Problem with PWM-output for synrad laser.

[dekaltrim]

I have PH-board v1.2 connected to a synrad 40W laser. I try to control it thru PWM. I manual it stands i should use pin 5(pwm-). But i don´t have any PWM-signal here. But on pin 4(PWM+) in combination with pin 1(GND) i get signal.

but.... I don´t get full effect. It feels like 50% or something comparing if i drive laser in cw-mode (+5v input).

Thats wrong?

[Tech_Marco]

Sent you question to my engineer. Will post update info here

[dekaltrim]

Thanks for your involvement. It feel like its something wrong in manual about RF-laser.

Best regards, Klas

[Tech_Marco]

Can you send me a connection diagram for my engineer to review?
Also, you may not know that, the laser power connector L-P1 is now #3 TL. Before, it's #2 is TL
(TL = Level low or Enable-)

I have edit and uploaded "Typical Minimum Connection Configuration" file for you folks. It's nice doc created by one of my customer who bought the DSP card and done a great video to help me to promote the card:
http://www.buildlog.net/forum/viewtopic ... p=428#p418

[Tech_Marco]

Per my engineer, you only need to use Pin#1 (ground) and Pin#4 from one of the control port (L-P1 or L-P2). You must configure the software for the "RF" type laser in the "machine parameter" setting. Hope this help to solve your problem.

[dekaltrim]

I have get i work now. But not with pin1 and 4. I have use Pin 4 and 5. (pwm + and -). I also need a pullup resistor between pin 5-6.

It´s also some jumpers and 2 potenionmeter resistors. I have figure it out now. But i think it should be a nice idea to have some complete technical manual with all jumpers and inside connections like open collectors or not. If you want to sell to hobbiests it should be specific that you need pullup and so on. If you want to sell to proffesionals they want fully documention. Not everybody have oscillosciope and can analyse signals and function to figure out pinconnections.

I feel your DSP card it super great. Don´t understand me wrong now. Its just some simple information missing.

Best regards, Klas Pettersson - Sweden

[Tech_Marco]

Per my engineer, he confirmed that it must be #1 and #4. The #5 is for water flow sensor. He said that he just set up a RF system using 1 and 4. So, you should double check your connection. Plus, make sure to configure the software for RF output

[baccus61]

Hi Guys,
I have an RF 30 watt Universal laser on my setup
I've tried to set up the laser output on pins 1+4 but there is no signal getting there when processing a job.
I set up a job to cut a few small pieces so I could see what was going on and I ended up setting my pin out's to 1 + 3 on P1.
I still haven't checked weather it's modulating the beam or not as I'm still having a bit of trouble with raster output sizes.
I will get back to you soon.
Rich.

[Tech_Marco]

Don't forget to set the software for "RF" type output. Default is set to CO2 laser. RF must work with digital output

[Zerekku]

Hi,

I'm seeking DSP controller for my laser engraver and I found nice DSP board on this forum.
This DSP can be run Synrad RF laser tube without any modification or troubles? DSP or software generates a "tickle" signal for laser Synrad electronics?

When be launched new X3 model? There are any technical details of X3?

Sorry for my bad english language...

Greetings from Europe,
Zerekku

[baccus61]

Hi Marco,
I have been playing with the laser all day today and still cannot get the laser to work on pins 1 and 4.
I have set the Laser mode in the software to "laser with pre-start" and set the frequency to 5000 as per ULS.inc instructions.
I have setup the laser to cut and engrave really well thanks to all the help from a few people here in the forum but I cannot modulate the laser beam through PWM.

I tested the pins on 1 and 4 with a volt meter and I get 4.7 volts all the time which fires the laser even when not running a job but when I run a program the voltage drops to 1.2 volts. Seem like it need to be pulled high for it to work properly.
The only pins that work with the human interface and software to turn on and off are pins 1 and 3 but these don't seem to be able to modulate the beam.

Is there a jumper that need to be shorted somewhere? What is JP1 in the center of the board used for.

I get a full 30 watts output from the laser all the time whether vector cutting or raster engraving no matter what I set the power to be in the software or on the "Human Interface".

I tested these pins with a multimeter and the voltage is varying from 1.2 volts to 3.5 volts maximum. Would the 1.2 volts be the tickle pulse for the laser pre ignition?

Also the GPIO has 4.8 volts all the time across all pins whether I set the air to be on or off in the software.

If I set the protection bit then the laser won't process so that is working ok.

I can't find any pin that goes to zero volts while at idle on any of the output pins no matter what I set up in the software so I have the air assist on all the time.
I have set up a switch to turn this on and off to stop blowing away paper jobs etc but it isn't how it was designed.
Do you think there is a problem with the hardware?

It doesn't matter what I set or which pin I use I can't seem to get it working properly.
Thanks for all your help.
Rich.

[Tech_Marco]

Hello Zerekku

The X3 will be delayed for months. The design was completed and test was done. But the price of the DSP was up for 300% for some reason. So, my partner company now is trying to find a substitude DSP chip to replace it. Untill then, we will keep selling this V2 for a while.

I'll drop the price of the V2 to make it more competitive and affordable. The MC6515 is old card and a lot folks about it. But our card is faster and better in overall. Except one thing, the MC6515 comes with a better user manual that our card lack of. But with hlep from Tim and Rich, I think they can help you folks a lot of setting up the DSP V2!

***** Specail thanks to Captain Rich and Tim, Bravo! *****
Marco

[baccus61]

Hi Zerekku,

The tickle pulse is set up in the software and is 1 of the 3 settings for a laser output and is not adjustable. They are, RF laser with pulse, RF laser without pulse and Glass tube laser.
Just select the RF laser with pulse. It's not called "pulse" but it is similar and should be straight forward for you to get it right.
Just remember that you need to read the settings first before you "write" it to the DSP. This is covered in the previous posts. I hope you have read them!

The PWM should be selectable as well in the same menu. For glass tube you select 20,000 and for RF you select 5000. This can be set for different types of jobs but I generally leave mine set on 5000.

Did you get the Linkmotion laser driver in software only or did you get the Linkmotion with the Leetro DSP?
The Linkmotion DSP needs a small card to increase the signal strength to the laser for it to work properly. It should have been sent to you with the DSP setup.

I could never get the engraving function to accurately work in Linkmotion. If I drew a picture 7 inches in size it would engrave it at 4 inches in size. I had to stretch the picture to have it engrave the right size and it was trial and error. The people at Solustan gave up on me and said I wasn't setting it up properly but if I could cut vectors to exact size the engraving should have been right as well. It wasn't.
That's when I came here to Lightobject and haven't looked back since.
Sure I have had some problems with the setup but after looking at all the info I have received it looks like I may have a problem with the mechanics of the machine itself.

I still can't get the outputs to work to turn on and off the air pump from the DSP but that is a trivial matter for later on to sort out.
Let me know exactly what you need and I will try to get you up and running as soon as possible. I may need to reinstall the old software so I can point you in the right direction.

Happy New Year to you all and my family and I wish you all the best of luck in the new year with all of your ventures

P.S. Thanks Marco. Not a problem for me if I can help.

[ctoutmoi]

Hi,
I found after research that you had the same problem as me the outputs to work to turn on and off the air pump. Have you been able to run out ?

[baccus61]

Hi,
I found after research that you had the same problem as me the outputs to work to turn on and off the air pump. Have you been able to run out ?

I still haven't got the air assist to turn on and off so I just use a switch and turn it on manually. It's not as it should be but is is a much better package than the other one I had so I put up with it.

I could probably rig up a switch of some sort to turn on and off but I haven't the time to do that.

Sorry.
Rich.