Hi all, I'm converting a 3rd gen FSL hobby laser to use Smoothie.

Controllers Smoothie
,
1

Hi all, I’m converting a 3rd gen FSL hobby laser to use Smoothie. Motion is working fine (well, I haven’t hooked up the limit switches yet) but I can’t get the laser to fire from software. The jymydy PSU has a L (active low, I think) wire which the original controller utilized (by process of elimination it must be this wire); I’ve hooked it up to the + pin on 2.4. laser_module_enable is true and I’ve tried laser_module_pwm_pin 2.4 and 2.4!^ … regardless, with a DMM attached to pin 2.4 and a cutting job running, there’s no action on pin 2.4. The laser fires using the test button, and I can switch back to the original controller and it works, so it sounds like a configuration issue. Any ideas?

2

You might find out what you need here, I think that the K40 and FSL have some similarities.

Post a picture of the LPS connectors. I do not know if its the same as a K40.

BTW I don’t think you want the +pin on 2.4 (if you are using the green connector) I think that is not the MOSFETS drain, its the DC supply. If I recall the drain is on the - pin.

Try and grnd the LP:S’s L and see if that fires the laser if so it is grnd true. If its the same as the K40 supply it needs an open drain connection.

If I recall you also don’t need the !^ using the output connector.

Here is how I did it…

3

@Ben_Delarre did a conversion. I’m told it was similar enough to the k40, but there were differences.

4

Don, When I touch L to ground, the laser fires. I wired L now 2.5’s minus/gnd connector. With the config file’s pwm output pin set to 2.5!^, the laser fires continuously and never stops. With it set to just 2.5, the laser never fires. It sure doesn’t seem like there is a PWM output on either of these pins. @#($(@# This is via the laser test button and trying to cut a question mark SVG I found via Google.

5

@Peter_Vieth why are you wired to 2.5, did you check the post I linked? You should be using the 2.4??
Please post a picture of how your are wired…

6

Hi Don, I’ve tried both 2.4 and 2.5. Just wanted to make sure in case I’d blown up the FET on 2.4 or something. Thanks for your assistance!
missing/deleted image from Google+

7

Are there any settings in the Smoothie web UI that might might make the laser not fire? The laser cutter guide doesn’t really explain those and I just went through them quickly.

8

Just to rule out any Laserweb issues… do you have an LCD panel attached to your SW board? If so, do a Test Fire from the LCD Menus

9

Kelly, I do not have an LCD panel attached. I wouldn’t be opposed to getting one though. I have a LulzBot Taz 5 and the panel is pretty useful. Any recommendations?

10

@Peter_Vieth lets look at the configuration file can you post it. Also can you post a photo of the actual wiring coming from the smoothie to LPS?

11

Configuration file as requested: https://pastebin.com/3nDpBpS6

12

…and photos https://1drv.ms/f/s!ArD0suVV0QrRirx2T1zk57W1uHFe6A

13

@Peter_Vieth disable all modules in your config file that you are not using for laser like temp, fan etc. I don’t see a conflict so that may not be a problem but just to be safe.

14

Ok, commented out everything about fans, extruders, etc. Still no go. I tried another Mac, this time with LaserWeb4. Also no go. Is there some debug log on the Smoothie itself? Additionally, in LaserWeb, in the control tab, when I jog there is a prompt that the machine has been jogged but when I click LaserTest, the UI doesn’t echo back anything. Not sure if that’s normal or not. Firmware version ok? LaserWeb reports edge-9399ed7
http://smoothieware.org/currentcontrol

15

@Peter_Vieth Many have this working so there is something we are missing.

1.) Do you have a scope? If so can you look at the “L” signal and verify then post what is there?

2.) Do you have a DVM? Put the meter on a scale that will read 0-5V and connect from “L” to gnd. Then send the machine Gcodes with various S values in 10% increments and you should see the average voltage change on “L”, such as.
100% = 5 vdc
50% = 2.5
10% = .5

These values won’t be exact but they should be in the ball park.

16

Thanks again Don. I have a scope and DVM. Will try this when I get home tonight.

17

@Peter_Vieth ok with the scope you can just send Gcodes and monitor “L” for change in DF.

18

When I turn the machine on, L goes high. It then stays high no matter what I do.

19

@Peter_Vieth what Gcodes did you send and how?

20

I used Pronterface. g0 x0 y0, then g1 x100 y0 s100, so on. Also verified the laser module is enabled and the pin settings are right by sending @config-get laser_module_pwm_pin etc