Laser Finally arrived. Now what?

LowRider CNC Advice
1

My Neje A40640 has arrived today and I am going to install it on my LR3 that is running on the SKR Pro1.2. I have made several posts on this forum about this and I want to thank everyone that has commented and given me advice along the way. This post is for me to continue seeking advice via me “talking out loud” to make sure I understand what I need to do.

For starters, I purchased this specific neje Laser Kit. I then purchased this power supply to run the laser as most folks on here recommend powering the laser separate.

Now I am assuming I will take the 2 pin cable that is in the kit and plug it into the PC9 pin and the ground pin to the left of it on the SKR board and then into the GRD TTL on the laser board, along with the power supply and the 4 pin cable from the board to the appropriate port in the laser.

From there I will mount the laser to the Makita Ring Mount made by Neilp1 (thank you for making this btw) and attach the air assist to the laser. From there its a matter on making sure all of the wires are safely tucked away.

Then, assuming all of the above is correct or at least fairly close, its on to setting up things in LightBurn right?

A couple questions:

How do you determine how high to place the laser over the piece? Simply using the LCD on the LR3 like you would when running an endmill?
What would you recommend as a good first test for the laser? I was thinking a speed and power test.

2

If you haven’t visited his site, the Louisiana Hobby Guy is a wealth of information when you’re getting started with Laser.

And the only thing I didn’t see on your list was safety glasses. Gotta have those before powering it on.

3

Your cabling description is correct. Note that you can choose where to mount the companion board. Personally, I mounted mine in the top of my enclosure, but I’ve seen them mounted with the CNC control board, and I’ve also seen them mounted on the Z axis. Each position changes the wire run. I expect you are going to need to extend some of the cables.

It is also possible to wire your laser up without the companion board.

How do you determine how high to place the laser over the piece?

There will be a focus distance. I found it difficult to calculate that distance accurately. I tried four different methods for calculating the focus distance. The A40640 has an adjustable lens, which makes figuring out the distance even harder. Personally, I screwed the lens all the way in which, I believe, gives the maximum distance between the laser module and the stock.

What would you recommend as a good first test for the laser?

Since you need to figure out the focus before anything else, I suggest running Lightburn’s Focus Test script as your first step. It is under Laser Tools. Once you have the focus distance, make spacer of that distance that you can put on your stock and lower the laser module housing to that distance. I used my laser to cut my spacers, but anything that gets the distance right will work.

Edit: If your lens is screwed all the way in, start with 20mm of distance between the housing and the stock.

4

I can’t seem to find the board mount file. I came across it in the forums but now I can’t find it. If you happen to have it, I’d appreciate a link

Edit: never mind I found it.

5

Okay so I installed the laser. I went to do the focus test through light burn when I use the lcd on the lr3 to initiate the test the screen says echo M8 unknown command. And the entire machine moves back from the staring point until I stop the machine. It doesn’t fire the laser or anything

Edit: I figured out the M8 it’s to turn on air assist. Which I now need to figure out how to turn that off. I still am puzzled by the movement that is taking place to start the test. Attached is my gcode from test. While my LR is a full sheet, I have set the test parameters to the size of the ply I am testing on which is 21X30

This last time I attempted the test, the laser did fire and continued to stay on a made a very light burn as it travelled.
I also have it set up in lightburn to be the starting point as the front left which I assume it means that if I stand in front of the table, the LR core, when homed should be in front of and to the left of me.

Edit: I just had a thought. I don’t intend to use the entire 21x30, just a small square say 8x8 or whatever. It’s moving that far because it thinks I want it to use the entire sheet isn’t it?
Please see gcode below:

; LightBurn 1.4.04
; Marlin device profile, absolute coords
; Bounds: X236.23 Y367.32 to X298.01 Y391

