Troubleshooting
Laser stopped cutting, lasering, firing in the middle of a job and will not pulse or fire. Laser Head still moves but does not burn
Preface: This article covers a few tests and checks for when your laser is not firing. Some of the tests are visual inspections while others will require you to change the machine configuration and run diagnostics Quick Start: Nova 24 LPSU, OPTO, ...
Double Lines & Ghosting When Vectoring Lines
If you are getting double lines and/or ghosting when vector engraving, its caused by the laser beam reflecting/refracting off of the nozzle opening. Here is an example of this phenomenon: Here is what's happening inside the head, showing a properly ...
testing h5p interactive elements
You can click the icon indicated below to close the sidebar to reveal the entire slide area: click the images in the instruction below to view full size You can close the sidebar or view the content full screen. Click the right arrow at the bottom to ...
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 ...
Nova DC Laser Tube Pulse Anomoly - Pulse has a Ring and a Dot and looks like a Halo
Preface: This article covers a pulse anomaly that can occur due to the laser tube output or damaged optics Typical Pulse Dot: Red dot is not aligned (purposely) so that the pulse burn mark is easier to see. The pulse burn mark should be concentrated ...
Axis (x, y, z) Grinding or Shuttering Noise
Axis Makes Grinding or Shuttering Noise while Moving A common issue with the Ruida controller is it's inability to receive a file and move at the same time. Typically this happens as the anxious laser user sends a file over to the laser, then walk ...
Internal Breaker Tripping When Starting Or Running A Job
Overview If you experience a condition where the breaker trips when starting or in the middle of a job and if you are using the stock air assist pump, then the culprit could be a failed or failing air pump. What Happens? We have seen internal ...
Miswired 120v Electrical Noise Filters causes Breaker to Trip
Preface: This article covers the scenario where there are miswired Electrical Noise Filters that cause the Main Circuit Breaker to trip: Proper Wiring: Example of Improper Wiring: Incorrect wiring on the left, correct wiring on the right. In this ...
Miswired 24V Power Supply Causes Breaker to Trip
This article covers a scenario that a brand new machine trips the breaker upon start up The wiring for the 24V power supply needs to be checked and corrected. Correct Wiring: Location of 24V Power Supply by Machine : Due to minor changes, the exact ...
Chiller Alarm signal and Cable Troubleshooting guide for Water Protect Error
This is a guide to walk through troubleshooting a Water Protection Error when starting a job on your Laser Preface: Tools you will need: Flat head screw driver Phillips head screw driver Multimeter Paper clip or Wire jumper and possibly a helper ...
Z Axis Honeycomb Bed will not Raise or GO UP or only Goes Down until it reached the bottom
This article covers the Troubleshooting Steps for the Z Axis Honeycomb not raising up and how to bypass for testing Preface: If any of the sensors for the Auto Focus or Z Bed are bypassed, it is on the operator to make sure the machine does not crash ...
Waves appear during cutting - line is not straight
Preface: This article covers what to check when you have wavy lines in your scores, cuts or engraves. Problem description Waves appear when cutting straight line or circular. Noted： Regularly check whether there is any dirt stuck between the belts ...
Alarm message of LCD panel-Water error
Preface: This article covers the possible solutions to a Water Error Work Paused alarm message that shows up on the Laser Machine Controller Screen when you try to start a job. Alarm Message On Screen: LCD panel shows the following information: Water ...
NOVA Main Breaker Tripped Troubleshooting Steps
If this is a brand new machine that you had an electrician install a new 20amp outlet and you are now having power issues. Please verify with your electrician that they did not install a 220v feeder to the receptacle. Thunder Laser Main Power ...
NOVA series 120V Power testing with a multimeter for when a machine "will not turn on"
By performing these test, you acknowledge the risk and have the understanding of the risk in working with electrical power. 120V can be harmful. By proceeding, you are accepting the risk. This article covers How to Trace 120V power in your Nova ...
DC Tube Mode Hopping Due To Coolant Temp & Flow
WHAT IS MODE HOPPING? DO DC EXCITED GLASS TUBES EXHIBIT MODE HOPPING? According to SPT C Series Glass DC Excited Tube documentation, flow rate and temperature can cause mode hoping: Here is the text of that thread (LINK TO ARTICLE. Look under ...
