Lightobject.com Support Forum

I picked up my current laser second hand and I hadn't really thought much about the controls (seem to be pretty easy to use and work quit well), until I started thinking about building the XLE 900 with the AWC-608B controller. I ended up place the order last week (thanks Marco for all your help).

Just wondering if anyone can tell me if this is the older generation of DSP controller and motor drivers (see images attached). If so is there any real reason to upgrade? Also I've been using it with PHCAD and importing mostly DXF files from sketchup for cutting work, is there a better workflow, should I be using something else? Also is there still software and firmware updates for the older controller around that I can download?

Thanks in advance for any info,

Deejay

hi deejay
thats a very old thunderlaser board and there is no update on this the motor drivers are perfect you now just need a new AWC DSP if you wana upgrade or stick to what you have. you could try to download the PHCAD V 4.47 and try it there you got the chance to send from autocad or coreldraw x4 your files directly to the laser programm.
if you need more help just send me a email to a542002@hotmail.com and I can send you the PHCAD V 4.47 and help you out
greetings
waltfl

onelonedork wrote:I picked up my current laser second hand and I hadn't really thought much about the controls (seem to be pretty easy to use and work quit well), until I started thinking about building the XLE 900 with the AWC-608B controller. I ended up place the order last week (thanks Marco for all your help).

Just wondering if anyone can tell me if this is the older generation of DSP controller and motor drivers (see images attached). If so is there any real reason to upgrade? Also I've been using it with PHCAD and importing mostly DXF files from sketchup for cutting work, is there a better workflow, should I be using something else? Also is there still software and firmware updates for the older controller around that I can download?

Thanks in advance for any info,

Deejay

Thanks Walt! I was able to find PHCAD 4.47 as well as 4.0.7 last night. I'll give them a try this evening and see if it makes much of a difference. I just got tracking numbers for the AWC-608B controller as well as everything else I ordered for the XLE 900 build from Marco yesterday. I'll give the AWC a try in my current system before I put it into the new build and see if I notice much of a difference in performance.

I've read great things about the AWC, but I haven't run into any none user generated problems with the current controller. We'll see how I feel once the two are running side by side.

hi
just use the V 4.47 not 4.0.7 . You can not run ether program with ether DSP I am talking from experience I had the thunderlaser and it brought me lots of problemes and no help from the seller.
the AWC 608 with the lasercut v 6.37 or 6.46 are awsom but it is still a learning in the beginning especial the setup till you got everythings right.
one trick I did find out is that 95% of the files created in PHCAD can be converted to lasercut with rename the file and just chenge the extension from dot pwj to dot pwj5. if the file does not work just convert it back the reverse way.
greetings
walt

onelonedork wrote:Thanks Walt! I was able to find PHCAD 4.47 as well as 4.0.7 last night. I'll give them a try this evening and see if it makes much of a difference. I just got tracking numbers for the AWC-608B controller as well as everything else I ordered for the XLE 900 build from Marco yesterday. I'll give the AWC a try in my current system before I put it into the new build and see if I notice much of a difference in performance.

I've read great things about the AWC, but I haven't run into any none user generated problems with the current controller. We'll see how I feel once the two are running side by side.

I don't do any file creation in PHCAD. I've gotten used to using use google sketchup or rhinocad for my 3d printers (up to 5 now) and CNC work, the work flow for cutting was pretty easy to adapt. Adobe illustrator seems to work quit well for line art, and i'm testing a few engraving workflows right now.

I think right now, I have PHCAD 3.xx (I think) running and it seems to do fine controlling and sending files to the laser. I bought mine from a shop in Colorado who ordered it from china and couldn't get things work quit right. Seemed pretty easy to me but it was my first laser so I don't have much to compare it to.

A lot easier setup then trying to get a RAMPS board tuned and working right.

Thanks for the input on the engraving workflow by the way. Found the same controls in photoshop and got things working.

Walt thanks for the heads up on PHCAD 4.7 works great with the laser and adds a few more features.

Thanks again,
Deejay