Overview Changing a Galvo Laser Lens
Swapping a lens on a Galvo laser requires attention to specific settings and calibrations in LightBurn to ensure optimal performance. Many manufacturers provide calibration data for their lenses. It is strongly recommended to consult your lens manufacturer's website before attempting manual calibration.
Physical Lens Swap
For guidance on physically replacing the lens, refer to the video tutorial by Laser Everything. This video covers installation steps and safety precautions, as well as EZCAD equivalents for certain actions. Reviewing this resource will help you avoid damage to your machine or potential injury during the process.
Duplicate the Original Laser
Changing the Galvo lens often necessitates significant recalibration and adjustments, essentially creating a new machine profile. To duplicate a device in LightBurn:
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Click Devices in the Laser Window.
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Right-click your current laser and select Duplicate.
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Rename the duplicate profile with a clear and descriptive name to distinguish it from the original.
Tip: Ensure you edit the duplicate profile for all lens-specific adjustments, leaving the original unchanged for reference.
Adjust Focus
After physically changing the lens, adjusting the laser’s focus is crucial. Follow the steps outlined in Galvo Laser Focusing to achieve optimal results. Note that the red dot framing may no longer align perfectly due to changes in focal length.
Field Size and Lens Calibration
Galvo lenses inherently produce distortion, which must be corrected to ensure accurate laser output that matches your design in LightBurn. Here’s how to handle calibration:
Lens Correction Values
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New Laser: When setting up a new laser, you can typically import lens correction values from the manufacturer.
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New Lens: If you’re installing a new lens on an existing laser, you’ll need to use the Galvo Lens Calibration wizard in LightBurn.
Using the Galvo Lens Calibration Wizard
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Go to Laser Tools > Calibrate Galvo Lens.
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Select 9 Point Correction (Easy) for straightforward calibration.
This process adjusts for lens distortion, ensuring the output is true to the design seen in the LightBurn Workspace.
Summary
Replacing a Galvo laser lens involves both physical installation and software adjustments. From duplicating the laser profile to recalibrating the field size and focus, each step is essential for maintaining precision and achieving optimal engraving results.