;USER START SCRIPT
M3
;USER START SCRIPT

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G1 X245.341 Y369.894
G1 X245.438 Y369.963
G1 X245.576 Y369.99
G1 X245.755
G91
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M8
M106 S0 
G0 X248.7 Y371 F0
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G1  Y391F3000
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G91
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G91
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M106 S0 
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G91
G0 Z2
G90
M106 S51
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G1  Y369.191
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G91
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G91
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G1 X252.32 Y369.715
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G1 X251.341 Y369.301
G1 X251.273 Y369.384
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G1 X251.341 Y369.894
G1 X251.438 Y369.963
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G91
M106 S0 
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; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X254.7 Y371 F0
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G91
G0 Z3
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M106 S0 
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G91
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G91
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G1 X267.802 Y368.13
G1 X267.912 Y368.199
G1 X267.995 Y368.337
G1 X268.009 Y368.447
G1  Y368.543
G1 X267.981 Y368.681
G1 X267.926 Y368.778
G1 X267.816 Y368.86
G1 X267.664 Y368.888
G1 X267.182
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-5
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X269.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z5.5
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-5.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X269.314 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z5.5
G90
M106 S51
G1 X269.245F3000
G1  Y370.321
G1 X269.424
G1  Y370.5
G1 X269.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-5.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X270.995 Y369.301 F0
G91
G0 Z5.5
G90
M106 S51
G1  Y369.949F3000
G1 X269.975 Y369.976
G1  Y369.935
G1 X270.141 Y369.88
G1 X270.237 Y369.811
G1 X270.32 Y369.715
G1 X270.347 Y369.618
G1 X270.334 Y369.494
G1 X270.306 Y369.398
G1 X270.223 Y369.301
G1 X270.113 Y369.232
G1 X270.003 Y369.205
G1 X269.576
G1 X269.438 Y369.246
G1 X269.341 Y369.301
G1 X269.273 Y369.384
G1 X269.231 Y369.522
G1  Y369.646
G1 X269.245 Y369.742
G1 X269.341 Y369.894
G1 X269.438 Y369.963
G1 X269.576 Y369.99
G1 X269.755
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-5.5
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X272.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z6
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-6
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X273.526 Y369.701 F0
G91
G0 Z6
G90
M106 S51
G1 X273.664F3000
G1 X273.788 Y369.728
G1 X273.871 Y369.77
G1 X273.94 Y369.839
G1 X273.995 Y369.935
G1 X274.009 Y370.059
G1  Y370.156
G1 X273.995 Y370.266
G1 X273.954 Y370.348
G1 X273.871 Y370.431
G1 X273.788 Y370.472
G1 X273.664 Y370.5
G1 X272.576
G1 X272.438 Y370.472
G1 X272.328 Y370.404
G1 X272.259 Y370.307
G1 X272.231 Y370.156
G1  Y370.059
G1 X272.259 Y369.907
G1 X272.341 Y369.797
G1 X272.452 Y369.728
G1 X272.576 Y369.701
G1 X273.017
G1 X273.141 Y369.728
G1 X273.265 Y369.811
G1 X273.334 Y369.907
G1 X273.375 Y370.087
G1 X273.347 Y370.252
G1 X273.265 Y370.39
G1 X273.099 Y370.5
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-6
