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    SOLVED Problem getting a laser to work

    Laser Cutters
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    • appjaws
      appjaws last edited by

      I have read all of the posts relevant to getting a laser to work.
      I must admit that my 71 year old brain had difficulty understanding the wiki and g codes.
      I followed the instructions "Controlling a PWM Laser with the Duet Board", after wiring as per instructions I could not get it to work at all. I think I have something wrong in the config file:-
      M555 P2 ; Set output to look like Marlin
      G21 ; Work in millimetres
      G90 ; Send absolute corrdinates...
      M83 ; ...but relative extruder moves
      M574 X1 Y2 S1 ; set endstop configuration (Y endstop only, at high end, active high)
      M92 X87.4890 Y87.4890 Z4000 ; Set axis steps/mm
      M92 E430 ; Set extruder steps per mm
      M906 X950 Y950 Z950 ; Set motor currents (mA)
      M201 X500 Y500 Z15 ; set accelerations
      M203 X9000 Y9000 Z100 ; set maximum XYZ speeds
      M566 X300 Y300 Z30 ; Maximum instantaneous speed changes mm/minute
      M208 X200 Y200 Z190 ; set axis maxima
      M208 X0 Y0 Z0 S1 ; set axis minimum (adjust to make X=0 the edge of the bed)

      M307 H3 A-1 C-1 D-1 ; Disable Heater output on H3
      M452 H3 R255 F200 : Enable Laser mode on output 3 (heater 3) max intensity 255 PWM frequency 200
      M571 P3 F200 S255
      M563 P0 D0 H3 ; Define tool 0 uses heater 3

      M558 P0 ; No Z probe installed
      M302 P1 ; disable the "do not extrude when cold" function
      G92 Z0 ;fake Z homed
      M564 S0 ; allow Z below Z=0
      T0 : select tool 0

      So I thought I would try and connect to Fan0, this worked in so far as if printing a filled square the Laser would switch ON at the square edge and then immediately OFF. This happens on both edges. Also the power seems to be low, it's not even marking a sheet of paper.
      This is the config for the Fan0 setup:-
      M555 P2 ; Set output to look like Marlin
      G21 ; Work in millimetres
      G90 ; Send absolute corrdinates...
      M83 ; ...but relative extruder moves
      M574 X1 Y2 S1 ; set endstop configuration (Y endstop only, at high end, active high)
      M92 X87.4890 Y87.4890 Z4000 ; Set axis steps/mm
      M92 E430 ; Set extruder steps per mm
      M906 X950 Y950 Z950 ; Set motor currents (mA)
      M201 X500 Y500 Z15 ; set accelerations
      M203 X9000 Y9000 Z100 ; set maximum XYZ speeds
      M566 X300 Y300 Z30 ; Maximum instantaneous speed changes mm/minute
      M208 X200 Y200 Z190 ; set axis maxima
      M208 X0 Y0 Z0 S1 ; set axis minimum (adjust to make X=0 the edge of the bed)

      M452 P0 R255 F200 : Enable Laser mode on fan0 max intensity 255 PWM frequency 200
      M571 P0 F200 S255 ; Set output on extrude
      M106 P0 S0 I0 F500 H-1 ; Set fan 0 value, PWM signal inversion and frequency. Thermostatic control is turned off
      M563 P0 D0 H3 ; Define tool 0 uses heater 3

      M558 P0 ; No Z probe installed
      M302 P1 ; disable the "do not extrude when cold" function
      G92 Z0 ;fake Z homed
      M564 S0 ; allow Z below Z=0
      T0 : select tool 0

      I am totally confused now and in need of detailed help.
      Thanks

      appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
      firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
      Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
      OpenSCAD version 2020.07
      slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

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      • dc42
        dc42 administrators last edited by

        @appjaws said in Problem getting a laser to work:

        M307 H3 A-1 C-1 D-1 ; Disable Heater output on H3
        M452 H3 R255 F200 : Enable Laser mode on output 3 (heater 3) max intensity 255 PWM frequency 200
        M571 P3 F200 S255
        M563 P0 D0 H3 ; Define tool 0 uses heater 3

        The first 2 lines look OK to me if the laser is driven from the heater 3 output. The M571 and M563 lines should be removed.

        M452 P0 R255 F200 : Enable Laser mode on fan0 max intensity 255 PWM frequency 200
        M571 P0 F200 S255 ; Set output on extrude
        M106 P0 S0 I0 F500 H-1 ; Set fan 0 value, PWM signal inversion and frequency. Thermostatic control is turned off
        M563 P0 D0 H3 ; Define tool 0 uses heater 3

        P0 means the heater 0 pin, not fan 0.

        Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
        Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
        http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

        appjaws 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • appjaws
          appjaws @dc42 last edited by

          Thanks dc42
          Is the following all I need to define that the laser should work PWM from Fan0?
          M106 P0 S0 I0 F500 H-1 Is the only reference to

          appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
          firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
          Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
          OpenSCAD version 2020.07
          slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
          • dc42
            dc42 administrators last edited by dc42

            No, you need I-1 in the M106 command to disable the fan and make the pin available as a general purpose output pin. And of course P20 in the M452 command.

            Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
            Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
            http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
            • appjaws
              appjaws last edited by

              Well I made the changes as suggested and am getting the following errors:-

              Error: M106: Fan 0 is disabled
              Error: Attempting to extrude with no tool selected.

              This is the config:-
              M555 P2 ; Set output to look like Marlin
              G21 ; Work in millimetres
              G90 ; Send absolute corrdinates...
              M83 ; ...but relative extruder moves
              M574 X1 Y2 S1 ; set endstop configuration (Y endstop only, at high end, active high)
              M92 X87.4890 Y87.4890 Z4000 ; Set axis steps/mm
              M906 X950 Y950 Z950 ; Set motor currents (mA)
              M201 X500 Y500 Z15 ; set accelerations
              M203 X9000 Y9000 Z100 ; set maximum XYZ speeds
              M566 X300 Y300 Z30 ; Maximum instantaneous speed changes mm/minute
              M208 X200 Y200 Z190 ; set axis maxima
              M208 X0 Y0 Z0 S1 ; set axis minimum (adjust to make X=0 the edge of the bed)
              M452 P20 R255 F200 : Enable Laser mode on fan0 max intensity 255 PWM frequency 200
              M106 P0 S0 I-1 F500 H-1 ; Set fan 0 value, PWM signal inversion and frequency. Thermostatic control is turned off

              M92 E430 ; Set extruder steps per mm
              M558 P0 ; No Z probe installed
              M302 P1 ; disable the "do not extrude when cold" function
              G92 Z0 ;fake Z homed
              M564 S0 ; allow Z below Z=0
              T0 : select tool 0

              What am I doing wrong?

              appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
              firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
              Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
              OpenSCAD version 2020.07
              slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

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              • dc42
                dc42 administrators last edited by

                If you have laser mode selected using M452 then you should not be trying to extrude. Laser mode uses M3 to set the laser power.

                Is this an existing system that was using M571 to control a laser and you just want to upgrade the firmware, or is this the first time you have connected a laser to a Duet?

                Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
                Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
                http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

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                • appjaws
                  appjaws last edited by

                  Thank you so much, I now understand and can report that using M3 to control the laser works.
                  I knew it was my lack of understanding.

                  This is a new installation of a laser onto my ormerod using Duet 6

                  appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                  firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                  Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                  OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                  slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                  • appjaws
                    appjaws last edited by

                    I have something very strange.
                    M3 S255 turns the laser OFF as does M3 S0
                    It appears that the maximum power is around M3 S127

                    appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                    firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                    Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                    OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                    slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                    keyz182 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                    • keyz182
                      keyz182 @appjaws last edited by

                      @appjaws said in Problem getting a laser to work:

                      I have something very strange.
                      M3 S255 turns the laser OFF as does M3 S0
                      It appears that the maximum power is around M3 S127

                      Try lowering or increasing the PWM frequency with the M452 F parameter. Some of the laser module controllers are a bit picky. You can also use the R parameter of M452 to set the PWM level that corresponds to max, so in your case, R127.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                      • appjaws
                        appjaws last edited by

                        I tried changing the frequency but could not see any improvement.
                        I am currently using M3 S107 as my maximum power.
                        It works but I would prefer to have 255 levels of power, especially engraving photos.
                        Any other ideas as to how I can use the full range?

                        appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                        firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                        Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                        OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                        slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                        • resam
                          resam last edited by

                          @appjaws which laser and laser control board did you buy?
                          Most of them use a "simple" PWM signal between 0-5V to control the laser intensity.

                          I doubt that your laser really has a 50%-ish PWM signal as "full power" signal...

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                          • appjaws
                            appjaws last edited by

                            I've just measured the voltage on the Fan0 pin and it is fluctuating between 5.5V - 10.7V.
                            Do you think I am over driving the PWM input?
                            The problem I had no information supplied with the 2000mw laser and control board that I bought.
                            I have tried to find out the correct voltage but was unsuccessful.

