Laser cutting suddenly became very erratic

[Karrion (James Vale)]

Hi guys. Im pretty desperate so please forgive me if this question is in the wrong place…

I recently purchased a 2nd OMTech 60W laser after having good results from my current 60W laser.
Both lasers are connected to the same laptop via USB
Since connecting the new laser my exisiting laser has gone from being a reliable workhorse to all over the place in a matter of days!

Im using the exact same 3mm poplar material I always use, using the exact same cut files I have been using for months with the exact same settings, but now I have to increase the power and drop the speed to get the same performance and even then the cuts are horribly inconsistent. It may cut a shape perfectly fine, then cut the exact same object not 5mm from the good cut and the laser fails to penetrate!

I purchased a new lens
I checked the mirrors, they are fine,
I would expect the tube to degrade over time, not in a matter of days/hours and I wouldnt expect such inconsistency.

Do you think some machine settings could have changed, or does anyone know any settings I can try to bring my old machine back to its usual consistent self?

[ednisley]

@Karrion

• purchased a 2nd OMTech 60W laser
• Both lasers are connected to the same laptop via USB

Before doing anything else, ditch the USB and use the Ethernet connection. USB connections produce a wide variety of baffling problems, all of which Go Away™ with an Ethernet connection.

You can connect both lasers to your LAN or with a dedicated switch directly to the laptop.

In either case, the lasers will need separate IP addresses within the same subnet as the laptop.

Connecting to the LAN will require setting up the router (presumably you have a LAN for internet access) so that it cannot assign addresses to devices atop the laser IPs. How you do that depends on the routers, but previous discussions may help:

Hello fellow laser wizards

HELLO, I have a tech problem. My Omtech AF2028 stopped communicating via ethernet. I replaced the cable and still having message, Data not transferred, controller busy or paused. checked IP Adress and replace cable USB connection works fine my modem and hub is fine suggestions are seriously appreciated Bob

Losing position at end of job

I’ve just spent a long time upgrading an old machine to a Ruida controller + lightburn. Almost everything now seems to be working, happy days. One thing that is occurring which I cannot seem to resolve is that during complex jobs there often seems to come a point where the controller seems to lose position. A good example of this is a recent cut I did where in one layer in light burn I have a circle with leaves and vines and chains, etc some complex geometry. All gets cut quite well. In the nex…

That will most likely clear everything up.

Do not change any settings at random, because that’s very unlikely to solve the problem.

Do save a backup of the current machine settings, because you will eventually need them:

Machine Settings - LightBurn Documentation

[Karrion (James Vale)]

Done… Both lasers are now on Ethernet… Made absolutely no difference. They are now both as bad as each other. I used to be able to cut 3mm MDF t 15mm/s @ 35% Im now having to run 12mm/s @ 80%

Does anyone have a Rudia Machine settings file I can use? Maybe I can upload the settings from a known good config and try again.?

[ednisley]

@Karrion

Made absolutely no difference

Well, if it’s any consolation, you’ve forestalled a whole bunch of future problems.

@Karrion

a Rudia Machine settings file

For the record, which Ruida controller does your machine have? My 60 W OMTech has a KT332N, should it come to that.

However, before you shoot yourself in both feet simultaneously, let’s do a little more analysis.

@Karrion

They are now both as bad as each other

Did you set up separate LightBurn Device entries for the two machines? I think you must have, because they have different IP addresses.

For each machine, upload screenshots of the Edit → Machine Settings → Vendor Settings for the X and Y axes, so we can see the current values and look for oddities.

[Karrion (James Vale)]

OK I managed to get back to where I was before… The old laser is now running better than ever after a restore of the machine settings, a full deep mirror clean and a re-alignment…

Did the same for the new one so both are running identical settings and its gutless. Cant even cut the OMTECH material test card at 10mm/s 40% on MDF…

Im now convinced this is either a power supply or tube issue. However, I will still post my machine settings in case you guys notice anything out of the ordinary.

