4-0 Optical Path Inspection

Double-sided tape and Phillips screwdriver (for Beambox Series).

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Step 1 - Learn to Make a Pulse

1. Turn on the machine.
2. Close the lid.
3. Enter Maintain mode and wait til the homing process is done.
4. Find the Pulse button.
5. One press = one pulse, two presses = two pulses, and so on.

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Step 2 - Open the Back Cover

Use the Phillips screwdriver to unscrew the screw above the fan at the back of the machine, and the back cover can be opened afterward.

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Step 3 - Learn the Locations

• Please get familiar with the locations:
• First reflective mirror
• Second reflective mirror
• Third reflective mirror
• 7 locations of the bed that the laser head will be moved to during the checking.

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Step 4 - Clean All the Mirrors and Focus Lenses

Please follow the instructions at the link below to clean all the mirrors and lenses.
Beambox: Mirrors and Lens Cleaning

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Step 5 - Check the laser dot on the 1st mirror

This step is to check if the laser tube and the machine are in good condition.

Step overview:

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Step 6-1 - Putting Tape and Make Pulses

Put a two-layer double-sided tape on the 1st mirror, close the back cover, and make five pulses.

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Step 6-2 - Check the shape of the dot on the tape

The shape is good to be as round as possible, and the first piece of double-sided tape in front should be burnt though.

Good example:


Bad example:

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Step 6-3 - Collect the 1st Mirror Tape

Put the 1st mirror tape on a piece of paper. Write down the position and the number of pulses as in the photo below.

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Step 6-4 - Troubleshooting & Reporting

If your dot is not round, not strong, or similar to the bad examples above, raise the power rate to x2.0 and see if it improves:

• If the dot becomes stronger, it indicates the laser tube might have declined, you can still finish the process with an increased power rate, or you can contact your local reseller stating that the tube might have declined.
  
  
• If the dot doesn't become stronger or it still has a strange shape, contact your local reseller for further assistance.
  (Please share the photo of your pulse result on the 1st mirror with your reseller.)

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Step 7 - Check the Path From the 1st to the 2nd mirror

This step is to check if the path is aligned from the 1st mirror to the 2nd mirror.
Step overview:

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Step 7-1 - Create the First Dot for the Top-left Position

Place a two-layer tape on the 2nd mirror and move the head to the top left corner.
Make three pulses to create the first dot.

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Step 7-2 - Create the Second Dot for Bottom-left Position

Keep the same tape on the 2nd mirror and move the head to the bottom left corner.
Make 3 pulses to create the second dot.

If there is no dot at the bottom-left position, it indicates that the path is misaligned dramatically.
Please refer to the link for realigning the optical path. [Optical Path Alignment] 

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Step 7-3 - Check to see if the first and the second dots overlap

If your dots overlap perfectly, as in the photo below, it indicates the path is aligned properly.

If they don't overlap, as in the bad examples below, it indicates that from the 1st mirror to the 2nd mirror, the optical path is misaligned, and the 1st mirror has to be adjusted.
Please refer to the link for realigning the optical path. [4-8 Optical Path Alignment] 

Good example:

 

Bad example:

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Step 7-4 - Collect the 2nd Mirror Tape

Put the 2nd mirror tape on the paper. Write down the position and the number of pulses as in the photo below.

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Step 8 - Check the Path From the 2nd to the 3rd mirror
This step is to check if the path is aligned from the 2nd mirror to the 3rd mirror.
Step overview:

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Step 8-1 - Create the First Dot for the Middle-left Position

Place a two-layer tape on the 3rd mirror and move the head to the middle-left position.
Make 3 pulses to create the first dot.

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Step 8-2 - Create the Second Dot for the Middle-right Position

Keep the same tape on the 3rd mirror and move the head to the middle-right position.
Make 3 pulses to create the second dot.

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Step 8-3 - Check to see if the first and the second dots overlap

If your dots overlap perfectly, as in the photo below, it indicates the path is aligned properly.
You can move to Step 8-5.

If they don't overlap, it indicates that from the 2nd mirror to the 3rd mirror, the optical path is misaligned, and the 2nd mirror has to be adjusted.
Please refer to the link for realigning the optical path. [4-8 Optical Path Alignment] 

Good example:

Bad example:

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Step 8-4 - Collect the 3rd Mirror Tape
Remove the tape from the 3rd mirror and put it on the paper.
Write down the position and the number of pulses as in the photo below.

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Step 9 - Check the Path From the 3rd mirror to the Nozzle tip

There will be two locations to check.

The first one is the center of the bed - Step overview:

The other is the bottom-right corner of the bed - Step overview:

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Step 9-1 - Check the Z-axis Path at the Center of the Bed

Place a one-layer tape on the nozzle tip and move the laser head to the center of the bed, then make one pulse.

Remove the tape and check if the dot is round.
Good example:


Bad examples:

If your dot is not round, refer to the link to realign the optical path from the 3rd mirror to the bed (Z-axis), which is not vertical enough.

If you don't find any dots on the tape, please refer to the instructions for advanced adjustment. 

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Step 9-2 - Collect the Center Nozzle Tip Tape

Put the tape on the paper.
Write down the position and the number of pulses as in the photo below.

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Step 9-3 - Check the Z-axis Path at the Bottom-right Corner of the Bed

Place a one-layer tape on the nozzle tip and move the laser head to the bottom-right corner of the bed, then make one pulse.



Remove the tape and check if the dot is round.
(The corner dot is normal to be smaller than the center dot. Please refer to the examples below.)
Good example:


Acceptable examples:




Bad examples:

 

- If your dot is not round, refer to the link below to realign the optical path from the 3rd mirror to the bed (Z-axis), which is not vertical enough.
[4-8 Optical Path Alignment] 

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Step 9-4 - Collect the Bottom-right Nozzle Tip Tape
Put the tape on the paper.
Write down the position and the number of pulses as in the photo below.

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Step 10 - Reporting (Optional)

The collected tape can be shared with your local reseller if you are having a problem with your machine.
The optical path is a key that will affect the result of engraving and cutting.

Please take a photo of the collected tapes and a clear photo of the nozzle tip tapes as in the examples below:

Photo #1:

Photo #2:

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#END