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X272.314 Y369.37 F0
G91
G0 Z6
G90
M106 S51
G1 X272.245F3000
G1  Y369.191
G1 X272.424
G1  Y369.37
G1 X272.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-6
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X273.182 Y368.86 F0
G91
G0 Z6
G90
M106 S51
G1 X272.576F3000
G1 X272.424 Y368.819
G1 X272.328 Y368.75
G1 X272.259 Y368.654
G1 X272.231 Y368.516
G1  Y368.419
G1 X272.259 Y368.281
G1 X272.341 Y368.171
G1 X272.452 Y368.089
G1 X272.576 Y368.075
G1 X273.664
G1 X273.802 Y368.102
G1 X273.912 Y368.171
G1 X273.995 Y368.309
G1 X274.009 Y368.419
G1  Y368.516
G1 X273.981 Y368.654
G1 X273.926 Y368.75
G1 X273.816 Y368.833
G1 X273.664 Y368.86
G1 X273.182
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-6
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X275.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z6.5
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-6.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X275.314 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z6.5
G90
M106 S51
G1 X275.245F3000
G1  Y370.321
G1 X275.424
G1  Y370.5
G1 X275.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-6.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X276.995 Y369.301 F0
G91
G0 Z6.5
G90
M106 S51
G1  Y369.949F3000
G1 X275.975 Y369.976
G1  Y369.935
G1 X276.141 Y369.88
G1 X276.237 Y369.811
G1 X276.32 Y369.715
G1 X276.347 Y369.618
G1 X276.334 Y369.494
G1 X276.306 Y369.398
G1 X276.223 Y369.301
G1 X276.113 Y369.232
G1 X276.003 Y369.205
G1 X275.576
G1 X275.438 Y369.246
G1 X275.341 Y369.301
G1 X275.273 Y369.384
G1 X275.231 Y369.522
G1  Y369.646
G1 X275.245 Y369.742
G1 X275.341 Y369.894
G1 X275.438 Y369.963
G1 X275.576 Y369.99
G1 X275.755
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-6.5
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X278.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z7
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-7
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X279.995 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z7
G90
M106 S51
G1  Y369.742F3000
G1 X279.899
G1 X278.245 Y370.362
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-7
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X278.314 Y369.411 F0
G91
G0 Z7
G90
M106 S51
G1 X278.245F3000
G1  Y369.232
G1 X278.424
G1  Y369.411
G1 X278.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-7
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X279.182 Y368.902 F0
G91
G0 Z7
G90
M106 S51
G1 X278.576F3000
G1 X278.424 Y368.86
G1 X278.328 Y368.791
G1 X278.259 Y368.695
G1 X278.231 Y368.557
G1  Y368.461
G1 X278.259 Y368.323
G1 X278.341 Y368.213
G1 X278.452 Y368.13
G1 X278.576 Y368.116
G1 X279.664
G1 X279.802 Y368.144
G1 X279.912 Y368.213
G1 X279.995 Y368.35
G1 X280.009 Y368.461
G1  Y368.557
G1 X279.981 Y368.695
G1 X279.926 Y368.791
G1 X279.816 Y368.874
G1 X279.664 Y368.902
G1 X279.182
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-7
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X281.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z7.5
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-7.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X281.314 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z7.5
G90
M106 S51
G1 X281.245F3000
G1  Y370.321
G1 X281.424
G1  Y370.5
G1 X281.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-7.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X282.995 Y369.301 F0
G91
G0 Z7.5
G90
M106 S51
G1  Y369.949F3000
G1 X281.975 Y369.976
G1  Y369.935
G1 X282.141 Y369.88
G1 X282.237 Y369.811
G1 X282.32 Y369.715
G1 X282.347 Y369.618
G1 X282.334 Y369.494
G1 X282.306 Y369.398
G1 X282.223 Y369.301
G1 X282.113 Y369.232
G1 X282.003 Y369.205
