Laser cutter calibration assistant

thingiverse

I purchased a laser cutter and discovered that the most challenging part of calibration is adjusting the mirrors. The laser beam is invisible and hazardous, necessitating a time-consuming method involving: placing new paper/tape on each mirror, firing the CO2 beam, observing holes in the paper/tape, readjusting mirrors, removing old tape, and repeating this process multiple times. To expedite the process, I developed an alternative solution utilizing a $10 cat-annoying laser pointer. By printing two copies of a specific part (designed to prevent delamination issues) and bolting them together with 25mm M3 screws, you can create a holder that clamps onto the cat laser and activates its button. Position the holder on a flat surface or mount it using an M3 rod and base. Apply tape to the mirrors, fire the C02 beam once, align the red dot from the cat laser with the tape holes, and then remove the tape and adjust the mirrors accordingly. Lastly, switch off and detach the cat laser. This method has not been tested yet, so your feedback is appreciated.