UB1 and JTech Laser

[parrothead_nj]

Good evening. Hoping the wisdom of the crowds can help me out.

Board: UC300ETH-UB1 & using UCCNC
Laser: Jtech 7w

The laser driver is expecting a + and - wire from the UB1. I have tried a variety of outputs on the board and been successful testing the laser on/off with "G1 F100 M3 S100" MDI command.

While the laser turns on/off without any issue, I am not getting near 100% laser power when powered on. I have measured the voltage from output from the UB1 at the driver when turned on witht the ^^ command and I am getting nowhere near the expected 5v. When I change the command to M3 S50, I do not see the voltage drop either. Any suggestions on what port/pins to use to get variable voltage based on the command?

Thanks,
Kevin

[parrothead_nj]

I have made some progress. I am able to get the laser to power with ground set to Cs- and the positive to VCC. Something odd I noticed that the G1 F100 M3 S100 command has the laser at a very low power. However, when I increase the S command from S100 to S1000 it exponentially gets stronger, and at S10000 the voltmeter reads at 5v. I'll continue to plug away at it. Has anyone seen this behavior before in any board? How is it accommodated for in Lightburn or Vcarve Laser Module?

[fsli]

Post a screenshot of your spindle settings page in UCCNC.

[parrothead_nj]

Here is a link to the spindle setup...

https://photos.app.goo.gl/kXunY15zdXqKHrzm9


I figured I'd try the M10/M11 commands for laser on with Qvalues and to turn off the laser instead of the M3 and S values. However, only the first M11 turns off the laser, the 2nd M11 does not. I have tried instead of M11 change it to M10Q0 or another minimal value like M10Q15, neither worked, it never turns off and runs the laser at the original power when it should be off. Still using CNC, Vectric with Laser Module, and the UC300ETH-UB1 board.

Code: Select all

( 3_1-Laser Cut 5 )
( File created: Monday November 07 2022 - 07:21 PM)
( for UCCNC from Vectric )
( Material Size)
( X= 36.000, Y= 12.000, Z= 0.500)
()
(Toolpaths used in this file:)
(Laser Cut 5)
(Tools used in this file: )
(1 = JTech Laser Cutter 7W (0.006"))
( PRODUCT  VCarve Pro 11.503)
(POST VERSION DDW 1.3,    )
( feed rate F10.0 )
Q0
T1
G17
G0Z0.800
G0X0.000Y0.000
M3
G0X2.496Y0.750Z0.200
G1Z0.000F10.0
G1F10.0
M10
M10Q51
G1Y1.250
M11
G1
G0Y2.000
G1F20.0
M10Q0
M10Q51
G1Y2.500F10.0
M11
G1
G0X2.481
G1F20.0
M10Q0
M10Q51
G1Y2.000F10.0
M11
G1
G0Y1.250
G1F20.0
M10Q0
M10Q51
G1Y0.750F10.0
M11
G1
G0X2.466

[fsli]

Let me start out saying that I don't have a Jtech laser, nor a UB1. I'm just going by what is in the manuals.

According to the Jtech manual here: https://jtechphotonics.com/wp-content/u ... c-V3_1.pdf
... the way I read page 14, the PWM frequency should be 5000 hz. You have it set to 100 hz.

There's also a Youtube video showing how to use the step/dir pins with a custom board, and the oscilloscope in that video also shows a PWM frequency of 5khz.

Since you're using the C axis outputs, I would think you'd want to connect the Cs+ to the Jtech + control input, and the Cs- to the Jtech - control input terminal. Alternatively, connect the Cs+ to the Jtech + control input, and connect the Jtech - control input to ground. Uncheck the active low box that you enabled next to the PWM pin setting. By using the Cs- terminal only -- again, from what I see in the Jtech manual -- you'd have to invert the signal using a solder bridge on the UB1 board.

[parrothead_nj]

Thanks Frank. I had been messing around with the frequency field a bit ranging it from 50 up to 5000 during the day with the current wire setup. It didn't seem to do anything to impact the M11 command working after the first one.

I will try the other suggestions tomorrow and let you know how things turn out.

[fsli]

No, the PWM frequency would require that you switch back to the M3 Snnnn commands.

[parrothead_nj]

Good morning, and thanks for the suggestions Frank. Unfortunately, they did not make a change to the output. I upped the frequency to 5000 and adjusted the wiring to Cs +/- to their respectful inputs on the laser. It is just really odd that after drawing the first line, the M11 command works properly, but after all other line segments are drawn the M11 does not turn off the laser. Good thing is I know that M11 works (even at the MDI level in UCCNC) but will still mess with settings and post processor (at some point).

[parrothead_nj]

Some success this morning with the tinkering with the G-code. I kept the frequency settings at 5k and the C+/- as well. I added a M10Q0 line before each M11 and the laser turned off. Not sure the reason why, now its just a matter of modifying my post processor.


G-Code Sample of change

Code: Select all

G0X2.496Y0.750Z0.200
G1Z0.000F10.0
G1F10.0
M10
M10Q51
G1Y1.250
M10Q0
M11
G1
G0Y2.000
G1F20.0
M10Q0
M10Q51
G1Y2.500F10.0
M10Q0
M11
G1
G0X2.481

[BKG]

If You search at Faboock group for "Laser" there is info for You, and Post prosessor for Fusion have Laser as a tool, then You get comands for laser On Of and power Q in Your G Code