New to this laser thing

LightBurn Hardware Compatibility
1

I got a k40, unfortunately it came with the M2 board which is pretty locked to what is possible. I am looking to upgrade my board first but need to make sude it is the correct one that will work with Lightburn software.
I think this board seems to fit in but would like to have some confirmation. https://www.amazon.co.uk/SainSmart-3-Axis-Controller-Engraver-Control/dp/B07BMSH49Y/ref=sr_1_10?crid=21RZVTCXY1BTP&dchild=1&keywords=mini%2Bgerbil%2B2%2Baxis%2Bcontroller%2Bfor%2Bk40%2Blaser%2Bcutter&qid=1614453281&sprefix=mini%2Bgerbil%2B%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-10&th=1
This is the link to it.

Please let me know

2

It will work, but will require quite a bit of fettling to get everything working.

It wouldn’t be my choice, for anything. Sainsmart are very low-spec and, more importantly, low-QC manufacturer.

Cohesion3D makes a drop-in replacement for the K40, which runs a 32 bit controller, firmware developed in conjunction with the folks at Lightburn to give you the best performance from a non-DSP controller.

It aint cheap, but you get what you pay for.

My personal favourite is the Smoothieboard 3XC, but harder to find these days. The reason I prefer it is that it has ethernet. I’m not a fan of USB-connected lasers as they invariably need to be somewhere that is a pita for USB.

3

Thanks for getting back so promptly. I found three more options that could work but price is always a bit of a stumbling block.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Printer-compatible-Marlin2-0-smoothie-Upgrade/dp/B07T3KLBLK/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&keywords=Smoothieboard&qid=1614456651&sr=8-19&tag=al065-21

https://www.amazon.co.uk/KINGPRINT-Controller-Motherboard-Ramps1-4-Compatible/dp/B079BZ1K3B/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=MKS+SBase+v1.4&qid=1614381803&sr=8-3

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Purewords-Controller-Control-Stepper-Engraver/dp/B089GD93GL/ref=sr_1_4?crid=21RZVTCXY1BTP&dchild=1&keywords=mini+gerbil+2+axis+controller+for+k40+laser+cutter&qid=1614453281&sprefix=mini+gerbil+%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-4

I have no problem fiddling with it a bit as that is how you learn. But I don’t want to buy a headache either.

4

That one is the only one I would even consider. It is a Smoothieboard clone. It will run Smoothieware Cluster mode, which has corresponding support in Lightburn.

5

Thanks for the guidance. This board is now ordered.

6

And I added the stepper drivers and the sd card for good measure

7

This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.