Lens won’t stay in place

I’ve had this issue a few times over the last month. Now, it won’t stay at all. It doesn’t come out completely. But the alignment is off on everything I try to do after just scanning. I put it back the same way I always have after cleaning. I have no idea what’s going on with it. Thanks i

The lens is supposed to move inside the hole. It attaches to the magnets and you don’t have to force it in, it should jump in and hang on for the ride.

If it falls out when you turn it over, then you worry. :smile:

If the alignment is off by more than 1/4", print the Gift of Good Measure on the spare sheet of draftboard that Glowforge provided for troubleshooting, take a screen capture of the results that shows the rulers in the picture along with the variance caused by the machine, then post the results here with the date and time of the test so that the Glowforge team knows where to look in the data stream.

If it’s under 1/4", that’s currently considered within acceptable range. :slightly_smiling_face:

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It doesn’t fall out, just about half way. I’ll try the ruler when I get home tonight. Thank you!

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You only need to just stick the lens install tool up there until the magnets grab it and suck the lens in. After that, it’s designed to move up and down to adjust the focal point of the beam. The clicking you hear when you turn it on and after a job is the lens calibrating itself.

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Thanks for your help @Jules and @jbmanning5!

@toriemarie

It sounds like your lens is moving inside the Printer Head as expected. If it falls all the way out, please let me know!

Alignment is related to the camera on the lid of your Glowforge rather than the printer head lens. The software on your Glowforge is responsible for ensuring that the print lands on the material in the same place as the preview. When you’re done with a print, let a new image load. If the print appears on screen far from where it was supposed to go, you may have an alignment problem.

Most alignment problems come from the material being closer or farther from the camera than expected. While the software is still improving, you can take these steps for the most accurate alignment results:

  • Use Proofgrade™ materials.
  • If you don’t use Proofgrade materials, use a precision set of calipers to measure your material, and enter the thickness in the “uncertified materials” dialog.
  • Use material that is not warped or tilted.
  • Place your design near the center of the bed.
  • Clean the area underneath your crumb tray, particularly the four indentations on the floor.
  • Reboot the machine. Alignment can drift over time, particularly if you bump the head of your Glowforge while removing material.

Should you finish all of these steps, and find that you have an alignment error of more than 1/4", please try a few troubleshooting steps for us:

  • Turn off your Glowforge.

  • Check for small pieces of debris or dust.

  • Check the lower door to make sure it closes all the way. It may require some force to open, but open it, wipe any dust off the edges, and close it all the way.

  • Remove the tray and clean any dust or debris from the surface underneath. Pay careful attention to remove all debris from the four dimples where the tray rests.

  • Check the lid to make sure it closes all the way. Small particles of material, such as dust or debris, can prevent it from closing completely.

  • Check the surface your Glowforge is on to make sure it’s flat. Ensure it is not twisted slightly and that there is no debris propping up one side of the machine.

  • Turn your Glowforge back on.

  • We included an extra piece of Proofgrade Draftboard with your materials shipment for troubleshooting. Place the Proofgrade Draftboard in the center of the bed and print the Gift of Good Measure using the default settings.

  • When the print finishes, leave the lid closed and wait until the fans stop and the picture updates. Without moving your artwork or your material, take a screenshot of the Workspace to show us the difference between the artwork placement and the actual print placement. Make sure to include the rulers in your screenshot and show as much of the bed as possible.

    • Mac: Press Shift-Command-4 and click and drag a box around your image. You’ll find the screenshot file saved on your desktop.
    • Windows: Click on the Start Menu and type “snipping tool”. Open the Snipping Tool > New then click and drag a box around your image. Click the Save icon and name and save your file.
  • Send us the screenshot along with the date and time of the print, and we’ll investigate.

Let me know how it goes!

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It’s been a little while since I’ve seen any replies on this thread so I’m going to close it. If you still need help with this please either start a new thread or email support@glowforge.com.