LAOS Laser

h1. HPC LS3020

{{>toc}}

!HPC-LS3020.jpg!

The HPC LS3020 is manufactured in China and sold by "HPC Laser Ltd.":http://hpclaser.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=40 in the UK. It comes in different flavours, depending in the time it was bought. Differences found until now:

* There are at least three different power supplies

* The size of the bed is different (some machines were actually LS-3020pro sold as LS3020, with a bigger bed.

* Some machines come with a flatcable for the endstops and X-axis, while others have JST connectors for the endstops and X-axis.

Information on how to install a LaOS board in the HPC can be found in [[Setting_up_electronics_and_network_for_the_HPC_LS3020]]

h2. Coordinates

The coordinates of an HPC LS3020 laser with LAOS board should be set up as follows:

!HPC-LS3020-coordinates2.png!

The "home" position has limit switches at (Xmax,Ymax) which the firmware uses on power-up to figure out where the head is located. Homing can also be performed manually from the I2cPanel.

h2. Modifications

* Replace the on-off laser power push button by a toggle switch, so the state is visible from afar - [[HPC push button mod]]

* Add the "Focus adjustment wheel":http://www.thingiverse.com/thing:18941 for the z-axis. This should be the first thing you cut with your LS3020. A real enhancement. You only need two M10 nuts to fasten it. Some machines have Z-axis adjustment already installed.

* A shaky video (7:08) of a comparable machine showing "some enhancement ideas":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F78_zDuaxI: in-line red dot beam combiner, z-axis motor (really protrudes down), second fluorescent tube, slow hinge on the cover and a watercooler-to-be.

h2. Maintenance

* Instructions about "cleaning the lens":http://laserscript.co.uk/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=234.

* A video (6:59) on the "mirror alignment and belt tension adjustment":http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jLgekkOiMsY&feature=related of a comparable machine.

* On the HPC "Laserscript forum":http://www.laserscript.co.uk/phpBB3 and on the comparable machines' "FS forum":http://www.fullspectrumengineering.com/forums/viewforum.php?f=3&sid=7de46ba40b08fe566985b4c7220616e1 you might find an answer to other questions like leveling the z-table or installing different focal length lenses.

h3. Laser adjustment

achsentest_v2.svg, lasalign_ls3020.svg , 90grad_winkel.svg are some tools that might help you to adjust your laser. Be very careful when you do this! Wear appropriate laser safety glasses (suitable for the wavelength of a CO2 laser, etc.) and always be near the power of switch and something you can use to extinguish fire! Cover the rectangle of achsentest_v2.svg and lasalign_ls3020.svg with some crêpe paper tape. achsentest_v2.svg can be put on the X-axis bar. The other one is for the Y-axis. Switch off auto-homing in the config.txt on the mbed. Remember to switch it on again after the alignment.