PWM pin for laser in skr 1.3 with grbl-hal

javier · April 13, 2022, 4:52pm

Hello,

Where I can to connect the pwm wire of my laser with grbl-hal and skr 1.3?

It’s ok in positive of the H-BED 2.5 ?

The +12V and GND of my laser are connected to the machine power supply, 12V 40A output.

Best regards

dougl · April 13, 2022, 7:51pm

It depends on what your laser cutter power supply wants for PWM control. Some LPSs want to see the PWM signal pulling low( active Low ) and some what to see the PWM signal pulling high( active High ).

My K40 LPS likes active Low so I use the negative side of the HBed. Besides, isn’t the positive side of the HBed tied to your input voltage(12V or 24V) therefore it is not even controllable?

javier · April 13, 2022, 10:19pm

PWM/TTL input: DC3.3V-12V

donkjr · April 13, 2022, 11:33pm

Did I miss what kind of machine you are trying to control?

dougl · April 14, 2022, 5:08am

It wasn’t mentioned yet @donkjr but I now realize that the above statement probably relates to a diode laser module. I was thinking CO2 and couldn’t make sense of that line but now it makes sense.

donkjr · April 14, 2022, 12:07pm

I would use one of the open-drain MOSFET drivers that support PWM.
Looks like you will need a pullup to 12V.

Schematic here: BIGTREETECH-SKR-V1.3/SKR-V1.3-SCH.pdf at master · bigtreetech/BIGTREETECH-SKR-V1.3 · GitHub

javier · April 14, 2022, 10:36pm

Cartesian build by me, with 5,5W output laser, NUBM0A 455nm with grbl-hal

javier · April 14, 2022, 10:48pm

Works in +HB but is always ON.

I have tried with M3, M4, M5 codes and always is ON

$32
$32=1
ok

M3
ok
b’$G\n’
[GC:G0 G54 G17 G21 G90 G94 G49 G98 G50 M3 M9 T0 F0 S0.]
ok
M4
ok
M5
ok

javier · April 14, 2022, 11:04pm

$30 - Max spindle speed, RPM

This sets the spindle speed for the maximum 5V PWM pin output. Higher programmed spindle RPMs are accepted by Grbl but the PWM output will not exceed the max 5V. By default, Grbl linearly relates the max-min RPMs to 5V-0.02V PWM pin output in 255 increments. When the PWM pin reads 0V, this indicates spindle disabled. Note that there are additional configuration options are available in config.h to tweak how this operates.

$31 - Min spindle speed, RPM

This sets the spindle speed for the minimum 0.02V PWM pin output (0V is disabled). Lower RPM values are accepted by Grbl but the PWM output will not go below 0.02V, except when RPM is zero. If zero, the spindle is disabled and PWM output is 0V.

$32 - Mode of operation, integer

0 - Normal, Grbl will operate as it always has, stopping motion with every S spindle speed command. This is the default operation of a milling machine to allow a pause to let the spindle change speeds.
1 - Laser mode, Grbl will move continuously through consecutive G1, G2, or G3 motion commands when programmed with a S spindle speed (laser power). The spindle PWM pin will be updated instantaneously through each motion without stopping. Please read the Grbl laser documentation and your laser device documentation prior to using this mode. Lasers are very dangerous. They can instantly damage your vision permanantly and cause fires. Grbl does not assume any responsibility for any issues the firmware may cause, as defined by its GPL license.
2 - Lathe mode, Grbl will allow the use of G7, G8, G96 and G97 commands. If the HAL driver supports spindle sync G33 and G76 are also enabled. Lathes, like lasers, are very dangerous. Grbl does not assume any responsibility for any issues the firmware may cause, as defined by its GPL license.

$33 - Spindle PWM frequency

Spindle PWM frequency in Hz

$34 - Spindle off

$35 - Spindle min value

$36 - Spindle max value

github.com

terjeio/grblHAL/blob/master/doc/markdown/settings.md

## Getting Started

First, connect to Grbl using the serial terminal of your choice.

Set the baud rate  to **115200** as 8-N-1 (8-bits, no parity, and 1-stop bit.)

Once connected
 you should get the Grbl-prompt, which looks like this:

```
GrblHAL 1.1d ['$' for help]
```

Type $ and press enter to have Grbl print a help message. You should not see any local echo of the $ and enter. Grbl should respond with:

```
[HLP:$$ $# $G $I $N $x=val $Nx=line $J=line $SLP $C $X $H ~ ! ? ctrl-x]
```

The ‘$’-commands are Grbl system commands used to tweak the settings, view or change Grbl's states and running modes, and start a homing cycle. The last four **non**-'$' commands are realtime control commands that can be sent at anytime, no matter what Grbl is doing. These either immediately change Grbl's running behavior or immediately print a report of the important realtime data like current position (aka DRO).

