Skip to content Russ maps the 40 W beam more closely and again finds that the effective mark changes with power and exposure. During the same tests he sees patterned variation that initially resembles a motion problem but points instead toward changing optical output.
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What You’ll Learn
- Why effective spot size grows as more of the beam exceeds the material’s damage threshold.
- How a multi-diode head can create a relatively broad intensity profile.
- How repeatable engraving bands can be used to diagnose output variation.
The Burn Defines the Practical Spot
At low exposure only the highest-intensity centre may mark. As exposure increases, lower-intensity regions also cross the damage threshold and the visible mark widens.
Separating Motion from Optical Output
Russ compares the pattern with earlier mechanical artefacts and concludes that this variation is better explained by changing laser output than by changing carriage speed.
Why This Session Matters
It reinforces the need to diagnose the complete system rather than treating every visible artefact as a software or motion issue.
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