first time cutting acrylic and getting sawtooth linies

[Matt McCoy]

Are you able to adjust the import tolerance of your vector objects? If the edges look like an U.S. quarter, it might not be generating enough points.

The nicks look like flashback from the honeycomb.

[Kev Williams]

There's a setting in my lasersoft program called 'curve discrete length'--
curvediscrete.jpg

Now, since I can find no instructions anywhere as to what this means, I kinda figured that making the
distance smaller from the .100 default would maybe mean that it would tighten up the resolution of
the curve, giving me a smoother curve. So I moved the slider left about half-way--

What actually happened was, while etching outlines with a 3/4" radius on a black anodized panel,
the machine tried to run the curves at full speed. The stepper motors did NOT like this, and would
hang, and stay hung during the straightway run until the hanging motor had to change direction-
the hanging was inconsistent, and also happened while I wasn't looking. Each outline is 12 passes, x4
corners-- I had lines etched from hell to breakfast. Ruined a $225 operator panel...

SO, I moved the slider about 1/3 the way to the right of center. I'm not on that computer so I don't know
the actual setting, but doing so DID slow the curve speed down, quite a bit from the default setting...

It works pretty well so I haven't changed it.

That all said, I haven't found lasers to be all that great at cutting nice smooth circles...

As for the OP's machine, since he's been cutting fabric, I wonder if he might have some buildup
in the belt teeth & drive cogs?

[Scott Shepherd]

It will be the bed rails brother, Chinese machines like the weike have single slat rails rather than a bed as such so flashback only tends to happen as the beam crosses them.

I still disagree with that. If it was the air, then I would be able to emulate that by air pressure. I can't. I can go no air or full blown air and every where in between and never get results like that. If it was air, every one of us should be able to replicate it and I don't think we can. That's a speed/motion issue. Something is set wrong or something is loose in my opinion.

[Neil Pabia]

What is the frequency you are cutting at? I max out my power and frequency for acrylics and it seems to work fine, I just run it at a slower speed.

[Dave Sheldrake]

What is the frequency you are cutting at? I max out my power and frequency for acrylics and it seems to work fine, I just run it at a slower speed.

DC tubes don't have variable frequencies on Chinese machines Neil

Biggest difference between Chinese and Western machines is the resonator, RF give much more control over the process and can give very nice polished edges, DC don't, you can get a decent edge but no where near the quality of a western box

[Dann Ernstsen]

I had a go at it again last night, and I think it is mainly a mechanical problem. So I will try to fix that, thanks for all the input from you guys. The project is on hold until i get time to look at the mechanical side of the machine.

Thanks to you all for your help, this has been very helpful