I bought a new-to-me laser, an Omtech 50w CO2, Ruida controller, using Windows 10, and Lightburn is updated. I am making some trail markers, which I have done many many times on my Chinese K40 with no problems, but I have these artifacts surrounding my engraving on the new laser. At first I thought it was splatter, but under magnification, I realize it might be errant laser fires. My settings are 425mm/sec @ 15% power, 325LPI. Has anyone seen this?
You can try backing off the power but it’s the laser power supply lasing when it’s not supposed to.
@ednisley caught this on his scope where the signals say don’t lase, but it lases anyway.
Ask OMTech for a new lps…
Have you tried to back off the power? Seems like you could use a scanning adjustment also.
I’ll run a lower power sample now. I’m getting that suggestion a lot on Facebook too. Interesting to see someone actually caught this on a scope! That makes me seriously suspect the power supply.
FTR, I always run at least one material test. Usually two, a coarse test, then a fine test. This was the power settings that were as a result, but I also understand that sometimes the settings require adjustment when it isn’t burning simple squares.
Good call on the scan adjustment… still dialing in.
Thusly:
The discussions in that thread are informative.
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OK, I lowered the power to 12%. Almost flawless! I would have never thought power was the problem. Actually it has more crisp edges to the engraving as well. Goes to show we always have something to learn. Even after making thousands of these things!
I will still look through the previous post regarding the errant lases. As there is still potential that it is still firing errantly, but just at a power which is too low to create plasma or affect the plastic material.
Since this is fixed, how do I mark the solution?
That’s pretty much what’s going on, as the picture still seems to show a few errant spots. Unless you’re looking closely, you’ll never see them, so it’s likely Good Enough™.
For whatever reason, the Community Laser Talk category doesn’t have “solutions”. One of the mods can yoink the thread into a hardware-related category, then we can solve it. 
Thanks! You both have been very helpful. I’m so glad I joined this forum.
My main job is in government, so Good Enough is the name of the game!
Mods, yoink away!
