NEJE-like Laser as CNC upgrade

radiomodell

@sh12 As far as I know, expansion board pins are at 5V level. please check your documentation and use a level shifter to connet laser PWM-pin with 3.3 volt.

When using Fan6-PWM Duex output pin following command should do initialization: M452 C"duex.fan6" R500 S1 F20000 . R- parameter sets 100% value of S-Parameter in M3 command. M3 S500 is 100%, M3 S250 is 50%. Dependent on source of G-code i adjust R-Parameter.

My PWM signal input is connected to Heater6 pin on expansion connector of my Duet2. Thus I use this command M452 C"exp.heater6" R500 S1 F20000.

sh12

@radiomodell Thanks,
Even though the specs on the laser says the pwm will work on 3.3 to 12v, I will connect it to a heater pin today and change the Q to F.

radiomodell

@sh12 PWM Vpp is 3,3V Check the link and scroll down: http://nejetool.com/module_20w.html

sh12

@radiomodell said in NEJE-like Laser as CNC upgrade:

@sh12 PWM Vpp is 3,3V Check the link and scroll down: http://nejetool.com/module_20w.html

Thanks @radiomodell . If you go down a little further in the notes it says this:
Is the power adjustable: PWM can be adjusted, PWM: 50KHz-20KHz / 3.3V-12V
I had even contacted the seller to verify and he assured me that it was from 3.3 to 12.

Anyway I duplicated your setup and YAY, it is working! So thanks again. Now to focus it and figure correct speed.
Do you know if the firmware was ever updated to allow the laser to be on without the G1 command first for focusing purposes? I saw a thread where David was talking about that.

radiomodell

@sh12 Firmware fires laser only when moving by G-command. Thus for focus operation I terminate Laser Mode (M452 C"nil") and put a PWM signal manually. (M950... etc ).

M452 C"nil"                   ; Laser vom automatischen Einschalten bei Bewegung trennen
M950 P3 C"exp.heater6" R255 F20000 ; Laserleistung auf P3 umschalten
M42 P0 S255                   ; Laserpower einschalten
G04 P1000                     ; Pause, bis Laserpower stabilisiert ist
M42 P3 S0.01                  ; Laser mit 1% Leistung einschalten

Please be careful! Laser i continuously on and burning on one point!

After focusing laser I use following commands to switch back to normal laser mode:

M42  P3 S0                  ; Laser aus
G04 P500                    ; kurze Pause
M42 P0 S0                   ; Laserpower aus
M950 P3 C"nil" 
M452 C"exp.heater6" R255 S1 F20000  ;

sh12

I was referring to this thread
https://forum.duet3d.com/topic/15826/behavior-of-m3-command-im-laser-mode-m452
where @dc42 said there was a request to have a laser mode available for focus. Was just wondering if it ever went anywhere.
Oh well, at least I have it working now. That was the major hurdle.

g0rg

Hello and sorry for editing this topic but I'd like to ask to @FelixH or @sh12 or some kind friends here to help me with the same setup (workbee, duet2 wifi, neje 20w). I can't get rid of it knowing how to wire and how to change the right settings/macros or flashing to RRF3 or making the special inverter board.
Maybe on my personnal mail box or a new topic ?
what's the best way ?
Sorry but i come from Grbl world

FelixH

@g0rg to be honest, I have been incredible busy the last few months to even considering doing the upgrade... last thing I did was to design a small PCB to connect the laser. It is more or less the same as described in the Duet Wiki, but for through hole components. I shall be able to get into it in a couple of weeks. My setup is still the same: Workbee with Duet, running the latest Ooznest version of the firmware. I guess it is a standard RRF2, but I don‘t know. I am guessing the folks at Ooznest only changed the Web Interface to make it more CNC-friendly, which makes me think if I should update to RRF3 or not.

Phaedrux

@FelixH from what I gather Oozenest is working on a RRF3 update.

FelixH

@Phaedrux cool! I‘m looking forward to it. With some luck they will incorporate the autosquare feature, if I’m not mistaken it should be easier with RRF3

dc42

@bearer said in NEJE-like Laser as CNC upgrade:

a little OT, but M997 ignores M505 or is it just me?

Yes, M997 always looks in /sys, and uploads of .bin and .uf2 files always go into /sys.

g0rg

@FelixH I already setup my workbee with autosquare on homing by adding a second switch on Y axis.

