SH-350 Mirror alignment

[Wolfster]

Im in essex so three if not more hours away, sorry

No problem, sorry to ask!

[andy_con]

post some detailed close up photos, a picture speaks 1000 words

[Wolfster]

Sorry for the delay, I've been having some work done to the house which took over my garage (aka workshop).

I spent another 4 hours or so trying to nail the alignment but to no avail. I have make some mdf laser tube mounts to get the laser tube better centred on the first mirror but still have a lot of movement as the laser travels. I have uploaded a video to youtube and attached pictures.

I must be doing something fundamentally wrong. I've not been able to use the laser for weeks now. :(

Link to video https://youtu.be/1ngpmipR4YM

[Robin Hewitt]

Tilt the first mirror up.

I had to print some new mounts for my laser tube, the originals were crap. I can probably find the .stl files but the only dry 3D printing plastic I have right now is marigold. Probably won't go with your Royal blue.

[magicniner]

The beam angle is wrong, you are having to angle the laser to centre it on the mirror, this gives an alignment error which is proportional to the distance moved from the point where it is centred.
Rather than thinking of getting the laser pointing at a target think getting the laser running parallel to the movement of the target, it should be relatively simple geometry to work out,

- Nick

[andy_con]

what I don't understand is, what are you trying to align the beam coming out of the tube with?also don't use any form of plastic printed mirror mounts, you may as well make them from bluetac

[Robin Hewitt]

You align it with the travel of the X and Y axes.

[magicniner]

also don't use any form of plastic printed mirror mounts, you may as well make them from bluetac

Provided the operating temperature adjacent to printed mounts is within limits they should be OK, what's wrong with ABS mounts?

[andy_con]

Provided the operating temperature adjacent to printed mounts is within limits they should be OK, what's wrong with ABS mounts?

cos they aren't stable, ask anyone who works with lasers.