Laser Mirror Alignment | How To Guide

Laser Mirror Alignment | How To Guide | CO2

Рет қаралды 16,946

5 ай бұрын

How to align your Chinese CO2 laser. If you're laser is not cutting well, giving you double lines, or cutting on one side of the bed but not the other, this is often an indication that you're NOT aligned.
This video will guide you on adjustments at Mirror 1 (M1), Mirror 2 (M2), and Mirror 3 (M3). Pay special attention as to where you're standing as it's important when making adjustments on your adjustment screws. Also note the NEAR and FAR positions. Our adjustments will occur in the FAR position as it will have the great impact on where the pulse hits.
I specifically use the OMTech AF2028-80, but this process will work on most CO2 lasers with a similar mirror setup.
🚨Supplies in the video:
Metric Wrench Set: amzn.to/48S1ZO8
Blue Painters Tape: amzn.to/49b9UG1
Sticky Note Pad: amzn.to/48Muyg3
Isopropyl Alcohol: amzn.to/3U4lheL
Lens Cleaning Cloth: amzn.to/3tWTxhg
🚨My Laser (Discount code LASERGUYS5OFF): omtechlaser.com/collections/m...
🚨My Links and Discounts:
5% Discount Code for American Photonics: LASERGUYS
5% Discount Code for OMTech Lasers: LASERGUYS5OFF
Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/edmonds_w...
🚨Need Help? Join my social groups below:
Facebook Polar Users Group: / 573428424122143
Facebook Official OMTech Group: / 1364016877267714
Instagram Page: / edmonds_woodshop
www.laser-guys.com/
🚨Business Inquires:
Email: Edmondswoodshop@gmail.com
Affiliate Disclaimer:
As an Amazon and OMTech affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases if you choose to use my links listed. I will continue to provide honest and helpful tips ands tricks with the products that I used. Thank you for your continued support

Пікірлер: 97

@gener8fun Ай бұрын

I have been lasering for about 8 years...the catch to that is that I had a GF so never had to worry about mirror alignment. I got my new OMtech a few days ago, and was terrified at relearning everything. Thanks sincerely for taking the time to share your knowledge. You made my first bump in the road so much easier to figure out. If someone isn't paying you for your knowledge, they should be.

@EdmondsWoodshop Ай бұрын

Hi, I also have a setup guide at laser-guys.com/setup Hope it helps

@michaelwenman2348 5 ай бұрын

Think this is the BEST alignment video I have seen to date. Now, If you happen to have the American Photonics Reverse Alignment Tool, A video such as this one showing how it can be used would be awesome. :)

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

Awesome! Glad to hear. I do have the AP reverse alignment tool. That’s something I can definitely put together.

@esentl 2 ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop yes please make that next I have that tool and still dont know how to use it and the manufacturer video is terrible .... one thing I loved is how your system was out of whack and you showed how to tune it great work

@CoreyD76 5 ай бұрын

Cam, this is the most detailed and comprehensive video about mirror alignment I've seen. Thank you!

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

That means a lot. I tried to be as detailed as I could be without being super confusing. I was worried about it being too long.

@GilbertFlores956 4 ай бұрын

Best alignment instruction video by far . . thank you!

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the feedback!

@somerandomguy8564 3 ай бұрын

Your setup videos are fantastic! Very detailed yet well-explained. You do a great job! Thank you!

@EdmondsWoodshop 3 ай бұрын

Was trying to make it as easy as possible…even though it’s long

@VWKREATIVE 24 күн бұрын

Thanks very much

@DRTOutdoors Ай бұрын

We just moved our laser about 160 miles. When we got all the electrical ran, it cut great. But today it wasn’t working too well. This is the first time I’ve used it since we moved. So I am going to do an adjustment on it. Your video looks like it will be a huge help. Will update my results. Thanks man.

@DDMINNOVATIONS Ай бұрын

Thank you so much! I watch this video every time I do maintenance on my laser. Instructions are clear and concise. Tried using reverse alignment tool and ended up trashing it. Thanks again.

@EdmondsWoodshop Ай бұрын

Awesome. Glad to hear. Tried to break it down as much as I could. I too threw away the reverse alignment tool. Thanks for the feedback

@MrTin30 2 ай бұрын

This is video is just what I needed, by far is the best alignment video I've seen. Gracias!!

@EdmondsWoodshop 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for the feedback!

@blewprent Ай бұрын

BEST video on alignment.....ive watched several. Lol.

@EdmondsWoodshop Ай бұрын

Thank you!

@R1STech 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Cam. Very informative.

@EdmondsWoodshop 3 ай бұрын

My pleasure! Thanks for watching

@davidtrudel2215 4 ай бұрын

You’re a lifesaver, thank you!

