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Laser V

Discussion in 'Laser Cutters' started by Robert Hummel, Nov 30, 2013.

  1. Rich C

    Rich C New
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    Robert, do you have the updated PCB layout for the LD3X??

    Rich
     
  2. Mohamed Aly

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    Great work man. I am building by CNC router now didnt finish it yet and I am already finding a new project :)

    I have a question. Is this board for everything (Laser Driver & Motor driver)? Or I have to get a separate laser driver

    Also, would you be kind and draw the complete circuit diagram with laser diode connected and motors?

    Thanks
     
  3. rusirius

    rusirius New
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    Why do you say that? Are you thinking the two beams would have the potential of canceling each other out through interference? In my mind since the two beams are originating from two different points in space the interference pattern would essentially be a "strip". (albeit an incredibly small one) While some areas of this strip would be nulled, other areas would be doubled. Considering the very small area to begin with I don't think the nulled areas would actually make any difference, though the doubled areas would in terms of burning.

    Think of it like this. If I take two different lasers pointed at my LPM, the reading will be the approximate sum of the two lasers individually. The energy being delivered to the macro area of the sensor is still double what either laser can do on it's own. In much the same way it would make sense that the area he is focused on would see this same increase in power.

    This is all just kinda thought experiment in my head, so I could absolutely be wrong... But I'm curious as to why you feel it wouldn't double the output? I guess the same applies for a knife edge array of multiple diodes... Run them through a beam expander in reverse to concentrate back down to a single beam and you'd have the combined of all diodes no?
     
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  4. LouSiffer

    LouSiffer New
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    Sorry if I am late to the party on this one, but, if I understand correctly, we are looking at focusing two beams from two laser sources to mark/cut at the exact same spot at the exact same time? Yes, it can be done. I was just working on a diode pumped laser with 2 heads today. This setup has the ability to focus the two together for approximately 100 watts of power or I can have them marking two different fields at the same time to speed up production at 50 watts each.
     
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  5. gailenjensen

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    I'm really late to the party! I am in the breadboard stage for building an X-Y laser cutter/engraver and have have lots of questions. So far my setup is, a clone Arduino Nano, A4988 drivers, and two stepper motors. Does the stepper enable need to be pulled high or low? Does the logic level voltage on the driver boards need to be 3.3v or 5v or does it matter? And for Robert, where can I download your hex file of Grbl? That's all for now, I think.
     
  6. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Logic for the drivers are 5vdc
    Here is how the arduino is wired to the stepsticks then to the stepper motors
    [​IMG]

    I use pins 2,3,4,5 for step and direction then join sleep and reset on the PCB to enable the driver when powered on.
    Enable is not used
    My hex is in the files section of the build
     
  7. gailenjensen

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    Thanks Robert. :)

    I found and downloaded the hex but see from the picture there is a connection from pin 9 on the Uno to the driver board. Is that correct? Also I think I remember reading that you have the laser control on pin 12, Is that correct?
     
  8. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Yes the diagram is from the net and I don't use the enable pin 9 as jumping the sleep and reset pin will enable the driver at all times when powered on.
    I have compiled the hex to use pin 12 as laser on/off
     
  9. gailenjensen

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  10. Wolves200

    Wolves200 New
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    Hey Robert,

    how do I get my hands in one complete controlled board fully assembled, but without the power supply; cost with shipping?
    I bought a 3W laser diode and have 3 Nema17 step motors for it.

    looking forward to hear from you
    Regards
    Dimitri Del Corral
     
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  11. gailenjensen

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    Hi Robert. I'm back with more questions. I've got a Nano on a bread board with two A4988 drivers. All the grounds are connected, the A4988's have 5v from the Nano, Sleep & Reset are jumped, Step is connected to pins 2 & 3, Dir is connected to pins 5 & 6. I've flashed Grbl 0.9 from Github to the Nano and am using Universal G-code sender ver. 1.0.8. I'm using a 9v battery on the VMot of the drivers. When I send "helloworld2.nc" to the board, from what I see all is working but neither of the motors, 5v gear reduction modified to be bi-polar, do anything, no buzz, click, hum.

    Any ideas or suggestions?
     
  12. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    You have your pins wrong one axis is step,dir pins 2-3 other axis is step,dir pins 4-5 ;)
    If your using my hex that is :)
     
  13. gailenjensen

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    Thanks. I'll give that a try.
     
