Cutting and engraving not accurate

[funhawke]

First the good news - all the table issues (home, x y z, origin) all working finally - the blue wires that were a mystery were traced to the x and y limit switches. Still working on z table. X and Y working great!

Next step - did a test pattern of four bars with same speed and various power settings (on left side of pic) - all bars same results - no variance in results. Then did various speeds and various power settings.(right side) Speed settings working as each result reflects but the power settings do not have any impact on the laser?

Kees mentioned this to me in an earlier thread while trying to engrave on some thin material. Do I have a wrong connection...or wrong setting in the software? What connection/instrument determines laser power.He had mentioned the connection from the power supply but I believe it to be correct.

I've also attached controller screen shot as well as laser cad screen shots. Any advice?

[Techgraphix]

Ah! i think i saw something... Hope i'm right cause this should solve everything..

Somewhere in the settingslist there is an item where you can select settings from software or local or something like that..
Your laser should read the setting from the file you put into it, but if you selected in one of the menues of the machine that it should take local settings (or something named similar) it takes its own settings instead.
Same with speeds...
Not sure where and how it is named in X7

Will you take a look at that??

Kees

[funhawke]

Thanks Kees. Hopes were high...but found nothing in x7 menu suggesting local or software settings preference. Went into LaserCad and found nothing there either.

What is the mechanism that normally controls the strength of the laser beam. If I know what that is then I can trace the wires back to it?

I also changed the TTL setting in the software to high level effective from low level effective. In the high level effective TTL setting - it didnt seem to do anything, like the laser was off?

Any other suggestions?

[Techgraphix]

I checked it with my AWC608.
In menu-item 5 Control mode, there are two options: Softlayer params and LCD Panel params. I selected Softlayer Params.
Maybe Marco can sort this out for the X7 (or AWC708C)
Your wiring and settings look good, as i can see.. It must be something like my menu-item 5.. This is a setting on the controller itself, not in LaserCad.
Maybe it is hidden in a ini-file..

Kees

[funhawke]

Yes - checked every menu item in controller LCD - menu is different on X7. No menu item for control that I can find. There is a working mode item but only gives options for axis and origin.

I will review the manual and faq's to see if I can find anything in that area.

Thanks for your help

[funhawke]

Found this in the FAQ, the last item:

Q: Even I set the power to 25% for my job, , the LCD is showing 50% when it start engraving. Why?

Ans: There are two different power controls: LCD control and Software control. In that case, change the mode to the Software control.

I cannot find any way to change mode?

UPDATE: Went into the parameter settings for the file on the Controller. All the settings are reading same as set up in the software - so I have to assume that the controller is set correctly leaving the problem to somewhere in the software settings or a wrong connection.

Marco can you please weigh in here for some assistance?

[Tech_Marco]

Seems Software is the default for the X7 as I couldn't find the setting for Software/LCD switching, like the AWC608. Will ask the programmer tonight.

By the way, you must NOT connect +5V from your old board to the X7 +5V

If you have a digital Voltmeter, you can measure the output from the PWM vs GND. The output should varies from 0V to 4.8V ~ 5V. For example, if you set 10% on LaserCad output, it may read 0.5V. If you set 50%, the output should be 2.5V. If 100% is set, then the output should be 4.8V~5V


Marco

[funhawke]

Thanks Marco...

I do not have the old board in - I was just showing the connections on the old Leetro board vs the X7.

I will check the x y z DC5V. According to the schematic there is a DC5V connection on each of the axis.

[Tech_Marco]

X, Y, Z motor control do need the +5V (Common Positive). But for the laser output, you should only have three wires in connection: TTL, PWM, Gnd

For the "TTL", you need to set it to "Level Low" and it should connect to the LPSU "TL" terminal.

You may try 5% power see if it make difference. Also, try Laser Output 2 if Laser Output 1 still do the same.


Marco

[funhawke]

I will try laser 2 as well. All other settings and connections are consistent with what I have connected. (TTL PWM Grd to power supply)

[funhawke]

I have been reviewing wiring pictures. The attached pic shows my x axis step motor/servo controller. I followed the wires back to the controller but not sure it is wired correctly - could you have a look. The yellow wire was connected to the x DC5V on the Leetro.

Everything is working on the cutter accept the power output to the laser - would a mis wire here cause this issue?

[funhawke]

I used the mutli meter on the X7 controller output. I connected red to PMW and black to ground. I had a couple of jump wires handy - that is why it appears to be two.

CORRECTION. Had volt meter set to AC should be DC. Please see posting below on new tests with proper voltmeter settings.

[funhawke]

Update on x motor connection. I checked the Leadshine data sheet and the wiring checked out fine.

[funhawke]

Changed to Laser2 as suggested - no change in output. Still no variance in power out.

IMG_2135-001.JPG (141.6 KiB) Viewed 4370 times

[funhawke]

hello Marco - any ideas what could be wrong with my situation. Haven't been able to move ahead as I am stumped with why I am not getting any variance in power from the laser.

Please help - anyone