Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Hi!
I own a cheap CNC3 3018 Pro (grbl) and wonder if anyone have used
the Laser Module from Vectric on similar machine?
I own Cut2D Desktop which work well with the cnc, and thought
that having the ability to run the laser with Cut2D would be nice,
instead of loading another application.
Regards
Thomas
I own a cheap CNC3 3018 Pro (grbl) and wonder if anyone have used
the Laser Module from Vectric on similar machine?
I own Cut2D Desktop which work well with the cnc, and thought
that having the ability to run the laser with Cut2D would be nice,
instead of loading another application.
Regards
Thomas
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:49 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3 XL
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Does your controller support Laser Mode ($32=1) and does it have a PWM Output?
Gary Mitchell
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky, USA
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Regarding $32=1, yes I think so - I have used Candle and LaserGrbl in parallell before.
Is there a way to check this (yes I am a newbie)?
Regarding PWM - I checked the output for laser and one of the pins(pair) had PWM
written on the controller board.
Thanks for your answer.
Regards
Thomas
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:49 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3 XL
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
If you can send the "$$" command to your controller post the results. There are several parameters worth looking it. Using that info we can give you some tests to run to see if you really can control the PWM signal. Do you have a spindle where you control the speed with software now or are you using a router with manual speed control?
Gary Mitchell
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky, USA
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
This come out from console after $$:
I guess I got the spindle not the router with manual speed control.
Code: Select all
[CTRL+X] < Grbl 1.1f ['$' for help]
S1000 < ok
$$ < $0=10
$1=25
$2=0
$3=2
$4=0
$5=0
$6=0
$10=1
$11=0.010
$12=0.002
$13=0
$20=0
$21=0
$22=0
$23=0
$24=25.000
$25=500.000
$26=250
$27=1.000
$30=10000
$31=0
$32=1
$100=800.000
$101=800.000
$102=800.000
$110=1000.000
$111=1000.000
$112=600.000
$120=1000.000
$121=1000.000
$122=30.000
$130=200.000
$131=180.000
$132=40.000
ok
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:49 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3 XL
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
So here are the important parameters.
$30 = Maximum RPM
$31 = Minumum RPM -> I'd recommend something small like 500 or 1000
$32 = If 1 then Laser Mode is on - if 0 then Laser Mode is off
Maximum RPM --- If you have a spindle or think you want your CNC to control your spindle RPM from vectric anytime in the future I'd set that value to the maximum RPM the spindle supports - this is 24000 on my machine.
There is a line in your post processor that must work in sync with that parameter
VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|240.0]
It's used to convert the Laser Power from a Percentage to an RPM for the controller. You can read up on this parameter but the line I provided does the following in combination with the CNC controller
In the Vectric Laser Module if I set it to 100% the post processor will multiply 100 x 240 = 24000 and place that in the gcode. When the gcode is sent to the CNC the controller will see the 24000 in the gcode and look at parameter $30 and $31. Because 24000 is in parameter $30 the controller will magically set the PWM output to 5V (some controllers use 10V).
We can test if you controller really supports the PWM output if you have a voltmeter. Attach it in DC mode between PWM and Ground.
1. Change the POWER entry in your postprocessor and save in your My_PostP folder. V11 changed how this is done so you'll need to research that.
2. Change $30, $31 to 24000 and 500 (if you want to use my recommendation)
3. Send $32=0 to turn laser mode off
4. Enter M3S24000 and the voltage should read 5V
5. Enter M3S0 and the voltage should read 0V
6. Enter M3S12000 and the voltage should read 2.5V
7. If that works you can connect the PWM output from your CNC Controller to your Laser. I connected mine to both my Spindle Controller and Laser in parallel and it all works perfect. If I set the RPM on a spindle toolpath the spindle reads that number (or very close). If I set the Laser toolpath to 50% the Gcode generated puts in S12000 in the gcode and the laser runs at 50% power.
