I have been trying to cut 4mm ply on a smaller 40w laser with a 1.5 lens and not getting anywere today, thanks this video, I now have a 2" lens coming tomorrow
...just got my Ruida in December, and blew up the focus lens last week...this video was extremely informative about the different lenses and focusing requisites...this solves a major problem for me...
@@MWLaser Thanks, my 60x40cm CO2 laser came with a 2" lens (the smallest 12mm diameter) I bought a 4" one with ...well...mixed results. Now it can really cut even 50mm material but the strength of the cutting reduced significantly to about 1/3 as it was before so I still cannot really cut denser thick material but I can cut now 30-50cm foamboard :-)
(1) What is the difference between the Cloudray C Series, E Series, and K Series head sets? Can I buy any of those and then buy the various length lens tubes + appropriate lenses? (2) Is there a chart which match the length of the laser tube to the type of lens characteristics? (3) Do I have to worry about (and order) the other missor mounts if I am upgrading the head set? (4) When upgrading can I / should I upgrade to a 20mm lens (and tube) if I currently have an 18mm lens? Been following you for several years . . . Great to see you still going strong, Matt! These videos are the best.
Thanks for very informative video! I have a Vevor 80W which is due to be arriving tomorrow. It seems very similar to your 80w. Is yours a Vevor too? One thing I've heard is that after doing the ramp test, you then add half the thickness of the material to the focal length seeing as the thinnest part of the laser should not actually be on the surface as measured in the ramp test but halfway though the material (as shown in your diagrams). Is that right? So if we're cutting 3mm ply and the calipers measure 7mm on the ramp test, would you then raise the bed up 1.5 mm so that the laser is hitting midway through the ply and the distance between the nozzle and the surface of the ply is now 5.5 mm? Thanks for the videos, keep up the good work!
I'm about ready to install my E-series RED Cloudray Laser Head -- and I got a tube. Just to clarify: no matter what lens has been installed, the lens tube gets installed fully into the laser head, i.e., the lens tube is inserted all the way in until it stops . . . and the lines on the outside of the lens tubes simply show where the lens is located and have nothing to do with how far the lens tube is inserted into the laser head . . . except for a 1.5 inch (31.8mm) lens which is inserted into the CAP and is 18mm in diameter (whereas the lenses of other focal length are 20mm for the Cloudray E Series Laser Hear. Apologies for waxing verbose. Your reply could be a simple, "Yes." . . . if I have correctly describe the setup. :)
Hi, great video thank you. I have an omtech 60 watt, but the lens size is 18 mm, do the cloud Ray tubes only support 20mm? because I don't think 20mm in my machine, please educate me if that's wrong 😂
Thanks for the great video, i recently got a machine and having some issues with blown power supply and have ordered a cloudray. Any chance you can do a lens type and mirror type selection guide? its a bit confusing trying to choose the correct mirrors and lenses. Thanks again for the awesome videos.
Great video but you should mention that the red beam part of the diagram is exaggerated in it's width for the purposes of the video. In real life it is at least half that width prior to focusing.
So in 13:30 with ramp test, if we deduct 7mm(nozzle to material) from 4"(101,6mm total distance we need from bottom of lens to material), the bottom of the focus lens to the edge of the nozzle should be 94,6mm. Correct?
Have you tried Russ Sadler's 'Compound Lens', available from Cloudray? It has a smaller spot size than the 1.5" lens, and is specifically for engraving.
One more question, given the laser beam formation and setting your distance of material to the material surface, would it not affect the cut angle especially for thicker materials to set the focal point on material surface as apposed to the center of the material/stock so the focal point is in the center of the material you're cutting?
Thank you for sharing the information. Are laser lenses pretty universal from opne manufacturer to the next. For example I have a Laguna EX laser, could I use the set of CloudRay lenses?
I have a question: is there any measurable difference between using GaAs lenses vs ZnSe Lenses? And if so, is it worth the trouble changeing them if the laser isn't running 24/7?
ciao volevo chiederti ho una macchina laser Co2 da 40watt aria di lavoro 40x40 vorrei cambiare sia la testa del laser che la lente perché originariamente porta quella da 12mm e vorrei avere un consiglio da te se mettere una lente da Diametro 18mm FL50.8mm o una lente da Diametro 20mm FL50.8mm, ce differenza
I recently bought a laser cutter, and where I first cut 4mm MDF at 60% power 18mm / s, it now can't go through 4mm MDF with 70% power at 10mm / s. it has a 100w w2 reci tube, and around 10 working hours. the mirrors are clean and aligned, the bed is level. what's next to check?