G1 X281.576
G1 X281.438 Y369.246
G1 X281.341 Y369.301
G1 X281.273 Y369.384
G1 X281.231 Y369.522
G1  Y369.646
G1 X281.245 Y369.742
G1 X281.341 Y369.894
G1 X281.438 Y369.963
G1 X281.576 Y369.99
G1 X281.755
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-7.5
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X284.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z8
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X284.769 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z8
G90
M106 S51
G1 X284.603F3000
G1 X284.452 Y370.472
G1 X284.355 Y370.417
G1 X284.286 Y370.348
G1 X284.245 Y370.252
G1 X284.231 Y370.142
G1  Y370.045
G1 X284.245 Y369.935
G1 X284.314 Y369.839
G1 X284.41 Y369.756
G1 X284.576 Y369.715
G1 X284.906
G1 X285.003 Y369.728
G1 X285.072 Y369.77
G1 X285.127 Y369.825
G1 X285.182 Y369.921
G1 X285.251 Y369.825
G1 X285.32 Y369.77
G1 X285.43 Y369.728
G1 X285.692
G1 X285.775 Y369.742
G1 X285.871 Y369.797
G1 X285.954 Y369.866
G1 X285.995 Y369.963
G1 X286.009 Y370.045
G1  Y370.142
G1 X285.995 Y370.266
G1 X285.94 Y370.348
G1 X285.871 Y370.417
G1 X285.788 Y370.459
G1 X285.678 Y370.472
G1 X285.43
G1 X285.32 Y370.445
G1 X285.251 Y370.404
G1 X285.182 Y370.293
G1 X285.113 Y370.404
G1 X285.044 Y370.459
G1 X284.906 Y370.5
G1 X284.769
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X285.182 Y370.293 F0
G91
G0 Z8
G90
M106 S51
G1  Y369.921F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X284.314 Y369.37 F0
G91
G0 Z8
G90
M106 S51
G1 X284.245F3000
G1  Y369.191
G1 X284.424
G1  Y369.37
G1 X284.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X285.182 Y368.86 F0
G91
G0 Z8
G90
M106 S51
G1 X284.576F3000
G1 X284.424 Y368.819
G1 X284.328 Y368.75
G1 X284.259 Y368.654
G1 X284.231 Y368.516
G1  Y368.419
G1 X284.259 Y368.281
G1 X284.341 Y368.171
G1 X284.452 Y368.089
G1 X284.576 Y368.075
G1 X285.664
G1 X285.802 Y368.102
G1 X285.912 Y368.171
G1 X285.995 Y368.309
G1 X286.009 Y368.419
G1  Y368.516
G1 X285.981 Y368.654
G1 X285.926 Y368.75
G1 X285.816 Y368.833
G1 X285.664 Y368.86
G1 X285.182
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X287.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z8.5
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X287.314 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z8.5
G90
M106 S51
G1 X287.245F3000
G1  Y370.321
G1 X287.424
G1  Y370.5
G1 X287.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X288.995 Y369.301 F0
G91
G0 Z8.5
G90
M106 S51
G1  Y369.949F3000
G1 X287.975 Y369.976
G1  Y369.935
G1 X288.141 Y369.88
G1 X288.237 Y369.811
G1 X288.32 Y369.715
G1 X288.347 Y369.618
G1 X288.334 Y369.494
G1 X288.306 Y369.398
G1 X288.223 Y369.301
G1 X288.113 Y369.232
G1 X288.003 Y369.205
G1 X287.576
G1 X287.438 Y369.246
G1 X287.341 Y369.301
G1 X287.273 Y369.384
G1 X287.231 Y369.522
G1  Y369.646
G1 X287.245 Y369.742
G1 X287.341 Y369.894
G1 X287.438 Y369.963
G1 X287.576 Y369.99
G1 X287.755
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-8.5
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X290.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z9
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-9
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X290.714 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z9
G90
M106 S51
G1 X290.576F3000
G1 X290.452 Y370.472
G1 X290.369 Y370.431
G1 X290.3 Y370.362
G1 X290.245 Y370.266
G1 X290.231 Y370.156
G1  Y370.059
G1 X290.245 Y369.935
G1 X290.286 Y369.852
G1 X290.369 Y369.783
G1 X290.452 Y369.728
G1 X290.576 Y369.701
G1 X291.664
G1 X291.802 Y369.742
G1 X291.912 Y369.811
G1 X291.981 Y369.894
G1 X292.009 Y370.059
G1  Y370.156
G1 X291.981 Y370.307
G1 X291.899 Y370.404
G1 X291.788 Y370.472
G1 X291.664 Y370.5
G1 X291.223
G1 X291.099 Y370.472
G1 X290.975 Y370.39
