Co2 Laser Engraver Maintenance Procedures

Has your Co2 Laser Engraver recently started performing less powerful cuts, less powerful engraving, and you find you are constantly increasing your laser power to maintain consistent results? You may need to run some maintenance procedures on your co2 Laser
In this video I am running through our weekly/monthly laser engraver maintenance procedures. These are the steps i consistently take when we are experiencing anything unexpected in our engraving projects or our laser cuts.
Some important things to remember from this video:
1. You are noticing you need more power to cut or engrave than normal:
Solution: Clean your Lens and Mirrors - a dirty lens or mirror will decrease the power you are seeing after the 3rd mirror
2. You are noticing jagged lines in your engraving/cuts or your lines for cuts or engraving do not look as clean as normal
Solution: Tighten your lens and/or all 3 mirrors
If this does not work, you are likely looking at a different problem such an old Laser Tube that "may" need replacing, or a complete realignment of all mirrors to get a more exact focus. Always try to refocus mirrors prior to replacing your laser tube.
If you do plan to realign all mirrors, from experience, try to never touch mirror 1 (the mirror the closest to the laser tube) - some small modifications may be needed, but completely remounting the mirror may cause hours of additional work.

[@soothingrelaxingmeditation3129]

actually i have a very similar unit, and your laser is NOT aligned.. it is way out.... that pulse has to be in the middle of that circle on mirror 3 at all four corners of the bed, your pulse is burning way high of center. This basically means the beam is not entering the focus lense in the center, it's somewhere way off center.

[@kendallcreations6737]

Thank you for the feedback.

[@wolfes1126]

on the height adjustable Laser head that is in your laser you dint have to redo the Ramptest because the Lens is always the same distance from the end/Tip of the Nozzle no matter how far you slide it in or out . and the Distance between Mirror 3 and the Lens doesnt matter. it could be 15 Inches away.

[@kendallcreations6737]

Hello Wolfes1126 - We do a ramp test because if the top of the nozzle is further away, it does not engrave crisp. I have tested this and this practise is what works the best for us!

[@greggdrennan]

Do you have a link to or know the specification for the white o-ring you added to your lens tube? Thanks