CO2 cutting and carving control system: Insufficient cutting or carving depth

When using CO₂ laser cutting and engraving products equipped with a Ruida control system, insufficient cutting or engraving depth can be addressed by following the steps below for troubleshooting and operation.

Step 1: Immediate Inspection and Adjustment (Most Common and Fastest)

Check and Adjust the Focal Length:
  This is one of the most frequent causes. Recalibrate using a focusing tool (such as a focus block) to ensure the laser focus accurately lands on the material surface (for engraving) or just below the surface (for cutting). A deviation of 1mm in focal length can reduce energy density by over 50%.

Check and Adjust Processing Parameters:
  In RDWorks, appropriately reduce the processing speed (e.g., to 70% of the current setting).  
  Simultaneously, verify whether the current power percentage is sufficient (for example, try increasing the power from 80% to 95% at lower speeds).  
 Key Operation:Perform a power/speed test grid on the same material to identify the optimal parameter combination.

Step 2: Cleaning and Visual Inspection (Routine Maintenance)

Clean Optical Lenses:
Order: Clean the reflector mirrors (M1, M2, M3) first, and the focusing lens (F-lens) last.  
Method:Use dedicated optical cleaning paper and anhydrous alcohol, gently wiping in a rotating motion from the center outward. Check for any irreversible white spots, burn marks, or coating damage on the lenses. Replace the lens if any such issues are found.

Step 3: Systematic Diagnosis (Requires Further Observation)

Preliminary Optical Path Calibration Check:
  At low power (e.g., 5%), place a piece of acrylic or wood below the laser head.  
  Manually move the laser head to the four corners and the center of the worktable, and perform a brief laser pulse at each location.  
 Observe whether the burn marks from these five points align in the same position (or can be aligned by adjusting the reflector screws). Significant misalignment indicates an improper optical path, leading to energy loss during transmission.

Observe the Laser Tube and Power Supply:
 Laser Tube Aging:Observe the color of the laser spot when the tube is operating. A normal CO₂ laser tube should emit a bright pinkish-purple light. If the light appears pale pink or white accompanied by reduced power, it indicates aging. Also, check if the cooling water temperature is too high (should be below 25°C), as high temperatures can rapidly accelerate aging.  
Laser Power Supply Issues: Listen to the sound during laser operation. A normal laser tube produces a steady "hissing" sound. If the sound is shaky, fluctuating, or accompanied by cracking noises, the high-voltage output of the power supply may be unstable. Check the power supply indicator for any alarm signals.

Final Recommendations:

80% of cases can be resolved by "calibrating the focal length + optimizing processing parameters."
5% of cases stem from "contamination or damage to optical lenses."
5% of cases are due to "hardware issues such as laser tube aging, power supply failure, or core optical path misalignment."