Hey community. I got this k40 laser engraver for free because I have a couple 3D printers and the owner thought I could figure it out. Problem is the stepper motor is not connected to anything and I can’t figure out how to get my computer talking to it. Any help/advice would be appropriated on where these wires go.
Hopefully there is a controller board under the compartment lid on the right side of the laser cutter chassis. In order to help figure out how/if this would connect to your computer we’d need to see that controller board. Also helpful would be seeing the front control panel.
Be sure to read the K40 Intro link at the top right of this page.
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From what I can see, there is only one stepper motor driver, the DM542T, a laser power supply(LPS) but no controller and know 2nd stepper motor driver. Previous pictures show what looks like evidence of a once working machine but now it looks like parts were removed and disconnected but not supplied with the unit. When I see drivers like that, I also see a Ruida controller instead of the more typical M2 Nano, or M3 Nano, or some Smoothieware compatible board.
It’s totally fixable but you’ll need to know how to verify and connect lots of wires and I would also add the analog mA meter as you should have read about in the K40 Intro i pointed you to.
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It’s sounding like there is a lot to be done with this and probably not the best project for a beginner. I’m decent with electronics and wiring but I feel I’m in over my head.
It’s not a lot really and might be a good learning experience if you are looking to want to understand how stepper motors work and already know what an electric circuit is and how power flows through circuits.
If the existing 2(or 3) stepper motors work, the laser tube and LPS are good then it’s a matter of getting a 2nd stepper motor driver and a controller then wiring them up.
You may be able to test the LPS and tube by using the front panel controls to see if the LPS and tube fire and how much it can cut. If that doesn’t work there is likely a “test” button on the LPS which can be used to fire the LPS and test the tube. But you should already know this because you read through the K40 Intro link in order to understand how these work and not reading it to solve you’re particular situation.