Let me know if this does not make sense to you
Good Luck
If this all works we can work on helping you improve your post processors to improve your workflow.
$30 = Maximum RPM
$31 = Minumum RPM -> I'd recommend something small like 500 or 1000
$32 = If 1 then Laser Mode is on - if 0 then Laser Mode is off
Maximum RPM --- If you have a spindle or think you want your CNC to control your spindle RPM from vectric anytime in the future I'd set that value to the maximum RPM the spindle supports - this is 24000 on my machine.
There is a line in your post processor that must work in sync with that parameter
VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|240.0]
It's used to convert the Laser Power from a Percentage to an RPM for the controller. You can read up on this parameter but the line I provided does the following in combination with the CNC controller
In the Vectric Laser Module if I set it to 100% the post processor will multiply 100 x 240 = 24000 and place that in the gcode. When the gcode is sent to the CNC the controller will see the 24000 in the gcode and look at parameter $30 and $31. Because 24000 is in parameter $30 the controller will magically set the PWM output to 5V (some controllers use 10V).
We can test if you controller really supports the PWM output if you have a voltmeter. Attach it in DC mode between PWM and Ground.
1. Change the POWER entry in your postprocessor and save in your My_PostP folder. V11 changed how this is done so you'll need to research that.
2. Change $30, $31 to 24000 and 500 (if you want to use my recommendation)
3. Send $32=0 to turn laser mode off
4. Enter M3S24000 and the voltage should read 5V
5. Enter M3S0 and the voltage should read 0V
6. Enter M3S12000 and the voltage should read 2.5V
7. If that works you can connect the PWM output from your CNC Controller to your Laser. I connected mine to both my Spindle Controller and Laser in parallel and it all works perfect. If I set the RPM on a spindle toolpath the spindle reads that number (or very close). If I set the Laser toolpath to 50% the Gcode generated puts in S12000 in the gcode and the laser runs at 50% power.
Let me know if this does not make sense to you
Good Luck
If this all works we can work on helping you improve your post processors to improve your workflow.
Gary Mitchell
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky, USA
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Vow!
A lot to digest - I will look at this and come back!
Thanks a lot for your knowledge!
Regards
Thomas
A lot to digest - I will look at this and come back!
Thanks a lot for your knowledge!
Regards
Thomas
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Hi again!
I am on way to test the thing but got one question:
I looked at the controller and it had one port for the spindle and
another for the laser(3-pin) and that laser port is labeled 12V, PWM and GND.
Does this affect your suggestions from earlier post?
And another question - I checked and my spindle have max 9000 so
I put in $30 = 9000 and $31=500......should my VAR POWER then
look like this:
VAR POWER = [P|C|S|0.5|90.0]
...? I want to double check with you before I do something stupid..VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|240.0]
Edit:
One more thing - I found out that only laser port has PWM not the spindle port.
I am on way to test the thing but got one question:
I looked at the controller and it had one port for the spindle and
another for the laser(3-pin) and that laser port is labeled 12V, PWM and GND.
Does this affect your suggestions from earlier post?
And another question - I checked and my spindle have max 9000 so
I put in $30 = 9000 and $31=500......should my VAR POWER then
look like this:
VAR POWER = [P|C|S|0.5|90.0]
...? I want to double check with you before I do something stupid..VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|240.0]
Edit:
One more thing - I found out that only laser port has PWM not the spindle port.
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:49 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3 XL
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Don't change this 1.0 - it's used to control the format of the output and not the actual value of the output. I'd say use this as your starting point for the test. You can measure the voltages on both PWM outputs for both your spindle and laser. I suspect your controller is doing something very nice for you there but lets see what the meter reads.
VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|90.0]
VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|90.0]
Gary Mitchell
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky, USA
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Ok - will change it back to 1.0 so it looks like this:
VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|90.0]
But its only the laser port that have PWM output. The spindle port does only have 2 pins (black and red) so no PWM.You can measure the voltages on both PWM outputs for both your spindle and laser.
