Laser not firing on frame command and cut

Biriberton · June 4, 2024, 10:26pm

Hi there, let me explain my situation. A few days ago my laser started to skip parts of jobs, firing only on some parts and turning off on others. Now it doesn’t fire up at all, nor on framing neither on cutting. Just gave a thorough clean to all mechanical parts and had a deep dive in troubleshooting all the possible scenarios and just did the 5v test. This test lights the laser like a charm. I suppose connections are ok, otherwise from all the tutorials i understand it should not be working. These are my actual machine settings:
$$

$0=10
$1=25
$2=0
$3=4
$4=0
$5=1
$6=0
$10=1
$11=0.010
$12=0.002
$13=0
$20=0
$21=1
$22=1
$23=7
$24=200.000
$25=3000.000
$26=250.000
$27=2.000
$30=1000.000
$31=0.000
$32=1
$41=0.000
$40=0.000
$100=80.000
$101=80.000
$102=250.000
$103=100.000
$104=100.000
$105=100.000
$110=6000.000
$111=6000.000
$112=1000.000
$113=1000.000
$114=1000.000
$115=1000.000
$120=500.000
$121=500.000
$122=1000.000
$123=200.000
$124=200.000
$125=200.000
$130=400.000
$131=410.000
$132=200.000
$133=300.000
$134=300.000
$135=300.000
ok

If i check port connection it says :
[VER:1.1h.20230815:]
[OPT:V,15,128]
Target buffer size found
ok

I really dont know what else to think of…

Any suggestions? Thanks.

MikeyH · June 5, 2024, 12:25am

The 5v test (whatever that is) being ok means the laser can fire. That leaves two possibilities, the most likely listed first:

The control voltage wire is broken or not making good contact at one of the plugs. This is the wire between the laser head and the GRBL controller board. The cable gets a lot of flexing, so a wire inside can break.
The laser controller board, likely on top of the laser, has gone bad.

Dskall · June 5, 2024, 1:43am

How did you do your 5v check?
I would fire the laser at different power settings and check voltage on pwm pin

Biriberton · June 5, 2024, 8:27am

Hi Mike and Dskall thank you for both of your kind responses. This is where i found instructions for the 5v test.

Guide to mechanical adjustments and maintenance

@MikeyH Yesterday i attempted using the old cables i had before upgrading to the area expansion kit. Also with those cables the laser would not fire up, fan is working but no laser at all. I am starting to think that the problem is your second option. In that case what can i do? Will i have to replace the module? Do you think the issue could be fixed buying spare parts at a electronics shop?

Thanks in advance.

misken · June 5, 2024, 9:43am

I understand that the 5V test was successful. Then the laser head should be ok. The wiring as well. This would only leave the mainboard as the cause. To rule out a software issue, you can try to use LaserGRBL first. Next would be to flash the firmware again, you will also find it on the wiki you already checked. Your overall firmware settings look ok.

Biriberton · June 5, 2024, 11:02am

Hi Melvin and thanks for your message. What do you mean by flashing the firmware? Updating? Lightburn has been updated to 1.6 if i’m not mistaken. I have followed your suggestion of using LaserGBRL. Same result. Everything working but laser not firing.

By the way, I am working with a windows 10 laptop, and i wanted to try to see if anything changes on a mac. Could this be an issue?

Can you tell me how i can be 100% sure the issue is due to the mainboard? I am thinking of buying a cable and mainboard replacement.

Thanks

MikeyH · June 5, 2024, 1:22pm

Without knowing for sure that is the problem?

The board I am talking about is the little one sitting atop the laser module. I have not reviewed the 12v Test, but @misken seems to think that passed the test. He has MUCH more experience than I, so follow his lead.

“Flash the controller” means upload software to the controller board. There is a ton of info on how to do this on the internet. Lightburn has nothing to do with it. A fresh copy of Lightburn rarely solves laser problems.

misken · June 6, 2024, 7:02am

That’s putting the control software on the mainboard again. As described here: Firmware Update & Settings - Diode Laser Wiki. I suspect that the signal output is not working anymore (for whatever reason). So it’s worth to try.
Replacing the mainboard and cabling could be a last resort, but since the 5V test worked, the cable seems to be ok.

Biriberton · June 6, 2024, 5:08pm

Ok, will try cold you suggest which method is best to use being a complete novice
Thanks

misken · June 7, 2024, 7:56am

Download the Sculpfun Upload tool and the firmware file. Then connect the laser to the PC, start the tool, choose the correct COM port and firmware file and click on start. There are images on the page explaining the process.

Biriberton · June 10, 2024, 5:21pm

Hi Melvin, sorry to disturb you again. I downloaded the firmware from here (third from the top )

Loaded it in the program tool you suggested but i keep getting this error

Panel-0Command: --port COM3 --baud 115200 --after no_reset --chip esp32 write_flash --flash_size 8MB --flash_mode dout 0x00 C:\Users\USER\Desktop\sculpfun-S30-12-26.bin

Running --port COM3 --baud 115200 --after no_reset --chip esp32 write_flash --flash_size 8MB --flash_mode dout 0x00 C:\Users\USER\Desktop\sculpfun-S30-12-26.bin…
esptool.py v4.4-dev
Serial port COM3
Panel-0----------FatalError------------
Could not open COM3, the port doesn’t exist

Biriberton · June 10, 2024, 6:39pm

Update: I have been able to flash the firmware but…laser still not working

misken · June 11, 2024, 7:13am

Which symptoms did remain? The firmware was flashed (using the correct COM port, I guess). Then maybe reset the firmware to defaults by sending $RST=* in console window. What issues arise then?

Biriberton · June 11, 2024, 9:28am

Reset the firmware to defaults, i am on a scuplfun s30 pro, but nothing has changed since the beginning the laser is still not firing on frame command and cut.

JohnJohn · June 11, 2024, 11:10am

Did you confirm that $30=1000 and S-value max is set for 1000?

These two numbers have to match. Mismatching these values is the most common cause for unanticipated laser power levels. (high or low).

There is some motion planning in the controller that can reduce power if you are commanding a high engrave speed that is beyond what the hardware can reliably produce.

If your speed in the Move window is higher than the Maximum (travel) rate $110, $111 6000 mm/minute or 100mm/second the engraver will reduce power output to not overburn your work.

The definitions for the Machine Settings can be found here:

github.com

gnea/grbl/blob/master/doc/markdown/settings.md

## Getting Started

First, connect to Grbl using the serial terminal of your choice.

Set the baud rate  to **115200** as 8-N-1 (8-bits, no parity, and 1-stop bit.)

Once connected
 you should get the Grbl-prompt, which looks like this:

```
Grbl 1.1d ['$' for help]
```

Type $ and press enter to have Grbl print a help message. You should not see any local echo of the $ and enter. Grbl should respond with:

```
[HLP:$$ $# $G $I $N $x=val $Nx=line $J=line $SLP $C $X $H ~ ! ? ctrl-x]
```

The ‘$’-commands are Grbl system commands used to tweak the settings, view or change Grbl's states and running modes, and start a homing cycle. The last four **non**-'$' commands are realtime control commands that can be sent at anytime, no matter what Grbl is doing. These either immediately change Grbl's running behavior or immediately print a report of the important realtime data like current position (aka DRO).

This file has been truncated. show original

misken · June 11, 2024, 12:24pm

But the 5V test is working, right? You can try LaserGRBL to rule out a settings issue. If that doesn’t help as well, you might need to replace the mainboard, as discussed.