machine is great

software is interesting

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)

Conditional Success

First experiment with new laser. Love the speed. Did not figure out optimal settings.

The Z axis adjustment does not seem to be working.

Could not set power to cut through material. Probably a user error. Could not figure out what the equivalent of "run box" is.

wood get all over the bottom

An adobe illustrator file did not open showing no data. We believe it is because there was no path width, just a fill. Another illustrator file opened fine.

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)

lots of text/single line fonts - small to large

The machine skipped/lost track of its location while cutting text. Slowed the speed down to 30, but still was getting occasional skipping. 20 seems to be the minimum power setting. Below that, no burning took place.

laser is noisy from the drive motor when moving the head north. sounds similar to a gear whine

Black paper takes higher power(35)

On/off switch stuck in On Position

Black paper uses power of 35, others at 30

Black paper needs higher power 35

Black Paper required power 35

Hardwood (Cherry, Alder, Walnut, Poplar)

Surface Engrave

used white tape great results

communication error 2x

5mm was a bit too thick, had a lot of burn on the cuts

Conditional Success

Lazer Class, name keychain

The plywood did not move, the program caused the laser to cut the middle of the design 1 cm to the left and then shifted back to the correct Y location.

I believe the shift happened due to the software.

Hardwood (Cherry, Alder, Walnut, Poplar)

Thank you Pew Pew!

(during this time power was reset, it was restored and projects were completed)

keychain for laser certification

I switched materials in the middle. When I did a slat I had moved did not seat properly and caught on the head. The steppers jumped several times before I could e stop. I may have affected the focus.

had to fix some shapes

Wasn't as deep on the first pass as I would have locked

Cut almost all the way through. Enough to pop it out.

Conditional Success

50% at 5mm/s just cut thru 5mm

Surface Engrave

One side was run one time the other two passes, do two passes one pass required a lot of cleanup of the surface.

Difference between light engrave and dark engrave is very subtle

3 pieces of card stock cut well

280 mm square

Used RD Works, but it would not work (Communication Error) while Lightburn was open in the background.

Surface Engrave

alumamark laserable aluminum. Nice, dark finish.

One substantial fire, increased speed and number of passes

Lightburn is awesome

bottom left produces extra line at 100% power

12 mm (1/2")

Conditional Success

1/8 INCH BEAM GAP AFTER CUT

Engraving at 50s/30p good depth. 50s/20p resulted in barely a ghost on the acrylic. 30 is probably close to min power

Conditional Success

Machine Dirt with wood resin. Alignment not complete (ghosting)

Drill and remount optics head about 2mm up and 1mm back. Realign carriage mirror. Did vertical test. (It's good, but will fine tune later.) Ran speed and power tests for cutting and engraving on acrylic and plywood. Good results, and no more "ghosts". Need to check power and alignment at all locations (9x). Noted bean is slightly lower down at rear of machine. Will investigate later.

adjusted focus to 4 mm per note on machine

Coroplast - Etch 80/70 Cut 15/100

4mm wood laser focus

double lines, misalignment

Various thickness focus pucks: 2.7mm, 4.2mm, 5.3mm, 6.0mm

Complaint was a "ghost" or double line in the NS axis. Consistent with the head being abused. Reset the head to vertical using the mechanical square restored the alignment and eliminate the ghost. Did *not* require any mirror adjustments. Warn users to (1) do no grab the optics head, and (2) avoid using weights on the project material as the head may collide with them. Left-Right (Near-Far) burn target on the carriage target was normal. Need to encourage better cleaning.

surprised by the power requirements. Might have had the focus off.

Lightburn: Remember to click "output" so that it will actually run

Surface Engrave

see notes

Opened the hood to measure and noticed that half the slats were stacked sideways on the other half installed. The stacked slats appeared to be dirty so I pulled all the slats and cleaned them. Noticed that the intake cover had fallen off. Pulled it off and retaped the sides and reinstalled it. Cleaned the head as well, but it didn't seem dirty.

high power low speed shows ghosting when cutting

used Sketch option for photo of painting

not a problem, change to inches and the Move buttons switch to inches - didn't expect that.

LEARNING PROTOTYPE

use black sharpie to color results

sometimes did 2 passes

plywood had large putty infill, so 15 speed not always able to cut fully through.

forgot to flip the image 8/

Surface Engrave

Softwood (Balsa, Basswood, Pine)

12 mm (1/2")

When the laser starts up, if the head is homed upper left it makes a large grinding sound. Seems like motors are trying to home even though it's already there. I left the head lower right so that it would have home space when powered up next.
Slats had residue from cuts and I only engraved,. Cleaned all of them.

engrave could have been a little deeper, but it will work

Softwood (Balsa, Basswood, Pine)

bottle box for wine, portrait of darth maul engraved on baltic birch

MDF (Medium Density Fibreboard)

First use of mini. Everything ran well

Laser was used right before and right after. Will make sure it is cleaned when I leave.

ENGRAVE supports speed-150 power-100 UNFOCUSED(normal+1/4 turnC/W)

Hardwood (Cherry, Alder, Walnut, Poplar)

EVEN + 1/4 TURN c/w