Laser PWM not functioning

mlapaglia_SW · July 14, 2015, 12:40pm

I have been working on getting the JTech Photonics laser kit hooked up to the smoothieboard. Configuration and documentation is here
jtechphotonics . com / ?page_id=602

I can’t get the laser to turn on using the S command of less that 1. I’ve scoped both the 2.4 pin header and the mosfet output, when sending less than S1 there is no PWM being sent. To check my scoping skills (I purchased my first scope recently!) I tested the PWM output for the hot end fan, which worked correctly.

output at S1
i.imgur . com/79PAOkb.png

output at S0.99
i.imgur . com/tO3AXr1.png

Any help is appreciated.

# NOTE Lines must not exceed 132 characters # Robot module configurations : general handling of movement G-codes and slicing into moves default_feed_rate 4000 # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G1/G2/G3 moves default_seek_rate 4000 # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for G0 moves mm_per_arc_segment 0.5 # Arcs are cut into segments ( lines ), this is the length for # these segments. Smaller values mean more resolution, # higher values mean faster computation #mm_per_line_segment 0.5 # Lines can be cut into segments ( not useful with cartesian # coordinates robots ). delta_segments_per_second 100 # for deltas only same as in Marlin/Delta, set to 0 to disable # and use mm_per_line_segment Arm solution configuration : Cartesian robot. Translates mm positions into stepper positions arm_solution linear_delta # selects the delta arm solution alpha_steps_per_mm 80 # Steps per mm for alpha stepper beta_steps_per_mm 80 # Steps per mm for beta stepper gamma_steps_per_mm 80 # Steps per mm for gamma stepper arm_length 420.68 # this is the length of an arm from hinge to hinge arm_radius 211.250 # this is the horizontal distance from hinge to hinge # when the effector is centered Planner module configuration : Look-ahead and acceleration configuration planner_queue_size 32 # DO NOT CHANGE THIS UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING acceleration 3000 # Acceleration in mm/second/second. acceleration_ticks_per_second 1000 # Number of times per second the speed is updated junction_deviation 0.05 # Similar to the old “max_jerk”, in millimeters, # Lower values mean being more careful, higher values means being # faster and have more jerk #minimum_planner_speed 0.0 # sets the minimum planner speed in mm/sec Stepper module configuration microseconds_per_step_pulse 1 # Duration of step pulses to stepper drivers, in microseconds base_stepping_frequency 100000 # Base frequency for stepping Cartesian axis speed limits x_axis_max_speed 30000 # mm/min y_axis_max_speed 30000 # mm/min z_axis_max_speed 30000 # mm/min Stepper module pins ( ports, and pin numbers, appending “!” to the number will invert a pin ) alpha_step_pin 2.0 # Pin for alpha stepper step signal alpha_dir_pin 0.5 # Pin for alpha stepper direction alpha_en_pin 0.4 # Pin for alpha enable pin alpha_current 1.5 # X stepper motor current alpha_max_rate 30000.0 # mm/min beta_step_pin 2.1 # Pin for beta stepper step signal beta_dir_pin 0.11 # Pin for beta stepper direction beta_en_pin 0.10 # Pin for beta enable beta_current 1.5 # Y stepper motor current beta_max_rate 30000.0 # mm/min gamma_step_pin 2.2 # Pin for gamma stepper step signal gamma_dir_pin 0.20! # Pin for gamma stepper direction gamma_en_pin 0.19 # Pin for gamma enable gamma_current 1.5 # Z stepper motor current gamma_max_rate 30000.0 # mm/min Serial communications configuration ( baud rate default to 9600 if undefined ) uart0.baud_rate 115200 # Baud rate for the default hardware serial port second_usb_serial_enable false # This enables a second usb serial port (to have both pronterface # and a terminal connected) #leds_disable true # disable using leds after config loaded #msd_disable false # disable the MSD (USB SDCARD) when set to true Extruder module configuration extruder.hotend.enable true # Whether to activate the extruder module at all. All configuration is ignored if false extruder.hotend.steps_per_mm 92.4 # Steps per mm for extruder stepper extruder.hotend.default_feed_rate 600 # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for moves where only the extruder moves extruder.hotend.acceleration 500 # Acceleration for the stepper motor, as of 0.6, arbitrary ratio extruder.hotend.max_speed 70 # mm/s extruder.hotend.step_pin 2.3 # Pin for extruder step signal extruder.hotend.dir_pin 0.22 # Pin for extruder dir signal extruder.hotend.en_pin 0.21 # Pin for extruder enable signal extruder offset extruder.hotend.x_offset 0 # x offset from origin in mm extruder.hotend.y_offset 0 # y offset from origin in mm extruder.hotend.z_offset 0 # z offset from origin in mm firmware retract settings when using G10/G11, these are the defaults if not defined, must be defined for each extruder if