Gaps at start and end of lines

[Vegaman_Dan]

Following what appears to be a successful K40 DSP conversion, I have been doing initial setup and configuration. Focus of the 18mm lense was a bit tricky, but that sorted out too.

Symptom: Laser does not fire until X amount of distance from the start and end of each line.

Results: Circles have a gap. Squares have missing corners.

Testing: Tried different shapes at different sizes. The gap remains constant regardless of size, about 4mm or so. A file that was on the DSP controller when I received it would cut fine with fully connected points earlier. That file has since been deleted and no longer available for testing.

Suspicion: Setting in Lasercut that controls when the laser turns on and off at the beginning and end of lines. Trying to find this mysterious setting, but do not know what it might be called. I do wonder if I inadvertently changed a setting while fumbling around since the original test file cut correctly. It might even be a setting on the DSP controller itself. If there is a default / reset for the software that would reset the machine config to a factory setting, I might try that.

Suggestions? Ideas?

[AndyKunz]

Could you be referring to Corner Power?

Double click the power settings on the top right corner, then find it in the second group from the top.

Andy

[Tech_Marco]

When doing cutting, there are two firing power control: max (straight line) and min (corner)
If missing corner is happening, just increase the "min" power


Marco

[Vegaman_Dan]

I think I found the corner power reference.

Once an object is selected on the screen, the Layer Options will be available on the right side. Doubleclick on the layer with that object and a dialog box appears that will control if this is to be cut, engraved, etc.

Cut Parameters is the section I needed.

Speed 100
Vector Pwr Laser1[%] 50
Corner Power1[%] 40
Vector Pwr Lsr2[%] 50
Corner Power2[%] 40

I changed the power levels here to 100, but no effect on corners. The gaps still persist.

I was testing on paper at 20% on the max power from the manufacturer parameters dialog box.



NEW ISSUE:

Unable to move the carriage assembly in anything less than tiny movements at a time. Press and hold the arrow keys or use the ones in LaserCAD and the same result. Blip, tiny movement. It seems to have weird ideas where the limits are now. It was working just fine, so I had to have changed something without knowing. I would love to have a reset for the hardware back to the way the DSP was when it came out of the box. I can't seem to find any option for this though.

Anywhere else where these settings might be affecting things?

[Tech_Marco]

Start speed of 5 is slow. Set it to 20
Max_power of 20 will get you to no where. Set it to 65~75 accordingly

Marco

[Vegaman_Dan]

I'll try the start speed adjustment as suggested.

I set the power to 20 so that I was only leaving lines on paper while doing the configuration. No need to burn through it during setup.


Any option to reset the DSP back to factory defaults?

[Tech_Marco]

You don't do power control on that area. It is for max power limitation for different laser power supply. Please go over manual for proper setup. There is a reset button on user setup but not for machine setup.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Changing the speed to 20 had no impact at all on the output.

Changing the power levels for the corners had no effect.

Each time I send the machine an update through the manufacturer parameters, the system goes into reset for several minutes. When I first started this, resets were only about 30 seconds or less. Clearly something is wrong.
This is purely a case of the laser not fully turned on until it is already moving. A single line would have a gap at the beginning and end of the line.

I can no longer reliably move the carriage or set the origin point using the arrow keys on the unit or in the software. The motors whine and grind then move the head a centimeter at most. Most often it doesn't move at all.

I really need to reset the DSP to the out of the box / factory default. I have been unable to find that information through searching forums here so far. The manual has nothing about it either.

At this point, each change suggested is making the machine less and less useful, and may actually start causing damage as the head is pushed beyond the limit switches.

How do I reset the entire DSP back to original?

[Tech_Marco]

There is no way it could pass the limit unless the motor lost steps somehow. What is settings on the motor drivers?

Again, there is no reset on the DSP. All parameters are configurable. Once things change, you need to hit Reset button to take it in effect

Marco

[Vegaman_Dan]

No reset on the DSP itself? That seems like a rather major oversight in the design. Perhaps a factory reset option for the DSP may be something to consider adding?

