Cliff Jennings
12-11-2019, 9:21 AM
Hi there, new guy here. I've used a "60 watt" Chinese laser for almost 2 years, and love it. But last weekend it stopped cutting. I just replaced the tube, and the same exact symptoms result. I'll list what's working and what's not, in the hopes that someone here will be to identify which component (other than the tube) has failed.
What's working:
- Tube should be (brand new)
- All mirrors aligned
- Beam is bright, and gets all the way to the material
- Motors / programming all function normally
- Pressing the Test switch on the power supply causes the green and red LED's to shine brightly
- Pulsing the laser and operating it via program has the beam shining brightly (visually appears normal)
- I've tried this with various power settings, and no difference
- Ammeter remains at 24mA (where I've always tried to keep it at or under) when laser is on
What's not working:
- Other than cutting the backing paper on the plex, and engraving the plex lightly, nothing is being cut
- Even at 3mm/sec and 10 passes, the acrylic isn't being cut
- I've tried this with various power settings, and no difference
- Pressing the Test switch on the power supply does NOT cause the laser to pulse (not sure if that is supposed to happen or not)
- Looking at the tube itself when the laser is on, the reflection / spot in mirror #1 oscillates from bright to very dim (should be constant, right?)
Does that sound like a power supply problem? I ordered a new power supply last night. But from the evidence, should I be looking to also replace something else?
Thanks for any tips,
Cliff
What's working:
- Tube should be (brand new)
- All mirrors aligned
- Beam is bright, and gets all the way to the material
- Motors / programming all function normally
- Pressing the Test switch on the power supply causes the green and red LED's to shine brightly
- Pulsing the laser and operating it via program has the beam shining brightly (visually appears normal)
- I've tried this with various power settings, and no difference
- Ammeter remains at 24mA (where I've always tried to keep it at or under) when laser is on
What's not working:
- Other than cutting the backing paper on the plex, and engraving the plex lightly, nothing is being cut
- Even at 3mm/sec and 10 passes, the acrylic isn't being cut
- I've tried this with various power settings, and no difference
- Pressing the Test switch on the power supply does NOT cause the laser to pulse (not sure if that is supposed to happen or not)
- Looking at the tube itself when the laser is on, the reflection / spot in mirror #1 oscillates from bright to very dim (should be constant, right?)
Does that sound like a power supply problem? I ordered a new power supply last night. But from the evidence, should I be looking to also replace something else?
Thanks for any tips,
Cliff