Squaring the Laser Head: MIRA

Applies to: MIRA 5, MIRA 7 and MIRA 9

This guide shows how to square the laser head on your MIRA. Check that the laser head is square if you recently had a crash, or if the edges of your cuts come out at a steep angle.

What you need

• 2.5 mm Allen key
• Cloth or rag
• Small 90° carpenter’s square (4” is recommended)

Square the laser head

1. With the machine on, remove any material and the honeycomb tray from the bed, and set them aside.

2. Use the arrow keys to jog the laser head to roughly the center of the bed. It does not need to be exact. Place a cloth or rag under the laser head to catch any bolt that falls.

   

3. Use a 2.5 mm Allen key to remove the 2 bolts that mount the auto focus assembly to the laser head. Set the bolts aside.

   

4. Rest the auto focus assembly out of the way, on top of the gantry. From this point, be extremely careful if you need to move the laser head or gantry, because the auto focus assembly can be damaged.

   

5. Slide out the lens holder cartridge and set it aside.

   

6. Press the Z/U button on the keypad and check that “Z Move” is highlighted. Press and hold the LEFT or RIGHT arrow key to move the bed until the 90° square sits flat on at least 2 of the blades and fits comfortably against the left side of the laser head.

   

   If your square is too big for the space, the acrylic pie wheel that came with the machine works in a pinch. A true square is recommended.

7. A small notch on the side of the laser head marks where to measure. The top of the square must be under this notch to find the square position accurately. Move the bed until the top of the square is about 0.5 mm below the underside of the notch.

   

8. Push the square against the left side of the laser head and down onto the blades, so it sits as flush as possible. Bend down and look at the front of the laser head at eye level. Look for a gap, usually a small one, between the square and the laser head.

   

9. If there is a gap, adjust the laser head carefully. Use a 2.5 mm Allen key to loosen both laser head mounting bolts by half a turn.

   • If the gap is larger towards the bottom of the laser head, tilt the head to the right by hand.
   • If the gap is larger towards the top of the laser head, tilt the head to the left by hand.
   • If the head will not tilt, loosen the bolts another half turn and try again.

   

10. Once the laser head is as square as possible, tighten the bottom bolt slowly with the Allen key. Check the squareness once more, because the head often moves slightly as the mounting bolts are tightened. Readjust until the square sits flush against the side of the laser head.

11. Reinstall the lens housing and the auto focus assembly on the laser head.

    

12. Run a quick 5 point test to confirm that the beam still leaves the nozzle cleanly, and realign the machine as needed. See 5 Point Test: MIRA.