5-6 Optical Path Adjustment – FLUX Help Center

If the workpiece cannot be cut through by the preset parameters or the beam output varies significantly on each corner of the work area, the optical path might be misaligned and needs adjustment.

Tools

Accesory Kit: small wrench, tape

Prepare On Your Own: 2.5mm Allen key, Phillips screwdriver

Safety Precautions

Keep the lid shut when pressing "Laser Pulse".
If you hear a loud cracking sound, stop operating and shut down the power immediately. Contact FLUX Support.
Remove the screw on the handle of the back lid.

There are three sets of reflecting mirrors and one set of focusing lenses in Beambox.

First reflecting mirror is located on the left side of the laser tube when facing the machine.
Second reflecting mirror is located on the carriage of the guiding rod on the left side when facing the machine.
Third reflecting mirror is located on the rail of the X-axis.
Focusing lens is located inside the lens holder underneath the third mirror.
Since threadlocker is applied on the nuts of the first and second mirrors, a small amount of 75% ~ 99% alcohol is suggested to be dripped on the nuts before loosening them.

First Reflecting Mirror

Goal: Make the 2 dots shot from the top-left and the bottom-left overlap.
1. Go to touchscreen > Maintain, the laser head will go back to home position. Then press "Release Motors".
2. Put a piece of tape over the second reflecting mirror.
3. Move the laser head to the top-left position manually. Close the lid and press "Laser Pulse".
4. Open the door and check the position of the dot. This dot is the reference point for adjustment. The shots made on other positions should be adjusted to move toward the reference point.
5. Manually move the laser head to the bottom-left.
6. Close the lid and press "Laser Pulse".
7. Open the door and check if the second beam is overlapping with the first one. If not, adjust the screws behind the first mirror.
  
  If the dot shot from the bottom left corner is not found on the tape, it means the optical path is very much misaligned. Try the mid-left position instead of the bottom-left position. Make sure the dots of the top-left and the middle-left overlaps, then go back to the original top-left and bottom-left adjustment.
8. The screws behind the first mirror control the mirror angle shown in the picture below. Release the nut on the screw, rotate the screw for the desired direction and test the dot position until the two dot overlaps. Tighten the nut slightly back to its position when the adjustment is done.
  
  Adjustment guide for the screws of the mirror:
  
  Shots made on the reference point (top-left in this case) rarely move when adjusting the screws. So try to adjust the shot on the adjustable point (bottom-left in this case) by the screws and move the point toward the reference point until they overlap.
  
  Second Reflecting Mirror
  
  Goal: Make the 2 dots shot from the middle-left and the middle-right overlap.
  
  Put a piece of tape on the metal ring of the third mirror.
  
  Move the laser head to the mid-left position manually. Close the lid and press "Laser Pulse".
  
  Open the door and check the position of the dot. This dot is the reference point for adjustment. The shots made on other positions should be adjusted to move toward the reference point.
  
  Move the laser head to the middle-right position manually. Close the lid and press "Laser Pulse".
  
  Open the lid and check if the second dot overlaps with the first one. If not, adjust the screws behind the second mirror.
  
  If the dot shot from the middle-right corner is not found on the tape, it means the optical path is very much misaligned. Try the middle-middle position instead
  of the middle-right position. Make sure the shots of the middle-left and the middle-middle overlaps then go back to the original middle-left and middle-right adjustment.

The screws behind the second mirror control the mirror angle shown in the picture below. Release the nut on the screw, rotate the screw for the desired direction and test the shot position until the two shots overlap. Tighten the nut slightly back to its position when the adjustment is done.
___2020-02-03___3.51.48.png Laser Head Displacement Adjustment

Goal: The dot on the metal ring be on the vertical centerline of the ring. The dot must be above the center point of the ring.

Move the laser head to the center of the work area. Close the door and press "Laser Pulse".
Check if the dot landed on the vertical centerline of the ring. If yes, skip to Step 6.
Release the 4 hex socket head screws with a 2.5mm Allen key.
Move the laser head forward or backward related to the rail. Then tighten the 4 screws back.
Press "Laser Pulse" and check if the dot landed on the vertical centerline of the ring. If not, repeat Step 3 and 4.
Check if the dot overlaps or is above the horizontal centerline of the ring. If yes, move on to "Third Mirror Adjustment".
If the dot is below the centerline, adjust the screws of the laser tube holder. Release the holder on the laser beam outlet side and tighten the other side.
Check if the dot overlaps or lands above the centerline. The first and second mirrors might require readjustments if the position of the laser tube holder is widely adjusted.
Third Reflecting Mirror

Goal: Dot is made at the center of the laser beam outlet.
1. Lower the honeycomb plate to make room for adjustments.
2. Place a piece of tape on the laser head outlet. Apply pressure to the tape by hand so a circular mark can be seen.
3. Move the laser head to the center of the work area manually. Close the door and press "Laser Pulse".
4. Open the door and check if the dot is located near the center of the circle. If not, the screws behind the third mirror need to be adjusted.
5. The screws behind the third mirror control the mirror angle which is shown in the picture below. Release the nuts on the screws, rotate the screws for the desired direction until the two dots overlap. Tighten the nut slightly back to its position when the adjustment is done.

The power of the laser can now be distributed evenly to any spot of the work area after the adjustments above. The performance should meet the needs of regular operations. Make sure you run "Camera Calibration" again after the optical adjustment. If the verticality of the optical path is required in specific applications, then steps below can be carried out for advanced adjustments.

Verticality of the Optical Path (Advanced)

Goal: Both dots on the lens holder and the laser beam outlet be in the center of the circle.

Move the laser head to the center of the work area manually. Place a piece of tape on the metal ring in front of the third reflecting mirror.
Close the door and press "Laser Pulse".
Open the door and measure the distance between the center of the dot and the center of the ring. Let the distance be X.
Release three nuts behind the third mirror. Rotate the three screw equally so the mirror can move forward or backward in a parallel direction. Make the gap between the metal pieces be X mm.
Release the lens holder ring by rotating clockwise and lowering the lens holder to the mid-height. Fasten the holder by rotating the ring counterclockwise.
Place a piece of tape to the beam outlet.
Refer to the steps of "Third Reflecting Mirror" and readjust the screws behind the third mirror so the dot lands on the center of the circle.
Release and remove the whole lens holder. Place a piece of tape on the location shown in the picture below. Apply pressure to make a circular mark on the tape.
Close the door and press "Laser Pulse". Open the door and check the dot. There are three scenarios:
- The shot is in the center of the circle. Indicating
  
  the optical path is already vertical.
- The dot is on the right side of the circle. Indicating
  
  the optical path has an angle which comes from the top-right and exit to the bottom-left. Release each screw counter-clockwise half-round to decrease the gap distance between the metal pieces. Redo Step 5 - 9.
- The dot is on the left side of the circle. Indicating the optical path has an angle that comes from the top-left and exit to the bottom-right. Tighten each screw clockwise half-round to increase the gap distance between the metal pieces. Redo Step 5 - 9.
  
  Make sure you run "Camera Calibration" again after the adjustment is done.

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