Hey Everyone. I’m new to CNC lasering and to this forum. I need any help I can get.
I’ve recently purchased a MakerMade M2, vertically mounted CNC setup. I’ve finally gotten my frame built, the machine mounted on it, and everything wired up.
Instead of beginning with a router, I’ve installed an 80 watt CO2 laser module (model # D-BL10WF).
I purchased LightBurn, installed it on my Windows 11 Lenovo Yoga laptop, and planned to do some test runs on some 1/8" thick hardboard.
It did seem like I was able to connect to the laser, through the MakerMade Arduino controller, using LightBurn. At least it did acknowledge that it was connected through the laptops’s COM 3 port anyway.
However, I just kept getting the “Waiting for connection…” message in the Console window, with no action from the laser/CNC. I did try “jogging” the machine using the directional buttons in the LightBurn Move window, with no success.
Anyone with knowledge on how I can correct these communication errors, please help me out.
I will try to add some photos of my hardware later after I’ve posted this to the forum. and I’ll be glad to answer any questions any of you may have on my setup, equipment, etc. as well.
Thanks…
Some of the Troubleshooting steps may be relevant:
Because this is GRBL-based CNC machine, these suggestions will definitely be relevant:
The laser head’s specs indicate it’s really a 10 W optical output power blue-light diode laser with 48 W DC power input, so effects similar to an “80 W CO₂” will be aspirational, at best.
However, a note rant on laser eye safety is appropriate.
CAUTION
The vertical layout will illuminate everything on the far side of the cut sheet with a laser beam sufficiently powerful to instantly blind anyone glancing at the bright shiny moving thing.
The energy from a visible blue-light laser is focused on the retina and, because we look directly at shiny objects, directly on the fovea where the retina has maximum resolution. Damage to the fovea means you will never read another word; think of it as instantaneous macular degeneration.
Putting the machine inside plastic tent is a Good Idea, but specular reflections from that plastic can carry enough energy to do serious damage to human eyes.
If this will be used in public, especially with children present, there is no way to make it even vaguely safe enough to keep you out of legal harm’s way.
With that in mind …
The machine description suggests a maximum speed of 40 in/min = 1000 mm/min with about 1 mm of positioning variance across the working area.
Because the cut kerf will be on the order of 0.1 mm, the end of the cut path around a closed shape will likely not meet its starting point. The overall distortion won’t be much of a problem for larger objects, but you must take the positioning inaccuracy into account on small details.
Engraving a surface design will require a relative low power to compensate for the low maximum speed. You can defocus the laser to enlarge the spot, which will allow the use of higher power, and the larger spot may also avoid objectionable distortion due to the positioning errors along the engraving scan line.
The machine is an interesting approach to large-format work, but be careful with the side effects.
Hey Ed.
First of all, I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my dilemma.
And yes, I’m learning about the safety issues regarding those types of lasers. Thanks for any and all tips pertaining to that as well.
I plan on having the protective, plastic sheeting in place during operation of the machine. I also have the laser safety glasses to wear while I’m operating it. I do have a few questions though.
What material is built into the underside of the vertically mounted laser machines that protects the beam from burning through the bottom and to the surface below? I could possibly build the same material onto the backside of my frame as another layer of protection. However, I do realize that this laser can cut through even metal.
I’m hoping that, as I learn how to precisely utilize it, I should be able to control the depth that the laser penetrates my work material (which will vary, of course, and so too the settings) and have it to burn only into my backing “waste board” and not beyond.
Is that a reasonable thought process? Or, am I incorrect in that thinking?
I followed and read everything in the two LightBurn links that you posted above. I plan to be back at my machine tomorrow and will implement those directions to see if I can get everything working together. I’ll keep you posted on what happens.
FYI. The company that I own is a line striping and pavement marking company. I initially set out to build this machine to cut stencils for my work. Handicap Man, “NO PARKING”, FIRE LANE, directional arrows, etc. However, now delving into the CNC cutting/laser etching world online, I see that there is massive potential for additional income stream using my machine beyond just a glorified stencil maker.
Thanks Ed, for assisting me on my journey! …
Wes
Another thing.