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:49 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3 XL
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Typically there is only one PWM signal on a controller so that's not unexpected.
Gary Mitchell
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky, USA
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Ok Gary, I´ve got a voltmeter.
My controller have some lights, a blue one lights until I put voltmeter on ground and pwm,
then it stops shining.
Done!
Done, its now VAR POWER = [P|C|S|1.0|90.0]
1. Change the POWER entry in your postprocessor and save in your My_PostP folder. V11 changed how this is done so you'll need to research that.
I used VTransfers console window and set $30 to 9000 and $31 to 5002. Change $30, $31 to 24000 and 500 (if you want to use my recommendation)
Check!3. Send $32=0 to turn laser mode off
I entered M3S9000 but the meter shows 00.00.4. Enter M3S24000 and the voltage should read 5V
My controller have some lights, a blue one lights until I put voltmeter on ground and pwm,
then it stops shining.
There is something not right....If this all works we can work on helping you improve your post processors to improve your workflow.
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
OOoooh hit me hard with something at my head!
I am soo stupid - I used the wrong setting on voltmeter!
M3S9000 shows 4,76
M3S4500 shows 2,36
M3S0 shows 0,0
What is the next step?
I am soo stupid - I used the wrong setting on voltmeter!
M3S9000 shows 4,76
M3S4500 shows 2,36
M3S0 shows 0,0
What is the next step?
-
- Vectric Wizard
- Posts: 457
- Joined: Tue Sep 04, 2018 2:49 pm
- Model of CNC Machine: Shapeoko 3 XL
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Next test is to see if your controller supports laser mode. We'll verify it's working by showing the PWM signal stays zero when the CNC isn't moving. Then we'll verify voltage is present only while the CNC is moving
1. Turn on Laser Mode $32=1
2. Repeat the steps you did before
4. I'll assume it was 0v with all the M4 commands for this step. If working properly the voltage should only rise above 0v with laser mode on while the gantry is moving (and it can't be a rapid move (ie. G0) it must be a G1 or similar move). So measure the voltage by moving the gantry with a $32=1 then M4S9000 then a G1XnnnYnnn command to move the gantry. You should see the voltage rise while the gantry is moving. Pick the n values for your CNC based on how it wants those numbers. Make it a long movement as the voltmeter has a poor response time.
Report back. If it that worked you've successfully verified you can put a laser on your CNC.
1. Turn on Laser Mode $32=1
2. Repeat the steps you did before
3. It might be 0v or not with M3 commands with Laser Mode on (measure it); try to change the M3 to M4 commands and see if it makes a difference.- M3S9000 shows 4,76
M3S4500 shows 2,36
M3S0 shows 0,0
4. I'll assume it was 0v with all the M4 commands for this step. If working properly the voltage should only rise above 0v with laser mode on while the gantry is moving (and it can't be a rapid move (ie. G0) it must be a G1 or similar move). So measure the voltage by moving the gantry with a $32=1 then M4S9000 then a G1XnnnYnnn command to move the gantry. You should see the voltage rise while the gantry is moving. Pick the n values for your CNC based on how it wants those numbers. Make it a long movement as the voltmeter has a poor response time.
Report back. If it that worked you've successfully verified you can put a laser on your CNC.
Gary Mitchell
Kentucky, USA
Kentucky, USA
Re: Laser module with 3018 Pro?
Uhu...aha....I think we misunderstood each other, maybe I was not clear, english is not my native language.
I have run my cnc with LaserGRBL and a laser module(hardware) and that worked well.
My question was about the Laser Module (addon to Cut2Ddesktop) from Vectric and if anyone have made
that software work with a 3018 Pro CNC. Vectric doesn't list my machine as supported, thats why I asked.
Sorry for taking up your time .... but I learned some new things about CNC
Regards
Thomas