K40 Index Card Alignment Pattern

This is a quick and inexpensive way to help align the mirrors on a K40 laser cutter. I have tried some of the 3D printed gadgets, but this has worked as simply and as well as anything.

I bought some heavy cardstock and set that up in the printer. After measuring the dimensions carefully, I designed the shapes to work with the mirrors.

The rectangular shape is to be wrapped around the "laser head" which directs the beam down to the work surface. The two horizontal lines in the middle represent the top and the bottom of the opening through which the laser must go.

As each test firing is made, you can simply rotate the cardstock tube around the laser head, comparing the current test with previous tests.

The rectangle with the circle target is for the second mirror which travels along the y-axis (the left side of the laser). Just fold the card back along the two vertical lines, stand it up, and the circle target will align with the mirror.