Hi Matthew, Love your videos. Super helpful. I have the 80w red and black also and am wanting to get a spare lens for it. What would you recommend as I have no idea how to tell what came with it. My focal point is the same as yours at 19mm. My red light has never really worked so I also want to upgrade. Which is the best for the red and black? Is it also worth having a spare tube? Worried postage would be a long wait if my current tube dies. If so, I was looking at RECI on cloudray site but so many options and have no idea which one.Thanks 😊.
Hi the lens in the standard 80W red & black is an 18mm Diameter 50.8mm Focal Length. I do not recommend holding a spare tube in storage, unless there is no way you can wait approx 1 week for delivery of a new tube. A Laser tube's life declines from day of manufacture, and so does it's warranty, so if your existing tube lasts 18 months and you have had a 2nd tube in storage that long, you are not likely to get the same life from the 2nd tube.
@@MWLaser thanks so much for the info. I won't be getting a spare tube at this stage then. Which red light combiner do you recommend for the red and black?
On my ramp test I cannot get a focal point because the line starts thick then thins out until it disappears, would this be caused by a faulty lens please
I have been looking into this option, however currently I have not found one to suit the current setup. as the ones I have found have longer lens tubes and by using these would reduce the ability to engrave decent sized items on rotary axis
My laser machine is 6040 60w m2 laser machine... Which focal lens i should use 2.5 or 3 inch.. Meniscus or plano convex??? Please help. Thanku in advance
I personally do not, there are some who say this helps. I recommend testing for yourself on different thickness materials to get the best cut for your machine with the results you are after. The main reason I do not is when engraving the focus needs to be on the surface of the material to get the detail and quality I am after. Engraving first and then cut. If the focus is set lower for cutting, then the spot size on the surface engraving will be larger and reduce quality. You could engrave first pause and then adjust for the cut, but it can result in accidental slipping of material and the cut may be misaligned. Therefore I find it best to use the right lens for the task.
Although I’m no expert, I’ve been led to believe that handling used CO2 laser lenses risks exposure to selenium and thorium, both of which are highly toxic. As such, it’s a good idea to wear gloves when handling lenses.
Yes It is always advised to wear PPE. Here is the information I have from the MSDS THE HANDLING OF ZINC SELENIDE OPTICAL ELEMENTS COATED WITH RADIOACTIVE THORIUM COMPOUNDS During normal handling or cleaning THERE IS NO RADIATION HAZARD TO THE OPERATOR as the closed elements contain so very little radioactive material, i.e. approximately 4.6 Becquerels per cm-2 of coated surface. The handling of scratched coatings should present very little hazard to personnel, however the following should be noted. When the surface of the optical element becomes scratched, it is possible for a small amount of the thorium coating to be removed. This liberated thorium coating may present a minor hazard if inhaled or ingested, the magnitude of the hazard being directly proportional to the quantity of thorium released. A small scratch 0.1mm wide and 1cm long would allow the release of about 8 x 10-6g of thorium. This is equivalent to an activity of 0.05Bq. This figure should be compared to the permitted dosage limit which is between 10kBq and 100kBq per year dependent upon the exact proportion of the thorium isotopes. This low level is encouraging but at all times it is necessary to apply the principle of dosage being as low as reasonably achievable regarding the potential for the ingestion of radioisotopes. The International Commission on Radiological Protection and the British Ionizing Radiations regulations 1985 require not only to stay within dose limits but also to keep radiation doses to individuals to the minimum which can be practically achieved. Thus is it advised that simple precautions are taken when handling scratched elements aimed at minimizing skin contamination and preventing material inhalation and ingestion. Accordingly, we advise the use of vinyl or rubber gloves, together with a protective mask or filter respirator such as a 3M 9920. Operators should wash their hands thoroughly after contact with damaged elements. The use of elaborate protective clothing and radiation monitoring is considered excessive. To remove loose material from scratched surfaces it is recommended that a clean, soft, cotton cloth dampened with acetone to be used. Gently wipe away any loose delaminated material from the scratch and its adjacent area. The cloth should be sufficiently wet to allow the loose material to be lifted and retained in the cloth. Used cloths, gloves and masks should be disposed of in a plastic bag, which should be sealed for disposal. INSTRUCTIONS FOR HANDLING BROKEN COATED ZINC SELENIDE ELEMENTS Dealing with broken or smashed optical elements presents similar hazards plus the additional danger of skin cuts and punctures produced by the broken substrate material as this is an additional potential route for the ingress of thorium. It must be emphasized that for physiological reasons ingress of thorium through skin wounds is more hazardous than the intake of the same amount of material by the oral route. Any wounds or skin lesions must be cleaned and dressed before any individual continues in the clear up operation. If a component is accidentally smashed, several smaller CLOSED SOURCES are produced from the one large element; only a small proportion of the contained thorium will be exposed or released. Cleaning up should be performed by an operator wearing a disposable mask and gloves, together with a disposable paper coat to prevent any smaller fragments of the element becoming trapped in everyday clothing. Smaller fragments should be gently swept up using a plastic brush and dustpan avoiding the production of airborne dust. Place the broken fragments, dustpan & brush, dust respirator & mask, gloves and paper coat into a cardboard box, which should then be placed into a plastic bag and sealed for disposal.