According to the manufacturer’s specs (see the image that I previously uploaded), this particular laser module only requires DC 12 volt input. That’s the way I’ve wired it anyway, and it came on normally with the attached fan running as well. So, for now, I’ll leave it at that and see how it functions moving forward. But you’ve got me thinking about it now!
The laser beam becomes defocused enough to prevent damage to (most) materials more than a few tens of millimeters beyond the focus point. Basically, there’s not enough energy per unit area in the defocused beam to heat the material enough to matter.
Eyeballs work differently, because the lens efficiently focuses visible laser light onto a very small area of the retina, which cannot withstand that much concentrated energy, whereupon retinal cells die.
Word from an utterly reliable source says you can hear the pop when a sufficiently powerful laser beam boils a spot in your retina. I am willing to accept this as truth, with no urge to experiment. 
Unlike a CNC cutter, a laser beam does not have a depth stop. The cut depth depends on the power level and movement speed: slower speeds = deeper cuts. Engraving happens when the laser head moves fast enough to barely char the surface. When all goes well, the results are reasonably controllable.
But when (not if) a glitch / error / whatever stops the laser head’s motion without turning off the laser, the beam will burn completely through the material and continue onward.
Sounds like a plan! 
Just out of curiosity, do you have a link to your utterly reliable source that I could read about his experience?
The only accidents I know of are with exotic lasers, usually in a university setting. Even some of these are labeled as laser accident, when I don’t think they qualify. One woman was blinded in one eye installing a protective cover when the glass shattered… Don’t think I’d label this as a laser accident.
I’ve seen some really powerful, cheap lasers sold and in my limited decade with lasers have never heard of a viable blinding occurring from one of these. Considering there are millions of these out there, I don’t know of anyone being blinded by these hobby lasers.
The potential to blind is there, but it’s also there with other items, such as a screwdriver stuck in you eye. I have actually seen this, but not blinded by a laser.
You should use common sense, but that’s a trait that seems more lacking as the years pass.
Same goes with an lps, they can produce 30kV, but I don’t know of anyone that’s gotten across one of these and perished. Of course, I’m sure it wouldn’t be pleasant experience. I’ve been across some pretty high voltage and it wasn’t what I’d term a pleasurable experience.
Dwight was a guy I worked with in the IBM Video Disk project (yeah, they tried that), before The Internet was a thing. Heck, TCP/IP wasn’t even a thing.
His background included military communications, even further back in the day, and he had the dubious distinction of being struck by lightning during a rooftop laser link demonstration. His manager, who helped carry the delicate / irreplaceable / prototype laser hardware while running for shelter next to Dwight, later observed that he’d rather be killed himself than have to fill out the paperwork for an employee struck by lightning on the job.
While I may be hallucinating, I came by it honestly.
As advised, only seems to occur when using some type of exotic laser device. Not like our hobby machines.
While working in the late 70’s we had access to and used the basic Internet structue we know today. We had access, as it was part of ARP (advanced research project).
First thing ever purchased over the Internet was a bag of pot. A bit of trivia.
There was no such thing as search engines… you had to know the devices IP… 
Got my amateur radio license in the early 70’s when many WWII amateur radio vets were still around… A lot of them in the communication side. I remember them telling me how, when installing radar equipment in the Alaska area, they used to get in front of the dish and have a buddy turn it on to warm them up… 
I have always felt your best asset to keep you safe is between your ears.
I’d expect a specular reflection from my 60-ish W CO₂ laser would make a decent pop, but I’m unwilling to contribute an eyeball to find out.
Microwaves FTW!
Dwight had an unpleasant story involving a military radar test range, a calibration target way far away up in the hills, and a hiker who somehow got past all the fences to use the support structure as an overnight shelter.
'Nuff said. 
Maybe very thin stainless, but not most other metals, even with an 80w diode. Make your bottom plate a sheet of 1/16” aluminum.
By the way, these guys are not kidding about the possible dangers of a visible light diode. On the first cut pass of 5 with my 10w diode, the plate underneath the 3mm plywood lights up like the wood is not there. The light is so strong that it passes right through the wood although it initially chars just the surface.