Hey all… I just installed one of rays boards in my k40
Can’t get laser to fire… Any help on what I’ve done wrong? Thanks
I don’t see the PWM connection from the controller anywhere?
@raykholo ?? Also the Pot (white dotted wire looks strange). Are two leads cut?
@donkjr followed Carl’s guide, it was what Ray emailed me… I know I done something wrong, and it may be that. But I did connect that as instructions says.
Can you link me to it.
Spent some time debugging with Rick. We couldn’t get the laser fire working (despite the c3d mini pwm output definitely outputting the expected voltages). I had Rick hook the pot back up and fall back to pulsing the L like you guys are fond of. His physical test button works and I’m waiting for him to report back if he can get the laser to fire from LW.
Ray spent a long time helping me get things going today and yes we did get it firing through LW. Excellent support and customer service! Thank you @raykholo
And think you @donkjr for taking the time to answer today
What was the end problem and cure?
Well we never quite figured that out. The control board was putting the expected output for the pwm but wouldn’t fire in anyway. We had to wire it a different way as @raykholo mentioned above. This machine has been very odd…
@donkjr his laser does not seem to respond to any sort of PWM input - and that includes from the single wire L configuration that you consider ‘proper’. It’s the ribbon cable and green screw terminals psu k40 build.
@raykholo so it still not working, says otherwise above? So how is it wired now?
any reference for that PSU ? (year, built number, …)
@donkjr he can fire, but it seems that the power is the same no matter the S value for PWM. (This was only a limited test so hard to say for sure that this is the case).
The wiring is all stock with L from the psu going to a different MOSFET on my board (2.5 - the bed MOSFET - which is also pwm capable).
@raykholo some things to check.
- Does applying a gnd to L fire the laser?
- If you adjust the pot (assuming it is stock) and then press test does the current in the meter change with the POT position (i.e. up and down)?
With a PWM output acting up I’d be looking at the variable resistor for sure, along with checking the square wave output on an o-scope will tell a good story. How about noise? These Chinese PSU’s could have that modular signal speaking gibberish… noise + signal = ???
Interested in learning more about these boards, as this is the first time hearing about them. Are these oshpark boards or populated PCB’s? Very interested, I’ve been waiting to see some after market control boards for these K40’s, I knew it was only a matter of time!
@Madyn3D_CNC_LLC not sure how to help (if you need some) as I have lost track at to where you are with this problem.
Did you try the two tests that I suggested to Ray above?
Scoping the L pin will help to verify the type of signal the LPS is getting from LW. I am not sure what you mean by the “variable resistor”. You will need the Current Regulation pot connected even though you are connected to pin “L”.
Can you send an updated wiring picture or diagram.
Thanks Don, I’ve been building square wave and logic level PWM boards for quite some time now, so I’m just trying to see if my 2cents is worth anything as far as a PWM output goes. Whenever some mystery would occur with any kind of PWM output, for me, 90% of the time my problem was noise disturbing the signal.
Variable Resistor= pot, trimmer, potentiometer, trim pot, etc…
My problem was fixed days ago and you were a huge help with that. There must have been a slow gas leak in the tube that was non-visible, new tube should be here tomorrow. Wasted a lot of time messing with the PSU and the PSU is fine.
I’ve only got 1 year with this laser, so I still have lots to learn about these… However, I have more than a few years with all different square wave outputs. Here’s the 555 PWM boards I use to assemble a few years ago…
very sorry guys, i have not seen these post. my apologies. i don’t own a scope, and i don’t know a whole lot about this stuff
@rick_jarvis willing to stay on this problem with you but I cannot tell exactly how it it currently wired.
@donkjr when I get home I can add photos but it seems to be working the new way @raykholo had me wire it. I don’t have a whole lot of time lately to play with it. But will for sure add photos. Thank you for your help
I might have misunderstood. So its working OK then?