I have been trying to cut 4mm ply on a smaller 40w laser with a 1.5 lens and not getting anywere today, thanks this video, I now have a 2" lens coming tomorrow
Great video as always. My tip is to use a set of twist drills to find the gap distance on the ramp test. It's much easier than a caliper
Great tip!
Hello Matthew, you are a good teacher, thank you very much for this valuable information
My pleasure!
...just got my Ruida in December, and blew up the focus lens last week...this video was extremely informative about the different lenses and focusing requisites...this solves a major problem for me...
Glad it helped - Cheers Matt
Informative, clear and easy to understand, your content is priceless. Thank you.
Glad you think so! Cheers Matt
That's some really good information clearly explained ... thanks Matthew
My pleasure! Cheers Matthew
Thanks you for great video, I really like, information with images, easy to understand 👍🌟👍
Glad you liked it!
Excellent explanation. Thank you muchly.
tank you so much for all of this information
great video Matt
Amazing video...just amazing...very informative the best on YT...
Glad you enjoyed it
@@MWLaser Thanks, my 60x40cm CO2 laser came with a 2" lens (the smallest 12mm diameter) I bought a 4" one with ...well...mixed results. Now it can really cut even 50mm material but the strength of the cutting reduced significantly to about 1/3 as it was before so I still cannot really cut denser thick material but I can cut now 30-50cm foamboard :-)
thankyou so much! i have learnt a whole lot!
You're very welcome!
Yeeey new video been waiting along time
Thanks hope you found it useful. You must have missed the two released in February :) Cheers
thank you very much for amazing informations in your videos !
thanks - you're welcome
Thanks for your technical info
No problem, thank you. Cheers Matt
Hello Matthew, Please explain why you need the ramp test if you already know the focal distance.
(1) What is the difference between the Cloudray C Series, E Series, and K Series head sets? Can I buy any of those and then buy the various length lens tubes + appropriate lenses?
(2) Is there a chart which match the length of the laser tube to the type of lens characteristics?
(3) Do I have to worry about (and order) the other missor mounts if I am upgrading the head set?
(4) When upgrading can I / should I upgrade to a 20mm lens (and tube) if I currently have an 18mm lens?
Been following you for several years . . . Great to see you still going strong, Matt! These videos are the best.
Reply is not saving - I have emailed you
Thanks for very informative video! I have a Vevor 80W which is due to be arriving tomorrow. It seems very similar to your 80w. Is yours a Vevor too? One thing I've heard is that after doing the ramp test, you then add half the thickness of the material to the focal length seeing as the thinnest part of the laser should not actually be on the surface as measured in the ramp test but halfway though the material (as shown in your diagrams). Is that right? So if we're cutting 3mm ply and the calipers measure 7mm on the ramp test, would you then raise the bed up 1.5 mm so that the laser is hitting midway through the ply and the distance between the nozzle and the surface of the ply is now 5.5 mm? Thanks for the videos, keep up the good work!
I'm about ready to install my E-series RED Cloudray Laser Head -- and I got a tube.
Just to clarify: no matter what lens has been installed, the lens tube gets installed fully into the laser head, i.e., the lens tube is inserted all the way in until it stops
. . . and the lines on the outside of the lens tubes simply show where the lens is located and have nothing to do with how far the lens tube is inserted into the laser head
. . . except for a 1.5 inch (31.8mm) lens which is inserted into the CAP and is 18mm in diameter (whereas the lenses of other focal length are 20mm for the Cloudray E Series Laser Hear.
