Lightobject.com Support Forum

Hi marco
could you ask the programmer if it would be possible to integrate a total run time for the laser tube.
I did find out that pretty much nobody note the laser tube run time and wondering if the tube goes out,
they don't realize that especially during testing lots of run time goes by, or if they try to figure the best settings
for a picture that there is always run time involved.
thanks
waltfl

Hey, now that's a heck of a good idea. I have a standard hour meter wired into my machine...so it keeps track of 'machine ON' time, but not laser run time.

That would be super useful.

Good idea but won't be possible to add the feature on the DSP card. It will involve a new board design with Eprom and backup battery added. An alternative way is to add a counter externally by using the Out1 (may be Out2) to trigger the timer. I'm working on it as I'll have to have this feature to charge my customer to use my laser machine in house.

This is the timer that I'm working on: http://www.lightobject.com/Programmable ... -P464.aspx

What I need to do is to find out a pin that handling triggering mechanism.


Marco

Update:

The "I/O" of the DSP
For the "2.Out" terminal, the "Out1" is "Low" whenever the XY is moving regardless the laser firing or not. The "Out2" is "Low" only if XY is moving AND laser is firing.

So, to setup the timer that I mentioned and only count when laser if firing here is the procedure:
1) Connect a small DC relay 24V (low current driven as output current from DSP is very low) to +24V and Out2
2) Connect N.C. (normally closed) to the time "Pause" button. Note, you need to attach two little wire next to the Pause button by opening the front cover. Soldering work is required.
3) Programming the time for "9999hr59m59S" either mode 20 (with password required to reset) or mode 23 (without password to reset)

I'll post some picture once I completed it. And, I'll take a video to let you folks see how it works


Marco

It works great! I'm uploading a video and you can see from the video that the timer doing counting only when laser is firing. The timer did not count time when the XY stage was moving only without laser firing.

It is simple to make and very handy. I'm going to use for time tracker for machine rental in my shop.

Marco

Youtube video ready for the CO2 usage timer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSuyQ8y_TI8

Marco

hi marco
what about out time of the whole machine ? do you have a back up battery?
greetings
waltfl

Tech_Marco wrote:Youtube video ready for the CO2 usage timer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSuyQ8y_TI8

Marco

Marco,

This is great! Would you mind putting a "kit" together for those of us that want to add this feature to our machines?

Regards,
Jim

waltfl wrote:hi marco
what about out time of the whole machine ? do you have a back up battery?
greetings
waltfl

Tech_Marco wrote:Youtube video ready for the CO2 usage timer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSuyQ8y_TI8

Marco

There is a memory so even the machine is off power, the memory of time usage stay still unless you Reset it. By the way, there are two Reset mode: with or without paasword protection. This is a great feature

Marco

JAV-1 wrote:Marco,

This is great! Would you mind putting a "kit" together for those of us that want to add this feature to our machines?

Regards,
Jim

Yes, I'll do it. I'm going to order the little relay, a diode and pre-wired it on a PCB board. That way, it is easy for you folks to do connection as not all know electronics. Then, I need to work out a simple step procedure with my second class english I probably need about 2 weeks to finish the kit preparation


Marco

Tech_Marco wrote:

JAV-1 wrote:Marco,

This is great! Would you mind putting a "kit" together for those of us that want to add this feature to our machines?

Regards,
Jim

Yes, I'll do it. I'm going to order the little relay, a diode and pre-wired it on a PCB board. That way, it is easy for you folks to do connection as not all know electronics. Then, I need to work out a simple step procedure with my second class english I probably need about 2 weeks to finish the kit preparation


Marco

That's excellent news!! Thanks!

hi marco
what I mean is even if there is a memory if it is not a flash version it would reset by a power outage, like I got this all the time.
thanks for your great afford
greetings
waltfl

Tech_Marco wrote:

waltfl wrote:hi marco
what about out time of the whole machine ? do you have a back up battery?
greetings
waltfl

Tech_Marco wrote:Youtube video ready for the CO2 usage timer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSuyQ8y_TI8

Marco

There is a memory so even the machine is off power, the memory of time usage stay still unless you Reset it. By the way, there are two Reset mode: with or without paasword protection. This is a great feature

Marco

Walt:

The memory stay even when power lost. When power back up, the usage time stay in the memory and will keep counting up until someone press RESET button
Been doing times and times, power On and Off.............. so tired.


Marco

Walt:

If you want to, you can check one out from my website and I make one for you for now. You're handy man so it is easy for you to hook it up
Then, you will see how nice it work out

Marco

One more thing, with the same setup, one can add a air value control to turn on/off of air-assisted support. But it is not the air-pump type but the compressor with air tank. If one need to control the air-pump instead, then I have to use the Output1 instead. Output 1 will output signal once XY is moving rather than laser is firing

Marco