This article will walk you through how to check and align the laser beam in a VLS Platform laser cutter. 

NOTE: Make sure the table is clear of any objects that could obstruct the movement of the motion system.

1. Power ON the VLS and let it home or re-home it by clicking the Home XY button on the Viewer Tab of the UCP.

2. Remove the Focusing Lens Assembly from the Carriage. Unscrew all 3 thumbscrews and pull the face plate out. Place the Focusing Lens Assembly in a clean, safe place.

3. Place a strip of masking tape over the hole on the left side of the Carriage. The red diode beam should appear on the tape. The red diode beam should be fairly centered over the hole. 

4. Using the Focus Feature on the Viewer Tab of the UCP, verify the position of the red diode beam relative to the hole in the carriage in the top left-hand corner of the table (closest to the beam window). If the diode is fairly centered, within 1/8 of an inch to the center of the hole in the carriage, proceed to step 10. If not, continue at step 5.

5. Turn OFF the VLS system and unplug it.

6. Open the rear cover to its resting position to have access to the laser module.

7. Verify that the Laser Module is installed properly.

8. For platform systems, make sure the system is level by placing a bubble level on the frame of the cart across the two front casters, then on the two rear casters. Adjust the level if necessary by loosening the locknut and turning the adjustment nut. Retighten the appropriate locknuts against the leg of the cart.

9. Plug the system in and turn it on.  Let the laser home.

10. On the Viewer Tab of the UCP select the Focus Feature. Move the carriage to the top left part of the system (closest point to the beam window/collimator) and check that the red diode is fairly centered to the hole in the carriage and continue to the next step. If the diode is still out of center, contact the service department.

11. Remove the #2 mirror cover (1) by removing the thumbscrew (2), then sliding the cover to the right and then off the rail.

 

12. On the System Tab click Alignment Launch. The Alignment Mode window will appear.

13. On the Alignment Mode Window, click on the Top Left button to move the carriage to the table position closest to the beam window.

NOTE: To create a small burn mark on the tape in the next step, adjust the Power and Seconds settings in the Alignment Mode screen (see picture). Lower power laser systems require higher power settings and higher power laser systems require lower power settings to make the burn mark on the tape.

 14. Adjust the Power and Seconds settings as indicated to 5% power and 1 second.

15. Close the top door if not already closed and click Activate Laser.

16. If a burn mark is not made continue to modify the Power settings, increasing in 1% increments for each attempt.

17. With a burn mark now on the piece of tape, keep the piece of tape on the carriage.

18. Click on the lower right-hand Move button. The Carriage will move to the indicated X, Y position (point farthest from the Beam Window).

19. Close the top door if not already closed and click Activate Laser. Take note of the burn mark. The burn marks should overlap each other. If they do not, continue to step 20, if they do, proceed to step 21.

20. Locate the three adjusting screws on the #2 Mirror mount on the left-hand side of the X-axis arm. Turn these screws to center the red dot diode, as necessary.

NOTE: The top screw (1) will adjust your beam up and down. The lower left screw (2) will adjust the beam left and right. The bottom right screw (3) will adjust the beam diagonally.

NOTICE: DO NOT loosen the screws completely as the mirror is spring loaded.

 21. Once aligned, Exit the Alignment Mode Window, remove the masking tape from the Carriage, and reinstall the Focusing Lens Assembly.

22. Reinstall the cover on the #2 mirror mount.