Apologies for waxing verbose. Your reply could be a simple, "Yes." . . . if I have correctly describe the setup. :)
Yes
Great video 📹
Thanks, I appreciate the feedback
Hi, great video thank you.
I have an omtech 60 watt, but the lens size is 18 mm, do the cloud Ray tubes only support 20mm? because I don't think 20mm in my machine, please educate me if that's wrong 😂
Thanks for the great video, i recently got a machine and having some issues with blown power supply and have ordered a cloudray. Any chance you can do a lens type and mirror type selection guide? its a bit confusing trying to choose the correct mirrors and lenses. Thanks again for the awesome videos.
Email your questions to Matt@mwlaser.com.au with more information on the machine you have and I'll assist via email.
Great video but you should mention that the red beam part of the diagram is exaggerated in it's width for the purposes of the video. In real life it is at least half that width prior to focusing.
thanks
So in 13:30 with ramp test, if we deduct 7mm(nozzle to material) from 4"(101,6mm total distance we need from bottom of lens to material), the bottom of the focus lens to the edge of the nozzle should be 94,6mm. Correct?
Have you tried Russ Sadler's 'Compound Lens', available from Cloudray? It has a smaller spot size than the 1.5" lens, and is specifically for engraving.
Not yet - I do have one to try out, but it keeps getting put off with other work and projects :)
One more question, given the laser beam formation and setting your distance of material to the material surface, would it not affect the cut angle especially for thicker materials to set the focal point on material surface as apposed to the center of the material/stock so the focal point is in the center of the material you're cutting?
Use a ramp test to fine tune focus for best results.
Any metric conversion?
Nice keep going
Thanks =)
Hi Matthew,
Can I use a 130w tube with my 150w power supply. The tube i want to replace states 150w peak output, 130w agreement output
Thank you for sharing the information. Are laser lenses pretty universal from opne manufacturer to the next. For example I have a Laguna EX laser, could I use the set of CloudRay lenses?
I was wondering the same thing about the lens tubes!
I have a question: is there any measurable difference between using GaAs lenses vs ZnSe Lenses? And if so, is it worth the trouble changeing them if the laser isn't running 24/7?
ciao volevo chiederti ho una macchina laser Co2 da 40watt aria di lavoro 40x40 vorrei cambiare sia la testa del laser che la lente perché originariamente porta quella da 12mm e vorrei avere un consiglio da te se mettere una lente da Diametro 18mm FL50.8mm o una lente da Diametro 20mm FL50.8mm, ce differenza
I recently bought a laser cutter, and where I first cut 4mm MDF at 60% power 18mm / s, it now can't go through 4mm MDF with 70% power at 10mm / s. it has a 100w w2 reci tube, and around 10 working hours. the mirrors are clean and aligned, the bed is level. what's next to check?
More Information needed Do you have a mA meter installed on your machine or power supply? - email matt@mwlaser.com.au for further support
How can you tell what focal length lens is in a machine?
Hi Matthew,
Love your videos. Super helpful. I have the 80w red and black also and am wanting to get a spare lens for it. What would you recommend as I have no idea how to tell what came with it. My focal point is the same as yours at 19mm. My red light has never really worked so I also want to upgrade. Which is the best for the red and black? Is it also worth having a spare tube? Worried postage would be a long wait if my current tube dies. If so, I was looking at RECI on cloudray site but so many options and have no idea which one.Thanks 😊.
Hi the lens in the standard 80W red & black is an 18mm Diameter 50.8mm Focal Length.
I do not recommend holding a spare tube in storage, unless there is no way you can wait approx 1 week for delivery of a new tube. A Laser tube's life declines from day of manufacture, and so does it's warranty, so if your existing tube lasts 18 months and you have had a 2nd tube in storage that long, you are not likely to get the same life from the 2nd tube.
@@MWLaser thanks so much for the info. I won't be getting a spare tube at this stage then. Which red light combiner do you recommend for the red and black?
On my ramp test I cannot get a focal point because the line starts thick then thins out until it disappears, would this be caused by a faulty lens please
possibly a mirror alignment issue. - did you sort it out ?
Have you thought about upgrading the Red and Black 80w machine with a different laser Head?