This file has been truncated. show original

Either, $34 or $33 works to me.

dougl · April 14, 2022, 11:57pm

IIRC diode laser modules( that is what you have ) have a 12V, Sig(5V level), Gnd 3-pin configuration with the Signal being ACTIVE HIGH. What that means is if the Sig pin is at 5V then the laser is ON and if the Sig pin is low(0V) then the laser is off.

You should be able to put a volt meter across the Sig and Gnd pins and see this.

You don’t want 12V on the signal pin if it’s a 5V control.
If you see 5V and the laser is off then pull Sig to 0V/Gnd and the laser goes on then it’s called ACTIVE LOW.

Figure out what you have and let us know.

javier · April 15, 2022, 7:46am

HB mosfet output are 12/24V not 5V.

My laser works with pwm from 3V3 to 12V.

You can go OFF with 0V and ON with 3V3, 5V, 12V but also I need to control de power 0~255. With $33, I guess.

$33 - Spindle PWM frequency

Spindle PWM frequency in Hz

donkjr · April 15, 2022, 2:35pm

What do you mean by HB output? It would help me to understand if you would refer to the schematic.

I’m confused? The MOSFETs are open-drain so the output is not any particular voltage until you pull them up. You can pull up the output to whatever voltage your PWM voltage requires??

javier · April 15, 2022, 2:38pm

Heat Bed output

I am going now to make a test file ir order to try this matter.

dougl · April 15, 2022, 4:52pm

I think you are confusing the repeating PWM frequency with the PWM pulse width.
Pulse Wide Modulation very seldom is a single pulse of X time on and the rest off. It is usually a repeating pulse and that is what $33 specifies. 1/freq gives you the period of the repeating pulses.
Setting the pulse width which is repeating is what is done with the M3/M4 commands as in M3 S100, M3 S255, etc. The M3,4,5 commands are Spindle commands because of it’s CNC heritage.
http://linuxcnc.org/docs/html/gcode/m-code.html#mcode:m3-m4-m5

javier · April 15, 2022, 8:21pm

Yes, by default the freq is 1khz

By default, the spindle PWM frequency is 1kHz, which is the recommended PWM frequency for most current Grbl-compatible lasers system. If a different frequency is required, this may be altered by editing the cpu_map.h file.

In spindle mode, the M3 is CW and M4 CCW but in laser mode is diferente $32=1

The laser is enabled with the M3 spindle CW and M4 spindle CCW commands. These enable two different laser modes that are advantageous for different reasons each.

M3 Constant Laser Power Mode:
- Constant laser power mode simply keeps the laser power as programmed, regardless if the machine is moving, accelerating, or stopped. This provides better control of the laser state. With a good G-code program, this can lead to more consistent cuts in more difficult materials.
- For a clean cut and prevent scorching with M3 constant power mode, it’s a good idea to add lead-in and lead-out motions around the line you want to cut to give some space for the machine to accelerate and decelerate.
- NOTE: M3 can be used to keep the laser on for focusing.
M4 Dynamic Laser Power Mode:
- Dynamic laser power mode will automatically adjust laser power based on the current speed relative to the programmed rate. It essentially ensures the amount of laser energy along a cut is consistent even though the machine may be stopped or actively accelerating. This is very useful for clean, precise engraving and cutting on simple materials across a large range of G-code generation methods by CAM programs. It will generally run faster and may be all you need to use.
- Grbl calculates laser power based on the assumption that laser power is linear with speed and the material. Often, this is not the case. Lasers can cut differently at varying power levels and some materials may not cut well at a particular speed and/power. In short, this means that dynamic power mode may not work for all situations. Always do a test piece prior to using this with a new material or machine.
- When not in motion, M4 dynamic mode turns off the laser. It only turns on when the machine moves. This generally makes the laser safer to operate, because, unlike M3, it will never burn a hole through your table, if you stop and forget to turn M3 off in time.

javier · April 15, 2022, 11:44pm

I unplug all cables from my skr. And there is a green led that lights up every time the M3, M4, M5 code is sent. It is 2.5 pint. it is not the pisitive pin, it is the nevative.

Run a test with svg file and it works, now I can see it turning on and off. Look better now, tomorrow I will do more tests. Thank you very much.

dougl · April 16, 2022, 1:08am

as was mentioned and if you look at the schematic the FET(transistor/switch) for the HeatBed is connecting Ground to the Neg side of the connector. The Positive side of the connector is wired directly to the boards input power( 12v or 24V ).

