Vector Cutting Speed Issue

[mattrsch]

I just updated my AWC-608. I installed 3 updates in succession to bring it up to the latest, starting with this one: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=1089
I also updated to Laser CAD 5.9

The linked post describes an issue regarding inconsistent cutting speeds for vector cuts. I did not have this issue before updating, but now I do. Here is what I have observed.

I made a 20X20 mm square and set my vector cut speed to 5 mm/sec, so it should take about 4 seconds per side
The first side takes about 2 seconds
the second side takes about 3 seconds
the third and fourth sides take about 4 seconds each

I tried adding a second 20mm square in the same file, both squares cut at the same speeds

I pulled up a 15X15 mm square that was on the DSP from before the upgrades, it cuts as expected on all 4 sides.

My other computer still has Laser CAD 5.85, so I tried a 20mm square from there
The first side took 2 seconds
Sides 2-4 took 4 seconds each

Is it possible to roll my DSP back to a pre-update state?

[Tech_Marco]

Did it come out 15mm x 15mm correctly. Or X,Y are different in lenght?

What happen if you cut a box by using 'engraving'. You know, before you do any engraving, you can burn the outline box that is big enough to contain the image. Try do more test and let me know what else error you have. Then, I'll discuss it with the programmer Li.

I do have V5.93. I'll let you try it see if it help as he added something on the V5.93


Marco

[mattrsch]

Did it come out 15mm x 15mm correctly. Or X,Y are different in lenght?

What happen if you cut a box by using 'engraving'. You know, before you do any engraving, you can burn the outline box that is big enough to contain the image. Try do more test and let me know what else error you have. Then, I'll discuss it with the programmer Li.

I do have V5.93. I'll let you try it see if it help as he added something on the V5.93


Marco

First off, thanks for the quick response!

I have run some more tests:

All the cuts are coming out the correct size
The engraving cut box behaves correctly on all 4 sides
Output from V5.93 appears to behave identically to V5.90
Circles appear to cut at the correct speeds
20mm square drawn in Corel Draw X5 and imported to Laser CAD 5.93 cuts:
Side 1: 2 sec
Sides 2-4: 4 sec
I tried a shape I made in Corel Draw with 2 20 mm sides just so it's not a simple square (see attached image)

Test Shape from Corel Draw

shape.png (3.21 KiB) Viewed 4841 times

Imported to Laser CAD as a DXF
The two sides that were left 20 mm are the same sides that have been cutting too fast
With the circle in the bottom left everything appeared to cut the correct speed
Rotated the shape 180 degrees and everything appeared to cut at the correct speed

If there is anything else you want me to try I will get to it as quickly as I can

[Tech_Marco]

Chceck the version of the DSP. I already reported this issue to Li to look at that see if he could duplicate the issue
It's weekend there, so it may take a couple days before I can receve a reply from him

Marco

[Greolt]

I made a 20X20 mm square and set my vector cut speed to 5 mm/sec, so it should take about 4 seconds per side
The first side takes about 2 seconds
the second side takes about 3 seconds
the third and fourth sides take about 4 seconds each

Does it only happen when selecting "Line Cut Mode"?

[baccus61]

I have also had problems with version 5.9
The software locks up if I try to "download" another file to the DSP after I have used the file once. This happened about 6 times and only once or twice was I able to get it to download properly. It was the same file with different cut speeds. I tried another file with the same results. The software locks up.
I am still able to press start on the HMI and the job will process as normal but the software crashes and I have to do a warm start for the computer and load the programs back in again. I have a Solid State Drive so it only takes a minute or so and is only a minor inconvenience to me but others may not be so fortunate.

I tried the rotary attachment and did not use the Advanced features for it but just swapped out the Y axis to the rotary the same way I have always done it and the file I used engraved good once but then the laser lost steps in the X axis direction causing the file to engrave at an angle. This was repeatable 5 times even after I turned the computer on and off twice. (This maybe my set up though). I reinstalled 5.88 and the problem went away and the DSP didn't lock up after that.

I still have the same old problem when I press the "Laser" button on the LCD (HMI) control board the laser stays on and I have to press reset to stop it. This would happen 6 times out of ten. It's an intermittent fault.

I haven't tried the PPI yet but it will be interesting to try it out cutting some wood/MDF for a few projects I have. The DSP is still usable and I haven't even set up the air assist wiring yet as I haven't had time. I still turn it on and off by hand. I engraved a mirror last night that took 2hours and 40min to do and the estimated time in the software was spot on. I was able to go outside and turn the laser/air assist off just as the job finished. That part works great and is a welcome addition.

