I recently purchased a 3018-Pro and the 5.5W laser kit to go with it. I got is all setup last night and as soon as I power everything on, the laser goes to full power and stays there. I checked the wiring and verified 12V, GND and 0V PWM. So, I disconnected the 3-wire harness and powered the laser controller with the included 12V DC power brick and the laser immediately comes on as soon as I turn the PWM switch to ON. Is this a bad laser controller module? Has anyone else had this issue? I pretty sure it’s not a software problem. $32=1, $31=0 and I’ve tried $30=255 and $30=1000. There was no change.
Usually when the laser triggers on machine power up is hardware and not software
Check that you have the wiring correct and that the GDN + PWM signal is ZERO when booted
If not you have a bad wire or controller
If you do have GRD+PWM 0v on boot up, then possibly you have a bad module.
I checked to make sure there was no short between the three pins on the laser board. But, the laser is on with just the DC power supply connected and the switch on the board pressed in. No, 3-wire connected at all. So, I think it’s a defective control board. I’ve contacted SainSmart, and I’m waiting on a reply.
If you are talking about the module that goes between the laser head and the controller board, this is normal. That button on the module is a test button and fires the laser at full power. The laser should be off when not pressing that button.
What does it do without pressing that button?
With the PWM button out/off the laser is off. I could have sworn I read that that button enabled PWM and had to be on to function. I haven’t tried to use the machine yet, i never got that far. I’m still in the software setup phase, and struggling to figure out three new things at once… I’ve never used a laser, LightBurn or a 3018.
The instructions here: Genmitsu 3018-Pro 5.5W Laser Module User Guide - SainSmart Resource Center
…are clearly different than the ones in the manual for the CFL55P:
https://genmitsu.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/101-63-CFL55P/CFL55P_User_Manual_(EN%2BDE)_V2.0_2022.05.pdf
EVERYONE has started at this level. The advantage is you have no existing bad habits and will not get bored for a long time.
There are thousands of people here willing tto help you get up and running. Everyone seems to have one plan, help the new guy. Post your questions and someone will jump in to help.
Fortunately, I also bought the same setup, so I know it pretty well. By the numbers:
- You have Lightburn up and running?
- You see in the Console window that Lightburn is communicating with the machine?
- Enter $$ in the Console window. Copy - past the entire contents of what appeared in your reply.
- Does your machine have Home switches (I think the new ones do)?
- Unplug the laser module from the little module that feeds it. We will do our testing without the laser initially on.
- Power up the machine and tell me what happens.
- Now try the jog buttons and report what happens.
We are checking that communication works and machine motion is correct.
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I would go with the Sainsmart version. Sometimes vendors have the machine or software customized for their own sales program.
I do have LightBurn running. Communication is good, I disabled auto-home. I’ve set $32=1. I’m not sure if $30 needs to be 255 or 1000. I think $110 and $111 should be 2250? And I read somewhere that $120 and $121 could be higher, but I’ve not gone that far down the rabbit hole yet.
$$
$0=10
$1=25
$2=0
$3=2
$4=0
$5=0
$6=0
$10=0
$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=255
$31=0
$32=1
$100=800.000
$101=800.000
$102=800.000
$110=2250.000
$111=2250.000
$112=600.000
$120=60.000
$121=60.000
$122=30.000
$130=200.000
$131=200.000
$132=200.000
My machine doesn’t have limit switches, but I tested the directional control and that works fine. I set the jog to 1 and then even lower and that seems to work fine. I feel like the movement starts slow and ramps up to speed, but that seems like a bad thing for a laser?
From your link
This switch is very important, because many users mistake this as an on/off switch, but in actuality this switch toggles PWM control on and off. PWM control is what your CNC uses to control your laser, so you want this on toggled to On/PWM at all times. If this is toggled off, your laser will fire at full strength at all times, with no way to control it.
Always a good idea to read over the installation instructions.
Leave these alone, it’s likely ok with it’s current value.
These are maximum speeds and won’t hurt your operation.
Fact is, unless directed to do so, don’t… Once you get it operating at a basic level, then it’s stable.
If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.
After reading this, I wonder… Did you save the factory settings?
May want to restore them some day, especially if you revert back to a spindle.
Good luck
Which turned out to be incorrect… Which is why I also posted the other instructions that say it’s a “fire” button only used to power the laser at 100% duty cycle and should be left off…
It seems to be a switch for some controllers that turn the power off/on… that’s the only reason I spoke about it… and it’s only use that I can tell.
The description sure leaves a lot to be desired…
Just for reference…
“• Fire / PWM Button, when in this is pressed in the laser is permanently on at 100% power, when out the laser power is controlled by the PWM signal. It should be out for normal operation!”
Both are SainSmart instructions, but apparently they changed their minds on how to implement the switch. YMMV
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