Cannot get RF laser to fire.

[powerfade]

Hi everyone. So I finally got a little time to wire in the 2012 DSP. I am having a little problem with getting the laser to fire. Here's my situation. I am trying to get the uls-30 RF laser connected. For the RF laser i am connecting between pins #3 and #5 for the PWM connection. When I don't have the laser connected to the controller I can get a reading of 4.8v when I put the multimeter between pins #3 and #5. However, when I hook up the laser to the pins #3 and #5 I only get a reading of 1.7v, which won't fire the laser. I am just pressing the laser on the LCD to test. As per Marco, I have everything set up to 98% power. I have my frequency set up to 5000, because I think that was right for the RF laser, but not 100%n sure. Does that sound correct?? Anyways, I have been fighting it for the last few days.

I have chosen RF laser in the manufacturers parameters.
The power supply is supplying the required 48v.

Hopefully i have supplied enough information. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated..

Thanks...
Chris

[baccus61]

Hi Chris,
Apparently YouTube isn't sending stuff to you account from mine so I will post here what I wrote the last 2 times...

Quote"

Hi Chris,
Geez!. I sent a detailed reply last night that took me about 2 hours and now I find when I checked tonight I didn't send the damn thing. Grrr. I am so stupid sometimes. I was up until 1:30 writing it. Derrr. (Dumb ass, I am)
Anyway..............
What I said was, have you tried the laser interlock connection? I don't have the manual anywhere near me and it would take me about 4 days to find it but I think that may be your problem. you need to put 5.0 volts across the pins or the laser won't fire.
There, I said it again but this time I WILL send it to you.
Also, You needn't keep introducing yourself to me as after 2 years of writing to you I think I know who you are by now. LOL
Looks like you are close to having it going again so I wiil keep my fingers X-'d this is the problem. It's easy to overlook.
Let me know how you get on.
Rich
Unquote"

I did send the letter but YouTube didn't actually send it through to you. Lucky you have a back up forum here.
Rich.

[powerfade]

Hey Rich. I know... I am a dork... I keep introducing myself to you. hahaha... Thanks for retyping your reply to me. I hate when that happens... So so frustrating.

So I gave the interlock a try. I tied the two interlock pins together on the laser to enable the laser. Funny thing is I wasn't even thinking about the interlock, but the wires were so close together that they were actually making contact and enabling the laser. Still the same thing though. Gnd pin #5 to #3 PWM starts off at .025v and goes to 4.8v without the laser connected. Once the laser is connected the voltage only goes to 1.7v. I can get the laser to fire if I connect to the 5v and the PWM line, but it would just keep the laser on all of the time. So I know the laser is working, but I can get enough voltage to it on the PWM line when the laser is connected. I guess my question is... What would cause the voltage to drop when the laser is connected to the controller?? I would think it should still be at 5v... So perplexed??? Thanks Rich..... There gotta be an answer somewhere out there!!!

Take care.
Chris

[baccus61]

It might be the controller and it might be the laser. It is a doozy!
It might be a long shot but you could try ULS.inc and see if they will respond to your query! They might have an answer.
Also have you tried the cnczone as well? Might be a long shot as well but someone out there might know.
I won't be able to have a look at the pin set up until next Sat when I'm off work. These 12 hour shifts really stuff up your free time.
Rich.

[baccus61]

Umm. Do you need to ground the laser frame?
Another long shot.

[powerfade]

Hi Rich.... So I had a good friend of mine come down today and take a look at the laser for me. He is ridiculously smart and figured out that the DSP is not providing enough current on the PWM line to trigger the optoisolator and fire the laser. At least thats how I remember him describing it. The PWN line puts out 3mA and the laser requires approx 7mA, but pulled 11mA when we ran it off the 5v line. I am not sure if this standard on the DSP or mine has a problem. I wrote Marco, to see what he thinks.. We're getting closer and closer... I will keep you updated..

Chris

[Tech_Marco]

Chris:

I've sent a request to the engineer for the max current that the PWM could output. I'll post the info once I got reply from him. I would be suprise to see 3mA output only. Usually it should be able to output at least 10mA in order to turn on opto control.

Marco

[powerfade]

Thanks Marco... We'll get it figured out...

Thanks..
Chris

[Tech_Marco]

Chris:

Can you check the version of your card for me. Use "Menu" on the LCD and scoll down to the last option and you can read the ver of the main board and the LCD display

We have a solution for you

Marco

[powerfade]

Marco.. The version numbers are:

Main Board : 6.11.12.17

LCD : 5.11.10.30

Thanks.
Chris

[powerfade]

Marco.. So my buddy let me borrow a solid state relay that he hooked up to use the 5v off of pin 1 to supply the necessary amperage to trigger the laser. The part he used is "WAY OVERKILL", but it's what he had on hand and seems to work. I would be curious to cheaper options (i.e. maconas recommendation of the 74LS244), so I can give him his relay back. The one he gave me is pretty pricey.

One other thing. I think I am missing a setting somewhere, because I can get the laser to fire when I have it set to LCD params, but not when it's set to soft layer. I have the max power set to 98% in the manufacturers parameters, RF laser chosen and frequency of 5000. Any suggestions???

Thanks.
Chris

[Tech_Marco]

Did you set the power output on your drawing? Also, did you put a 'tick' on the later ? I think you just forget to enable the output.

Marco

[powerfade]

Hey Marco.. So it was not firing because I didn't have the corner power set. When I set it to a percentage it started firing. However, I must have set something else weird because now when I draw a square and run it, it does little loops in the corners (i.e. it goes to the corner then does a kind of loop and then goes to the next corner does another loop). Any ideas?

Thanks.
Chris

[Gadroc]

When you click download there is a dialog that pops up. You probably have the "Line_cut mode" checked.

[powerfade]

I think you are right. I will double check that tomorrow. Thanks for pointing that out. I appreciate it.