Ortur Power Problems

[PopPopMoose]

I am running an Ortur Laser Master 3 with the LU3-20A head(20W). I have been having power issues
when cutting or engraving. With 3mm Baltic Birch, cutting Speed at 150mm/min, 100% power and 10
passes, some portions cut completely through, while others didn't cut through at all. (See attached
pictures) The lens of the laser is cleaned before getting started every day, and often between tasks.
I verified the focus, the level of the laser and the level of the bed (in multiple locations) along
the X and Y axis, with a bubble level and a digital level. The digital level showed 0.15° off on the
X axis of the laser and 0.15° off on the honeycomb bed resulting in 0° difference between the bed and
the laser. The Y axis was 0.10° on the bed and 0.10° on the laser, indicating that the surface was 0°
off as well. I then took 6mm thick wooden paint stirrers from local hardware store
and cut multiple circles to test the laser and what normally would have cut through in one pass, was
cut through in one pass in some spots and not cut through after 3 passes, in other spots. Then I tried with a 3mm paint
stick. That should have cut like butter in one pass and it wasn't cut through in many places after 2 passes.
I am thoroughly confused as to why I am having such power issues. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

[PopPopMoose]

I saw that there was a more recent version of firmware for the laser, so I updated the firmware, but that didn't fix it. I remember someone saying that after an update of Lightburn they had a power problem and it was a setting. When I went into device settings (wrench and screwdriver icon) I notice that S-value max was set at 255 and if I hovered on it Lightburn told me that it had to match the GRBL setting at $30. I checked and $30 said 1000. I changed the S-value max to 1000 and tried again. It was like a brand new machine!! This thing has power to spare!! All is good again!!

[strongie]

hi ya ime no expert but what i found that sometimes the material we use may be un level to the laser i used a spirit level to make sure that the laser frame was level and also the bed where the material is because i found that if their not level their will be fluctuations in the height of the material which could be lower and not cut through completely but ime glad you sorted it, strongie

[PopPopMoose]

Thank you Strongie. I use magnets and pins to secure my projects, especially since wood is often warped. I have my old wooden press from my old darkroom and can press the wood for days to try to flatten them. Thank you again!
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