I have been trying to figure out my laser for a bit now and am getting results all over the board. I though I was being smart by creating some cutting samples. It worked well but I can not seem create the same results on larger projects. I have tried different variations but can not get clean cut throughs. I am using a 10W output laser with air assist. The laser and pump are not high end but seem to work. The instructions say to set the height with a provided setup block and lower it 1mm for cutting. I have done this along with lower start settings. I have also made multiple passes while lowering the laser height on each pass and keeping it the same as the start. I can not seem to get consistent cut through. I am at the point of giving up on this. I would really like some help trouble shooting this and trying to see if I can get this thing to work.
1) Slow it down a little more 2) Add another couple passes 3) Experiment with focussing on the center of the material thickness 4) Install a Z axis on your machine so it drops the focal point down between passes keeping the focus on the fresh material 5) Install a proper air compressor - getting the soot out of the cut is critical too 6) Material: Can't see exactly what it is, but Plywood with diode lasers are bad (resin doesn't cut like wood at UV wavelengths, glue layers messes with you) - solid material will cut better
1) I have been running it as slow as 3 IPM, Should I go even slower? 2) I have ran as many as 12 passes sometimes it works sometimes it does not 3) Can you elaborate? 4) Z axes can be changed mid run as the laser is an add on to a cnc machine, I have experimented with this as well 5) What pressure would you suggest to run a compressor at? 6) It is 1/4 birch plywood, yes, and I am using a diode laser. For the projects I am trying to do, I am not sure solid wood is a good way to go. Also, how does ambient temp affect this? My machine is in a garage with no heat and it is has been cold the last few days.
Then consider a CO2 laser, UV is not absorbed by resin (wrong wavelength). IR from Co2 laser will do much better through the plywoods resin glue layers
