Hello, new to running a CO2 laser, been a machinist my whole life. I bought a small local laser company out and after moving the machine, a Noua 130watt unit. I Can not seem to be able to get mirrors re-aligned. I can get all three centered and repeating on the near/far test. But I get a ring instead of a clear hole. Laser tube is only 8 months old and have not found any cracks or defects and color looks right when it runs. Been at this for 4 days, thought I had it, but ran a test on a piece of scrap 3/16 birch ply wood. even at 100% power and 7mm feed rate. I only get a medium engraving and not a cut.
Any and all help appreciated. Im kinda at a lose right now.
Rings are not good. Your tube may be out of TEM00 mode. Show a picture of the pattern right out of the laser before mirror 1. Set the power / duration low enough that it scorches, but doesn’t burn through
I think @thelmuth is likely on it. I have a post that tells a bit about this here.
If you’re having the same issue at higher power then it’s likely a tube failing. I’ve heard of people with this new, from a vendor. I also hear people tell me they’ve gotten 8 years or more.. I don’t think you can predict failure of these it seems like a crap shoot.
I’m on tube three, I figured I get about 2 years on each of mine. It is hot in the desert SW and can reach 115F… I think this accelerates failure.
I have to point out that even good tubes at low power settings have a TEM01 or doughnut shape. Many vendors want you to run it at higher power, likely 30%, it should work.
You can lower the pulse time from the console, from continuous to so many milliseconds. Lower it until you get a legible burn mark. But if it’s not cutting well, it’s likely the tube going south.
I had one that went from fine to bad over a three day weekend.
Thanks everyone. So went through and aligned everything again. I tried cutting the circle i created in Lightburn. again 100power 7mm feed. get the same results. Opened a file that was saved on the machine from the previus owner and tried running it. Was set to 75% power and 150mm feed and cut fine. So im guessing it me having something not right in Lightburn and not a laser issue
Actually 7mm/s may below your start speed setting. That will cause it to lase at a low power. Mine was originally set to 20> Changed it to 5 when I had a thick piece of acrylic to cut that required a low speed. It wouldn’t cut through until I reduced the start speed.