I have been looking into this option, however currently I have not found one to suit the current setup. as the ones I have found have longer lens tubes and by using these would reduce the ability to engrave decent sized items on rotary axis
@@MWLaser that’s the problem I’ve run into!
My laser machine is 6040 60w m2 laser machine... Which focal lens i should use 2.5 or 3 inch.. Meniscus or plano convex???
Please help.
Thanku in advance
most often the meniscus lens is used in these machines with a 2" or 2.5" focal length
@@MWLaser thanku
Do you set the distance to the focal length and a little lower to give more cutting depth?
I personally do not, there are some who say this helps. I recommend testing for yourself on different thickness materials to get the best cut for your machine with the results you are after.
The main reason I do not is when engraving the focus needs to be on the surface of the material to get the detail and quality I am after. Engraving first and then cut.
If the focus is set lower for cutting, then the spot size on the surface engraving will be larger and reduce quality. You could engrave first pause and then adjust for the cut, but it can result in accidental slipping of material and the cut may be misaligned. Therefore I find it best to use the right lens for the task.
Although I’m no expert, I’ve been led to believe that handling used CO2 laser lenses risks exposure to selenium and thorium, both of which are highly toxic. As such, it’s a good idea to wear gloves when handling lenses.
Yes It is always advised to wear PPE. Here is the information I have from the MSDS
THE HANDLING OF ZINC SELENIDE OPTICAL ELEMENTS COATED WITH RADIOACTIVE
THORIUM COMPOUNDS
During normal handling or cleaning THERE IS NO RADIATION HAZARD TO THE OPERATOR as the
closed elements contain so very little radioactive material, i.e. approximately 4.6 Becquerels per cm-2 of
coated surface.
The handling of scratched coatings should present very little hazard to personnel, however the following
should be noted.
When the surface of the optical element becomes scratched, it is possible for a small amount of the
thorium coating to be removed. This liberated thorium coating may present a minor hazard if inhaled or
ingested, the magnitude of the hazard being directly proportional to the quantity of thorium released.
A small scratch 0.1mm wide and 1cm long would allow the release of about 8 x 10-6g of thorium. This is
equivalent to an activity of 0.05Bq.
This figure should be compared to the permitted dosage limit which is between 10kBq and 100kBq per
year dependent upon the exact proportion of the thorium isotopes. This low level is encouraging but at all
times it is necessary to apply the principle of dosage being as low as reasonably achievable regarding the
potential for the ingestion of radioisotopes.
The International Commission on Radiological Protection and the British Ionizing Radiations regulations
1985 require not only to stay within dose limits but also to keep radiation doses to individuals to the
minimum which can be practically achieved.
Thus is it advised that simple precautions are taken when handling scratched elements aimed at
minimizing skin contamination and preventing material inhalation and ingestion. Accordingly, we advise
the use of vinyl or rubber gloves, together with a protective mask or filter respirator such as a 3M 9920.
Operators should wash their hands thoroughly after contact with damaged elements. The use of
elaborate protective clothing and radiation monitoring is considered excessive. To remove loose material
from scratched surfaces it is recommended that a clean, soft, cotton cloth dampened with acetone to be
used. Gently wipe away any loose delaminated material from the scratch and its adjacent area. The cloth
should be sufficiently wet to allow the loose material to be lifted and retained in the cloth. Used cloths,
gloves and masks should be disposed of in a plastic bag, which should be sealed for disposal.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR HANDLING BROKEN COATED ZINC SELENIDE ELEMENTS
Dealing with broken or smashed optical elements presents similar hazards plus the additional danger of
skin cuts and punctures produced by the broken substrate material as this is an additional potential route
for the ingress of thorium. It must be emphasized that for physiological reasons ingress of thorium
through skin wounds is more hazardous than the intake of the same amount of material by the oral route.
Any wounds or skin lesions must be cleaned and dressed before any individual continues in the clear up
operation. If a component is accidentally smashed, several smaller CLOSED SOURCES are produced
from the one large element; only a small proportion of the contained thorium will be exposed or released.
Cleaning up should be performed by an operator wearing a disposable mask and gloves, together with a
disposable paper coat to prevent any smaller fragments of the element becoming trapped in everyday
clothing. Smaller fragments should be gently swept up using a plastic brush and dustpan avoiding the
production of airborne dust. Place the broken fragments, dustpan & brush, dust respirator & mask, gloves
and paper coat into a cardboard box, which should then be placed into a plastic bag and sealed for
disposal.