K40 Index Card Alignment Pattern

thingiverse

This is a fast and budget-friendly way to get the mirrors on a K40 laser cutter perfectly aligned. I've tried some of those 3D printed gadgets before, but this one works just as smoothly and effectively. I picked up some sturdy cardstock and set it up in my printer. After measuring the dimensions carefully, I designed the shapes to match the mirrors precisely. The rectangular shape wraps around the "laser head" which guides the beam down to the work surface. The two horizontal lines in the middle represent the top and bottom of the opening through which the laser must pass. As each test firing is made, you can simply rotate the cardstock tube around the laser head, comparing the current test with previous tests side by side. The rectangle with a circle target is for the second mirror that travels along the y-axis (the left side of the laser). Just fold the card back along the two vertical lines, stand it up, and the circle target will align with the mirror instantly.