Installing a TB6560 board controller on a K40 laser machine

[raphael150]

Hello Folks,
I have a Chinese DC-K40III with that moshi board (that you all know doesn't work )
I've been reading all the information about the Chinese K40 laser machine's conversion with DSP board. The lightobject is a state-of-art controller board that works very well for cutting and mainly for engraving, but I need only to cut with precision thin balsa wood and soft ply, so I decided to buy that "blue" TB6560 board controller, but I have some doubts on the installtion, like: Could the laser be controlled by the board's spindle port? I just want it to turn on/off the laser to cut (don't need a precise control since I don't need to engrave), and the laser power would be controlled by the machine's potentiameter.
Another doubt: do I need any driver to the stepper motors, or is the TB6560 a drive? Should I conect the stepper motors direct on the board? I saw on your conversion that you use a TB6560 motor driver between the DSP controller and the stepper motors.
Tech-marco, and others experts, can you help me with these issues?
Thank you very much
Raphael

[TeacDance]

Hello Folks,
I have a Chinese DC-K40III with that moshi board (that you all know doesn't work )
I've been reading all the information about the Chinese K40 laser machine's conversion with DSP board. The lightobject is a state-of-art controller board that works very well for cutting and mainly for engraving, but I need only to cut with precision thin balsa wood and soft ply, so I decided to buy that "blue" TB6560 board controller, but I have some doubts on the installtion, like: Could the laser be controlled by the board's spindle port? I just want it to turn on/off the laser to cut (don't need a precise control since I don't need to engrave), and the laser power would be controlled by the machine's potentiameter.
Another doubt: do I need any driver to the stepper motors, or is the TB6560 a drive? Should I conect the stepper motors direct on the board? I saw on your conversion that you use a TB6560 motor driver between the DSP controller and the stepper motors.
Tech-marco, and others experts, can you help me with these issues?
Thank you very much
Raphael

you can connect directly to the controller card, a parallel port on your computer if you want, you have to do a program in one of which is to translate the code g-code and control the laser, then even if the Mach 3 software. myself, cnc machine has a control like that

[Tech_Marco]

A little correction:

To better control the power of the laser, I keep the the potentialmeter that come with the machine. Instead of feeding the 4.8V TTL signal from the Pin6 to the input of the power supply, I connected it to the TH (level high) of the powr supply. That way, the power of later won't be affected by the signal from the TB6560 but totally relying on the potentialmeter. The TH get better tolerance and it fire laser as long as the signal over 3V.

So here is the flow:

PIN6 -> Relay COM -> Relay N.O. -> TH (leve high) or laser trigger

Note, it doesn't has to be PIN#6 but it must matched the setting on the Mach3.


Marco

[Tech_Marco]

FYI, see attached image for comparsion, the blue one is 'junk' and our 3 axis (red pcb)

[Norsak]

Hi,

I just received a K40IV ebay Laser 'engraver'
I now know what everyone is talking about when they say they don't work and need retro fitting.

Ok, so what do I need to put in the shopping basket?

Do I only need a TB6560 3 axis controller board?
Do I need anything else? Can I just wire the existing stepper motors directly into the TB6560 and control it from Mach 3?
What about limit switches?

Any advice appreciated

[raphael150]

Hi,

I just received a K40IV ebay Laser 'engraver'
I now know what everyone is talking about when they say they don't work and need retro fitting.

Ok, so what do I need to put in the shopping basket?

Do I only need a TB6560 3 axis controller board?
Do I need anything else? Can I just wire the existing stepper motors directly into the TB6560 and control it from Mach 3?
What about limit switches?

Any advice appreciated

Hello Norsak,
I'm trying to find out exactly the same thing.
I kind of know that we need a TB6560 + limit Switches (I guess the original optical switches doens't work for TB6560)

Marco,
Please, make a tutorial showing how to convert the K40 laser machine using a TB6560. This way you gonna sell lots of TB6560 more (If I knew how to do that I would be the first to buy, but...). I think if simply you make sketch showing all the wires it could be enough.
Thank you
Raphael

[Tech_Marco]

I need to review the materials before I make the attemp. It's not difficult but it must be correct.
Someone got to buy me a cup of cappuccino and a cheese cake

Marco

[TeacDance]

Hi,

I just received a K40IV ebay Laser 'engraver'
I now know what everyone is talking about when they say they don't work and need retro fitting.

Ok, so what do I need to put in the shopping basket?

Do I only need a TB6560 3 axis controller board?
Do I need anything else? Can I just wire the existing stepper motors directly into the TB6560 and control it from Mach 3?
What about limit switches?

Any advice appreciated

I recommend the DSP cotroller

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=650

[raphael150]

I need to review the materials before I make the attemp. It's not difficult but it must be correct.
Someone got to buy me a cup of cappuccino and a cheese cake

Marco

Marco,
I would buy you a full breakfast, lunch and diner if you show the first steps of it.
I'm sure it is not difficult.
Like i've said; a simple sketch showing the wires would be great.
Thank you
Raphael

[Norsak]

I recommend the DSP cotroller

viewtopic.php?f=8&t=650

I believe you that the DSP conversion is better.
But money is a big consideration. If I can cut Vectors with an $80 hardware purchase, vs Vector + Raster for maybe $800....
I think I'll see what $80 can do for me. When I feel I need more, I can always come back and buy DSP.

I plan to design shapes in Autocad, the export them to Mach3, then cut them out of ...what ever a 40W laser can cut.
Please advise if you think this can be done using TB6560 (although at this point I already ordered one)

[raphael150]

[/quote] I plan to design shapes in Autocad, the export them to Mach3, then cut them out of ...what ever a 40W laser can cut.
Please advise if you think this can be done using TB6560 (although at this point I already ordered one)[/quote]

Exactly the same thing I want: draw using Acad than cut with my 40w machine.

[Tech_Marco]

Just hold on folks, I will post the connection diagram here in next few days.

What you need is a 3Axis card and a DC24V 5A power supply. You may need to install 2 limit switch as if you can't use the original optical limit sensor output. The stepping should set to 1/2 or 1/8 and current for the X is 0.6A and 1A for the Y (0.6A also work). Do not set 1A for X as it will get very hot. I'm not sure why it happen like that but the K40 seems have two different motor installed.

It's not easy to sort out the output pin from the 12x flat cable. I could get the A+A- B+B- for X motor only. To save time and hassael, my recommendation is to install two switches for the X,Y home.

Marco

[raphael150]

Just hold on folks, I will post the connection diagram here in next few days.

What you need is a 3Axis card and a DC24V 5A power supply. You may need to install 2 limit switch as if you can't use the original optical limit sensor output. The stepping should set to 1/2 or 1/8 and current for the X is 0.6A and 1A for the Y (0.6A also work). Do not set 1A for X as it will get very hot. I'm not sure why it happen like that but the K40 seems have two different motor installed.

It's not easy to sort out the output pin from the 12x flat cable. I could get the A+A- B+B- for X motor only. To save time and hassael, my recommendation is to install two switches for the X,Y home.

Marco

Thank you very much Marco!

[Tech_Marco]

Thank you for waiting. I just finished a simple instruciton in rush. Second edition could be possible. Note, please bear my English skill and don't laugh at me for my grammatical mistake. Someone may help me to fix it if possible, I can send the MS Word for the original copy

See attached pdf file.

Note, copy right


Marco