Last edited by Rick Underwood; 11-22-2014 at 2:39 AM.
My next two guesses;
1) The beam is not perpendicular to the table. Easy to test - fire a dot, lower the table several inches, fire again. Thermal paper makes this easier.
2) The travel speed is not the same for x and y.
Shenhui 1440x850, 130 Watt Reci Z6
Gerber Sabre 408
I had one of them otherwise known as the LS6840, bomb proof machines and usually very reliable.I'm starting to wonder if this laser is just a hobby laser and we shouldn't be trying to make a business from it
quite possible if the step count has been badly adjusted or changed in the past by the previous ownerThe travel speed is not the same for x and y.
You did what !
Shenhui 1440x850, 130 Watt Reci Z6
Gerber Sabre 408