Thank you for this video. I recently got this exact kit. Two things I want to add to this. 1. I have a red/black Omtech AF2440 100W Laser and it comes with this exact style nozzle. 2. I noticed the adaptor from American Photonics was a bit loose for me and it would be difficult to remove nozzles without taking out the whole adaptor with it. So the solution is to apply a whole lot of plumbers tape around the tread to make it thicker and then it will be nice and snug allowing me to swap nozzles with ease. I would highly recommend this kit with the 4 nozzles from AP. Don’t forget to get the lens cleaning kit from them. My results were so amazing compared to Omtechs stock lenses.
Been using an XTool for 2 years but just placed my order for this exact machine yesterday...if im only going to be engraving sheets of leatherette, do i need the whole set of tubes? I honestly just dont understand the concept of all the different tubes and why you would need them..any help would be grealt appereciated buddy...thanks for your videos and helping us!!
Make sure to join our FB group. Link is on the description box Diodes and co2 lasers are different. With the co2 the laser will focus through a lens. Those lenses can have different focal distances. The focal distance is the distance from the lens from the top of the material. Different focal length lenses have different capabilities. For example, a 1.5” focal length lens has the ability to focus to a finer dot size making it ideal for detailed engraving where a 4.0” focal length lens makes it more ideal for cutting. A well rounded focal length lens is the 2.0” because it’s the best of both worlds. As with any product, the quality will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. OMTech is decent but it’s made with cheap Chinese quality. American photonics is American made and small business owned. They make very good products. You can choose to use a loose lens that fits in your stock setup, or you can choose to use something like I have shown in the video. The advantage with American photonics is that the distance from the tip of the nozzle to the top of the workpiece already preestablished meaning there’s no guessing or testing involved to find out the distance. The lens is also glued in so cleaning it is pretty easy.
@@EdmondsWoodshopI will join the group now bud. Well that makes a whole lot of sense...thanks man!! I will start with the 50.8mm(2.0") w/nozzle and the American Photonics mirrors to get started. Anything else from them you reccomend? I'm doing most of the upgrades on the Laser Guys website..except the rotary..thats gotta wait a few weeks. Thanks again buddy. Not a lot of folks would have taken the time to explain that.
For sure you’ll need the in-line fan. If you took advantage of the last sale you should have gotten the chiller for free. Those would be my top two upgrades. If you have the extra finances, the Liberty controls air assist makes a huge difference, but don’t be afraid to hold off on it and learn the laser a bit first. Make sure to take advantage of our setup guide on the laser-guys website too. It there to help newer OMTech users from a user perspective
@EdmondsWoodshop I'm not sure what you mean by thicker cut, does the 2" only do up to a certain thickness...say 1/4" baltic birch needs a different length? About to order at least the 2" but unsure if I really need any others
Youll want to do some more research on lens with different focal lengths. When a laser beam focuses through a lens it creates an hourglass shape. That hour glass shape is called the depth of field. The depth of field is longer with lenses with longer focal lengths giving the ability to cut thicker pieces. However, on average you’ll be cutting up to 1/4” pieces of material. A 2” focal length lens will definitely have the ability to cut through that so long you have everything setup correctly.
I ordered the 2" lens and cone from AP, followed all the instructions for installing and setting the Focus height, did the reset and it's coming up really short...about half the distance it's supposed to...any pointers on what to do with that
This is a higher quality lens compared to your stock lens. The cut quality is a lot cleaner and they take the guess workout out of setting up the focal distance.
I have an older (3 years) AF2028 with the older autofocus pen. Where can I get the new tube with the integral plunger style autofocus and pointer? Can't find it on the Omtech website. I am thinking it may take a different wiring system.
I've only seen one person successfully buy it through OMTech and he did it buy calling and asking to purchase one over the phone. I'd imagine wiring would lead straight to the driver and it would be an easy swap of the laser head. I'd recommend calling.
American photonics makes their laser nozzles so that the focus should be 10mm. Thats the thickness of a battery. You need to calibrate your autofocus settings to ensure the autofocus is set correctly. 1. Go into lightburn and ensure your laser is on and communicating with lightburn 2. Go to EDIT > MACHINE SETTINGS > MISCELLANEOUS > FOCUS DISTANCE > enter the focal distance you measured > select WRITE > press RESET on your controller to accept changes
Great Video! I've followed the directions for changing the focal length multiple times, but my machine still doesn't adjust correctly. It still has a ~19mm focal length. Any ideas why?
@@EdmondsWoodshop changing that to 0 definitely helped! Still didn't have as easy of a time as you did in the video. I had to set my focus distance to 16.6 to get the 10mm between the piece and the nozzle.
please i need help, i follow your video to the teeth and the auto focus changing from 0 to 10 doesn't work, any advice, please
Great video! Thanks for making this new part known!
Thank you for this video. I recently got this exact kit. Two things I want to add to this.
1. I have a red/black Omtech AF2440 100W Laser and it comes with this exact style nozzle.
2. I noticed the adaptor from American Photonics was a bit loose for me and it would be difficult to remove nozzles without taking out the whole adaptor with it. So the solution is to apply a whole lot of plumbers tape around the tread to make it thicker and then it will be nice and snug allowing me to swap nozzles with ease.