not using the defaults extruder.hotend.retract_length 3 # retract length in mm extruder.hotend.retract_feedrate 45 # retract feedrate in mm/sec extruder.hotend.retract_recover_length 0 # additional length for recover extruder.hotend.retract_recover_feedrate 8 # recover feedrate in mm/sec (should be less than retract feedrate) extruder.hotend.retract_zlift_length 0 # zlift on retract in mm, 0 disables extruder.hotend.retract_zlift_feedrate 6000 # zlift feedrate in mm/min (Note mm/min NOT mm/sec) delta_current 1.5 # First extruder stepper motor current Second extruder module configuration example extruder.hotend2.enable true # Whether to activate the extruder module at all. All configuration is ignored if false extruder.hotend2.steps_per_mm 140 # Steps per mm for extruder stepper extruder.hotend2.default_feed_rate 600 # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for moves where only the extruder moves extruder.hotend2.acceleration 500 # Acceleration for the stepper motor, as of 0.6, arbitrary ratio extruder.hotend2.max_speed 50 # mm/s extruder.hotend2.step_pin 2.8 # Pin for extruder step signal extruder.hotend2.dir_pin 2.13 # Pin for extruder dir signal extruder.hotend2.en_pin 4.29 # Pin for extruder enable signal extruder.hotend2.x_offset 0 # x offset from origin in mm extruder.hotend2.y_offset 25.0 # y offset from origin in mm extruder.hotend2.z_offset 0 # z offset from origin in mm #epsilon_current 1.5 # Second extruder stepper motor current Laser module configuration laser_module_enable true # Whether to activate the laser module at all. All configuration is # ignored if false. laser_module_pin 2.4 # this pin will be PWMed to control the laser. Only P2.0 - P2.5 # can be used since laser requires hardware PWM laser_module_max_power 1.0 # this is the maximum duty cycle that will be applied to the laser laser_module_tickle_power 0.0 # this duty cycle will be used for travel moves to keep the laser # active without actually burning #laser_module_pwm_period 200 # this sets the pwm frequency as the period in microseconds Hotend temperature control configuration temperature_control.hotend.enable true # Whether to activate this ( “hotend” ) module at all. # All configuration is ignored if false. temperature_control.hotend.thermistor_pin 0.23 # Pin for the thermistor to read temperature_control.hotend.heater_pin 2.7 # Pin that controls the heater temperature_control.hotend.thermistor EPCOS100K #temperature_control.hotend.beta 4066 # or set the beta value temperature_control.hotend.set_m_code 104 # temperature_control.hotend.set_and_wait_m_code 109 # temperature_control.hotend.designator T # temperature_control.hotend.p_factor 42.8 # permanently set the PID values after an auto pid temperature_control.hotend.i_factor 2.210 # temperature_control.hotend.d_factor 207 # #temperature_control.hotend.max_pwm 64 # max pwm, 64 is a good value if driving a 12v resistor with 24v. Hotend2 temperature control configuration #temperature_control.hotend2.enable true # Whether to activate this ( “hotend” ) module at all. # All configuration is ignored if false. #temperature_control.hotend2.thermistor_pin 0.25 # Pin for the thermistor to read #temperature_control.hotend2.heater_pin 1.23 # Pin that controls the heater #temperature_control.hotend2.thermistor EPCOS100K ##temperature_control.hotend2.beta 4066 # or set the beta value #temperature_control.hotend2.set_m_code 884 # #temperature_control.hotend2.set_and_wait_m_code 889 # #temperature_control.hotend2.designator T1 # #temperature_control.hotend2.p_factor 13.7 # permanently set the PID values after an auto pid #temperature_control.hotend2.i_factor 0.097 # #temperature_control.hotend2.d_factor 24 # #temperature_control.hotend2.max_pwm 64 # max pwm, 64 is a good value if driving a 12v resistor with 24v. temperature_control.bed.enable true # temperature_control.bed.thermistor_pin 0.24 # temperature_control.bed.heater_pin 2.4 # temperature_control.bed.thermistor Honeywell100K #temperature_control.bed.beta 4066 # or set the beta value temperature_control.bed.set_m_code 140 # temperature_control.bed.set_and_wait_m_code 190 # temperature_control.bed.designator B # #temperature_control.bed.bang_bang false # set to true to use bang bang control rather than PID #temperature_control.bed.hysteresis 2.0 # set to the temperature in degrees C to use as hysteresis # when using bang bang Switch module for fan control switch.fan.enable true # switch.fan.input_on_command M106 # switch.fan.input_off_command M107 # switch.fan.output_pin 2.6 # switch.fan.output_type pwm # pwm output settable with S parameter in the input_on_comand #switch.fan.max_pwm 255 # set max pwm for the pin default is 255 #switch.misc.enable true # #switch.misc.input_on_command M42 # #switch.misc.input_off_command M43 # #switch.misc.output_pin 2.4 # #switch.misc.output_type digital # just an on or