Laser takes a random time to start burning

Community Laser Talk
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1

Hi,
I have a cnc3018 with a stock 3w diode laser. Whenever the laser turns on, it doesn’t burn instantly, it takes several seconds until a burn will start, it can be intermittent but after a while it will burn constantly. However if the laser turns off and on to burn a different line then the laser again takes several seconds to turn on.

I know the laser mostly works okay once it’s had it’s random delay because why I burn a single spiralling line, it doesn’t burn the beginning but then it suddently burns the rest of the line with no problems.

Current thoughts are that the laser is dodgy or perhaps it could be a power/electrical issue? The CNC is setup for a laser, so I don’t know if there are any other options that could effect it.

Any ideas would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

2

Has it been this way all along? You have GRBL controller, and I am not aware GRBL has a spindle ramp up speed function that could cause this.

Going with you saying “Yes, since I got it”, I am guessing the power supply is suspect. A slow voltage ramp up from the supply would not be noticed with the spindle, but the laser has to be instant on.

How long have you had the machine? This might be a warranty issue.

3

I’ve got a couple of these… can you post a photo of the control board and how the laser is plugged into the control board.

I’ll see if it’s wired like mine…

:smile_cat:

4

I’m actually borrowing it from my brother so I haven’t used it for long, but I understand it was working properly originally. It’s probably over 2 years old now, so I’m guessing too old for warranty. When you say the power supply could be suspect, do you think that is the power on the GRBL controller, or the external power supply that is feeding the controller? Thanks.

5

IMG_5024 copy
IMG_5024 copy1920×1440 184 KB

IMG_5023 copy
IMG_5023 copy1920×2560 267 KB

Thanks, here’s are the shots of the laser and board connector.

6

Don´t know if this gona help your issue but check if your laser controller as a switch and is in laser side.

7

Thanks, but there’s no switch on the controller. I have checked the wiring though and I put a volt meter on the 12v and gnd pins of the laser output of the board and it measured a constant 11.98v. Also what I’m seeing with the laser when it’s turned on is a wider beam, and when it eventually starts burning the beam suddenly changes to a sharper point. I’m not sure if this is indicative of a dodgy power supply or a faulty laser.

8

The laser head fan works? Maybe your laser head caput.

9

With the new info, I agree with what @parsec said. After having 4 laser modules, none would go from wide beam to focus while running. I almost can’t even imagine how that could happen in the laser.