Ok, I’m getting to a point where I’m about to throw this thing at a wall.
I’m having issues with engrave consistency. Based on the pictures below, I’m pretty sure I’ve got an issue with losing steps. However, I’ve tightened all bolts and belts. I’ve loosened belts, retightened them, removed and cleaned the belts & rails. And now I’m at wits end.
Looking at the uploaded picture, based on my still limited understanding of Laser Engraver issues, it appears I’m losing steps.
Should I just replace all of my belts at this stage? Or is there a Lightburn setting I’m missing?
Minus the material test, the Coasters were engraved at 500/100%
I’m pretty sure there’s a firmware update available and I COULD try that, but based on the first Z1 I had last month, I’m legit worried I’ll brick it if I do the update.
I had to go through my diode laser at least 3 times before I found loose set screws on one of the motor pulleys. Check again. This guide should help. It’s written for a sculpfun, but parts are similar among gantry type machines.
Scale this file to fit your laser bed and run it on cardboard at high speed with optomizations turned off and just enough power to get a nice mark on the cardboard. If the engraving doesn’t match the file, you have mechanical issues. Keep working at finding them until it runs correctly. Upload a pic of the results here so we can look over your shoulder. BacklashTest.lbrn2 (68.8 KB)
Yes. Exactly. I didn’t remember that thread was you. You should run it again without distorting the design and also with more power so it’s easier to see in pictures.
Yes, scale evenly so that round objects are round, etc. Like I responded in the other thread that your circles weren’t round, but it was because you didn’t scale evenly. Make sure you turn off optomizations as well, that can mask problems.
You definitely have some slop in your X axis. Mine was very similar and the problem was the pulley on the X motor. The set screws were loose allowing the shaft to slip sometimes, but not always. I recommend you loosen the set screws, ensure that one of them is on a flat part of the motor shaft (if it has a flat spot) and tighten them up very well. Then run the test again.
No worries, it’s better to ask, than pretend you know but don’t. Some refer to them as grub screws as well, so if you see that term, it’s the same thing.
A set screw is the screw that holds the pulley onto the shaft of the motor. Most likely it requires a small allen wrench. Here’s a generic picture of a pulley. The set screws thread into the amall holes. They might be as shown in the picture or could be in the grooves.
Best pic I could get. Tightened the screws and adjusted my belts. You’ll have to zoom in to see. Something about Pizza Box cardboard doesn’t show up well
I think the <> axis (X?) might be too lose from a belt standpoint.
I wish I had a good answer for you there. I have struggled with that as well. The best advice I can give is to do a tilt test. Raise one side to about 45* and the gantry / laser head should slowly move to the bottom. If it doesn’t move at all, it’s too tight, if it zooms, it’s too loose. Check in all 4 directions.
Before you get too frustrated and unable to see straight, turn everything off. Unplug all the cables on both ends. Go have a glass of water. Come back and plug everything in and turn it on.
