Issues with Laser Master 2

[Gnasher (Lee)]

Hello

First post. I’ve posted in the software section, because I’m not sure if this is software or hardware related.

I’m using Lightburn and an Ortur Laser Master 2 to laser engrave bottle tops:

Most of them are OK. However, I’m getting quite a few (around 15%) which are really inaccurate, and I have to reject them.

One on the left is a good one. The two on the right are not OK.

I’m running it quite slow at 300 mm/second, with a laser output of 30%.

I’m really not sure what to do to improve the accuracy.

Any tips?

[OrturTech (Gil)]

@Gnasher

I’m running it quite slow at 300 mm/second, with a laser output of 30%.

I assume you mean 300mm/min

could it be the cables are getting tangled and shifting your Y axis?

Seems to me a belt/Squareness of your machine.

Did you try to burn a big circle and a square, to test the acuracy of your squareness
say a 300x300 circle, if something wrong in your belts/Squareness, at the end of the circle the ends wont join.

[Gnasher (Lee)]

Sorry, yes.
I meant mm/min.
Cables don’t appear to be tangled in any way.
I can try the 300x300 circle maybe tomorrow.
Most of the really inaccurate ones seem to be on the left side of the machine.
Everything on the right side is OK.

[OrturTech (Gil)]

I would recomend recheking the squareness of the machine

I would unplug, move the Y gantry to the front most position
With an allen key unscrew gently the screw that tightens the syncronization rod
Wiggle it a little back and forward so it settles down, then press it back again the end.
Measure that left side and right side are square to the gantry

Screw again tightly the Syncronization rod. (Recheck others are also tight)

Do a bit square or big circle or both actually and retest for squareness

IF this fails, you might have a left and right side belt tension uneveness

[Gnasher (Lee)]

Thanks.
I will try this tomorrow.

[Gnasher (Lee)]

Hello

I just tried your suggestion with the synchronisation rod.

The problem still persists.

Have a look at the following test pattern.

When the laser was burning the bottom left square, I observed the controller “jump” upwards slightly.

I have indicated the position where I notice it “jump” with the red arrow.
Notice how the corner of the square (bottom left) does not meet.

What do I do next?

Thanks!

[OrturTech (Gil)]

This seems to show what i suspected
Also the lines dont seem 100% straight
So you might have an uneven tension between left and right side of the machine belts

Do this - not so scientific - but the best way i have to test tension

Unplug machine from the USB and pwoer
Hold the front of the machine and lift it so its at a 45º Angle
The gantry should move smoothly without being touched to the back
LIft the back, and repeat

Then do the same test lifting Left side, and right side

The motion of the machine gantrys should be smooth, and rerquire no assistance what so ever
Newton laws of gravity are the key to help us define tension here.
If you notice any binding, pauses. then you need to readjust the tensions, untill the machine moves smootly

Also. do your gantry rollers have excentric nuts or just nylon spacers?

Regards

[Gnasher (Lee)]

OK. I will try what you have suggested now.

Not sure about the gantry rollers, this is a photo:

Another question before I run the test - should the plastic mount for the limit switch move?
It is quite wobbly. Tightening the screws has no effect - they don’t tighten.
Image below:

[OrturTech (Gil)]

The encentrick nuts should be located behind the wheel

Unfortunatly i cant see in your image, but not all production series have them.

Regarding the limit swithc it can move slightly but shouldnt be a problem for the situation.

[Gnasher (Lee)]

The nuts look like they are made of nylon.

I have re-tensioned the Y belts.

Seems to have solved the issue.
Running more tests but currently looking good.

[Gnasher (Lee)]

Issue is now fixed.
Adjusting the tension on the Y belts has fixed the problem.
Many thanks.

[Cloud-Ninja (Frank Bormann)]

Had the same issue before, after fasten the belt it runs fine.

While testing the first letters are not in one line, fasten the belt and it was fixed
Many thx