Lightobject.com Support Forum

Hello all,

I am in the process of installing the DSP controller to revive a laser engraver. Dead RF laser, stepper controller board, motherboard are replaced with new DSP and glass laser tube.

I already have on hand a TB6560 4-axis stepper controller, but not the high speed opto-isolated version sold by Lightobject, rather a cheap one from eBay.

I am trying to use it to drive my Y and Z axises, and it's my understanding the X axis will require a faster stepper controller for the raster engraving mode.

So, I would like to know if it's possible to connect a TB6560 board to the DSP ?? I'm asking because everyone is showing builds using the TB6560 directly contolled by Mach3, without a DSP. But I would like the machine to be controlled by the LaserCad driver/software.

Also, if it's possible, how to wire it correctly. I have the 25-pin mapping for the TB6560, ex:

Pin 7 : y-Dir
Pin 17 : y-Enable
Pin 14 : y-Step

But not sure how to pair with the DSP outputs?


thank you!

If you have one of those cheap 3/4 axis TB6560 board from eBay, you're on the risk! TB6560 is fine (1-axis) for doing upgrade of the K40 small machhine. But for better machine upgrade, don't use TB6560!

Not to mean of offsensive, uou have made 3 mistakes already. First, you should use 1-axis driver even with TB6560. Second, TB6560 is only good for small machine, third, don't get it from the guy who is selling it for $50 or below. I don't mean to ask you to buy from me but the board is terrible designed. It used two 78xx seies regulaor and it's not isolated! Plus, the company in China 'doesn't exist', he fake his company address. There was a big story about his card but it's all in Chinese, otherwise I'll be more happy to post it for your guys to read it. Anything could happen in China. My friend bought two boards (he didn't know I'm selling similar product) and all ended up well-cooked in two weeks on this CNC machine. Another customer from US has the same experience and tuned to me for help. Now, he bought 10x 2-axis and 10x 3-axis regular from me since last year.

Anyway, tell me more about your machine. I'd to know the size of the motors and the size of your machine.


Marco

I plan on connecting my DSP to the 4 axis driver board. Most of them have a manual control input, which should break out the step and dir pins. All you'd need to do is connect the DSP equivalents to the inputs on the 4 axis board.

I believe the parallel port operates at a 3.3V level, whereas the DSP is 5V (From my understanding), so I wouldn't connect directly to the parallel port input on the driver board without some logic level conversion.

Dan

@Tech_Marco : Thanks for the reply! Actually, my TV6560 board is a remnant of a small CNC machine I built last year. I would use it if it works but am open to better solutions. There is so little torque required for the laser machine that I thought we don't need a top notch driver board for the steppers..
The machine table is 24x 18" (600 x 450mm).
The X stepper is a bipolar Line Engineering 4109V-51 : 0.9 deg, 1.2A, 2.2mH.
The Y stepper is a bipolar Oriental Motor PK245M-01B (dual shaft) : 0.9 deg, 0.85A, 15.6mH.
The Z stepper is a bipolar Parker 57-51, 1.8 deg., 0.8A

If I am to buy stepper controllers, would a Gecko G540 be a good option ?

@Dan : Thanks for the info on 3.3v/5v, I didnt think about that. I could try connecting there but I'll wait for Marco's input. I did manage to connect the x and y steppers through the DB-25 pins so that they are "activated" (I cant' turn them by hand). But nothing moves when I try to jog using the arrow buttons on the keypad. But it might also be the pulse and speed settings in Lasercad that are wrong.

I have the slightly older version of that board, that has the large resistors on the output side instead of the white ceramic ones, though the inputs should be the same. I don't have mine on me at the moment, but should do sometime this week. If I remember correctly, I think the first thing the parallel port encounters is the optocouplers. If this is the case, then converting it to work at the DSP's voltage level is a piece of cake.

I could also be wrong and the parallel port is 5V, I'm not having much luck finding out strangely enough.

Maybe if you can post up a schematic/picture of how you've wired it I could have a look.

