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Step by Step: Beam Alignment procedure
Preface: Beam Alignment is the action of aligning the optics (mirrors and lens) to allow the laser beam to pass through each mirror and
finally through the lens in a straight line, thereby ensuring the beam maintains full power through the optical path. This procedure is
very simple yet essential to maintain quality output and full power to the material surface.
Tools necessary to align the optical path of a XM8 Laser system:
 Bungee cord
 Small Post-It notes
 ¼” (.25) or thicker piece of acrylic
 2.5mm & 6mm Allen Wrench
 Patience
Prepare XM8 Laser system for beam alignment
1. Open the laser tube protective door and hold wide open with bungee cord or similar method to allow easy access and viewing
of the laser tube and mirror #1.
2. Using Left/Right arrow keys on control panel cycle down to Power setting (second # with % sign), using Up/Down arrow keys,
reduce power down to 5%.
3. Current Regulator may require reduction as well to minimize Post-it notes burning. Counter clockwise to reduce power.
4. Change Auto/Manual button to Manual operation
Adjustment plate component and preparation explanation:
1. Note Mirror #1 in front of the laser tube output point as shown below. There are three long thumbscrews jutting out from the
rear of the mirror assembly.
Left/Right adjust
Up/Down adjust
2. Of the three ONLY two are required for adjustment, with the third simply a pivot point.
a. Upper Left thumbscrew = Adjust Left <-> Right
i. Clockwise = moves dot to RIGHT
ii. Counter clockwise = moves dot to LEFT
3271 S. Highland Dr., #718, Las Vegas, NV 89109
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b. Upper Right screw/Center thumbscrew = Pivot Point
i. DO NOT adjust the center thumbscrew (noted with , as this is a pivot point, NOT to be adjusted) ii. Alter this screw and alignment becomes extremely difficult!
c. Lower Right thumbscrew = Adjust Up <-> Down
i. Clockwise = move dot UP
ii. Clockwise = moves dot DOWN
3. At the black base of each thumbscrew is a locking nut, used to secure thumbscrew position once adjusted
Locking nut
4. Between the two black plates is a spring set screw to allow for compression/expansion of plates during adjustment
Springed Screw
5. Using small Post-It notes prepare for beam alignment
6. Place a Post-It note to the front of the mirror (only necessary on mirror #2 & mirror #3) as shown below when instructed
7. Optical path/route description
1. Laser tube
2. Mirror #1
3. Mirror #2
4. Mirror #3
5. Nozzle output point
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Beam Alignment procedure: Mirror #1 <-> Mirror #2
1. Place Post-It note in front of mirror #2
2. Press the control panel Esc key to enter manual move mode
3. Using arrow keys, position mirror #2 as close to mirror #1 as the lens carriage will allow
4. On the XM8 Laser control panel, press the Laser button to obtain a small, light burn on the Post-It note
5. Now move the mirror #2 away from mirror #1. Towards back, about 80% distance from front home position
6. Press Laser button once again to create second burn dot
7. Dots on top of each other is the desired effect, as can be seen above the second dot DID NOT burn on top of the first dot. Adjust
the appropriate thumbscrew behind mirror #1 (left|right and/or up|down) to move mirror #1 slightly and repeat laser firing,
repeat this adjustment until the second dot is burned directly on top of the first dot. READ NOTES BELOW!
a. Direction of thumbscrew adjustment is noted at Adjustment plate component and preparation explanation: #2
b. Adjustment is VERY slight, a single digit degree turn is all that is necessary
c. Shape of dot is irrelevant at this step of the procedure
d. Dots should be light to allow for visual inspection
e. If burn is too long or too hot Post-It will catch of fire, blow out immediately
f. Multiple Post-It notes may be necessary to dial in correctly as noted below
ALIGNED
g. Once dots align on top of each other, secure locking nut on both adjustment thumbscrews
3271 S. Highland Dr., #718, Las Vegas, NV 89109
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Beam Alignment procedure: Mirror #2 <-> Mirror #3
8. Once mirror #2 is “beam aligned” to mirror #1, repeat the above procedure to align mirror #3 to mirror #2
9. Place Post-It note in front of Mirror #3
10. Using arrow keys, position mirror #3 as close to mirror #2 as the lens carriage will allow
11. On the XM8 Laser control panel, press the Laser button to obtain a small, light burn on the Post-It note
12. Now move the mirror #3 away from mirror #2. Towards right, about 80% distance from left position
13. Press Laser button once again to create second burn dot
Image 1
Image 2
14. Dots on top of each other is the desired effect, as can be seen above in the first image the second dot DID NOT burn on top of the
first dot. Adjust the appropriate thumbscrew behind mirror #2 (left|right and/or up|down) to move mirror #2 slightly and repeat
laser firing, repeat this adjustment until the second dot is burned directly on top of the first dot as displayed in the second image.
