The Basics Of Focus

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This data is specific to Thunder Laser Nova Series head assemblies but the principle applies to most chinese gantry CO2 lasers.

[@SouthbayCreations]

Great info thanks for sharing! Jason

[@joshgerde8652]

Thank you for the information!

[@ThunderLaserUSA]

Our pleasure!

[@hassankariem5598]

Bro you are a jewel

[@SarbarMultimedia]

Although this is great and correct optical information about how light passes through various focal length lenses, this is what you would expect to see if you were to send an IMAGE through the lens using NORMAL light. Sadly we are not trying to transmit images based on a uniform intensity light beam. Instead we have a special beam of light that has varying INTENSITY across its diameter and we are trying to damage material with the light energy of the beam. The most intense light at the centre of the beam will damage material faster than the outer lower intensity parts of the beam. Using the optical visualization of what happens to the beam after the focal point is 100% incorrect. That may be the visualized path of light but the light never gets there. A ray of light is just like a bullet. It may have an intended path, but if a bullet strikes a solid object along the way, it gives up its energy in the form of damage to that which it hits and never travels along its intended path. That is exactly what happens to a ray of light when it hits the surface of your material, it causes SURFACE damage and travels no further. There will be following equally intense rays that will "work on" this entry hole but it is only the most intense central rays that are responsible for cutting and that static visualization of what happens after the focal point is 100% misleading.Yes, youMAY get a slightly deeper cut by putting the focus 1 or 2 mm into the material but there are MANY other factors that can affect the result and maybe you will get zero benefit from lowering the focus. These factors include focal length of the lens. the intensity profile of the beam (and this will change as you select different % power) plus the speed of cutting. Cutting is a very complex process and you will have to ask yourself how is it possible to cut a staight parallel kerf with a short focus lens when the imagined path of light rays says the bottom of the cut should be much wider than the top. When the facts do not match the theory . you must quastion the theory.