Hey there, whilst I run a laser cutter at work, I am new to having my own Omtech K40 and operating Lightburn, so please forgive me if it’s a simple fix (I sure hope it is!)
Every singe time I turn on the laser or open the door, I am locked out with an error:13 and the message [MSG:‘$H’|‘$X’ to unlock]. If I set the laser to home upon startup, it starts up locked and won’t home until I unlock. If I set the laser to manually home at my choosing it does the same.
I’ve searched this forum and it appears that other user’s Lightburn software automatically unlocks itself, but I have to hit the reset switch on my laser (which I’m fine with) and manually enter $X after every door open. It really slows things down.
Is this normal, and if it’s not, does anyone have a clue what might be happening? If it’s a crappy safety feature of the Omtech K40 then I’d like to bypass it.
I’ll have a look later on to see if there’s the option. Omtech suggested I tape down the door sensors…! In an ideal world I’d like to have them working but if it comes to it I’ll try to disable them a little better than just using tape lol.
It feels like the physical “reset” button on the laser itself is supposed to tell Lightburn that the laser is safe again, but it doesn’t do anything until I type $X. It doesn’t seem to do anything other than change a light. I wonder if there’s an issue there with the communication.
Hey Jack, thanks for helping! Im new to the different terms for hobbyist lasers - this omtech k40 claims to be programmed to be readily compatible with Lightburn. So its originally a GRBL laser, made Lightburn friendly, is that right?
If i do tape down the door switches and type $X to unlock the machine, it stays unlocked for as long as the switches are taped down regardless of the door opening or closing. I can use the machine without any error codes. If i remove the tape and try to type $X with the door open it throws up an error message and can tell the switches aren’t engaged, so it appears that it can read when the switches are triggered and its not just me typing $X that unlocks it. Hmm.
Ive attached a pic highlighting the reset button on my machine. Honestly I’ve never used a laser that has a “reset” button, but upon emailing Omtech they say its normal to have to hit that button after every door open. Which is frustrating, but would be okay if the button told Lightburn that the laser unit was safely shut.
Sorry if I’m not able to describe it well. I dont have an ohm meter, doh! The laser works perfectly aside from the constant unlocking procedure. If you have any other wisdom to share I’ll be massively grateful, I feel like I’m hitting a bit of a wall and have limited solutions here.
If your door switch is connected to the standard limit switches of a grbl controller, then it’s likely that when you open the door, you’re generating a limit failure and the machine has to conclude it’s position is lost.
Usually these are run through a laser enable switch and grounds pin P (water protect) allowing the machine to lase.
I have the same exact issue. OMTech k40+ newly bought.
To run the laser i have to hit reset on the machine and $X on lightburn everytime i open the dor.
Both of you will likely have to re-wire how the door alarm works. In both cases it appears to be wired to the control board as something like a limit switch. If you hit a limit, it looses it’s location and requires the $X to unlock it… and usually a home operation so it can find itself.
What does the output to the console show is the error?
Not a solution, but if you continue having to type $X, you could also program one of the macro buttons under the console panel to execute the $X function with one click.
Hey Jack, heres a pic of what the console throws up.
So, bit of an update! Ive been going back and forth with OMTech customer service telling them this doesnt feel normal, only for them to tell me this is how you’re supposed to operate their laser. Escalated it and got through to someone who could offer more insight and they said:
“Regarding the operation logic of this machine when used in conjunction with LightBurn, please note that when the machine’s cover is opened, the machine will stop, and the mainboard will enter a protected status. Typically, you would need to close the cover, press RESET, and then either click stop in LightBurn or enter $X to resume operations.
If this operational mode is not to your liking, you have the option to disconnect the wire from the EX1 interface on the mainboard. This action will cut power to the laser when the cover is opened, but the movement of the laser head will remain unaffected.”
I dont know if its the case for everyone elses lasers, but pressing the Stop button in Lightburn absolutely worked and effectively clears the error message, allowing me to continue without homing. It’s much faster and more preferable to typing $X every time. I just wish one of their team members said so sooner!
So yeah, I’m gonna continue this way. Im grateful for all your help, but equally glad I don’t have to mod the machine to get it to work the way I want it to. I hope this can help other people who’ve bought the same OMTech k40 unit as me - hit the reset button and then hit stop in Lightburn!
I’m very frustrated. I only get error messages. The machine is closed, and I send the command, but nothing changes. The red light never goes off. I’ve spent hours and hours, and still nothing. I even put tape to close it and tried everything I’ve seen recommended, but nothing worked.
I see you’re new. I’m going to move your post to it’s own thread so it gets the attention it deserves.
Are you working with a newer K40 variant? Some of the earlier K40 laser engravers won’t communicate with LightBurn. We need to know more.
Please start by reviewing the following. (Click the Blue Title below.) It may offer some perspective to help us move forward with this:
The alarm and error messages are all different. To help sort through the alarm and error messages, you may find it helpful to Screenshot the Console window in LightBurn. You can also Select and Copy text from the Console window (in LightBurn) and paste it into a reply here.
Hey Daniela, what I had to do once the door was shut was press the silver “RESET” button on the laser itself, which should turn the status light from red to yellow, then press the “STOP” button in Lightburn, which cleared the error message and unlocked the machine.
Thank you so much. Just realized it was the water chiller was not working. I changed it and put the pump instead the water chiller and it started work!!! Oh my god Thank you so much for help me.
Thank you so much for help me.