dot test

[Marty Nilson]

I received a new lousy co2 laser from China last month.

This dot test is done with the compound lens and lightweight head.

Besides the dots not being small enough, which is due to the PSU I assume, I do not understand why they are lined up this badly. Is that also due to PSU or can there be other explanations?

Also this was done at 40 mm/s at 11% which is the best possible setting I have found.

Even vector drawings with a 1.5" lens, I have to do at 40 mm/s to get the best results, which was tested on Baltic birch

dot-test.jpg

[Dave Vigness]

First glance says you have something loose, or the belts are too tight.

[Pete Cyr]

As Dave indicated may be a belt too tight but I would suspect either your lens are not held snugly in place or your head is a bit loose.
As for dot size that is a function of lens focus and and or the lens size OR how the beam is centered in you head

[Marty Nilson]

Appreciate the input. I am still trying to learn what all the options are when something is wrong.

The belts were a bit tight, but played around with it a lot, and found settings that were definitely worse. I think I found a setting slightly more loose that made it marginally better aligned, but unfortunately not good enough to pass the dot test.

Everything else appears tight and I have been getting the exact same pattern with a 1.5" lens.

[Dave Vigness]

Yeah, all too many are focused on X and Y alignment, and totally space off the Z alignment.