Many new (and long-time) CO2 laser users find beam setting a confusing and frustrating subject. The promise of a simple foolproof way to set the beam perfectly is very alluring. The reverse setting red diode beam method offered by American Photonics seems to fulfil that promise. In this two video series I study (in-depth) both the conventional way (with a twist or two) and the reverse setting method so that you can make your own mind up as to how the two methods compare.
This Part 1 looks in detail at the issues associated with both methods that few (even the pros) ever consider. Understanding the methodology in this video gives you an insight into the glossed-over difficulties of the reverse beam method covered in part2.
