--- title: CO2 laser beam alignment, focus lens choice, laser tube service and metal work on CO2 lasers — AM training/support how-to videos source_url: - /data/amcoza/sources/youtube/channel-daily.md - /data/amcoza/sources/youtube/channel-main.md - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KQuhUNHSQ - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJXVSuwlSs0 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asb2eTYVjg0 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i5sEML8Dfo - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHdH0Sagnk8 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy9gZGesPhM - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZxshpnGzcM fetched_at: 2026-10-18T14:27:00Z category: co2-laser pass: co2-laser-alignment-metal-youtube-howtos-index refreshed_from: youtube.jsonl dump 2026-10-18 00:25 SAST, buythis.jsonl dump and am.im product JSON (no crawl) --- # CO2 laser alignment, optics service and metal work how-to videos (AM training / support) **Product:** AM.CO.ZA **CO2 laser cutting and engraving machines** (such as the TruCUT range) and their optics, service and metal-marking consumables. This index collects 7 videos that were not yet listed in another AM how-to index: aligning the mirrors and lens, measuring a focus lens to order the right replacement, installing a laser tube with its mirrors and lens, a CO2 laser repair clip, metal cutting CO2 laser alignment and cutting tests, and marking metal on a CO2 laser with Thermo-K liquid thermal ink. Other general CO2 laser videos are in the [CO2 laser how-to index](co2-laser-howtos.md), TruCUT machine videos are in the [TruCUT how-to index](trucut-howtos.md), and image preparation and rotary videos are in the [laser engraving preparation and rotary index](laser-engraving-prep-rotary-howtos.md). Deduplicated by watch ID across all AM how-to index pages (channel indexes alone do not count as how-to coverage). **Source:** local AM YouTube dump `youtube.jsonl` (daily / main channels; refreshed 2026-10-18 00:25 SAST). First written 2026-10-18 16:27 SAST with 7 videos. **YouTube was not crawled.** Titles and watch URLs below are taken from the dump as written. Videos were **not** watched. Three clips have no dump transcript and one daily clip has only a few words of speech, so only their titles are listed. For the other three, the short summaries below are paraphrased from the dump transcript only; nothing was invented to fill gaps, and where a transcript is unclear this page says so. ## English dump titles (7 unique watch URLs) Grouped by topic and sorted by date. AM-channel uploads are framed as **AM training/support sources**. Each watch URL is a source. ### Beam alignment, focus lens choice and laser tube service These clips cover keeping the beam path and optics of a CO2 laser in order: - **Mirror and lens alignment training (2017):** most of this transcript is too unclear to quote, so only the parts that can be followed are summarised here. A piece of tape is stuck over the mirror as a target and the laser is fired briefly to see where the beam lands. Each mirror mount has a lock nut, larger adjusting screws and a tensioning screw: one adjusting screw moves the beam up or down and another moves it left or right, and the tension lets the adjusting screws move the mirror in small steps. When the beam lands on the same spot with the head close to the mirror and far away from it, that mirror is aligned, and when all three mirrors and the lens are aligned the beam should hit the same spot anywhere on the table. Ask AM support for a full alignment walk-through or book a service call rather than relying on this clip alone. - **Measuring a focus lens (2020):** a lens concentrates the beam, which spreads out as it travels. A shorter focal length gives a shorter depth of field, so it suits thinner material; a longer focal length puts less energy in the focus point but keeps it in focus over a longer depth, so it can cut thicker material. To order a replacement you need two numbers. Measure the diameter with a ruler or vernier calliper and take the closest common size (15, 18, 19, 20 or 25 mm). For the focal length, shine a torch from above through the lens onto a table next to a ruler, move the lens up and down until the