Hello, my laser set up has been working for about a year now with the occasional project. Yesterday it stopped engraving. The laser still powers on and will flash like it should but it seems to only be running at 1-5% power range. I cleaned the lense, the focus is within laser manufacturers recommendations. I even replaced the power supply cord. No change in results. I have even reloaded some of my preference back ups from when it was working well. Any ideas what this could be?
Verify that you’re running in mm/min, not mm/sec. That will give those symptoms.
Also verify that your S-Value max =10,000, which is what your GRBL setting is according to your pic above.
Thanks for the reply Tim! I changed it to 10,000 and no change. I also changed it from mm/s to mm/min and no change.
Let’s see if I can see something. Please post a screenshot of your entire Lightburn screen with your project loaded and the Cuts/Layers Panel and Laser Panel visible. Also post a screenshot of the Settings Window (Gears icon) with the Units and Grids tab visible and post a screenshot of the Device Settings Window (Wrench and Screwdriver icon).
Here are a few observations and suggestions. First, your machine speed maximum is 2,000 mm/min, so there is no way it will do 6,000. Is this a CNC with a laser attached? I think it probably is by the speed settings.
Don’t recommend offset fill for this file. Offset fill is only for very specific use cases, check the documentation for more info. Use normal fill and play with the fill settings in the cut settings editor.
Run a material test grid with speeds from 500 mm/min to 2,000 mm/min, since that’s your max speed and also a line test with speeds from 50 to 500 and adjust your settings based on these results. If you don’t have air assist be prepared for flames. Be ready to shut it down and have a spray bottle of water nearby.
Thanks for the tips. I adjusted accordingly. The material test and line test still do not produce an engraving even with 100% power. The laser still turns on.
Parsec, yes the switch is on. The fan turns on as it did when it was working and all the lights turn on. Something seems to be limiting its power somehow.
If you have a multimeter, set to measure volts DC :
Red lines should measure 12V or 24V.
Green lines with Lightburn set to:
- 25% = 1.25V
- 50% = 2.5V
- 75% = 3.75V
- 100% = 5V.
Thanks I just tested with my multimeter: left side of picture my measurement is 11.5V and 4.12V at while running at 100% power. Right side is 24.5V and 4.12V while running at 100% power.
If you
RED -24V
GREEN- 4.12V at 100%.
Likely your laser module is broken.
I´m sorry I didn´t correct the error yesterday because a strong thunderstorm with lightning started and I had to turn off my electrical equipment as a precautionary measure.
I am getting the same at the laser plug, so hopefully it is good news.
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