Think of it like this: You have a battery with Neg side and Pos side and you have a light(or heater element as in the heat bed) with 2 wires and it really doesn’t matter which wire since the light and the heater will heat no matter which way it is connected. Now you connect one wire to the Pos side of the battery. YOU will be like the FET/transistor/switch when you take the other wire from the light/heater and touch it on/off to the Negative side of the battery. For PWM you hold it on for 5 seconds then off for 5 seconds, on for 5, off for 5. you just did 50% duty cycle PWM.

This is how those things work on your board. The negative side is getting connected and disconnected to Ground which is the negative side of your input power supply.

javier · April 16, 2022, 2:03am

Yes, hardware pwm pin is connected to the MC74HCT125ADTR2G marked U5 in skr 1.3 board, but I have not found a direct pin header for HB-PWM 2.5 pin 68 in LPC1768 P2.5/PWM1.6/DTR1/TRACEDATA0

I guess that I could use the 2.0 pin, is direct from servo header. In LPC1768 is P2.0/PWM1.1/TXD1

SKR-V1.3-SCH.pdf (113.4 KB)

javier · April 16, 2022, 2:30am

In btt_skr_1.3_map.h file say:

btt_skr_1.3_map.h - driver code for LPC176x processor, pin mappings compatible with BTT SKR v1.3 board

Part of grblHAL

#ifdef SPINDLE_PWM_PIN_2_4
#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL         PWM1_CH5    // MOSFET3 (P2.4)
#else
#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL     PWM1_CH6    // BED MOSFET (P2.5)
#endif
#define SPINDLE_PWM_USE_PRIMARY_PIN   false
#define SPINDLE_PWM_USE_SECONDARY_PIN true

in grbl-lpc/pwm_driver.c I found this:

const PWM_Channel_Config PWM1_CH1 = {
    &(LPC_PWM1->MR1),   //Match Register
    (1 << 9),           //PWM Enable
    (1 << 1),           //Latch Enable Register
    (0x2 << 4),         //PINSEL3 - P1.18
    (0x1 << 0)          //PINSEL4 - P2.0
};

const PWM_Channel_Config PWM1_CH2 = {
    &(LPC_PWM1->MR2),   //Match Register
    (1 << 10),          //PWM Enable
    (1 << 2),           //Latch Enable Register
    (0x2 << 8),         //PINSEL3 - P1.20
    (0x1 << 2)          //PINSEL4 - P2.1
};

const PWM_Channel_Config PWM1_CH3 = {
    &(LPC_PWM1->MR3),   //Match Register
    (1 << 11),          //PWM Enable
    (1 << 3),           //Latch Enable Register
    (0x2 << 10),        //PINSEL3 - P1.21
    (0x1 << 4)          //PINSEL4 - P2.2
};

const PWM_Channel_Config PWM1_CH4 = {
    &(LPC_PWM1->MR4),   //Match Register
    (1 << 12),          //PWM Enable
    (1 << 4),           //Latch Enable Register
    (0x2 << 14),        //PINSEL3 - P1.23
    (0x1 << 6)          //PINSEL4 - P2.3
};

const PWM_Channel_Config PWM1_CH5 = {
    &(LPC_PWM1->MR5),   //Match Register
    (1 << 13),          //PWM Enable
    (1 << 5),           //Latch Enable Register
    (0x2 << 16),        //PINSEL3 - P1.24
    (0x1 << 8)          //PINSEL4 - P2.4
};

const PWM_Channel_Config PWM1_CH6 = {
    &(LPC_PWM1->MR6),   //Match Register
    (1 << 14),          //PWM Enable
    (1 << 6),           //Latch Enable Register
    (0x2 << 20),        //PINSEL3 - P1.26
    (0x1 << 10)         //PINSEL4 - P2.5
};

Is ok to changing

#ifdef SPINDLE_PWM_PIN_2_4
#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL         PWM1_CH5    // MOSFET3 (P2.4)
#else
#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL     PWM1_CH6    // BED MOSFET (P2.5)
#endif

by this in btt_skr_1.3_map.h file?

/**#ifdef SPINDLE_PWM_PIN_2_4
#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL         PWM1_CH5    // MOSFET3 (P2.4)
#else
*/
#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL     PWM1_CH1    // BED MOSFET (P2.0)
/**#endif*/

javier · April 16, 2022, 2:49am

So works fine

#ifdef SPINDLE_PWM_PIN_2_4
#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL         PWM1_CH5    // MOSFET3 (P2.4)
#else

#define SPINDLE_PWM_CHANNEL     PWM1_CH1    // SERVO (P2.0)
#endif

And the pwm pin of the laser connected in servo pin 2.0, works perfect.

Thanks for all.

Best regards