off pin automatically toggle a switch at a specified temperature. Different ones of these may be defined to monitor different temperatures and switch different swithxes useful to turn on a fan or water pump to cool the hotend temperatureswitch.hotend.enable true # temperatureswitch.hotend.designator T # first character of the temperature control designator to use as the temperature sensor to monitor temperatureswitch.hotend.switch fan # select which switch to use, matches the name of the defined switch temperatureswitch.hotend.threshold_temp 60.0 # temperature to turn on (if rising) or off the switch temperatureswitch.hotend.heatup_poll 1 # poll heatup at 15 sec intervals temperatureswitch.hotend.cooldown_poll 60 # poll cooldown at 60 sec intervals Switch module for spindle control #switch.spindle.enable false # Endstops endstops_enable true # the endstop module is enabled by default and can be disabled here delta_homing true # forces all three axis to home a the same time regardless of # what is specified in G28 alpha_min_endstop nc # alpha_max_endstop 1.25^ # add ! to invert pullup if switch is NO to ground alpha_homing_direction home_to_max # Home up alpha_max 0 # beta_min_endstop nc # beta_max_endstop 1.27^ # beta_homing_direction home_to_max # beta_max 0 # gamma_min_endstop nc # gamma_max_endstop 1.29^ # gamma_homing_direction home_to_max # gamma_max 259.45 # alpha_fast_homing_rate_mm_s 200 # homing feedrates in mm/second beta_fast_homing_rate_mm_s 200 # gamma_fast_homing_rate_mm_s 200 # alpha_slow_homing_rate_mm_s 20 # beta_slow_homing_rate_mm_s 20 # gamma_slow_homing_rate_mm_s 20 alpha_homing_retract_mm 15 # retract/bounce distance after homing in mm beta_homing_retract_mm 15 # gamma_homing_retract_mm 15 # alpha_trim 0 # software trim for alpha stepper endstop (in mm) beta_trim 0 # software trim for beta stepper endstop (in mm) gamma_trim 0 # software trim for gamma stepper endstop (in mm) #endstop_debounce_count 100 # uncomment if you get noise on your endstops optional Z probe zprobe.enable false # set to true to enable a zprobe zprobe.probe_pin 1.28!^ # pin probe is attached to if NC remove the ! zprobe.slow_feedrate 5 # mm/sec probe feed rate #zprobe.debounce_count 100 # set if noisy zprobe.fast_feedrate 100 # move feedrate mm/sec zprobe.probe_height 5 # how much above bed to start probe #gamma_min_endstop nc # normally 1.28. Change to nc to prevent conflict, associated with zprobe the leveling strategy to use #leveling-strategy.delta-calibration.enable true # basic delta calibration #leveling-strategy.delta-calibration.radius 100 # the probe radius Pause button pause_button_enable true # Panel panel.enable false # set to true to enable the panel code panel.lcd smoothiepanel # set type of panel panel.encoder_a_pin 3.25!^ # encoder pin panel.encoder_b_pin 3.26!^ # encoder pin Example for reprap discount GLCD on glcd EXP1 is to left and EXP2 is to right, pin 1 is bottom left, pin 2 is top left etc. +5v is EXP1 pin 10, Gnd is EXP1 pin 9 #panel.lcd reprap_discount_glcd # #panel.spi_channel 0 # spi channel to use ; GLCD EXP1 Pins 3,5 (MOSI, SCLK) #panel.spi_cs_pin 0.16 # spi chip select ; GLCD EXP1 Pin 4 #panel.encoder_a_pin 3.25!^ # encoder pin ; GLCD EXP2 Pin 3 #panel.encoder_b_pin 3.26!^ # encoder pin ; GLCD EXP2 Pin 5 #panel.click_button_pin 1.30!^ # click button ; GLCD EXP1 Pin 2 #panel.buzz_pin 1.31 # pin for buzzer ; GLCD EXP1 Pin 1 #panel.button_pause_pin 2.11^ # kill/pause ; GLCD EXP2 Pin 8 either #panel.back_button_pin 2.11!^ # back button ; GLCD EXP2 Pin 8 or pins used with other panels #panel.up_button_pin 0.1! # up button if used #panel.down_button_pin 0.0! # down button if used #panel.click_button_pin 0.18! # click button if used panel.menu_offset 0 # some panels will need 1 here panel.alpha_jog_feedrate 6000 # x jogging feedrate in mm/min panel.beta_jog_feedrate 6000 # y jogging feedrate in mm/min panel.gamma_jog_feedrate 200 # z jogging feedrate in mm/min panel.hotend_temperature 185 # temp to set hotend when preheat is selected panel.bed_temperature 60 # temp to set bed when preheat is selected Example of a custom menu entry, which will show up in the Custom entry. NOTE _ gets converted to space in the menu and commands, | is used to separate multiple commands custom_menu.power_on.enable true # custom_menu.power_on.name Power_on # custom_menu.power_on.command M80 # custom_menu.power_off.enable true # custom_menu.power_off.name Power_off # custom_menu.power_off.command M81 # Only needed on a smoothieboard currentcontrol_module_enable true # return_error_on_unhandled_gcode false # network settings network.enable true # enable the ethernet network services network.webserver.enable true # enable the webserver network.telnet.enable true # enable the telnet server network.ip_address auto # use dhcp to get ip address uncomment the 3 below to manually setup ip address

