NEJE-like Laser as CNC upgrade

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...

chimaeragh

@mdalacu Are there not any downsides with connecting this way? The laser wiki states you need a specific electronics to attach a laser to the Duet2. I'm thinking you may fry your Duet if 12v from your test board runs back into it.

mdalacu

@chimaeragh I really hope not. The test board underneath the display has an integrated circuit. I think it basically does the same thing as the circuit on the wiki. But I am not an electonist...by any means.
What can I tell you is that after almost 1h of total burning time, everything still works perfectly!

chimaeragh

@mdalacu I hope so. From the wiki... [Laser PWM Control( https://duet3d.dozuki.com/Wiki/Laser_PWM_control)

The circuit diagram for the needed circuit, including protection for shorting of 3v3 line to prevent unintended Laser Power on is shown below.

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I do not think the test board has a 74HCT02 Quad NOR Gate.

FelixH

@mdalacu I don't think they designed the circuit @chimaeragh displays just for the sake of it. I actually build that circuit with TTH components and it has been working great

mdalacu

@chimaeragh @FelixH Maybe someone with more knowledge than us could look at that test board and tell us if it is safe.
The test board has an IC roughly the same size as 74HCT02 underneath the 3 digit display, but I can not tell which one. I don't what to disassemble the board since it is working just great.

chimaeragh

@mdalacu Upon further investigation, I am certain the 74HCT02 Quad NOR Gate is required to prevent shorting of the 3v3 line and accidentally turning on the laser. I will advise you to get the board if you plan on doing much laser work. It cost me less than $42 to get a batch of 5 of these boards made, assembled and shipped to me at jlcpcb.com

FelixH

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

@chimaeragh @FelixH Maybe someone with more knowledge than us could look at that test board and tell us if it is safe.
The test board has an IC roughly the same size as 74HCT02 underneath the 3 digit display, but I can not tell which one. I don't what to disassemble the board since it is working just great.

mmm... I do not need such information. As I said, I made myself the Duet recommended board for using lasers and it works as advertised...