I’m watching these youtube videos explaining PWM control of lasers and it seems pretty intuitive. 5V peak-to-peak variable duty cycle, with 100% duty cycle meaning “full power” and so on. But when I send full power from LightBurn to my controller, the most I’m seeing is around 10% duty cycle at 1000 Hz (100 uS @ 5v, 900 @ uS 0v; period = 1000 us, 1 ms). When I send 50% power, I see 5% duty cycle at 1000 Hz. I see the same thing when I save gcodes to file and send them from an offline controller.
Is this normal operation? My laser isn’t producing any light. I’m using https://www.amazon.com/Doesbot-Control-Support-Spindle-Engraving/dp/B0C625ZCN7?pd_rd_w=b5eqI&content-id=amzn1.sym.80b2efcb-1985-4e3a-b8e5-050c8b58b7cf&pf_rd_p=80b2efcb-1985-4e3a-b8e5-050c8b58b7cf&pf_rd_r=0T7B48661DWZ8V2W4FTY&pd_rd_wg=PYOO3&pd_rd_r=cf2a9bb7-01e3-4b69-b516-1de0a86ff6b9&pd_rd_i=B0C625ZCN7&psc=1&ref_=pd_bap_d_grid_rp_0_1_ec_pd_nav_hcs_rp_2_t . I thought maybe the controller was limiting the duty cycle because I’m using an 80watt laser on a 60watt rated controller, but it does it even when the laser is disconnected from the board. I upgraded the firmware from GRBL 1.1f to GRBL 1.1h, and nothing changed (Though homing works properly now).