#network.ip_address 192.168.3.222 # the IP address #network.ip_mask 255.255.255.0 # the ip mask #network.ip_gateway 192.168.3.1 # the gateway address #network.mac_override xx.xx.xx.xx.xx.xx # override the mac address, only do this if you have a conflict

Imported from wikidot

Arthur_Wolf · July 14, 2015, 4:13pm

Hey.

Can you try :

Using pin 2.5 instead of 2.4
Commenting tickle power and max power

Thanks.

mlapaglia_SW · July 15, 2015, 3:49pm

Moved over to 2.5 and commented out the values. I moved the bed heater pin to 2.4 in the mean time to keep it from possibly interfering. Unfortunately the problem still exists Any other ideas?

Arthur_Wolf · July 15, 2015, 5:35pm

Exactly how are you connecting the board and the laser driver ?

mlapaglia_SW · July 15, 2015, 10:25pm

I’ve tried connecting via the 2.5 and 2.4 mosfet connectors as well as the pin headers behind them.

imgur (dot) com/jlxYgzB

mlapaglia_SW · July 17, 2015, 10:13am

After changing the config file to be 0.8, any laser commands without an S value appear to be sent as 80% duty cycle

i.imgur (dot) com/Eidk4tr.png

If I manually add a S1 to the end of a command it jumps to 100% duty cycle. Lowering it back down with a S0.8 causes no PWM to be sent until the unit is restarted.

Arthur_Wolf · July 17, 2015, 10:20am

Ok so, not a helpful comment but : this is super weird …

I just looked at the code, and everything is fine, and there have been no changes that could affect this.
Also, I just lasercut yesterday with a recent firmware and got none of the symptoms this would cause.

Could you update to the latest firmware and configuration file ?

Thanks.

mlapaglia_SW · July 17, 2015, 11:37am

When you were cutting were you using different power levels? When I don’t use the S values it lasers fine with on/off commands:
mattlapaglia (dot) com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/IMG_20150706_215550.jpg
(still working on some “alignment”? issues, but that is next)

The issue only happens when I’m trying to change the intensity through gcode, like etching an image into wood, where the S code changes while lasering.

I will try the firmware/config update this afternoon.

mlapaglia_SW · July 26, 2015, 9:04am

After reflashing the latest firmware PWM is coming out of pin 2.4 correctly, thanks

Mark_Ingle · August 1, 2016, 9:04pm

Are you still using the laser diode the jtech? I am interested in upgrading my 3D printer. Also is it possible to monitor the temperature of the case while the laser is pulling AMPS?

RogerBritt_SW · August 6, 2016, 1:39pm

Hi…i am new user here….I just looked at the code, and everything is fine, and there have been no changes that could affect this.Also, I just lasercut yesterday with a recent firmware and got none of the symptoms this would cause.Could you update to the latest firmware and configuration file ?