5-5 Material cannot be cut through

When materials cannot be cut through, there are many possibilities that may cause the issue such as focus distance being incorrect, the optical path being misaligned, laser tube decline...etc.
However, based on our experience, it is USUALLY caused by the optical path being misaligned.

Please follow the steps below to determine what causes the issue.

Preparation Items:

The necessary tools will be mentioned in each step as some steps might be skipped. 

Step 1 - Clean all the mirrors and the focus lens

Dirty mirrors and a focus lens will cause the laser output to be weaker. 

• Please follow the instructions in the link below to clean all the mirrors and lenses.
  4-6 Mirrors and Lens Cleaning

Step 1.1 - Make sure the parameters are correctly set

Sometimes, people forget to change the parameters on the panel or in Beam Studio.

• Beam Studio:
  
  
  
• Panel:
  
  
  

Step 1.2 - Check the focus distance

An incorrect focus distance will affect the cutting or engraving results to be unacceptable.

• Please refer to the article below to check your focus distance and readjust it if necessary.
  [5-26 Focus Distance Adjustment]
  

Step 1.3 - Check the optical path

Based on our experience, when materials cannot be cut through, it is USUALLY caused by the optical path being misaligned.

• Please carefully follow the instructions in the link below and realign the optical path if necessary.
  [4-7 Optical Path Inspection (HEXA & Beambox available)]
  
  
• Please keep the collection of tapes after finishing the inspection.
  

Step 1.4 - Run the same task

• Run the same task with the same material and see if it can now be cut.
  
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

Step 1.5 - Testing material preparation

In order to do further testing, please prepare either one of these two materials as listed below.

• 3mm transparent acrylic (Recommended)
  or
  3mm MDF wood 

Step 2 - Center Cutting Test

We are going to test the cutting ability in the center of the bed.

• Place the prepared material (3mm acrylic or wood) in the center of the bed and make sure to focus.
  
  
• Cut the example file in Beam Studio.
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

Determine your result and the next action to take:

Step 3 - Bottom-right cutting test

In this step, we are going to test the cutting ability in the bottom-right area of the bed.

• Place the prepared material (3mm acrylic or wood) in the bottom right area of the bed and make sure to focus.
  
  
  
• Cut the example file in Beam Studio.
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

Step 3.1 - Bottom Right Decay Compensate

This function is designed to enhance the stability of cutting across the entire bed.

• Please enable the function, Bottom Right Decay Compensate which will improve the cutting result in the bottom right area of the bed.
  Refer to the link: [5-27 Bottom Right Decay Compensate (HEXA Function)]
  
  
• After enabling, please cut the same file in the bottom-right area again as in Step 3.
  
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

Step 4 - Door sensor test

If a door sensor is not sensitive or the magnets are not strong enough to fully trigger the door sensor, the laser output will be affected to be weaker. In this step, we will use two cone spacers to put on the sensors of the door to make sure the sensors are fully triggered.

• For safety reasons, please set the power rate to x0.01 to ensure no pulses during your testing.

  
  
  

• The door sensor is embedded in the chassis LED lights. Please see the video below to find it.

  
  
  
• The door sensor will have two LED lights in red and they will be always ON.
  
  
  
  
• Place the cone spacers close to both LED lights. The light should be "brighter" when it detects a magnet. When both LEDs detect magnets at the same time, a door-closed signal will be delivered to the system and the icon on the panel will be changed.
  
  
  
  
• Once you have put the cone spacers in place, please close the door.
  
  
  
• Change the power rate setting back to x1.00.
  
  
  
• Run the same task and see how it goes.
  • If it failed in the center last time, re-test the center.
  • If it failed at the bottom-right area last time, re-test the bottom-right area.
    
    
• After running the task, turn off the machine and remove the cone spacers.
  

Determine your result and the next action to take:

Step 5 - Check the power curve value 

The laser output may be affected by the setting of the power curve.

•  Please refer to the link below to set the power curve to 350.
  (The low/left value does not have to be changed.)
  5-28 Power Curve Adjustment
  
  
• Skip this step to Step 6 if the high/right value is already 350.
  
  
• Run the same task and see how it goes.
  • If it failed in the center last time, re-test the center.
  • If it failed at the bottom-right area last time, re-test the bottom-right area.

Determine your result and the next action to take:

Step 6 - Increase the power rate and lower the speed

In order to narrow down the issue, we are going to check if raising the power rate and lowering the speed can improve the cutting result.

• Beam Studio:
  

• Raise the default power rate by 20%.
  (If the default is 15%, then 15% + 20% = 35% will be set)
  
  
• Lower the default speed by half.
  (If the default is 300mm/s, then 300mm/s *0.5 = 150mm/s will be set)
  
  
• Run the same task and see how it goes.
  • If it failed in the center last time, re-test the center.
  • If it failed at the bottom-right area last time, re-test the bottom-right area.

Determine your result and the next action to take: