Hello friends of Redsail!
In July, 2009, we will attend the largest global trade fair—-The 17th Shanghai Int’s Advertising&Sign Technology&Equipement Exhibition. The exact time is July, 7 –July10, 2009, and our booth number is W-2 037.
We will take all our models there to show to our friends from different areas and countries: cutting plotter, laser engraver, laser cutter, cnc router, flash stamp machine, etc.
Welcome to visit our machine show!
During the operation of a laser machine, what is the most important step to get a good working result?
—a good laser beam alignment
Normally for a Co2 laser engraver or cutter, there are 3 reflecting mirrors and 1 focus lens. Laser beam comes out of the laser tube, then pass through 3 mirrors, then pass the lens, then getting out to work on materials. So the alignment is very important.
Sometimes if you did not make good alignment, the result will be bad, such as, in right corner it engraves or cuts well, but in the left coner it does not; its cutting depth is different even for one materials; yesterday it works well, but today it does not with the same materials and same settings. Laser beam is very sensitive, so maybe slightly movement will affect the working result.
And of course, pay attention to mirrors and lens: they must be clean.
Do it as following:
General Procedure for Laser Route Adjustment
Regulate current to below 8 ma (60%), to keep the power not too high.
The first step: Adjust the laser route between laser beam spot and
the first reflecting mirror.
Put the test paper in front of the first reflecting mirror, then press ¡ test¡ on the control panel slightly, then check if there is a spot on the test paper. It is better to make the spot in the center of the mirror. If there is not or the spot is not in the center, please adjust the location or the height of the first reflecting mirror holder (or the laser tube).
Please see below:
1) Put the test paper in front of the first reflecting mirror
2) press ¡ test¡ key on the control panel
3) check if the spot is in the center of the mirror
This is the first step, please make sure the spot is in the center.
The second step: Adjust the laser route between the first and the
second reflecting mirror.
First of all, put the test paper in front of the second reflecting mirror, press the arrows on the control panel to move the laser head to the top left corner, press ¡ test¡ and check the spot on the test paper. Next press ¡down¡ arrow to move the track to the lower left corner, press ¡ test¡ again, then please check whether the two spots coincide with each other. If the two spots are within the circle of the second reflecting mirror and coincide with each other, laser route between the first reflecting mirror and the
second reflecting mirror is no problem; if not, please adjust the screws on the back of the first reflecting mirror holder to make sure the spots coincide with each, then adjust the location of second mirror holder (the X-axis direction), to make sure the spots are within the circle of the second reflecting mirror. Please see below:
1) put the test paper in front of the second reflecting mirror
2) press the arrows on the control panel to move the laser head to the top left corner, press “test” and make sure the spot is on the test paper
3) press “down” arrow to move the track to the lower left corner, press “test” againand make sure the second spot is in the same position with the first one.
4) 3) If the spots are not in the same position, please adjust the screws on the first reflecting mirror.
5) 4) If the pots are not in the circle, please adjust the position/height of the second reflecting mirror holder.
The third step: Adjust the laser route between the second and the
third reflecting mirror.
First, move the laser head to the left of the X axis, put the test paper in front of the hole of the laser head, press ¡ test¡ and there is a spot on the paper. Then, move the laser head to the right of the X axis, press ¡ test¡ switch again, and check whether the two spots coincide with each other, if so and the spots are within the hole of the laser head(center is better), then the laser route between the second and the third mirror is no problem, if not, please adjust the screws on the second mirror holder to make sure
the spots are coincide. Finally, if the spots are not in the hole, adjust the location of second mirror holder (the Y-axis direction), to make sure the spots are within the hole of laser head(center is better). (Attention: the principle of the laser adjustment is the same between mirror 1 and 2, 2 and 3.) Please see below:
1) Move the laser head to the left of the X axis (c), put the test paper in front of the hole of the laser head
2)Press “test” and there will be a spot on paper
3) Move laser head to the right of the X axis, press “test” switch again, and check whether the two spots coincide with each other, please make sure they are coincide and in the center of the hole.
4) If not, please adjust the screws on the second mirror holder to make sure the spots are coincide; if the spots are not in the hole, adjust the location of second mirror holder (the Y-axis direction), to make sure the spots are within the hole of laser head(center is better).
The fourth Step: Adjust the laser route between the third reflecting
mirror and the focus mirror.
Attach a test paper under the laser head or on the working platform, press “test”, and check whether the spot is in the center. If so, this procedure is no problem; if not, please adjust the screws on the laser head to make sure the spot is in the center. Please
see below?
1) Put a carton paper on the working platform. Adjust focus using acrylic block, then press “test”, and check if the spot is in the center.
2) If the spot is not in the center, please adjust the screws on the laser head. We should make sure this spot below the laser head center, just as the picture shows.
The fifth step: Check the cutting effect (acrylic) and adjust the laser
route. Check the cutting result of the acrylic, if the cutting surface is slanted to the right, the laser tube is a little lower; if it inclines to the left, the laser tube is a little higher.
Please adjust the height of the laser tube to solve the problem. If the cutting surface is slanted upward or downward, then please move the location of the laser head (adjust the screws on the laser head accordingly) to make sure all the cutting surfaces are vertical and smooth.
Attention:
1. Laser route adjustment is the adjustment of the angle between the mirror and the laser route(it should be 45 degree). Some related knowledge are needed, such as reflection principle. For beginners, please operate under the instruction, consult the technician if necessary. In addition, laser is sightless and may burn person, be careful
when adjusting.
2. Generally, when adjusting, if the spots slant to one direction, set up the mirror of the opposite direction or set down the mirror of the same direction, and adjust the screws behind the mirror holder accordingly.
3. It is better to make sure the three reflecting mirrors are at the same horizontal surface first, and it is more easier to adjust the laser beam.
For more and detailed information, please contact Redsail tech support
With a Redsail CNC router, no doubt that you could be an excellent wood worker.
As a wood worker who owns his shop, you may have a table saw, a drill press, a chop saw, a lathe, a router, a band saw, a joiner/planer, a shaper or a panel saw in your shop. A Redsail will do the work of each of these tools. It is a multi-purpose tool that can cut, drill, shape and machine in the same way as traditional tools.
For example, a CNC tool can be used to plane the surface of a board. It can also do 3D result, make a nice door, perfect funiture. You ca
n make your choice with a Redsail CNC.
Its not difficult, so get going with Redsail now!
Recently I had a customer who asked me, hi Vikki, what can I do if my laser engraver M900 only move to LEFT direction?
What should you do my dear customer? let me tell you something to check:
1. be sure every wire is connected well but not loose. Loose wire will cause some problem.
2. be sure the data cable is connected well. If the cable is loose, then the date transit will becom bad, that maybe cause laser machine movement problem.
3. There are two IC on the PCI card name: 26ls31. Once IC controls X axis movment of laser machine and the other IC controls Y axis movement and laser beam. So maybe its problem of the two IC. Then you can buy two new IC to replace this to check if it is the IC problem
4. I had a customer who replaced two IC but the problem still appears, but it only move to right direction this time. Then we can say, we have to change a new PCI card. The PCI card failed maybe due to long time use or abnormal opearation.
You can try if you face same problem my dear customer, and let us know any of your question.
Redsail will be your honest partner.
The first thing about a CNC router that really stands out from a CNC mill is the scale. A CNC router can have a machinable area of 60″ X 216″ X 8″. While the CNC router is not suited for cutting ferrous materials, it excels at cutting composite prototyping boards, plastics, carbon fiber and even non-ferrous metals with the proper accessories.
A CNC router can allow you to do larger scale mold masters and cavities, and in turn, service markets currently being ignored by most mold and pattern shops. Applications have included mold masters for 1/5 scale RC helicopter FRP molds, 6′ x 10′ centerboard masters for sailboats, antique grille masters for sand casting and various automotive application molds and masters for vacuum forming. The versatility of a CNC router is amazing as it excels at cutting smaller molds and masters with reliable tolerances in the .003 to .006″ range.
With the addition of quality CAD/CAM software, small and start-up shops can create a viable operation with the combination of thermoforming equipment and a CNC router. The CNC machines the appropriate plug or cavity, which is then sent to the thermoforming machine. The thermoformed part is then returned to the CNC and placed in a vacuum fixture or frame to hold the part. The CNC then accurately trims the circumference of the part, in addition to machining or drilling features necessary on the finished part.
This versatility allows smaller shops to be competitive with a minimal investment. Existing shops can use their CNC router to expand their business by catering to larger scale components for the thermoforming, FRP, sand casting, and even prototyping markets. The CNC router also can be used to create fixtures, packaging and a host of other parts to be used in the shop itself.
When choosing a CNC router for your business, the overall build quality of the machine is only one aspect to consider. Many CNC routers quickly become obsolete with costly upgrade paths or expensive replacement parts as the years begin to take their toll on the machine. Do your research, visit local shops that have the brand of router you are interested in and ask lots of questions.
Suction Systems
The wood router typically holds wood with suction through the table or pods that raise the work above the table. This type of hold-down is used for components which require edge profiling (or undercutting), are manufactured from solid wood or where greater flexibility in production is required. This type of bed requires less extraction with greater absolute vacuum.
A second type hold down requires a “spoil board” or “cull sheets” to the work. This allows vacuum suction through the low density table and allows the placement of parts anywhere on the table. These types of tables are typically used for nest-based manufacture (NBM) where multiple components are routed from a single sheet. This type of manufacturing precludes edge drilling or undercut edge work on components. However most industrial sized machines similar to the S series CNC by Vortech Routers or C.R. Onsrud Panel Pro allows the use of spoil boards or a pod system that elevates the work piece to accommodate edge work.
Vacuum pumps are required with both types of tables where volume and “strength” are determined based on the types of materials being cut.
Redsail M series CNC router has such a function which will fits many customer’s requirements.
At the same time, our CNC wood router also has Oil lubrication system which can smooth the rail and block for rail.
Redsail M series CNC router is called CNC wood router. So what is CNC wood router? Now let’s share some information about it:
A CNC wood router uses CNC (computer numerical control) and is similar to a metal CNC mill with the following differences:
A wood router is controlled in the same way as a metal mill, but there is a lot of CAM software like Artcam, Mastercam, and Featurecam specifically for wood routers.
Wood with different grain must be approached with unique strategies, and wood CAM software is less likely to need to have hog-out strategies than the metal ones. Wood routers are frequently used to machine other soft materials such as plastics at high speed.
Typical three-axis CNC wood routers are generally much bigger than their metal shop counterparts. 5′ x 5′, 4′ x 8′, and 5′ x 10′ are typical bed sizes for wood routers. But can be built to accommodate very large sizes up to, but not limited to 12′ x 100′. Most table routers use a three motor drive system (xyz) utilizing either servo or stepper motors that drive the router motor via a gantry system. The gantry system isolates the XYZ movement in the top part of the machine with a stationary table holding the workpiece. Many CNC metal mills have the cutter motor moving on the Z axis, and a table which moves in X and Y for added stability.
Many wood routers can run at machining speeds of 25 metres/min (linear) or faster with a few machines such as the Anderson capable of 40 metres/min, Onsrud capable of 86 metres/min.
This is a short introduction about CNC wood router. Next time we will share information about its spare parts.