As a test purpose i updated a second duet wifi board with RRF3 and i still try to understand how to wire my laser and still try to understand how to spell the fan port i would like to use maybe a help from @sh12

dc42

The recommended way to drive an active-high laser PWM input is to use a 74HCT02 to invert one of the PWM signals on the expansion connector and gate it with +3.3V. However, if your Duet 2 is out of warranty, you could tap into one of the heater mosfet gate pins instead, if you are not using all three heater outputs.

FelixH

Hi all again,

I am today trying to wire the laser but, before I do I have a doubt regarding the following diagram:

https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Laser_PWM_control

in this diagram, what is exactly HEATER_3 ?? It is the heated bed, extruder 1 or extruder 2 ?? Also, I am assuming is the "negative" pin of said heater, right?

PopstarPorcupine

I installed a similar NEJE laser ("30W" with ~7.5W optical) and got it working easier than expected after reading all the forum posts. Maybe having the Duex5 was key as it just plugs into +/- of servo plug. The TTL Board that comes with unit has 3 modes when you push the pwr button: Off, Manual PWM via board buttons, and PWM-input-controlled.

I have been using Lightburn for Marlin with "inline" selected for "Laser Control Commands" to make gcode.

;Laser T6 Tool Definition
M307 H6 A-1 C-1 D-1; disable heater6 channel
M563 P6 D0 X3 ; Tool 6 Laser on U axis no heater or fan (change if on X axis)

Tpre setup:
M452 P6 R255 F10000 S1 I0 ; switch to laser mode Heater 6 PWM/servo to control the laser
M42 P6 S0 ; Ensure Laser Off
TFree setup:
M451; Go back to FFF 3D print Mode

FelixH

@PopstarPorcupine thanks a lot for your info. I prepared the mentioned board and I used the heated-bed PWM port. I still have to bring it on-line, however. Not tried it yet. I've been really busy preparing a new electronics box for my Workbee with the Duet, the SuperPID and everything else... I think your snippets will be much uselfull. Thanks a lot again.

EDIT: what about the Lightburn software? is it worth it? There are not many options for for mac users, Lightburn beign one of the few I found...

FelixH

Well just an update on my side. I finally finished upgrading my Workbee with a worthy electronics box where everything is well organized. I never liked it to have the controller board exposed and on the moving gantry.

Anyway, I've been able to put my laser to work by following the indications here. I used the brake-out board suggested and it works just fine. Amazingly enough, it worked on the first try, which for my standards is amazing to say the least.

I have a problem though when switching back to CNC mode and it is the following error:

M98 P"0:/macros/Laser/Switch to CNC"
CNC mode selected Error: G10: Attempt to set/report offsets and temperatures for non-existent tool: 999

The macro I'm using to switch back to CNC mode is the following, which is a mix between what I've seen and what I found on my config.g file

M106 P2 S0  ; turn off 12v PSU

M453 ; Put the machine into CNC Modes

M140 H-1 ; Disable heated bed
M564 S1 H1 ; Disable jog commands when not homed
M911 S21.0 R23 P"G91 G1 Z3 F1000" ; Configure power loss resume
M501 ; Load Stored Parameters 
M98 Pcustomconfig.g ; Execute custom config settings

any clue in what is this about? it would be much appreciated!

Phaedrux

@FelixH said in NEJE-like Laser as CNC upgrade:

M501 ; Load Stored Parameters M98 Pcustomconfig.g ; Execute custom config settings

What do you have in config-override.g and customconfig.g?

FelixH

@Phaedrux thanks a lot for your help. Actually shortly after I posted the question I found where the problem was. The command disabling the heated bed was being called twice. I cleaned it up and now everything seems to be working just fine. Thanks a lot again!

mdalacu

Hi.
I have successfully installed a NEJE 30W laser on my MPCNC powered by Duet 2 Wifi, FW version 3.2.2.
I have not used any additional boards or circuits other than the supplied test board.
The test board is ideal as you can put the laser in test mode with power 001 to focus it and than switch to TTL mode to run the job.
This is the pins that I have used:

In the configuration i have added this lines and commented out the one with M453:

;M950 H6 C"nil"
M452 C"exp.heater6" R255 S1 F20000

I hope that helps someone as i had to read hundreds of forum pages to get this far...