I would highly recommend this kit with the 4 nozzles from AP. Don’t forget to get the lens cleaning kit from them. My results were so amazing compared to Omtechs stock lenses.
Thank you for sharing your experience!
I have the blue and black af2440 and am very confused as to what kit to buy from apc ?
You need the 16.15mm kit.
@inc55 - thank you for commenting! I just got the same model as you. This video and your comment put me on the right track with the AF in my system.
Been using an XTool for 2 years but just placed my order for this exact machine yesterday...if im only going to be engraving sheets of leatherette, do i need the whole set of tubes?
I honestly just dont understand the concept of all the different tubes and why you would need them..any help would be grealt appereciated buddy...thanks for your videos and helping us!!
Make sure to join our FB group. Link is on the description box
Diodes and co2 lasers are different. With the co2 the laser will focus through a lens. Those lenses can have different focal distances. The focal distance is the distance from the lens from the top of the material. Different focal length lenses have different capabilities. For example, a 1.5” focal length lens has the ability to focus to a finer dot size making it ideal for detailed engraving where a 4.0” focal length lens makes it more ideal for cutting. A well rounded focal length lens is the 2.0” because it’s the best of both worlds.
As with any product, the quality will vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. OMTech is decent but it’s made with cheap Chinese quality. American photonics is American made and small business owned. They make very good products.
You can choose to use a loose lens that fits in your stock setup, or you can choose to use something like I have shown in the video. The advantage with American photonics is that the distance from the tip of the nozzle to the top of the workpiece already preestablished meaning there’s no guessing or testing involved to find out the distance. The lens is also glued in so cleaning it is pretty easy.
@@EdmondsWoodshopI will join the group now bud.
Well that makes a whole lot of sense...thanks man!! I will start with the 50.8mm(2.0") w/nozzle and the American Photonics mirrors to get started. Anything else from them you reccomend? I'm doing most of the upgrades on the Laser Guys website..except the rotary..thats gotta wait a few weeks.
Thanks again buddy. Not a lot of folks would have taken the time to explain that.
For sure you’ll need the in-line fan. If you took advantage of the last sale you should have gotten the chiller for free. Those would be my top two upgrades. If you have the extra finances, the Liberty controls air assist makes a huge difference, but don’t be afraid to hold off on it and learn the laser a bit first. Make sure to take advantage of our setup guide on the laser-guys website too. It there to help newer OMTech users from a user perspective
Just subscribed...have the af2028 80w... which length do you use most from the kit...trying to keep my upgrading cost at a minimum for the moment
I have the 2.0” on their 95% of the time. I’ll use the longer ones when I need a thicker cut.
@EdmondsWoodshop I'm not sure what you mean by thicker cut, does the 2" only do up to a certain thickness...say 1/4" baltic birch needs a different length? About to order at least the 2" but unsure if I really need any others
Youll want to do some more research on lens with different focal lengths.
When a laser beam focuses through a lens it creates an hourglass shape. That hour glass shape is called the depth of field. The depth of field is longer with lenses with longer focal lengths giving the ability to cut thicker pieces.
However, on average you’ll be cutting up to 1/4” pieces of material. A 2” focal length lens will definitely have the ability to cut through that so long you have everything setup correctly.
I ordered the 2" lens and cone from AP, followed all the instructions for installing and setting the Focus height, did the reset and it's coming up really short...about half the distance it's supposed to...any pointers on what to do with that
What does this upgraded nozzle do exactly?
This is a higher quality lens compared to your stock lens. The cut quality is a lot cleaner and they take the guess workout out of setting up the focal distance.
I have an older (3 years) AF2028 with the older autofocus pen. Where can I get the new tube with the integral plunger style autofocus and pointer? Can't find it on the Omtech website. I am thinking it may take a different wiring system.
I've only seen one person successfully buy it through OMTech and he did it buy calling and asking to purchase one over the phone. I'd imagine wiring would lead straight to the driver and it would be an easy swap of the laser head. I'd recommend calling.
How would you adjust this particular head if the focus is off meaning to low
American photonics makes their laser nozzles so that the focus should be 10mm. Thats the thickness of a battery. You need to calibrate your autofocus settings to ensure the autofocus is set correctly.
1. Go into lightburn and ensure your laser is on and communicating with lightburn
2. Go to EDIT > MACHINE SETTINGS > MISCELLANEOUS > FOCUS DISTANCE > enter the focal distance you measured > select WRITE > press RESET on your controller to accept changes
Great Video!
I've followed the directions for changing the focal length multiple times, but my machine still doesn't adjust correctly. It still has a ~19mm focal length. Any ideas why?
Go into your vendor settings > Z axis setting > z home offset
Is that number zero? It should be.
@@EdmondsWoodshop changing that to 0 definitely helped! Still didn't have as easy of a time as you did in the video. I had to set my focus distance to 16.6 to get the 10mm between the piece and the nozzle.