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Topics - Stormin Norm

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T2 Engraving / 'port' to turn on laser?
« on: November 16, 2019, 09:08:38 AM »
So I have 2 cnc control boards.  One came with my cheap-o laser engraver setup, the other I ordered separately off Ebay because it has z axis control.

I've switched back to my original controller, but can't get the laser to turn on.  I seem to recall that I had to switch 'something' to like port 11, or something like that to get the laser to work before. 

If this makes any sense, please give me a hand.

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T2 Engraving / Stronger laser?
« on: August 24, 2019, 03:56:17 PM »
So my laser engraver kit came with what is advertised as a 3w laser.  It does ok, but I have to run the machine a bit on the slow side to get it done.

I see that up to 15w lasers are sold on Ebay for right around $100 bux.  Some get good reviews but a guy said that the supposed 15w laser he received was actually a 4.5 watt.  He apparently had the scientific equipment to measure it's output.

So, does anyone know of a good source for an upgraded laser module?   Is 15 Watt just an advertising scam, and they don't actually exist? (Blue ray diode is what I'm referring to)

What do you guys suggest?

Norm

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T2 Engraving / Crooked boarder?
« on: August 23, 2019, 12:32:33 PM »
So, I engraved an image onto some 1/4" mdf.

The boarder, as seen in image 1 is perfectly straight.

The engraving came out a bit wobbly.  Any ideas/fixes?

I'm engraving at speed 500, and selected Bi-Directional, skip blank lines, and rapid skip blank. (Takes forever otherwise) But, are these causing the line issues?

Thanks!

Norm

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T2 Engraving / Cable guide thing?
« on: July 29, 2019, 08:18:13 PM »
So my cable management is a bit tricky because this is a really cheap ebay engraver I bought. 

Does anyone know what the guide 'chain" for the wires is called?  The wire goes through the middle of it, and it rolls and unrolls up and down the table while the engraver is moving.  Looks like a plastic motorcycle drive chain, haha.  I can't seem to find what it is supposed to be called.

Figured I'd try to buy one off ebay to pimp my ride.

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T2 Engraving / TTL laser vs PWM (Analog?)
« on: July 27, 2019, 07:44:37 AM »
So if my research proves true, TTL laser control uses the laser's full power but kicks it on and off very quickly to do the grayscale control, right? (Plus speed settings of course)

PWM, or analog lowers and raises the power to the laser to control how strongly it burns, giving levels of grayscale. (Plus speed settings of course)

First, I havn't seen a definitive answer as to which is better.  But it seems that stronger lasers are usually TTL, right?

Now, here are two pictures of the 3000mw laser and control box that came with my cheap-o ebay engraver:

Note the guts of the control box. Black/Red is Ground/+power going to the control box, feeding from the GRBL motherboard.

Yellow-Red are output to the laser, Blue/Green output to the fan.

Notice that there is an unused pin on the little board, labeled TTL...  Anyone think it might be as simple as running a 3rd wire to the GRBL motherboard to use the TTL control output, or do you guys think this might fry something if the laser/controller maybe isn't set up to use the TTL option?



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T2 Engraving / help setting up?
« on: July 25, 2019, 06:01:09 PM »
Hi all, first time user here, so plz be kind... :-\

I bought the Ebay 65x50mm 3000mw laser engraver kit. (50x65cm 3000MW Area Mini Laser Engraving Machine DIY kit Desktop Laser Printer    Will bring up the exact item)

Assembled it, but I'm using a different controller that has z axis control. (Not using z axis yet)

Here is the controller: (this description brings it up on ebay  ---  USB GRBL 3 Axis Stepper Motor Driver Board Controller Laser CNC Engraving + Case)

Now, I get movement and the laser comes on and off, but when I load the 10mm square from help--samples, it gives me a 40mm square.  Plus, when I had the firmware loaded from Benbox, the laser was MUCH stronger. (However, that firmware would make the x axis motor slowly run hot.  The 1.1e firmware I'm currently using does not run any of the motors hot.

I have it set at 255 laser power.

Is there a different firmware than the grbl 1.1e I'm currently using that I should try?

Thanks!

Norm

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