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Glad you found it helpful!

@antkn33 9 күн бұрын

Very clear explanation. Thanks!

@EdmondsWoodshop 8 күн бұрын

Thank you for the feedback!

@vdsivan Ай бұрын

This is one off the best video's on allignment of laser mirrors. Thnx.

@EdmondsWoodshop Ай бұрын

Thank you! Hope it helped!

@vdsivan Ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop works great now, thnx

@bpresinandsteel7212 3 ай бұрын

Thanks that was verry informative.

@esentl 2 ай бұрын

bro from one content creator to another you nailed this process I have seen tons of videos and never quite got the swing of it even still to this day...your video is by far what I have been needing and is the best, I have ever seen made in detail .. even over some actual manufacturer videos like Boss for example, great job and I have now subscribed, looking forward to future content

@EdmondsWoodshop 2 ай бұрын

It took me a couple days and few reshoots to do this one. Its hard to explain alignment to someone who has never done it before. I tried to create this video as if the person didn't know anything. Thank you for taking the time to provide some feedback. A lot of work went into this one.

@Jay.perez1 Ай бұрын

Thank you. We constantly struggle with this at our Makerspace because we haven't had a clear understanding of how to align the mirrors. Sending a link to your video to our Discord channel for people to reference.

@colordropmauritius644 2 ай бұрын

Really awesome video, I never try to do alignment, with your well descriptive tutorial will help so much, thanks again , cheers

@EdmondsWoodshop 2 ай бұрын

Good luck. Hope it helps!

@noahkadi7547 4 ай бұрын

Wow wow sir, you did an excellent Work, congratulations

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Thank you

@chrissmith-wq6gr 4 ай бұрын

Nice uncomplicated vid, thank you.👌

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Glad it helped

@TinkerandBuild 5 ай бұрын

Hey man. I just purchased the laser yesterday and need to get everything aligned. It's a used unit so I'm going to get everything cleaned up but this is exactly what I needed to try to get that process moving

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

Good luck! Hopefully this video helps make the entire process come together and make sense

@housemancreationsco 3 ай бұрын

So I am building my own laser, doing alignment tonight. Don't know why but your video just clicked. Thank you so much!

@EdmondsWoodshop 3 ай бұрын

Building a laser from scratch and getting it freshly aligned can be a little different as you are aligning the actual mirror mounting plates first (which I don’t show), but the concept of near and far alignment is still the same. Glad it made sense to you! Thanks for the feedback

@housemancreationsco 3 ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop oh yeah, huge p.i.t.a. lol. I took a piece of 2020 extrusion, set it on top of the mirrors and used a torpedo level on top to get them level, then used the same piece of extrusion to eyeball them in line.

@martjeenmarkoppad1355 21 күн бұрын

Great video, realy help me out! Next step is setting the correct hight of the laser.. Searchlight for a good video on this now.. Greetings from the netherlands.

@sgtcyclist 3 ай бұрын

Great video Cam! Very helpful. It appears my laser has adjustments on the laser tube. I have the AF 130 watt

@genawaffle 4 ай бұрын

I have hunted and hunted for good alignment videos for years (suffering the consequences of bad alignment all this time). Your video is BY FAR THE BEST ONE I HAVE EVER SEEN!! No one has ever even explained the adjustment screws going L/R vs Up/Down, let alone had such good footage of the details inside the machine. I can't begin to thank you! One question - how did you determine that 13% was needed for your pulse? What makes a good pulse power?

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

I’m so happy that you found it helpful! In regard to the power, I started at 10% and adjusted 1% higher at a time until I got a burn mark. When you hit the pulse button, it should be a quick tap. Don’t hold it down otherwise it will continuously fire. You should be able see a nice round pulse mark when it hits. If it ends up being a white spot on the blue tape, I’d bump it up 1% higher. You may have noticed that I had to hit pulse a couple times just to see the mark show up. You want it strong enough to burn, but not too powerful to blast a hole through it

@jackflash445 4 ай бұрын

fantastic video, i had yesterday a problem i burned the bould from the air connection dont ask me how or what happend. I was fiddeling to fix it now is my pulse 3 mm of my light point on the wood what should i do

@dishatechno7793 4 ай бұрын

Hi I am ajay you video is long but very knowledge full thank You nice to meet to you keep it up

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Thank you for the feedback. I tried to make it as informative as possible while showing the process

@smattt 5 ай бұрын

Maybe all that was needed to shim the tube was to tighten the hex nut on the near tube clamp till the two jaws barely touched? That would orient the front of the tube down a bit which is what you were trying to do. Thats how I did mine and it worked perfectly. Great video btw. You're a natural teacher!

