Slanted edges of cuts. Guys, when I go to cut 1/4 plexi, I am noticing that the edges are slanted. What do I need to adjust? The mirror over the lense or the entire nozzle? Thanx.
Focus… Set focus to the middle of the material
Laser beam out of focal lens is hour glass shaped, set middle of cut material o focal lens length ie stock lens focal legth50.8mm
Depends on the machine (what optics are adjustable) and how (direction and shape) the sides are cut.
Is the cut at an angle on all sides?
If the focus is set at 1/2 thickness as +Alex suggests and you still have angular cuts check that the beam is perpendicular to the table.
A simple test is to burn a dot with the laser, lower/raise the table and see if the dot moves in the X-Y.
Note: longer DOF lenses are expected to increase the depth of straight cutting length therefore reducing the effect of the beams divergence. Usually setting the focus at 1/2T and insuring the beam exits the objective lens perpendicular to the table is sufficient for most users.
You’re always going to get something of an angle due to the shape of the beam. When it’s focused in the middle of the material thickness it will be beveled in at the top and bottom a bit. The cone shape of the beam spreads outward at the top until you hit the focus point and then again after - like an hourglass. Not usually discernible by eye unless you’re butting a piece against another and trying to glue it. If it’s noticably slanted then there’s an issue with the beam not hitting the material on the perpindicular. That can be tray or head tilt.
Wow, great info guys. I’ll try adjusting the head angle and the height and I’ll report back…thanx!