Benbox Laser Machines/CO2 Lasers/3D Printers

We have a few units installed at local greenhouses. The owners were eager to get involved but after a month lose interest. Common problem was it just works and once setup they do nothing. Guess that is a good thing.

We have a version, awaiting the virus to abate, at a local school where there are planting trays mounted over large fish tanks. It pumps water (with fish poop) from the fish tank into the growing vats where somehow the plants purify the water which is recycled back to the tanks and help feed the fish. I am not a biologist!!!! Computer also activates grow lights based on sunrise/sunset to simulate a natural environment. My wife used a version to grow quite a lot of lettuce (and other plants) this winter.

Looks too clean to be random, Can you post the source image? Does the location move if you change the speed?

I'm fine with embedded C, so so with Linux applications, frustrated by Windows GUI!!!

The physical speed is way off. Created a square in gcode with 200mm per side, speed of 800mm/min, and very weak laser. Expected it to take one minute. That was over 2 years ago so will repeat experiment prior to quoting actual number. Should probably try with triangle and circle to see if error is predictable.

If you look at the grbl code where the core-xy motion is calculated it is only a few lines for distance but no compensation for speed.

I think the newer bootloader is a positive step up. You need a ISP loader to install it which can be made from an Arduino Uno or Nano using feature built into the Arduino IDE. You need 6 wires. 5 of the 6 go from programmer to target 6-pin ISP headers. The 6th is a little different.

Did you make the core-xy from scratch?

I have observed that the speeds are typically off by quite a lot (probably the square root of 2). I maintain a log of laser, speed, & PWM for various media.

I prefer low level tools for debugging hardware which for grbl devices is a terminal emulator such as teraterm for Windows for gtkterm for Linux. From the command line you can type/execute the basic commands. The list is not very long and can be found with a Google search.

We have:
 G00, G01                      basic X,Y motion
 Fxxx                              motor speed
 M03, M04, & M05          laser enable mode
 Sxxx                               laser power

With the 1.x firmware there is a parameter which disables the laser when there is no motion.

Do you have a spare generic Arduino? If so, you can turn it into a ISP burner. I had similar problem with Nano until I reloaded the boot loader with the "modern" version. The older uses 57600 baud and occupies about 2K code space. The newer is at 115200 baud and uses about 1K. That 1K is likely causing your problem as the 1.f firmware is about 31K.

Wiggle, Wiggle. Looks to me like its time to raise the waste board.

I use extruded steel positioned about 12mm (1/2 inch) up. Three advantages:
  1.  Can use magnets to hold the material stable.
  2.  When cutting both the laser beam and air assist get to pass thru.
  3.  Greatly reduced charing on the bottom. 

I understand that aluminum honneycomb works better except for the magnetics which is my primary use. Especially useful for etching veneers and other thin wood.

Time for that test burn at 5000 mm/min with tight corners!!!