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

Absolutely! My way is definitely not the only way. It’s just a way to show how to get the desired intent. If you have another method to do the same thing, then that’s perfectly okay. Thank you for the comment! Glad it made sense for you.

@smattt 5 ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop I posted a comment but not sure where it went - was it deleted because of the link? I have, what I think, is a mechanical issue on my OMTech 100W MF2028 but can't figure out a solution. I'm seeing lines down the edges of cut pieces and these are very noticeable on edges where the y-axis travel is greater and much less so when there's little to no y-axis travel. I tightened the y-axis belts but that didn't help at all - not sure what else I can try. I'd appreciate any advice you could give. Hopefully this comment doesn't get deleted - here are some images of what I'm seeing: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1dMLQLfUUACqxAWgtHkzZbXiqOd7uY5VK?usp=drive_link

@smattt 5 ай бұрын

I swear this isn't spam - I'm on the OMTech facebook page as well but my question got buried.

@smattt 5 ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop 2nd time that comment was deleted - the link might be the culprit. No link this time. I have, what I think, is a mechanical issue on my OMTech 100W MF2028 but can't figure out a solution. I'm seeing lines down the edges of cut pieces and these are very noticeable on edges where the y-axis travel is greater and much less so when there's little to no y-axis travel. I tightened the y-axis belts but that didn't help at all - not sure what else I can try. I'd appreciate any advice you could give.

@1-Nice-Guy 3 ай бұрын

Amazing video! But this is the #1 reason why I am hesitant in getting a CO2 Laser! Thanks.

@EdmondsWoodshop 3 ай бұрын

The first time you go through alignment made take you a little while, but after you go through the video and understand the process, it may take 15 minutes.

@1-Nice-Guy 3 ай бұрын

Good to know...thanks! I think I'm leaning towards the Polar 350, this is purely for fun for me and my 16 year old daughter to make cool stuff with...no selling.@@EdmondsWoodshop

@frankabbott2326 4 ай бұрын

your video is excellent but I have a question. you showed how to shim the tube up and down but my tube needs to come left. I have adjusted the tube bracket as far left as it will go and am still a ways off center. Any suggestion there?

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

I’m a visual person. Can you join our FB page (link in the description) and post pictures?

@jimidero Ай бұрын

So basically we are trying to match the far position to be same with near position? If the near position is not centered what we do first?

@user-jl9jd5ft2g 4 ай бұрын

This is a clean alignment video it looks so familiar I could almost swear I saw a video like this before where ever did you get this new source of information 😌

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Brandt from bearded builds co has a similar video. We work together so it makes sense. The more information out there the merrier. Some videos just “click” better with others. Videos where people just talk through tutorials without actually showing what needs to be done is incomplete in my opinion and can be improved, which is why I created the video.

@user-jl9jd5ft2g 4 ай бұрын

lol gotta give credit where credit is due we know the real reason this video was created but good job a simple shout out goes along way. @@EdmondsWoodshop

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Please enlighten me to this fabulous person(s) I should be shouting out? You do know KZfaq is made of thousands of video tutorials out there right now, right? Sure I’ll give a few shouts for inspiration….Brandt at bearded builds co, Vince at maker monkey industries. Thanks for the inspiration fellas! You sure sound like you’re taking this personal. Feel free to reach out to me and we can talk otherwise keep hiding behind your new account.

@user-jl9jd5ft2g 4 ай бұрын

you've said enough to let us know why this video was made you keep hiding behind you group that you run@@EdmondsWoodshop

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

This video was made because other people need help aligning their lasers and the ones currently out there are missing the context on how to do it. I’ll give credit where credit is due, but this is KZfaq brother. Everyone got their information from somewhere. Care to share the link where you think I need to credit?

@jaybowen6198 5 ай бұрын

did you set your max power 1 back to 50 after you were done? or does that really make any difference.

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

I left it. Whatever power % you enter in lightburn for your design will override whatever setting is on the controller when you go to start the laser

@Phelnok 2 ай бұрын

why shim the tube? doesn't mirror 3 have adjustments available on it where you can move the part to center the beam in the hole?

@EdmondsWoodshop 2 ай бұрын

Because every laser head isn’t the same. Not every laser head has the ability to move left/right or up/down. Shimming the tube will work for everyone.

@Redneckmfg Ай бұрын

QUESTION -- I'm new to co2 lasers. But Been using Diode lasers for a while now. my question is my speed and power settings that I put into lightburn are not loading into my omtech 2028-80 controller. and, I have been setting the parameters into the controller manually... How do I make the settings from Lightburn transfer into my laser controller ?? Thank you for any help with this...