G1 X290.906 Y370.293
G1 X290.865 Y370.114
G1 X290.893 Y369.949
G1 X290.975 Y369.825
G1 X291.141 Y369.701
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-9
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X290.314 Y369.37 F0
G91
G0 Z9
G90
M106 S51
G1 X290.245F3000
G1  Y369.191
G1 X290.424
G1  Y369.37
G1 X290.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-9
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X291.182 Y368.86 F0
G91
G0 Z9
G90
M106 S51
G1 X290.576F3000
G1 X290.424 Y368.819
G1 X290.328 Y368.75
G1 X290.259 Y368.654
G1 X290.231 Y368.516
G1  Y368.419
G1 X290.259 Y368.281
G1 X290.341 Y368.171
G1 X290.452 Y368.089
G1 X290.576 Y368.075
G1 X291.664
G1 X291.802 Y368.102
G1 X291.912 Y368.171
G1 X291.995 Y368.309
G1 X292.009 Y368.419
G1  Y368.516
G1 X291.981 Y368.654
G1 X291.926 Y368.75
G1 X291.816 Y368.833
G1 X291.664 Y368.86
G1 X291.182
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-9
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X293.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z9.5
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-9.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X293.314 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z9.5
G90
M106 S51
G1 X293.245F3000
G1  Y370.321
G1 X293.424
G1  Y370.5
G1 X293.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-9.5
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X294.995 Y369.301 F0
G91
G0 Z9.5
G90
M106 S51
G1  Y369.949F3000
G1 X293.975 Y369.976
G1  Y369.935
G1 X294.141 Y369.88
G1 X294.237 Y369.811
G1 X294.32 Y369.715
G1 X294.347 Y369.618
G1 X294.334 Y369.494
G1 X294.306 Y369.398
G1 X294.223 Y369.301
G1 X294.113 Y369.232
G1 X294.003 Y369.205
G1 X293.576
G1 X293.438 Y369.246
G1 X293.341 Y369.301
G1 X293.273 Y369.384
G1 X293.231 Y369.522
G1  Y369.646
G1 X293.245 Y369.742
G1 X293.341 Y369.894
G1 X293.438 Y369.963
G1 X293.576 Y369.99
G1 X293.755
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-9.5
G90
; Cut @ 50 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M106 S0 
G0 X296.7 Y371 F0
G91
G0 Z10
G90
; Layer 
M106 S51
G1  Y391F3000
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-10
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X297.651 Y370.5 F0
G91
G0 Z10
G90
M106 S51
G1 X297.775 Y370.321F3000
G1 X297.995 Y370.142
G1 X296.245
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-10
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X297.182 Y369.728 F0
G91
G0 Z10
G90
M106 S51
G1 X296.576F3000
G1 X296.424 Y369.687
G1 X296.328 Y369.618
G1 X296.259 Y369.522
G1 X296.231 Y369.384
G1  Y369.287
G1 X296.259 Y369.15
G1 X296.341 Y369.039
G1 X296.452 Y368.957
G1 X296.576 Y368.943
G1 X297.664
G1 X297.802 Y368.97
G1 X297.912 Y369.039
G1 X297.995 Y369.177
G1 X298.009 Y369.287
G1  Y369.384
G1 X297.981 Y369.522
G1 X297.926 Y369.618
G1 X297.816 Y369.701
G1 X297.664 Y369.728
G1 X297.182
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-10
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X296.314 Y368.612 F0
G91
G0 Z10
G90
M106 S51
G1 X296.245F3000
G1  Y368.433
G1 X296.424
G1  Y368.612
G1 X296.314
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-10
G90
M106 S0 
G0 X297.182 Y368.102 F0
G91
G0 Z10
G90
M106 S51
G1 X296.576F3000
G1 X296.424 Y368.061
G1 X296.328 Y367.992
G1 X296.259 Y367.896
G1 X296.231 Y367.758
G1  Y367.661
G1 X296.259 Y367.524
G1 X296.341 Y367.413
G1 X296.452 Y367.331
G1 X296.576 Y367.317
G1 X297.664
G1 X297.802 Y367.344
G1 X297.912 Y367.413
G1 X297.995 Y367.551
G1 X298.009 Y367.661
G1  Y367.758
G1 X297.981 Y367.896
G1 X297.926 Y367.992
G1 X297.816 Y368.075
G1 X297.664 Y368.102
G1 X297.182
G91
M106 S0 
G0 Z-10
G90
M9
M106 S0
G90
; return to user-defined finish pos
G0 X0 Y0 F0
6

