60W Laser update

[Tom Gralewicz]

New warnings:

Don't reset the Z axis, the sensor that detects the Z table hitting bottom doesn't work.

Don't power up the machine with the air pump/assist turned on - it causes the laser to time out after 5V.

New procedures:

To use the air assist:

    Attach the nozzle, there is a black screw on the right side of the laser head that acts as the set screw to hold the nozzle in, FINGER TIGHT ONLY!

    Power up the laser and wait for it to go through its start up sequence.

    Before you start cutting your project turn on the air pump

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Tom Gralewicz
Miller Electronics Recycling
(414) 380-1716
www.deadcomputers.com

[Dennis]

To add to Tom's warnings:

-  Do NOT operate the laser with the cone-shaped nozzle attached if you are NOT using air assist!  This will heat up and destroy the lens within a few minutes.

- Treat the lens like the lint trap in a dryer.  Clean it before each use.  There is a log sheet on the front of the laser to log each time it is cleaned.  

When I went to clean it last night, it was half-obscured by caked-on gunk, and there was already a burn spot in the center of the lens.  Tom had cleaned it last Tuesday night, and according to the log no one had cleaned it since.  So we know a week is far too long to go without cleaning.  Until we know how long it takes to get dirty, the rule should be: clean early and often.

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Dennis

[Dennis]

More information on the air assist:

- The air assist pump is plugged into the power strip on top of the laser cutter.  Use the switch on the power strip to turn it on and off.

- If you attempt to do an operation (other than cutting) and the laser cutter seems to freeze, it is probably because it is not sensing sufficient air pressure from the pump.  The pump we are using is undersized, so if the laser cutter senses air but does not sense ENOUGH air, it will not operate.  This does not appear to occur during cutting, but during other operations, like moving the Z axis or initializing/resetting.  After 5 minutes or so, the laser cutter will time out and display an error message about air pressure.  So if the laser cutter seems to not be responding to front panel buttons (other than START), try turning off the air assist.  You may have to power cycle the laser cutter as well to get it out of this state.  Turn the air assist back on just before you hit the START button to do a cut.

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Dennis

[Jerry [HM]]

If anyone is planning on doing an order from Mouser any time soon.. please post to the list.

 

I’d like to get a couple micro SD sockets they carry there.

 

Thanks. J

 

-Jerry