EDIT: I believe the parallel port is actually 5V logic level. I'm sure it is, but maybe if Marco can confirm the DSP is also 5V logic level too? In that case, connecting it right to the parallel port on your driver board would be fine.

Does anyone have a nice high res, closeup pic of the DSP?

Dan

Voltage level of a parallel is 5V (4.8V).

I don't know too much about Gecko as I never have one.
For small machine, I'll suggest this one: http://www.lightobject.com/Mini-2-Phase ... -P650.aspx
For medium machine, I'll suggest this one: http://www.lightobject.com/2-Phase-45A- ... -P453.aspx

TB6560 works great for K40 and small CNC. The only problem is that TB6560 has higher noise level than those 'standard' stepping motor driver usually driven by MOSFET tube (correct me if I'm wrong).

To avoid trouble and get support easier, try to get 1-axis board. Not necessary to buy from me but you may try Gecko. My point is: Why stress out or wasting so much time for finding pinout from a non-popular 4-axis board but get things done fast & quick with 1-axis driver. Of course, if you have time and like to do it, why not.


Marco

Hehe, that is true Marco. I have sort of run out of money to buy single stepper motor drivers after buying the DSP, but in the future I will probably upgrade.

Dan

Ok I will get the P650 drivers (1.5A per axis is enough for my steppers). I already have a 24V - 14.6Amp power supply. Do you think this output could damage de drivers?

thanks

Those stepper drivers appear to be rated up to 35V, so no issues.

Dan

Got my P650 drivers today, yay!

Now to the wiring ... inputs are :

PULL
DIR
OPTO
ENA

How to match with the DSP's pins ?
DIR
PUL
DC 5V (-- to ENA or OPTO ??)


Other question : should the high voltage wires be soldered to the laser tube ? I cant find that info nowhere...

thanks

Lumifab wrote:Got my P650 drivers today, yay!

Now to the wiring ... inputs are :

PULL
DIR
OPTO
ENA

How to match with the DSP's pins ?
DIR
PUL
DC 5V (-- to ENA or OPTO ??)


Other question : should the high voltage wires be soldered to the laser tube ? I cant find that info nowhere...

thanks

Start with the PUL -> PULL and DIR -> DIR. You probably don't have to use the Opto or Enable lines at all. Leave the 5v open, as well. Just the two lines should make it works.

Tube connections NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Don't solder. Too easy to crack the glass from the heat.

• 1 Strip bare some wire on end of lines from PS.

• 2 Wrap the bare wire as tightly as possible around the connections.

• 3 (Optional) I strapped the insulated portion of the wire to the glass tube with wire ties to keep everything from moving.

• 4 Take an additional piece of bare, solid, wire and tightly wrap it around the connections as well.

• 5 Use hot glue to completely cover the exposed wire connection.

• 6 After that cools completely, use some high voltage silicon tape and wrap the connections to insulate from possible spark jumping to laser frame.

I"ll setup the 2M415 (not P650) today and will post the connection after I completed the test

See picture for the CO2 connection. Please follow Tim's advise, do NOT use soldering iron trying to connect the HV wilre. It's a big mistake if do so!


Marco

Thanks for the replies guys.

Something else I wanted to mention : when I power up the DSP, it always says "System resetting"... until I press Stop. Is it because my motors are not connected yet?

thanks

Limit switches not being triggered, that's why the DSP is waiting and waiting and ....
You can bypass it if you need to. Just trigger manually the limit switch to simulate "HOME" by hands (for hardware switch) or by blocking it if it's optical type sensor. You need to do X,Y,X or Y,X,Y but not just X & Y.

Marco

Attached pictures are showing the connection of 2M415 stepping motor to a DSP controller.

Pay attention to the color of wires, especailly the Blue/White for the power. Don't be confused with the power. I should use Red/Black but I didn't have wires handy so I used the Cat-5 cable

The connection is pretty straight forward: PUL to PUL and DIR to DIR
The confuse part is hte "OPTO". Just connect it to the +5V from the DSP main board will take care it


Marco