Rick D Smith
12-18-2016, 12:39 PM
A year or so ago I picked up a used as is, where is, untested Redsail M500 for a "I'll take a chance" price. When I got it home and powered it displayed the the ever so popular "system starting please wait" message on the LCD. After installing the software I realized I could pretty much control the laser from the PC, if I was careful and set my origin close to the Datum.
I had been continuing to use the laser it that way, primarily for engraving. Recently someone asked me to cut some acrylic. This didn't go so well and I could not cut .125 acrylic without making 2 -3 passes. Through experimentation and placing some tape on the acrylic I noticed the laser beam was actually burning in two places, the actual cut line you would expect and about 1/8 inch above the line. I noticed my lens has a defect or scratch, so I hoping a new lens will resolve this.
Should also add (for future google searches) I resolved the "System Starting Please wait" message by replacing the communications chip on the PAD03 interface. In my case the MAX232 was a socketed DIP IC. If the problem had been the MAX3232 IC on the MPC6515 controller, it would have been much more difficult task. This one is SMT (Surface Mount Technology) and the board appears to be conformally coated.
The laser is much nicer to operate with a working control console.
Which leads me to the question. How do I know what lens to purchase / the wavelength of the laser tube? The Lens measures 17.6 mm in diameter and the laser tube has 16-00037 etched on the glass. (Presumably a 50W laser)
I had been continuing to use the laser it that way, primarily for engraving. Recently someone asked me to cut some acrylic. This didn't go so well and I could not cut .125 acrylic without making 2 -3 passes. Through experimentation and placing some tape on the acrylic I noticed the laser beam was actually burning in two places, the actual cut line you would expect and about 1/8 inch above the line. I noticed my lens has a defect or scratch, so I hoping a new lens will resolve this.
Should also add (for future google searches) I resolved the "System Starting Please wait" message by replacing the communications chip on the PAD03 interface. In my case the MAX232 was a socketed DIP IC. If the problem had been the MAX3232 IC on the MPC6515 controller, it would have been much more difficult task. This one is SMT (Surface Mount Technology) and the board appears to be conformally coated.
The laser is much nicer to operate with a working control console.
Which leads me to the question. How do I know what lens to purchase / the wavelength of the laser tube? The Lens measures 17.6 mm in diameter and the laser tube has 16-00037 etched on the glass. (Presumably a 50W laser)