Beam Alignment (another method)

[Frank Small]

While watching YouTube last night this came up in my feed. It involves using a red laser for the light source and starting at the cutting head working backwards. Has anyone tried this method? What do you think?

The videos are by American Photonics and they sell the laser light source for $40 USD.

https://youtu.be/jdHjsqU1dg8

https://youtu.be/FkDshi_SaaM

Moderators please feel free to move this post to another part of the forum if needed. This was my best guess, thanks.

[fred ungewitter]

I've built a carrier for an ordinary laser pointer using my 3D printer. When inserted into the lens carrier tube (nozzle removed) it also depressed the power button, a convenient situation. By ensuring that the laser is centered in the cylinder and contacting the 3rd mirror in the correct location, it was an easy matter to adjust the 3rd mirror to hit the 2nd mirror and from there, the first mirror.

I've read some posts that suggest this is not a suitable method, but it allowed me to determine that my 2nd mirror was on a damaged mount. Once corrected, I was able to get the alignment to the first mirror within a millimeter or so.

I forgot to adjust the first mirror and my first pulse test hit me in the shoulder! That's how far off the original alignment had become, maybe from my tinkering it or from the manufacturer.

Once you have the reverse alignment with the laser red dot or pointer, you have to do a conventional alignment, but it goes very quickly after that.

[Cad Jones]

It's basically like a Red Dot bore sighter for a rifle.
Gets you on paper, but not dialed in.

[Gene Uselman]

I believe that Russ explored this reverse method and did not have much luck with it?

[fred ungewitter]

I recall reading also that Russ didn't get a good result, which surprised me. Sometimes, the information Russ provides is a bit off.