  14. gailenjensen

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    I don't know if I have bad boards, controller, motors, a screwed up computer or what. I reset the wiring, uploaded the 115200 hex, used the grbl zip, with the only difference is now getting errors when compiling. I've got too much time and money into this to scrap it all and forget it. Do you think I should try to adjust the driver boards?
     
  15. Rich C

    Rich C New
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    Robert, I finally received the board. It looks great. Can you provide a diagram that specifies all of the jumpers and orientation of the nano and stepper drivers please? and maybe a pic?

    Also, what driver files are you using for this board? The hex or Grbl listed in your "files" section? ...and are any changes needed for this new board?

    Rich
     
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  16. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    The new board and last of its kind "reasons I don't feel to discuss" works just like the ld2x just now you have two extra driver slots in turn adding dual divers for the y axis and a z axis.
    There are also reset and manual laser operation pins to the bottom left of the arduino socket.
    Two pin on the right are reset, two to the left are laser on.
    Both just need a momentary switch.
    The board is simple and if you follow the traces you can see just how things work.
    GRBL is fully customizable so really you need to learn the workings of it to take full advantage of the Arduino's pins that have bin broken out for you.
    Pot to the left is current, pot on right in voltage.
    If you have the m140 diode then full current will not be an issue ;)
    The the far drivers to the right are for your y axis and get there step and direction from the same pins "no need to use up pins ;)"
     
  17. Cummins_Diesel

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    can you make me one and how much for it. and do you have the stl files for the 3d printed parts?
     
    #407 Cummins_Diesel, Mar 26, 2015
    Last edited: Mar 26, 2015
  18. Ramon Triana

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    Woo this is great I been want to do something like that but can I used laser to cut through fabric like cotton or polyester?
    great job.
    Thank you
     
  19. Colin Pollard

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    Could someone post a picture of the bottom of the board for reference, I dont know the entire board layout from the pictures posted yet.
     
  20. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    Hey guys just wanted to share a pic I found that shows the types of materials these diode lasers can cut/engrave. I have always wondered what was possible and this infographic helps to lay it out
    laser materials.jpg
     
  21. skarab

    skarab Journeyman
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  22. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    Welcome glad to see it helps! :thumbsup:
     
  23. matteo pratosmart

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    HI! where I can buy this board? Can I do myself with some web platform sending pcb file? Thanks!
     
  24. JCPhlux

    JCPhlux Well-Known
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    Roberts boards are like art. I can't recommend get one from him enough.
     
  25. JSchneider

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    Robert, thank you for sharing your development. Very cool indeed. Could you tell me what laser did you use? Secondly, did you make a kind of safety switch making sure laser was active only at the working position for safety reasons?
    Thanks,
    J.
     
  26. Panda

    Panda New
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    Hi, Robert

    I was interested in your PCB design, what types of PCB etching boards are those and where can i get them? im sick of the ones i get normally with a drab tan color. these Red/Blue ones look fabulous!
     
  27. Kyo

    Kyo Veteran
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    His boards are painted to protect the traces from corrosion. Something like Testors Enamel. Bonus they look awesome. If you just wanted a different color copper clad board to make your pcb from they sale a wide range of colors check out ebay. Or you can dye your pcb with "Rit" dye.

    http://www.aaronalai.com/pcb-board-dyeing

     
  28. Panda

    Panda New
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    Does anyone sell these custom parts that looks like they need to be CNC'd or 3d printed? I dont have any bots yet, this laser one is the first one i want to make.
     
  29. gailenjensen

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    Hello again Robert.

    I need some help. I followed the schematic for the laser driver and the power supply that you have in your documentation and others on the web but have melted several of the trimmer pots. I've tried just the driver circuit with a 9v battery, just an LED, the laser and both in parallel and had the same thing happen. Even with the current load at less than 100ma. I thought maybe I wired something wrong so undid all the wires from the breadboard and redid then with the same thing. Eventually I want to do grey-scale like the site picengrave.com but need to get the simple on-off etching first. Any ideas? What power of laser are you using and have you had any "melt downs" like that?

    My machine works with the router. It runs off an Uno, G-shield, (4)4988 controllers using plain g-code with UGC sender, and Easel.

    Hopefully somebody has some suggestions for me that don't involve hundreds of dollars.

    Gailen
     
  30. Ariel Yahni

    Ariel Yahni OpenBuilds Team
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    Robert hi, are you still selling the board? i would also be interested in buying the laser.
     

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