hooking the 20-40-60w power supply up to the k40

[prcdslnc13]

Are there any adjustments I need to make inside the power supply before hooking it up to the K40? Or is it all in the software. I know I need to keep the power under 15ma.

[ivantandy]

Best to follow the instructions and make no unnecessary changes. If software control is selected power is delimited in the fields in LaserCAD. The first step is to verify 110AC or 220AC. I had problem running at low power 15-12% produced also no milliamps 1-2mA at peak. I have an older 40W PSU that had some issues as noted in the forum- setting the PSU to 220AC on a '110' circuit solved my PWM cuts at low power... there is some fine tuning of PID referenced.

I have tested my new tube at 60% high 30% low which results in peak 10mA on my meter with a 40W CO2 tube. LaserCAD 7.61 is crashing when i try to start the job again after it has run once but the power settings are downloaded to the DSP successfully.

[prcdslnc13]

Which instructions do you speak of?

Anyway I just hooked it up and started low in the %. I have been running at 25% and during cutting that hovers around 14ma.

[ivantandy]

I refer to the k40 upgrade instructions which includes some outline of LaserCAD settings... further I found something a while back that I put in my notes... it is in the forum somewhere.... perhaps of some help certainly cleared up some of confusion for me.

from a previous post by Marco:

"You must set the Max power to lock the max current that allow to output from the laser power supply. To do this, use LaserCAd to draw a box like 200mmx200mm and set the cutting speed to 1mm/s and set the power (on the layer) to 99%. Then fire up the laser and observe the current displaying on the current meter. If it is over the tube can handle, then stop the machine and change the "Max_Power" under System Options . For example, if you got 25mA and the tube can only take 22mA max, then change the Max_power from whatever you have to 20% lower. Save it and hit "RESET" on the LCD control panel (MUST TO DO IT!) otherwise, it won't take the new setting. Do it again and again until you got current closed to the max current the tube allowed. After that set, no matter what power % you set under the layer power setup, it won't exceed the max current."