{
    "Name": "Ruida",
    "Settings": [
        {
            "Desc": "Idle speed (mm/s)",
            "ID": "0x5",
            "Value": 200
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Idle acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x20a",
            "Value": 1500
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Idle delay (ms)",
            "ID": "0x203",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Start speed (mm/s)",
            "ID": "0x201",
            "Value": 5
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Min acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x209",
            "Value": 100
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x202",
            "Value": 100
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Accel factor % (0 to 200)",
            "ID": "0x21a",
            "Value": 50
        },
        {
            "Desc": "G0 accel factor % (0 to 200)",
            "ID": "0x21c",
            "Value": 70
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Speed factor % (0 to 200)",
            "ID": "0x21b",
            "Value": 30
        },
        {
            "Desc": "X start speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x224",
            "Value": 40
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Y start speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x234",
            "Value": 20
        },
        {
            "Desc": "X acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x225",
            "Value": 2000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Y acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x235",
            "Value": 2000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Line shift speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0xe",
            "Value": 50
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Facula Size (50 - 99%)",
            "ID": "0xb",
            "Value": 98
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Engraving factor % (0 to 100)",
            "ID": "0x237",
            "Value": 100
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable Rotary",
            "ID": "0x2260001",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Pulses per rotation",
            "ID": "0x21f",
            "Value": 10000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Diameter",
            "ID": "0x221",
            "Value": 100
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Focus Distance",
            "ID": "0x20e",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "X Axis Backlash (mm)",
            "ID": "0x2b",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Y Axis Backlash (mm)",
            "ID": "0x3b",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable wireless panel speed shift",
            "ID": "0x2260004",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Wireless panel speed fast (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x231",
            "Value": 200
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Wireless panel speed slow (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x232",
            "Value": 50
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Engraving Mode",
            "ID": "0x100400",
            "Value": "Common Mode"
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Return Position",
            "ID": "0x200",
            "Value": "Origin"
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Homing Speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0xc",
            "Value": 80
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 1 Output Signal",
            "ID": "0x40200",
            "Value": "Low"
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 2 Output Signal",
            "ID": "0x40400",
            "Value": "Low"
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Water Protect Enable, Laser 1",
            "ID": "0x40020",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Water Protect Enable, Laser 2",
            "ID": "0x40040",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable air-assist output",
            "ID": "0x40002",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable door open protect",
            "ID": "0x40001",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable Homing",
            "ID": "0x200008",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limit Trigger",
            "ID": "0x200006",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Invert Keypad Direction",
            "ID": "0x200005",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "PWM Rising Edge Valid",
            "ID": "0x200004",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limiter Polarity",
            "ID": "0x200003",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Direction Polarity",
            "ID": "0x200002",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Step length (um)",
            "ID": "0x21",
            "Value": 11.98642
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x23",
            "Value": 500
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Jumpoff speed (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x24",
            "Value": 40
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x25",
            "Value": 2000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max travel (mm)",
            "ID": "0x26",
            "Value": 600
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad jumpoff speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x27",
            "Value": 15
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x28",
            "Value": 2000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "E-Stop acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x29",
            "Value": 30000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Home offset (mm)",
            "ID": "0x2a",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable Homing",
            "ID": "0x300008",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limit Trigger",
            "ID": "0x300006",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Invert Keypad Direction",
            "ID": "0x300005",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "PWM Rising Edge Valid",
            "ID": "0x300004",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limiter Polarity",
            "ID": "0x300003",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Direction Polarity",
            "ID": "0x300002",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Step length (um)",
            "ID": "0x31",
            "Value": 11.98642
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x33",
            "Value": 300
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Jumpoff speed (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x34",
            "Value": 20
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x35",
            "Value": 2000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max travel (mm)",
            "ID": "0x36",
            "Value": 400
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad jumpoff speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x37",
            "Value": 15
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x38",
            "Value": 2000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "E-Stop acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x39",
            "Value": 10000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Home offset (mm)",
            "ID": "0x3a",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable Homing",
            "ID": "0x400008",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limit Trigger",
            "ID": "0x400006",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Invert Keypad Direction",
            "ID": "0x400005",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "PWM Rising Edge Valid",
            "ID": "0x400004",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limiter Polarity",
            "ID": "0x400003",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Direction Polarity",
            "ID": "0x400002",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Step length (um)",
            "ID": "0x41",
            "Value": 3.75
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x43",
            "Value": 500
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Jumpoff speed (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x44",
            "Value": 10
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x45",
            "Value": 5000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max travel (mm)",
            "ID": "0x46",
            "Value": 380
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad jumpoff speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x47",
            "Value": 10
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x48",
            "Value": 5000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "E-Stop acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x49",
            "Value": 10000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Home offset (mm)",
            "ID": "0x4a",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Enable Homing",
            "ID": "0x500008",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limit Trigger",
            "ID": "0x500006",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Invert Keypad Direction",
            "ID": "0x500005",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "PWM Rising Edge Valid",
            "ID": "0x500004",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Limiter Polarity",
            "ID": "0x500003",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Direction Polarity",
            "ID": "0x500002",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Step length (um)",
            "ID": "0x51",
            "Value": 3.75
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x53",
            "Value": 300
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Jumpoff speed (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x54",
            "Value": 10
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x55",
            "Value": 1000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Max travel (mm)",
            "ID": "0x56",
            "Value": 2
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad jumpoff speed (mm/sec)",
            "ID": "0x57",
            "Value": 10
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Keypad acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x58",
            "Value": 1000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "E-Stop acceleration (mm/s^2)",
            "ID": "0x59",
            "Value": 1000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Home offset (mm)",
            "ID": "0x5a",
            "Value": 0
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Tube Type",
            "ID": "0x100003",
            "Value": "Glass Tube"
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Multi-Tube Enable",
            "ID": "0x108000",
            "Value": false
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 1 Enabled",
            "ID": "0x102000",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 2 Enabled",
            "ID": "0x104000",
            "Value": true
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 1 minimum power (%)",
            "ID": "0x12",
            "Value": 1
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 1 maximum power (%)",
            "ID": "0x13",
            "Value": 98
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 1 frequency (hz)",
            "ID": "0x11",
            "Value": 20000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 1 pre-ignition frequency (hz)",
            "ID": "0x1a",
            "Value": 5000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 1 pre-ignition percent (%)",
            "ID": "0x1b",
            "Value": 1
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 2 minimum power (%)",
            "ID": "0x18",
            "Value": 1
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 2 maximum power (%)",
            "ID": "0x19",
            "Value": 98
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 2 frequency (hz)",
            "ID": "0x17",
            "Value": 20000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 2 pre-ignition frequency (hz)",
            "ID": "0x1c",
            "Value": 5000
        },
        {
            "Desc": "Laser 2 pre-ignition percent (%)",
            "ID": "0x1d",
            "Value": 1
        }
    ]
}

[ednisley]

@Karrion

either a power supply or tube issue

It would not be the first time a new machine arrived with problems, so check all the usual suspects.

The fact that the old machine improved with a mirror cleaning & alignment suggests the new machine would benefit from similar treatment.