(This is with the old 2012 -608 board, Marco. I still haven't unpacked the new board yet as I am waiting to build another table in a few months or the end of the year).

Rich.

[Tech_Marco]

Rich, did you upgrade the OS on the LCD and the mainboard for the older AWC-608?
Can you send me the version number and I'll tell you which patches you may need to upgrade it.
To check the version, use the LCD control panale and scroll down to the bottom of the menu and you should be able to find "System version" or something like that. It will read two number for you, the main board and the LCD

Also, does that card has 'ignition' problem when power to the mian-board unplugged while power to the Laser Power still connected'? If so, there is a post to show you how to fix the problem.

By the way, make sure you have good grounding on the whole system. You may need to hard wire a ground wire to all of these devies: DSP controller, laser power supply, DC power supply, the machine case... The DSP is very sentive to the noise coming from the Laser Power Supply. Also, make sure to keep signal wires away from the 'hot' wires.

If there is download file issue, it could be a fix as it's caused by the USB connector. I'll get more info to assist you for the issue


Marco

[mattrsch]

Chceck the version of the DSP. I already reported this issue to Li to look at that see if he could duplicate the issue
It's weekend there, so it may take a couple days before I can receve a reply from him

Marco

System Version:
Main Board: 6.12.03.12
LCD: 5.11.10.30

[mattrsch]

Does it only happen when selecting "Line Cut Mode"?

I'm not sure where to find line cut mode settings, can you point me in the right direction?

[baccus61]

Thanks Marco.
No I haven't updated the firmware yet. The numbers on my board were not the same as the ones you posted so I thought it might not need updating.
The versions I have are:-

Main 5 11 10 30
LCD 5 11 10 30

I have grounded the system and I have made sure the signal wires and most of the other wires are away from the Laser wires by about 12in so it shouldn't be too much of a problem.
I will put a couple of more ground wires back in to the same ground point just to make sure. It can't hurt. (unless I set up a ground loop)

I does seem to be a Comms problem when "Downloading " to the LCD/DSP
I followed your thread on how to set up the network but it didn't seem to work so I just use the USB for now until I get up to speed with how to connect networking devices.
USB is just fine for now, when it works, and I will use the older software until I update the LCD/Main.

I haven't played with the laser for months so I need to get back into cutting and get up to speed with the upgrades and everything you have done, like PPI etc.

Thanks Marco.

[baccus61]

I'm not sure where to find line cut mode settings, can you point me in the right direction?

The line cut modes are in the box on the right hand side of the screen where your job is listed. I think it's the layers tab. This is the best thing about the DSP because you can cut and engrave in the same job just by setting what you want to do for each layer. If you click on the job you can select engrave, cut, grade engrave etc from the window that pops up and then choose your power and speed of cutting.

It won't take long to find your way around the software but it does take a little time to find where everything is and what to set them to for your particular machine. The more you use it the better you will become. I remember being totally overwhelmed by the software and hardware when I first started but after a couple of weeks I was very proficient at setting speeds and power for any particular job. When you see what power you have and how it cuts/engraves, you can sometimes guess what settings to use and get pretty close to the mark.
Rich

[Tech_Marco]

No I haven't updated the firmware yet. The numbers on my board were not the same as the ones you posted so I thought it might not need updating.
The versions I have are:-

Main 5 11 10 30
LCD 5 11 10 30


Rich:

Definitely you need to upgrade the DSP board as you're running older version. You need to run one of this patch before being able to upgrade other: viewtopic.php?f=55&t=941

You need to upgrade the LCD as well by using the attached file. You use the LCD to do all upgrade

Let me know if you have any problem to upgrade it. After, let me know what version of the system and we go from there


Marco

[Tech_Marco]

Chceck the version of the DSP. I already reported this issue to Li to look at that see if he could duplicate the issue
It's weekend there, so it may take a couple days before I can receve a reply from him

Marco

System Version:
Main Board: 6.12.03.12
LCD: 5.11.10.30

Did you miss something? I think there is more after ".12". Didn't it show "V6,V7,V8" after it?

Marco

[mattrsch]

Chceck the version of the DSP. I already reported this issue to Li to look at that see if he could duplicate the issue
It's weekend there, so it may take a couple days before I can receve a reply from him

Marco

System Version:
Main Board: 6.12.03.12
LCD: 5.11.10.30

Did you miss something? I think there is more after ".12". Didn't it show "V6,V7,V8" after it?

Marco

Nope, That's all it says

[Tech_Marco]

Run this patch: download/file.php?id=984
It's an upgrade to your LCD.


Marco