Laser wont cut through corners

Tue Mar 02, 2021

Hi all
I am a having some serious trouble with my laser cutter. It does not completely cut out shapes. It fails to return fully to where it started. I cut acrylic letters for signs and am going through material wasting cuts. Please help!
Thanks!

Tue Mar 02, 2021

viewtopic.php?f=105&t=3562&hilit=Revers ... val#p20509
Recommend you review and perform the check in the links

Wed Mar 03, 2021

Pete Cyr wrote: Tue Mar 02, 2021 viewtopic.php?f=105&t=3562&hilit=Revers ... val#p20509
Recommend you review and perform the check in the links

Here is a pic of the backside which is not cutting all the way. From the face of the letter it appears to be cut but the reverse tells another story.

Wed Mar 03, 2021

Did you perform the checks I recommended.

Try a pulse burn test with the table up and then lower the table 3-4”. I suspect your beam is coming out of the tube on an angle vice perpendicular to the table. When doing the burn test do not move the target that is being burned... if I am correct the 2nd pulse will be off center from the original pulse.

YouTube · Thu Mar 04, 2021

I agree with Pete - looks to me like your beam is angled. If you have acrylic, turn a piece on edge and pulse into it from its side and then see if it's square/perpendicular. Rotate the acrylic 90 degrees and see if it's square in both directions.

Thu Mar 04, 2021

Pete Cyr wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 Did you perform the checks I recommended.

Try a pulse burn test with the table up and then lower the table 3-4”. I suspect your beam is coming out of the tube on an angle vice perpendicular to the table. When doing the burn test do not move the target that is being burned... if I am correct the 2nd pulse will be off center from the original pulse.

Hi Pete, I did attempt the changes however the value would remain at 100 in both the Graph length and Measuring Length fields. I click READ, open the step length settings, type in 99.4 in both fields in the x axis (because it was long on my 100mm test cut.) But when I double check after clicking ok then WRITE the values have reverted back to 100.

Thu Mar 04, 2021

Evan Winn wrote: Thu Mar 04, 2021
Pete Cyr wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 Roger on the length checks- did you do the check for the perpendicularity of the beam to the table?

Thu Mar 04, 2021

Affirmative. I performed the beam check. I do not have an adjustable table but I moved the lens tube up and down. It was only ever so slightly off when doing the burn test. I also shot the beam through a piece of clear acrylic and the two were very square with each other.

Thu Mar 04, 2021

Hmmmmmmm

What is your cutting speed.
How long have you had the laser/tube
Did this issue just start

Mon Mar 08, 2021

Pete Cyr wrote: Thu Mar 04, 2021 Hmmmmmmm

What is your cutting speed.
How long have you had the laser/tube
Did this issue just start

Hey Pete, hope you had a good weekend.
I've had the laser 4 years now. The tube itself has a manufacturer's date of 2014.
This is a very recent problem, only when cutting half inch.
I run 4 mm/s at 50% power on 150w, These are my regular all the time settings. I have had to increase the power and have achieved ideal cuts, but that might tell me my tube is getting old.