This is post is applicable to the old CNC Router that we sold in 2022. It is not applicable to the new CNC Router.

 

Why does the CNC Router have a laser pointer?

To quickly and accurately align your work stock with the X or Y axis of the CNC. With it you can align the edge or seam in a board, or a straight line drawn on your workstock, with the X or Y axis of the CNC router assuring it is squared up with the machine. This makes it simple to position the edge of a plywood board or to allow the flipping, or removal and re-attaching of stock, and being able to align it with previous cuts. I use this to cut both sides of an electric guitar body and keep the cuts on both sides aligned with each other.

The laser turns on when the power to the CNC stepper motors & overhead lights is turned on.

In this example I’m going to align the X axis with a straight edge of some plywood. You can also align to the Y axis.

First I lay the wood on the spoil board of the CNC where I want it to be, roughly in the position I want. Then I move the gantry so the laser is roughly over the left side of my edge. You don’t have to precisely align the laser by moving the gantry as the laser can be moved on both the X & Y axis with your hand.

Adjust the laser until the red dot is split in half by the edge of the board you are using.

Then carefully move the gantry all the way to the right side of the edge being careful to only use X movement and not Y. The X Box controller we use can be slightly tricky and can move both axis’ at once.

You can see I no longer have a split laser dot. So firmly hold the left side with a finger to keep it in place and act as a pivot while you move the right side of the wood until you see the split dot again.

Now move the gantry to the left and watch to see if the dot is split the whole way across. If it is your work piece and the gantry are well squared up and you can attach it with brass screws or plastic nails.

After doing this a few times it becomes a very quick way to square up your work. It’s a one trick pony, that’s all it does. Happy cutting.