Centered on the tape.
Good and bad
What does that mean?
Good - that it is okay, bad - that it is not the fault. It would have been the quickest and cheapest to fix.
OK, how critical is it that the mirror alignment be absolutely dead center? Iām very close but not dead on?
Thanks for your help!
Dale
Show an example of your test shots and we can ājudgeā it.
I personally like it if M1 and M2 are better than 1 mm in the center, on the whole machine bed. It sometimes takes 100 years to achieve it but I never give up. (It is also very rarely it needs to be adjusted, once a year-something in this style)
Thank you Bernd, I will do this tomorrow. Iāll send screen shots. I was already leaning towards starting from scratch.
Dale
Hi Bernd
Hearās photos of my mirror shots. The top photo is from the laser head. I pressed an ink pad to get the nozzle
; there is zero adjustment on mirror 3. M1 is a shade down and left. M2 in both near and far hit the same spot but further down and a shade right. M3 again, hit the same spot in all 4 positions but fairly close. The laser head shot is way off. Note the direction of the arrow towards the back of the machine. If you suggest adjusting M3, would I adjust up and right.
I taped the back of the mirror frames to get a better circle. Would thes alignments make cutting 1/4 inch material more difficult? Let me know your thoughts.
Thanks!
Dale
I do not see any photos?
You just have to try again to attach the pictures, it didnāt work the first time
Just sent them
I ādonāt likeā that the mirrors are not the same, but the biggest problem is the nozzle. It is very likely that the laser beam hits the inner cone of the nozzle.
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ā¦try unscrewing the nozzle and repeating that test from M3 towards the bed (with tape in front of the hole)
I did say Iām a rookie, right?
So I started tweaking my mirrors and canā get 1 to 2. Iām adjusting M1 , in near position Iām a little right, I make the adjustment on M1 and get it centered. Then in far position, Iām way left, so I adjust M1 to the right the go back to near and again Iām off to the right. Iām following Omtech article and itās not clear how I bring them in balance. What am I missing?
Got it, I need to get mirrors back in alignment before I can do this. Tomorrow is another day.
Thanks for the hand holding!
Dale
Mirror alignment is the bane of any flying-beam laser owner. Myself included.
Youāll need to learn how to do it anyway, it takes practice. Weāre happy to help as much as we can. Thanks @bernd.dk for all the help here 
I donāt like the look of thisā¦ what do you think?
How large are these mirrors?
Yes, it might look like a not quite fresh tube, but Iād like to see a shot with a little bit more energy before I write off the tube. I also produced similar test shots once ā¦ and still have the same tube.
Try to look at these auxiliary tools, cost almost nothing but is incredibly practical.
I have removed the copper wire cross, I think it works more precise without. A sheet of thick paper or very thin cardboard with targets and the adjustment becomes somewhat easier and it also protects the mirrors.
I also have the version for adjusting the nozzle but I do not use it, āThe test with two-shot distanceā is easier and faster.
ā¦The only picture I have with the targets your result should be a little better 
(If you (or others) would like this Typ Target, I would like to post the file here.)