I received my Hydra 9 last week. I have a slight bevel on the very top of my test pieces and it isn’t burning cleanly. I looked in to mirror alignment, leveling with bed and gantry etc. I checked to see if the laser head is perpendicular with the bed/gantry and it is not on the width of the laser but is on the depth of the laser. Which makes sense based on the bevel/ghosting I’m getting. I don’t want to just go loosening stuff until I figure it out. So, what screws should I loosen in order to get the laser head perpendicular to the bed?
This appears to most likely be an issue with the vertical alignment of the optical path. Because you have looked in to mirror alignment, leveling with bed and gantry etc. If the level gauge is correct, then it’s unlikely the laser head is misaligned. In that case, the optical path may have shifted during the movement of the equipment. At this point, it’s necessary to follow the optical path adjustment tutorial to recalibrate.
Optical path alignment requires certain skills and can be somewhat challenging. It’s correct not to casually rotate certain screws when you’re unsure. You did well. The official website might release some instructional videos on optical path alignment later, and then you can follow those videos to make adjustments.
The issue with burning being unclean may be related to factors such as the optical path not being perpendicular, unsuitable parameters, incorrect focal length adjustment, or air blowing, among others. To provide a targeted solution, I would need more detailed information from you.
Certainly, if the issue of incomplete combustion no longer occurs after adjusting the optical path, then it is acceptable.
Yesterday, I ended up spending some time on the phone with Sean @ tech support. He and a couple of other gentlemen were wonderful at helping me troubleshoot the issue. The alignment from the 3rd mirror to the bed was slightly off. Not a lot but we went ahead and fixed that. We tried changing some of the parameters and machine settings. My z axis was bringing the bed up before the cut so even if the focal distance was correct to start with it was incorrect by the time the cut started. What ended up fixing it was new parameters they sent to me via email for the manufacturer and user settings.
I’ve got to say this too…. Those guys NEVER gave up. They were on that call until the issue was resolved. It took longer than the hour it was slotted for. I had to scarf down some food and get going to another appointment because it took longer. But I am so incredibly grateful for the level of support I received. It was something I wouldn’t have figured out on my own. And no amount of changing the mirrors etc. would have worked.
Sean and the others…..Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.