@EdmondsWoodshop Ай бұрын

Did you upgrade your lightburn license from gcode to DSP. Diodes run off the gcode license where the OMTech lasers with ruida controllers run off the DSP license. Once you upgrade you’ll have access to both. If you did upgrade, it sounds like your controller isn’t communicating with lightburn. For further help, please join our FB community linked in the description

@Redneckmfg Ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop I did upgrade to DSP but for some reason it was losing communication with the laser I am using Cat5 cable for coms. I switched out the cable for a new cable and I am no longer having that issue... Thank you so much for your response and for all the great videos you have to help Newbies like me out !!!

@user-tu3mt4kd1j 4 ай бұрын

Good morning, i followed every single step of this video witch is simple to do. But, I'm having a little issue on the last step,on the back far write corner, It does not hit the center. It hits almost 1cm to the left in comparison to the other targets witch do hit the center. What am i supposed to do now? Left far corner perfect, left close corner perfect, right close corner perfect, write far corner BAD, 1CM TO THE LEFT.

@EdmondsWoodshop 4 ай бұрын

Either your M1 or M2 is still off or something int square.

@user-tu3mt4kd1j 4 ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop Thanks, it's your second opción, I think. This afternoon i'll know It for shure.

@rwalte2 5 ай бұрын

Why not just adjust mirror #2 until it hits #3 dead center instead of adjusting the laser tube itself? It seems the outcome is the same either way, no?

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

If you can achieve center at mirror 3 by making adjustments at mirror2, then yes it’s the same thing. I find that you’ll have a harder time chasing your pulse mark to align right on top of each at the center of mirror 3 rather than just reorienting the tube. Most people have a hard time grasping the concept of alignment as a process so if I can get get them to get the pulses to fall on top of each other, its easier to teach someone to aim their tube.

@heidielliott5176 Ай бұрын

Hi, Does it matter where your gantry is located when aligning mirror 2 to 3?

@EdmondsWoodshop Ай бұрын

I usually do it in the center of the Y axis

@heidielliott5176 Ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop Thank you. I ended up getting things figured out. I was having issues with the far right corner not cutting. ( I made sure the beam was coming out of mirror 3 to the nozzle at the 90 degrees.) your video was a huge help!!

@bigfranksworld 5 ай бұрын

Question. When shimming the tube, why didn't you just leave the front of the tube normal, and just shim the very bottom of the rear of the tube? That way you could have left the stock shims in the front, and only put a thin shim on the stock rear shim. Unless I'm not seeing it right...

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

You can definitely do it that way too! Shim the front mount or shim the rear mount. Whatever you can do to aim the pulse in the direction you need to go. Shim it where it Makes it easy for you. Remember, my way is just showing the methodology behind the alignment process. If you can make the same adjustments by doing something different, and it works, then I’d say you’re still successful.

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

Great question by the way!

@bigfranksworld 5 ай бұрын

@@EdmondsWoodshop Agreed. By the way, excellent explanation on how to do this. Much easier than most of the videos I have seen on this.

@EdmondsWoodshop 5 ай бұрын

I appreciate your comments and question!

@tinarichardson8085 2 ай бұрын

Do you have a video or any info on the beam combiner? How to install?

@saeedabdulwahid3830 2 ай бұрын

In moving the bed up and down ,my laser is in center but is not coming in one dot , at some point is big circle and at some point is the dot . It is my first time using co2 laser

@Jay.perez1 Ай бұрын

If the laser head is too close or too far away from the material you will always get a big dot. That's because it's not at the best focal. When it's at the right distance it should be a very small dot.

@saeedabdulwahid3830 Ай бұрын

Thanks @@Jay.perez1, so a material with thickness more than 10mm , the front will be in focus while the back will not ,and someone told me i have to readjust the laser head again , but even for a canson paper my head is only 5mm away from the paper for a perfect dot or cut

@Jay.perez1 Ай бұрын

Good morning, Yes that's correct. I cut some 10mm acrylic yesterday and intentionally raised the table after adjusting the height to move the focus point closer to the middle of the stock to compensate for this. We only have lens with a 2 inch focal point but I probably wouldn't have had to do that if we had a lens with a longer focal length.

@jonteesdale18 22 күн бұрын

You know tech is a US company based out of Anaheim California right?

@EdmondsWoodshop 22 күн бұрын

We’ve been partnered with OMTech for over three years creating content for them and running their social platforms. OMTech is actually owned by Oceania international LLC headquarter in Shanghai China. OMTech products were formerly known as Orion Motor Tech, followed by preenex, and finally OMTech. I helped launch their Anaheim office. The more you know.