My Scuplfun S30 stopped during work and always lose connecting as soon I try to restart a job

I used my laser for a good time and now every time I try to start a new job go in communication error
the laser is connecting well with the PC and I can move it with no problem, makes home but as soon I try to start a cutting it loses communication
like if the power is not enough to sustain communication as soon laser is on.

I tried to change cable, connect the machine from difference power source, restarted the pc, the laser many times but always with same error message
"lost connection = USB connection has been interrupted by controller or PC.

please help me understand if I have a controller issue (something broken… how can I detect it?) or what else I can investigate

super thanks
Andrea

Andrea, You don’t say if it is a laptop or desktop, but you might consider the following:
Laptop USB ports don’t necessarily all provide the same power level to the USB ports, so try a different port connector first.
Or, add an external port expander, doesn’t have to be more than 2-4 ports as it will provide the power needed. Plug it to the PC and then connect the laser to the port expander. Also, go into your USB setting on the PC and make sure you don’t have the option checked that allows the OS to power down ports it thinks aren’t busy. Just some things to try. Windows versions, especially on laptops set default settings for USB and other devices to reduce power consumption, but the laser needs to stay in contact with the PC to ensure LB is working.

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Dear Rover100
reaaly thanks for your fast answer
the pc I am using is a B7 Power miniPC (BMAX with windows 11) and until now has always worked well
I have tested the solution with USB expander (with power) but problem is exactly the same.
I can connect with controller, I can move the laser but as soon as I send a cutting file the system loses connection
and send same error message.
I have bought a new cable and it will arrive tomorrow
any other suggestion I can test?

thanks again
Andrea

Andrea,
while you are waiting for the cable, has the system done an update lately? If so you might re-installed the USB drivers for Lightburn. I had one of my systems do the same thing and it seems that something in a windows update messed with the USB code. As soon as I reinstalled the USB drivers I had no further issues with my system dropping connections to the laser.

after many test I finally found the problem
I tested my laser with LaserGLBR software instead of Lightburn and all was working well, then I tested again with lighburn removing air pump assistance and I found problem is in the air pump, when using it the system collapses

now the problem is in a small electrical circuit of the pump, do you think is possible to find a spare for it or I have to buy the full air pump?

thanks for all the help

Andrea! i’ve just got exactly the same problem!

Same laser, been working fine for months, mid a long run of small engraves and this error happened.

Its working fine with laserGLBR.

will test the air assist.

Yes, i can confirm the air assist power draw seems to be the problem. How bizarre that it’s happened to both of us at such a close time.

I can further confirm that by adding the gcode to lasergbrl to turn the air on at the start of the job then same power/connection drop out happens.

I’m off to take the issue to scuptfun.

hi John
happy to have helped solve the problem
not easy to understand
I have contacted Sculpfun and they will replace my pump (less than a year of use)

nice regards
Andrea

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I had a little examination of the various parts… the inverter box on the cable was rattling. i carefully opened the top as per instructions on diode-laser-wiki and there is a chip that seems to have come off the board.

i’m going to presume that’s the issue on mine.

alas scuptfun seem to be away for a bit

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Scuptfun have replaced my pump. Awesome customer service again.

Being that I have the old pump sitting here i’m looking at this dislodged chip… alas i’m clueless when it comes to soldering… especially what i assume is micro soldering