spot of light is sharpest, and take the closest standard value (38.1, 50.8, 63.5 or 101.6 mm). The clip is filmed on a TruCUT and says other brands are generally built the same way, and that clients can bring a lens to AM, even a cracked one, to have these numbers read. - **Laser tube, mirror and lens installation and service (2021):** a main-channel service clip (no transcript in the dump). - **CO2 laser repair and cutting correct sizes (2026):** a short daily-channel clip; its dump transcript has only a few words, so no summary is given. | Date | Title (from dump) | Watch URL (source) | | --- | --- | --- | | 2017-07-05 | CO2 Laser Alignment Training, Align Three Mirrors and One Lens for Perfect CO2 Laser Cutting Result | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L5KQuhUNHSQ | | 2020-01-28 | #SortIT, How to Measure CO2 Laser Focus Lens Focal Length and Diameter for Better Cutting | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJXVSuwlSs0 | | 2021-11-27 | Install Laser Tube, Mirror and Lens, Laser Alignment and Service of CO2 Laser Cutting Machine 2021 | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asb2eTYVjg0 | | 2026-08-28 | C02 laser fixed and Cutting Correct Sizes | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-i5sEML8Dfo | ### Metal work on CO2 lasers: metal cutting CO2 lasers and Thermo-K marking These clips cover metal on CO2 lasers: - **Metal cutting CO2 laser (2017 and 2018):** a factory clip on aligning a metal cutting CO2 laser, adjusting the head distance and running a cutting test, and a clip cutting 2 mm mild sheet steel for a heavy duty meter box on a 180 W metal cutting CO2 laser (no transcripts in the dump). For production sheet metal cutting AM now also offers fiber lasers; see the [fiber laser cutting how-to index](fiber-laser-cutting-howtos.md). - **Marking metal with Thermo-K liquid thermal ink (2018):** the clip first tries to engrave bare stainless steel and aluminium on a 40 W vertical laser (a fixed laser tube with a movable table, often bought for rubber stamps and name tags) and then on a 130 W TruCUT standard unit, and neither leaves a mark on the bare metal. Thermo-K is then brushed onto the metal and left to dry; when the laser hits the coating it marks the metal surface, and the clip shows clear marks on both aluminium and stainless steel and says it works on most light-coloured metal surfaces. It also works on the smaller 40 W TruCUT-Lite, which has a vertically placed tube that needs no mirrors and focuses straight onto the workpiece. The clip adds that Thermo-K can also be used on ceramic and glass, and that the water used to wash off the excess ink can be collected and left to evaporate so the liquid can be reused. For marking metal with no coating at all it points to the LabelMark 20 W fiber laser; see the [LabelMark how-to index](labelmark-howtos.md). | Date | Title (from dump) | Watch URL (source) | | --- | --- | --- | | 2017-08-13 | Factory Version of CO2 Metal Cutting Laser Alignment, Head Distance Adjustment and Cutting Test | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHdH0Sagnk8 | | 2018-02-20 | Cutting 2mm Mild Sheet Steel for Heavy Duty Meter Box using 180W Metal Cutting CO2 Laser | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fy9gZGesPhM | | 2018-08-17 | Engrave on Metal Tested on CO2 Laser Cutting Machine by Coated with Thermo-K Liquid Thermal Ink | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZxshpnGzcM | ## Related SKUs (Buythis dump and am.im product JSON only; no prices, no stock) Product names come from the Buythis product dump (`buythis.jsonl`; **not crawled**) and am.im product JSON. Prices and stock are not stored on this index. Check each product page for the lens diameter, focal length and machine fit before quoting. More lens sizes, mirrors and spares are listed in the [CO2 laser how-to index](co2-laser-howtos.md) and the [TruCUT how-to index](trucut-howtos.md). | SKU | Product | Dump link | AM KB page | Why it is here | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | L-LENS-ZNSE/20/381 | Φ20mm ZnSe (Zinc Selenide) Lens FL 38.1mm with Two Sides Anti-Reflection (AR/AR) Coating for CO2 Laser Beam | https://buythis.co.za/l-lens-znse-20-381#ai | [L-LENS-ZNSE/20/381](../products/l-lens-znse-20-381.md) | 20 