                            This is a picture of the laser I bought
                            0_1533053993278_laser.jpg

                            appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                            firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                            Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                            OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                            slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                            keyz182 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                            • keyz182
                              keyz182 @appjaws last edited by

                              @appjaws said in Problem getting a laser to work:

                              I've just measured the voltage on the Fan0 pin and it is fluctuating between 5.5V - 10.7V.
                              Do you think I am over driving the PWM input?
                              The problem I had no information supplied with the 2000mw laser and control board that I bought.
                              I have tried to find out the correct voltage but was unsuccessful.

                              The ones I've seen have all been 5v PWM controlled, so maybe you're over-driving? Do you have a link to where you bought it? And/Or some high res images of the top+bottom of the PCB?

                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                              • appjaws
                                appjaws last edited by

                                I bought it on ebay and the supplier has no information.
                                I could take some photos of the board but I will need to dismantle my setup first.
                                I wonder what size of resistor I could connect in series to reduce the actual voltage reaching the control board

                                appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                                firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                                Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                                OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                                slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

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                                • resam
                                  resam last edited by

                                  Me, and others here on the forum use the HEATER_3 pin with a few extra components, instead of the fan output. Somebody even made a custom PCB for it.

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

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                                  • appjaws
                                    appjaws last edited by

                                    I did start with that plan but could not get my lashup to work. I now have a better understanding so perhaps I'll try heater 3 again.
                                    Thanks for your help.

                                    appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                                    firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                                    Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                                    OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                                    slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                    • appjaws
                                      appjaws last edited by

                                      I still haven't got the heater 3 solution as explained in the article "Controlling a PWM Laser with the Duet Board" The diagram indicates that the expansion header pin 8 is heater 3 but I have a constant 3.29 volts between that and pin 2 which is grd.
                                      So I am wondering if the old version 6 boards, which I am using, have the same pin assignments as the version 2 boards.

                                      So I have reverted to using the fan connector with the output reversed and a pull-up 1K resistor connected to +5V.
                                      This is the results of checking the voltage at different S values.
                                      Svalue Voltage Laser
                                      0 4.4
                                      10 2.58
                                      11 2.47
                                      13 2.33 ON
                                      15 2.27
                                      20 2.19
                                      40 2.05
                                      60 1.97
                                      80 1.88
                                      100 1.77
                                      120 1.64
                                      140 1.51
                                      160 1.39
                                      180 1.27
                                      200 1.14
                                      220 1.08
                                      240 0.87
                                      250 0.78
                                      252 0.77
                                      254 0.75
                                      255 0.74 OFF

                                      The increasing S values at the top end result in the power of the laser reducing.
                                      Clearly I have something wrong but I am at a loss as to what to do next.

                                      appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                                      firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                                      Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                                      OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                                      slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                                      keyz182 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                      • keyz182
                                        keyz182 @appjaws last edited by

                                        @appjaws said in Problem getting a laser to work:

                                        So I am wondering if the old version 6 boards, which I am using, have the same pin assignments as the version 2 boards.

                                        By this, do you mean this board? - https://reprap.org/wiki/Duet_Wiring#Duet_0.6

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                                        • appjaws
                                          appjaws last edited by

                                          yes that is the original board on my ormerod

                                          appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                                          firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                                          Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                                          OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                                          slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                                          keyz182 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                          • keyz182
                                            keyz182 @appjaws last edited by

                                            @appjaws said in Problem getting a laser to work:

                                            yes that is the original board on my ormerod

                                            In that case, yes, the pinouts are different. I'm not sure if the circuit will need modification or not on there either.

                                            dc42 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                            • dc42
                                              dc42 administrators @keyz182 last edited by

                                              Heater 3 will be on a different pin of the expansion connector, but otherwise the same arrangement should work.

                                              Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
                                              Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
                                              http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                              • appjaws
                                                appjaws last edited by

                                                What pin will it be on?

                                                appjaws - Core XYUV Duet Ethernet Duex5
                                                firmware 3.3RC1+1 Web Interface 3.3.0-RC1
                                                Ormerod 1-converted to laser engraver, Duet wifi
                                                OpenSCAD version 2020.07
                                                slic3r-1.3.0, Simplify3D 4.1.2, Cura-4.4.1

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                • dc42
                                                  dc42 administrators last edited by

                                                  See https://reprap.org/wiki/Duet_pinout

                                                  Duet WiFi hardware designer and firmware engineer
                                                  Please do not ask me for Duet support via PM or email, use the forum
                                                  http://www.escher3d.com, https://miscsolutions.wordpress.com

                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
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