DSP Upgrade - Issues with PC Control

[hawkinsoft]

I finished upgrading my K40 to the DSP electronics tonight - overall, it went pretty well.

I've got the PC connect and talking, and am able to home, and control the X/Y axis just fine manually... but there is a definite problem.

When I try to cut the 100mmx100mm square, the machine moves very erratically... doesn't really draw a square, more scribbles all over the place burning everything it touches with the laser. Any thoughts?

I'm on Windows 7 (32bit) - using LaserCAD to draw the 100mmx100mm square and send it to the machine.

Thanks-

[Tech_Marco]

I bet you didn't set the 'um' correctly. Go to Options and click on Manufacturer Parameters, put in "6.5' in Um/pulse if your driver setup is "1/16" (3200) or put in "12.6" if you set to 1/8 (1600). After that, save it and press Reset on the LCD panel.

Then do another test of 100mmX100mm and measure the true value. Use the "um calculator", the button next to the um/pulse setting to fine better number of um. After that it will run very smooth get you closed to 99% accuracy.

This topics has been mentioned so many times. It's mentioned on the manual as well


Marco

[hawkinsoft]

Thanks for the reply -

I have my dip settings on the driver controllers for X&Y set to:
ON | ON | OFF| OFF | OFF | ON

Which I believe is 1/16".

I then set uM to 5 for X/Y as suggested in the manual... I believe that was correct, according to instructions.

I'll take a screen shot and post my full settings tonight.

[hawkinsoft]

My um is most definitely set correctly (Or at least correctly enough)... I double checked the settings - and even had a friend show has the same laser with the same DSP upgrade give me his settings -- and they match :/

Regardless of what file I send to cut (even if its just a single short straight line) the X/Y axis moves very haphazardly until I hit the kill switch.

Again, Manually controlling the X/Y axis through the LCD and through Laser CAD works fine.

Attached are photos of my settings, DIP switches -- and a video showing the crazy movement.

Please help...





VIDEO
http://youtu.be/hkpRNZ7yTIU

I bet you didn't set the 'um' correctly. Go to Options and click on Manufacturer Parameters, put in "6.5' in Um/pulse if your driver setup is "1/16" (3200) or put in "12.6" if you set to 1/8 (1600). After that, save it and press Reset on the LCD panel.

Then do another test of 100mmX100mm and measure the true value. Use the "um calculator", the button next to the um/pulse setting to fine better number of um. After that it will run very smooth get you closed to 99% accuracy.

This topics has been mentioned so many times. It's mentioned on the manual as well


Marco

[waltfl]

Hi there
ok I had similar on one of my customers machine and solved it with the following steps:
1. format the machine memory with the porgramm during download and then format the memory with the display menue
2. shut down both porgram and machine
3. in the manufacturer settings set the maximum speed down to 8000
4. dont forget if you wana make changes to the manufacturewr settings that you first hit the read botton then make your changes then hit the save botton
5. check your limit switches dont let you fool by continious check the best is replace them with new ones
so thats what solved the probleme in my case. just try step by step and allways test it after each step.
greetings
waltfl

My um is most definitely set correctly (Or at least correctly enough)... I double checked the settings - and even had a friend show has the same laser with the same DSP upgrade give me his settings -- and they match :/

Regardless of what file I send to cut (even if its just a single short straight line) the X/Y axis moves very haphazardly until I hit the kill switch.

Again, Manually controlling the X/Y axis through the LCD and through Laser CAD works fine.

Attached are photos of my settings, DIP switches -- and a video showing the crazy movement.

Please help...





VIDEO
http://youtu.be/hkpRNZ7yTIU

I bet you didn't set the 'um' correctly. Go to Options and click on Manufacturer Parameters, put in "6.5' in Um/pulse if your driver setup is "1/16" (3200) or put in "12.6" if you set to 1/8 (1600). After that, save it and press Reset on the LCD panel.

Then do another test of 100mmX100mm and measure the true value. Use the "um calculator", the button next to the um/pulse setting to fine better number of um. After that it will run very smooth get you closed to 99% accuracy.

This topics has been mentioned so many times. It's mentioned on the manual as well


Marco

[hawkinsoft]

Thanks for the Reply! I'm going to try each of these step by step tonight.

Someone also recommended that I try to send the file differently -- right now, I'm clicking "Start" from LaserCAD to start the cutting job. He recommended doing a Download, then Delete All, then Download before cutting. I guess that loads the job into memory on the DSP?

Anyway, I have a few things to try tonight, which makes me happy, so thanks!

Hi there
ok I had similar on one of my customers machine and solved it with the following steps:
1. format the machine memory with the porgramm during download and then format the memory with the display menue
2. shut down both porgram and machine
3. in the manufacturer settings set the maximum speed down to 8000
4. dont forget if you wana make changes to the manufacturewr settings that you first hit the read botton then make your changes then hit the save botton
5. check your limit switches dont let you fool by continious check the best is replace them with new ones
so thats what solved the probleme in my case. just try step by step and allways test it after each step.
greetings
waltfl

[waltfl]

hi there
yes you should always download the file to the machine and start from the display stat botton
greetings
waltfl

Thanks for the Reply! I'm going to try each of these step by step tonight.

Someone also recommended that I try to send the file differently -- right now, I'm clicking "Start" from LaserCAD to start the cutting job. He recommended doing a Download, then Delete All, then Download before cutting. I guess that loads the job into memory on the DSP?

Anyway, I have a few things to try tonight, which makes me happy, so thanks!

Hi there
ok I had similar on one of my customers machine and solved it with the following steps:
1. format the machine memory with the porgramm during download and then format the memory with the display menue
2. shut down both porgram and machine
3. in the manufacturer settings set the maximum speed down to 8000
4. dont forget if you wana make changes to the manufacturewr settings that you first hit the read botton then make your changes then hit the save botton
5. check your limit switches dont let you fool by continious check the best is replace them with new ones
so thats what solved the probleme in my case. just try step by step and allways test it after each step.
greetings
waltfl

[hawkinsoft]

Thanks for the guidance! Yeah, I was a little thrown off by the "Download"... really, the LaserCAD gui needs to say "Upload".

(You Upload the file to the printer.)

Anyway, "Downloading" then starting works great!

Thanks-

[Telrad]

If you haven't noticed already, you will soon find out there are many odd labels and names that are nonstandard in lasercad. It just needs a bit of relabeling in the interface to make it a little more English friendly.