mm diameter lens with a 38.1 mm focal length, one of the standard focal lengths read off in the 2020 lens-measuring clip (short focal length, short depth of field) | | L-LENS-ZNSE/20/508 | Φ20mm ZnSe (Zinc Selenide) Lens FL 50.8mm with Two Sides Anti-Reflection (AR/AR) Coating for CO2 Laser Beam | https://buythis.co.za/l-lens-znse-20-508#ai | [L-LENS-ZNSE/20/508](../products/l-lens-znse-20-508.md) | 20 mm diameter lens with a 50.8 mm focal length, a standard focal length named in the 2020 lens-measuring clip | | L-LENS-ZNSE/20/635 | Φ20mm ZnSe (Zinc Selenide) Lens FL 63.5mm with Two Sides Anti-Reflection (AR/AR) Coating for CO2 Laser Beam | https://buythis.co.za/l-lens-znse-20-635#ai | [L-LENS-ZNSE/20/635](../products/l-lens-znse-20-635.md) | 20 mm diameter lens with a 63.5 mm focal length, a standard focal length named in the 2020 lens-measuring clip | | L-LENS-ZNSE/20/1016 | Φ20mm ZnSe (Zinc Selenide) Lens FL 101.6mm with Two Sides Anti-Reflection (AR/AR) Coating for CO2 Laser Beam | https://buythis.co.za/l-lens-znse-20-1016#ai | [L-LENS-ZNSE/20/1016](../products/l-lens-znse-20-1016.md) | 20 mm diameter lens with a 101.6 mm focal length, the longest focal length named in the 2020 clip (longer depth of field for thicker material) | | L-PAPER/20 | 20 Pages of Laser Reactive Lens/Beam Status Monitor Paper, 127×178mm Size | https://buythis.co.za/l-paper-20#ai | [L-PAPER/20](../products/l-paper-20.md) | Laser reactive paper for checking the beam spot and lens status during alignment | | AS-LASER/CROSS | Crosshair Laser Alignment Kit with Magnetic Base, 5V 1A Laser with Power Supply | https://buythis.co.za/as-laser-cross#ai | [AS-LASER/CROSS](../products/as-laser-cross.md) | Crosshair alignment laser kit with a magnetic base, an aid when lining up the beam path | | L-OPTICAL/WIPE | Premium Laser Optical Components Cleaning Wipe for Lens, Mirrors, Laser Tubes etc., Box of 60 Pieces | https://buythis.co.za/l-optical-wipe#ai | [L-OPTICAL/WIPE](../products/l-optical-wipe.md) | Cleaning wipes for lenses, mirrors and laser tubes during service | | X-SERVICE/LASER | CO2 Laser Cutting Machine Service, Per Call, Consumables Not Included | https://buythis.co.za/x-service-laser#ai | [X-SERVICE/LASER](../products/x-service-laser.md) | AM CO2 laser cutting machine service call (per call, consumables not included) for tube, mirror and lens installation or alignment | | LC-NOZZLE/2 | Metal/Non-Metal CO2 Laser Nozzle Set, include One Aluminium Non-Metal Cutting Nozzle and One Copper Metal Cutting Nozzle | https://buythis.co.za/lc-nozzle-2#ai | [LC-NOZZLE/2](../products/lc-nozzle-2.md) | Nozzle set with one aluminium non-metal cutting nozzle and one copper metal cutting nozzle for CO2 lasers | | LC-THERMO/100 | Reusable 100ml Thermo-K™ Liquid Thermal Ink for CO2 Laser Marking on Metal, Ceramic, Glass Surface | https://buythis.co.za/lc-thermo-100#ai | [LC-THERMO/100](../products/lc-thermo-100.md) | 100 ml Thermo-K liquid thermal ink, the coating used in the 2018 metal-marking clip | | LC-THERMO/220 | Reusable 220ml Thermo-K™ Liquid Thermal Ink for CO2 Laser Marking on Metal, Ceramic, Glass Surface | https://buythis.co.za/lc-thermo-220#ai | [LC-THERMO/220](../products/lc-thermo-220.md) | 220 ml Thermo-K liquid thermal ink, larger bottle of the same coating | ## Related AM how-to indexes - [CO2 laser how-to videos (generic)](co2-laser-howtos.md) - [TruCUT how-to videos](trucut-howtos.md) - [Laser engraving preparation and rotary how-to videos](laser-engraving-prep-rotary-howtos.md) - [Compressed air, nitrogen and laser cooling how-to videos](compressed-air-cooling-howtos.md) - [Fiber laser cutting how-to videos](fiber-laser-cutting-howtos.md) - [LabelMark how-to videos](labelmark-howtos.md) - [Main channel index](channel-main.md) - [Daily channel index](channel-daily.md) ## Notes - Matching: dump titles about CO2 laser alignment, focus lenses, tube and optics service, and metal cutting or metal marking on CO2 lasers, minus any video already in another AM how-to index page. Channel indexes listing the same watch URL do not count as how-to coverage. - Older videos may show earlier machine or software versions; quote current specifications from the product page. - Live stock is never stored here; check the live stock feed for availability.