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 ...
How To Replace The Nova Series DC Tubes
Preface: This article covers the basics of swapping out the tube of your Nova series Laser. Depending on the model and vintage, there will be some slight differences. We recommend reading the literature below the video to get a better understanding. ...
Y Axis Motion Noise
When you move laser head front and back, two couplings make a lot of noise. Both sides of transmission shaft are not aligned. How to fix it? 1.Turn off the whole machine power. 2.Take out the belt by taking down the motor. Loosen three screws A ...
Poorly Terminated / Arcing Laser Tube Ground Causes Anomalies
We have a small number of reports that a loose and/or arcing laser tube ground termination has caused x/y/z/and u motors to behave abnormally and result in erratic power output. if the high voltage circuit that energizes the tube suffers from high ...
Some point of the same piece of materials can not be cut through
Some point of the same piece of materials cannot be cut through, why? This problem is mainly caused by following three reasons: The cutting material is bent (not flat) or uneven density. The working table is not level Laser beam is not vertical after ...
Nova Series Laser Won't Turn On - No Power
Preface: This article covers some of the basics for when your Nova Series Machine will not power on. Basic things to Check: Emergency Stop Button Symptom Fix Estop Button Pressed. Could be accidental by like a pet, a long board, a kid walking through ...
Testing Z Axis Endstops
Preface: This article covers the steps to check the basic functions of the Z Axis endstops on a Thunder Laser Nova Series machine Quickstart Video: Complete Guide: Background: The Z axis is the only axis to use two endstops on your thunder laser. The ...
Alarm message of LCD panel—Frame/X/Y Slop over
LCD panel shows the following information: Here are the reasons: ● The size of the graphic is larger than the working area of the machine If your laser cutter’s working area is 600×400mm, but you want to cut a graphic which larger than 600×400mm, ...
LPSU Manual Test Button Missing
Is your manual test button on your LPSU missing? No worries, we have a quick workaround: if there is ever a need to depress the test button, pulling (or cutting) the cotton off of a swab makes a quick, safe way to actuate the switch by pressing where ...
X/Y Motor Adjustment And Replacement
Preface: This article covers how to swap a motor on a Thunder Laser Nova series machine. The information in this article can be used when swapping X to Y motor positions or when replacing a worn out motor with a new motor. Always disconnect the main ...
Laser Tube Will Not Fire - LPSU Test
Preface: This article covers the "Red Button Test" which is a great first test when you have Laser Power issues. The red button test eliminates the OPTO and RUIDA inputs, isolating the system to just the tube and the LPSU. If this test is a success, ...
Calibrating The Z Table
How to calibrate the working table to level. There are three cases. 1. Two sides of the working table are not of the same height Turn off the whole machine power, manually pull one of the belts of Z axis so as to adjust the up and down of the working ...
Nova Series Y Axis Motion Failure
Here are the reasons: ● Rotary switch is turned on (DISREGARD THIS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE A SWITCH) Note: The rotary-axis and y-axis can be switched, if the rotary switch is turned on, y-axis will not moving at all, and the rotary-axis will need to ...
Nova Series X Axis Motion Failure
Here are the reasons: ● X-axis limit switch problem Please open upper left hand door panel, check if the wiring and roller lever of switch are well or not, like below. YOU MAY HAVE OPTICAL ENDSTOPS, PLEASE SEE HERE IF YOUR SWITCHES DIFFER: If they ...
No Camera Image In LightBurn
we always test by plugging the camera directly into a usb port on the computer, bypassing and additional adapters, cords, etc... to eliminate those cables and their installation as a variable Its important to please close all instances of lightburn. ...
Not Enough Extended Space Error
Alarm message of LCD panel—No enough extend space LCD panel shows the following information: This problem only appears on engraving mode, it’s caused by the buffer distance is out of bound. For example, if you want to engrave a picture of 200×200mm, ...
Laser Power Supply (LPSU) Output Current Test Procedure
Preface: This is a diagnostic procedure to collect data on the output of the LPSU. It is not necessary to perform this unless instructed to do so by Thunder Laser USA Support & Innovation Labs. But you can if you like. This instruction is specific to ...