The brass autofocus holder is completely loose, and flopping around. Since the little plexiglass gauge measures height from work to brass holder for setting focus, I’m guessing that we are merely guessing the focus location. And, as some member put it, the laser is “still cutting fat lines”.
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Something that I think might be confusing to some is where to place the top
of the focusing ruler. It sets on top of the brass bracket and not under
it. It’s a small difference but it’s enough to cause fat-slow cutting.
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So Dylan Halsey has a laser with manual focus. It has a different style ruler, it hangs on the focus ring, and you drive the table up until it falls off. This may be a better solution than eyeballing level, especially with the difficulty of holding the ruler and running the controls of the laser.
If the committee agrees, I could try and draw up a version in solid works and possibly 3d print one. Any objections?
Here is a picture of the tool:
P.S. I personally like the manual focusing, it isn’t as easy as the one click auto focus. But, understanding the focusing does allow me to produce a better product.
I have a 60 Watt Universal Laser. If the focusing tool for your laser can be cut from flat acrylic, and you have the dimensions, I can cut you a new one or two and bring it by. (By the way, I ALWAYS manual focus and before every job)
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Thanks, markbolla. However, we actually have a laser focus tool, now.
Perhaps my original post was not clear. For a manual focus measuring tool to work, there must be an accurate, reference point. In the photo provided, the reference point is obviously fixed as part of the lens assembly. The measuring tool provided for our system, labeled (I believe) 73.2 mm uses the top of the autofocus holder as the reference point. This is fine so long as the top of the clamp remains at 73.2 mm from the focus point of the lens. When I wrote the first post, the set screw holding the clamp to the lens holder barrel was loose, and the whole autofocus assembly was moveable. I assume the the reference point, the top of the auto focus holder is no longer in the proper location for best focus.
Hi Charles (@dr_cee)…
Thanks for taking the time to let us know. I apologize that it wasn’t clear that we understood what you reported. We have received several reports about the laser focus issues and have been waiting for the new auto-focus parts to come in. I received notice earlier today that the parts have arrived, so it’s just a matter of when we can get it put on the laser. Hopefully this time around, the parts will last a bit longer… fingers crossed
Also, we have created a new e-mail address to report laser break/fix issues. I haven’t made a separate thread about it yet, as I am still waiting confirmation that the rest of the guys who will be receiving the Laser Support messages are ready for it to go live. I hope to be able to post about it later tonight! 
Thanks again!
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When I was observing laser operations last night, one of the users asked William Petefish how to use the manual measuring tool, now that the brass autofocus has been removed from the laser prism assembly. Apparently, we are supposed to rest the thin bar of the tool (marked “73.2 mm”) so it rests directly on top of the collar, even with the silver ring where the autofocus assembly used to attach. I would have expected it to be on top of that silver line, but the laser cutter appears to work fine those few millimeters higher.
From the manual, figure it will be the same, just a different sized ruler to the correct focal length:
Another question I have is how to jog the table along the Z-axis. Andrew always taught us (in the sessions I attended, which were several) never to use the Z button on the laser cutter; always use the Z buttons on the computer. Of course, that isn’t convenient with manual focusing. So, is the Z button on the laser still off-limits?
In the class last night, the instructor (sorry I can’t remember his name) used the z-axis on the control panel of the printer; however, he set it to the ‘slow x’ setting FIRST. then he got eye level with the laser lens and ‘tweaked’ the lens height.
Even though my laser has auto Z-axis, I never use it. It’s just something else that I will find a way to screw up. Almost every job I do is at one setting anyway, so I just manually refocus whenever i change the acrylic thickness.
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Yesterday (4/9) while helping a person cut a stencil out, the laser cutter’s honeycomb bed went all the way up and crashed into the cutter head. As soon as we heard the loud noise the emergency stop was pushed. We are not sure why the bed went all the way up since no commands were sent and the vector cut job was already finished. The cutting head was shoved so that there was no visible gap between the brass ring and the tightening collar.
Approx when did this happen?
Robert Davidson
It happened approximately 9 pm.
Has the laser focus been corrected since the incident 4/9 9pm?
Yes. I believe it was William who adjusted the height of the cutting head late last night.
Apparently I messed it up using the gauge.
A kind fellow explained how to eyeball it, so that’s what I have done.
Its cutting for me for now.
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