I have gone over the manual, but as the documentation is a bit out of date and does not match the actual product or versions, it refers to options and menus that are not present.

I will start over from the beginning again.

1) No changes in the settings suggested have had any effect on the output. Please provide a screen shot of *where* to change the settings.
2) The arrow keys on the control panel and in LaserCAD no longer move the carriage correctly. Pressing and holding the button results in the carriage grunting then moving a tiny amount. Multiple presses to move the carriage to set the home / origin point results in the unit no longer responding to the arrow keys at all. I know it tries- there is a high pitch whine and it makes me wonder if instead of moving 10 cm at a time, it might be trying to move .10 cm or something instead. *Where* is the setting controlling the amount distance traveled per each key press?
3) Each time the machine's reset button is pressed, it goes into System Resetting which takes 5 minutes to complete. Initially when I first started this, it took 30 seconds or less. There is no indication as to the cause of this.

I have asked for help on issues 2 and 3 but no response so far. Issue 1 needs some screen shots or detailed instructions where to make changes and what changes to make.

I know you're busy, and this is not a high priority, but I've spend $1100+ now with your company and am so close to having a usable machine it is frustrating to get advice here and have the system actually getting worse as a result. I am hoping you can help me with this.

[Vegaman_Dan]

Since this is a K40 DSP conversion using your company's power supply, DSP controller, and software, I don't suppose you could supply screen shots for the necessary settings? There is no unknown hardware- it all came from your company, so you know what it needs to be far more than I would.

[Tech_Marco]

I won't go further unless you respond to my question. I asked you twice and you just ignored me. You want help then please follow my question rather tha n changing this and that on setting or blame on me of not responding. Again, what is the mirco step settings on the motor drivers??

You got squeal Sound (high pitch) because motor step was not right or having a bad motor or bad drive. That's why I asked this question before I can move forward for next reasonable cause. This is not a computer but a universe controller which by all mean it can take different parameters per different machine. Reset is meaningless and it is not a design problem.

By the way, I respond all question without checking your inovice amount$. I ansewer when I know the answer or I got time to review question. Forget my being meanbut I reallynot happy folks to use $ to justify my service. I don't mind to issue fulll refund minus shipping for most items return if not happy my service.

Regards
Marco

[Vegaman_Dan]

"I won't go further unless you respond to my question. I asked you twice and you just ignored me. You want help then please follow my question rather tha n changing this and that on setting or blame on me of not responding. Again, what is the mirco step settings on the motor drivers?? "

My apologies if my tone came across as blaming you or being angry. I did not answer the question about the drivers as I could see that was going the wrong direction in my experience as the units were working correctly as installed. BUT I can see that perhaps something has gone wrong and you're trying to establish a base configuration to work from for troubleshooting. I know the difficulties in trying to diagnose or troubleshoot anything remotely as I have been doing that for 25 years myself.

I shall answer your question only in this post and nothing else, awaiting your response to avoid any further confusion. Below you'll see photos of the drivers in question and their DIP switch settings.

[Tech_Marco]

Thank you for getting back to me.

Now, do this: set the micro step to "8" and set the "um" to 12.65. Save it and press RESET to reboot the DSP

Also, send me the configuration screen on "User parameters"


Marco

[Vegaman_Dan]

Checked and confirmed bothX and Y axis motor drivers have their microstep set to 8 as requested. They had been previously set to 16.

SW4 - UP / OFF
SW5 - UP / OFF
SW6 - DOWN / ON

UM set to 12.65 on both axis in manufacturer parameters. I did remember to read the current configuration so that I could successfully save a new one. The forum here and your information was quite helpful.

Saved configuration.

Reset DSP.

Screen shots of both manufacture parameters and User parameters included below for reference.

I really do appreciate the effort you're putting into this. This controller has a lot of potential and I can see why it is well respected.