So I just received my Omtech MF1220-50, had a Xtool 20W diode so right away needed to upgrade lightburn to connect. Downloaded drivers and connected to the machine. On the OMtech I sent the Min laser value to 10% and the max to 90%. Ran my first job to figure out how my old diode feeds/powers settings would perform. Job ran and needed the feeds/powers changed. Changed feeds and power settings in lightburn and sent to machine. Ran machine, and found that the “HMI” on the laser power supply doesnt go above .3ma. Tried again, same thing nothing above .3ma. Changed lightburn feeds/power and resent file. feeds changed but again nothing above .3ma. Got on the fourms and read…and read. I believe i have a lightburn issue due to being able to adjust the MAX power setting on the machine and PLUSe the laser to see if anything changes. I have full range of power. Back to the fourms, seen issues with the software and deceided to uninstall and reinstall software and drivers. Attempted again to run the same file and again regardless of lightburns power setting it never goes above .3ma.
Much help would be appreciated
So you have the full range of power using the pulse button at the machine?
What mA reading do you get when pulsing at 50% min power at the machine control panel?
If you run a test circle with LightBurn with settings of 50% min power and 50% max power at 30mm/s speed what is the mA reading for that?
Nicholas, at the machine, when I set the max power limit to 50% and pulse it I get 11ma. When I have LightBurn send the information at 50% power I get 3ma. Now if I have LightBurn set to a power of 10% I get 1ma.
If the diode laser settings called for any speeds under 600 mm/min, then it is highly likely the Ruida controller is throttling the power based on its Start Speed setting.
You should expect to run new Material Test patterns on your new machine, because it is much better at cutting and will behave much differently than the diode.
Ed, on my diode laser I was cutting .200” maple/Mdf core at 8 ipm @ 100% power, Filling at 180 ipm @ 60% power and outlining at 200 ipm @ 50% power.
Should I assume that with the co2 laser I need to do a material test and LightBurn somehow knows/sets power factors?
Which is just over 3 mm/s: that’s your power problem, right there.
The basic Material Test varies power vs. speed over a wide range, whereupon you pick the combination(s) producing the effect you want on the material being tested.
LightBurn has no knowledge what effect the laser beam has on the material: it’s entirely up to you to decide what happens.
You should build a separate Material Library for the CO₂ laser, as all materials will respond differently than they did with the diode laser.
Ed, appreciate the information, this afternoon when I get home I’ll attempt again by running a much faster pass to see if things improve. I’ve also downloaded the RDworks software for some comparison testing.
If you are still in mm/min then the speed I suggested of 30mm/s would be equivalent to 1800mm/min, and check that you had definitely set both ‘Power Max’ and ‘Power Min’ to 50%. Looks like @ednisley has you on the right track.
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