READ NOTES BELOW!
a. Direction of thumbscrew adjustment is noted at Adjustment plate component and preparation explanation: #2
b. Adjustment is VERY slight, a single digit degree turn is all that is necessary
c. Shape of dot is irrelevant at this step of the procedure
d. Dots should be light to allow for visual inspection
e. If burn is too long or too hot Post-It will catch of fire, blow out immediately
f. Multiple Post-It notes may be necessary to dial in correctly as noted below
ALIGNED
g. Once dots align on top of each other, secure locking nut on both adjustment thumbscrews
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Beam Alignment procedure: Mirror #3 through center of nozzle
15. Once mirror #3 is “beam aligned” to mirror #2, the beam must now pass through the center of the laser beam output nozzle
16. Adjustment of Mirror #3 is identical to mirror #1 and mirror #2 but instead of thumbscrews adjustment is done via 2.5mm Allen
screws. Once again DO NOT adjust the pivot screw (noted with ) ONLY the left|right and up|down screws as noted below
Left/Right
Up/Down
17. WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!! WARNING!!!
a. This step can be dangerous! Ensure that fingers are NOT in the path of the laser beam
b. Fingers SHOULD BE STRADDLED on opposite sides of nozzle (as shown in step 20)
c. DO NOT fire laser beam with fingers, hands, clothing or any object in laser beam path
18. In order to test position of laser beam in relation to center of nozzle an indentation of the nozzle bottom is required
19. Place Post-It note underneath laser beam output nozzle and rub the bottom of nozzle to obtain indentation
NOTE:
This is simply to show what indentation is necessary, leave Post-It note in position for next step
20. Without moving Post-It note, yet having fingers straddling both sides of nozzle, safely out of laser beam path, fire laser beam
21. Remove Post-It note and determine location of laser beam dot in relation to nozzle indentation
22. As can be seen clearly in the image above the dot is off center, indicating the laser beam is not passing through the center of the
lens. Adjust Mirror #3 to move dot towards center of nozzle circle indentation.
READ NOTES BELOW!
a. Direction of screw adjustment is noted at Step #16 above
b. Adjustment is VERY slight, a single digit degree turn is all that is necessary
c. Although dead center is the desired position, as close as possible is sufficient
d. Dots should be light to allow for easy visual inspection
e. If burn is too long or too hot Post-It will catch of fire, blow out immediately
f. Multiple Post-It notes may be necessary to dial in correctly as noted below
ALIGNED
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Beam Alignment procedure: Vertical Dot Alignment
23. Once mirror #3 is aligned to pass the laser beam through the center of the laser beam output nozzle the laser beam must be
checked to ensure the laser beam is in a vertical path. There should not be an angle to path of the laser beam output.
24. Using Left/Right arrow keys on control panel cycle down to Power setting (second # with % sign), using Up/Down arrow keys,
increase power up to 100%.
25. Place ¼” (.25) or thicker piece of acrylic underneath lens assembly or move lens assembly to position. Position should be near the
edge of the acrylic for easy visual inspection. The thicker the acrylic the better for this procedure.
26. On the XM8 Laser control panel, press the Laser button for a long duration of time to achieve a dot burn that is very deep
27. Dependent upon the direction of the line created by the laser beam the deep dot will be either angled Right->Left, Straight UpDown or Left->Right. If straight up and down, great, then this step is not necessary, if angled adjustment will be necessary.
a. If the angle is Right to Left, the laser tube will need to be moved UP
b. If the angle is Left to Right, the laser tube will need to be moved DOWN
28. Adjustment of laser tube is done on the laser tube mounted bracket. Right side nearest laser tube beam exit point
29. Loosen the 6mm Allen Screws to raise or lower the tube as necessary based on the deep dot direction as noted above
30. Adjustment as in the mirror thumbscrews is slight here as well. Loosen, move slightly, test burn again, tighten when dialed in
31. May not be perfectly vertical, get as close as possible for optimal laser engraving and cutting quality.
Vertical dot burn correct.
Beam alignment DONE!
3271 S. Highland Dr., #718, Las Vegas, NV 89109
support@lecme.com • (702) 405-7853