Got a k40 last week and my smoothieware board today. Got everything working in Lightburn. As I’m new to this type of laser (diode and fiber in the past) I made a test pattern of a grid on some plywood. Set at 50% power and 20mm/second (my test images all seemed fine at that power). The grid is strong in the top left corner and then fades as it gets away from the origin, after the middle it’s almost non existent. I have googled to try and see if this is normal. Is this an alignment problem? I did not do this test before the upgrade of the board, but my k40whisper test pattern in the center of the top seemed to burn fine, although that may be a power setting item
Sounds like an alignment problem.
If you tube is working, alignment is correct and it’s focused properly, they work. Your issue sounds as if it is not properly aligned.
Have you checked that?
Have not yet. It was getting late and I did not want to mess with alignment without researching further. I figured I’d ask here in the interim in case it is something trivial.
Don’t be scared to do an alignment. Getting a ‘tune up’ for your car makes a world of difference, same with your laser.
I like Russ Sadler videos, he has this one on alignment that is great for a great basis. Unfortunately they seemed to have moved it…
Good luck