Red Dot Pointer Issues and Replacement

Red Dot Pointer Issues and Replacement

Check your laser head nozzle exit to make sure its not caked in dust and soot

The red dot pointer has no power


Locate on the Red Dot Pointer Mount in the rear of the machine, and check if the Red Dot Pointer is on, like below. It will not form a 'normal' looking spot typically so don't automatically assume the module has failed.



If not, please open the lower left-hand door panel, find the connector for the red dot and check if it’s connected well, like below. This connector gets its +5VDC power from the TL Timer board.



Power Source:
The red dot in newer machines is powered by the TL timer which has redundant power supplies for the 5V needed for the red dot. You can check with a meter for 5VDC and even swap the connector to the spare source.


Nova Machines: The TL timer is on the right side in the electronics bay behind the blue door

Schematic of the Red Dot Power on V8.4 TL Timer
V8.4 and lower TL TIMER Red Dot Power Source



Bolt and Odin Series: The TL timer is on the Left side behind the door.

Schematic of a the Red Dot Power On V9.4 TL Timer
V9.0 and higher TL TIMER Red Dot Power Source








Red dot lens damage due to beam reflection


Here is an example of a red dot module lens assembly that has been exposed to reflected beam energy. This is almost always caused by using too much power while processing reflective materials like powder-coated tumblers, anodized metals, bare metal in conjunction with a marking compound, attempting to cut metals, etc...  This specific issue is not normally covered under warranty.  



Update: we are using a red dot module with a much smaller aperture to help mitigate reflected beam energy. This design seems to help but makes it more difficult to visualize the lens:




The red dot pointer is not aligned (most common)


Procedure: Align the Red Dot pointer


1.Move the laser head on the middle of the working table.


2.Place a square of masking tape over the left side of the third mirror carriage, and mark a dot on the center, like below.




3.Use the three adjustment screws on the Red Dot Pointer Mount to move red dot to the mark dot on the tape, like below.


 



The red dot pointer pigtail is terminated with a barrel connector so you can easily replace it. It is a +5vDC device. It is powered from the TL Timer board. 


The red dot pointer 12x30mm.


Here is a link that you can use to buy a replacement red dot pointer.

Cloudray has a similar one too, but we have had a few reports that the barrel connector on the pointer doesn't provide power from the thunder OEM harness due to some small deviation in components. We recommend using the OEM module.







    • Related Articles

    • Splicing In a 3rd Party Red Dot Power Source

      Splicing Small-Gauge, Low Voltage, Stranded Wire Preface This guide was written specifically for providing instructions on adding an alternate power source for nova red dot module using a step-down buck converter to get 5v DC from an internal 24v DC ...
    • Nova Series LPSU Replacement

      Preface: This article will cover Laser Power Supply replacement on Thunder Laser Nova series machines. Before we begin: The LPSU outputs somewhere around 30,000 VDC and can store a charge so always heed the big red wires and connectors. They are ...
    • Seven Red Flashing LED Lights on X or Y Driver on a Nova Series Laser and Laser Won't Move

      Preface: This Article Covers what to check if you are getting seven Red Leg Light Flashes on your X or Y driver on a Nova series laser machine The basic premise is that something is causing the Driver to not be able to move the laser head due to ...
    • EzCad Red light Pointer Marking Tips for lining up a Jig for Aurora Fiber

      This article covers some tips for using the Red Light Pointer for your Aurora Fiber Laser while using EzCad Things to check before using the Red Light Pointer: Alignment Before you start: Have your jig installed and secured to the bed in a repeatable ...
    • Thunder S&A 5000 series V1 & V2 Cooling Fan Replacement Procedure

      Disconnect the equipment from the main power before performing this repair. Be careful of sharp edges and screw points. You will need a #2 Philips head screwdriver and something to snip a wire tie or 2, and a few wire ties to replace the ones snipped ...
    If you are a Thunder Laser USA client and still need Technical Support after exhausting the resources in the Knowledge Base, simply email support@thunderlaserusa.com and the Technical Support Team will promptly assist you!