For future posts, using the icon to upload the g-code file is easier to deal with than posting the file. Your issue is that you have Lightburn generating fan commands, not inline commands.

In the Device Settings/Basic Settings dialog, you need to change the following setting to be inline like this:

image

Note that on some displays, this setting is hidden, and you need to go down to the corner of the dialog and click and drag to increase the size of the dialog to make this setting appear.

7

I’m on mobile most of the time. So the file attaching is a little harder. I do often edit posts to add the triple back ticks around gcode (like I did on this one).

At any rate, not a huge deal either way.

8

Okay, I’ll make sure to do that next time, my apologizes. I am assuming that the Inline setting will resolve my M8 issue. Will that also resolve the travel issue where it was on and lightly burning the wood as it traveled? I apologize if these questions are a bit silly, this is my first go with lasers

9

When I first started using my laser I dealt with behavior that sounds similar. Even if it started a job, very quickly it seemed to go into a fail state and the laser would be on and it would be traveling in a straight line in some random direction.

I had to change the setting in Lightburn (same screen as above) called “Transfer Mode” to “Synchronous”. It defaulted to “Buffered” but it appeared that there was too much noise in my system and the buffered commands were corrupted.

Here’s the link to the Transfer Mode. Synchronous waits to send the next command until its received feedback that the last command was OK.

Anyway - it fixed something similar I was experiencing. Hope it helps.

1 Like
10

For Neje lasers, I find it easier to test/determine/set the focus distance before even mounting the laser module on my machine.

Using just the little LCD PWM board, the +12v power brick, the laser module, and a metric ruler… I build/stack a guide and target block out of board scraps. Power on the laser and using the test buttons on the PWM board, adjust the power to 1% or so. Then slide the module along the guide to quickly see the dot shape/orientation and where it best focuses.

Just right…

20211103_185155
20211103_1851551920×1440 245 KB

Too close…

20211103_184905
20211103_1849051920×1440 255 KB

better…

20211103_184823
20211103_1848231920×1440 214 KB

way too far (but good to see dot shape and orientation in housing)…

20211103_184740 (2)
20211103_184740 (2)1920×1440 275 KB

If it has an adjustable lens as above, you can also just set in a convenient focus distance from bottom of laser housing to focus plane (I like 50 mm for the smaller modules as shown…) and then cut/print a gauge block to quickly set the focus in normal use. For the A40640 with lens set deep into housing, you should see best focus at about 22 mm from bottom of housing to focus block.

– David

3 Likes
11

I tried this method, and still could not see the focus dot clearly enough to precisely find the focus distance. So, using this same setup (for my A40640), I set the laser to its lowest power, put a piece of black posterboard where the dot hit, and then moved it back and forth. I could see where the posterboard started and stopped glowing, and I could see where the glow was the brightest. After adjusting my laser focus distance from the readings, my engraving substantially improved.

2 Likes
12

I never knew about the triple backticks. Had to look it up. Thanks. I’ve been posting my code fragments with < pre >.

13

I am assuming that the Inline setting will resolve my M8 issue.

I run my jobs from the display, so I don’t know if I get these errors or not, but I suspect I am. You can ignore the errors. If that bothers you, you can enable coolant control in the firmware. Requires a recompile.

/**
 * Coolant Control
 *
 * Add the M7, M8, and M9 commands to turn mist or flood coolant on and off.
 *
 * Note: COOLANT_MIST_PIN and/or COOLANT_FLOOD_PIN must also be defined.
 */
//#define COOLANT_CONTROL
#if ENABLED(COOLANT_CONTROL)
  #define COOLANT_MIST                // Enable if mist coolant is present
  #define COOLANT_FLOOD               // Enable if flood coolant is present
  #define COOLANT_MIST_INVERT  false  // Set "true" if the on/off function is reversed
  #define COOLANT_FLOOD_INVERT false  // Set "true" if the on/off function is reversed
#endif

Not something I’ve tested (since I don’t even know if I have the issue), but you might stop the generation of the M8 commands by turning air assist off when you define your power and feedrates:

image

15

How are you getting the laser to stay on long enough for that? When I turn it on it stays on for a second and then back off.

16

The laser module has a timeout where it turns itself off if not moved. The default turnoff time is 1 second. Apparently newer versions of Marlin have fixed the problem of the timeout triggering if the laser is turned on using the display, but V1 has not yet upgraded to a new version that has the fix.

The solution is to use M42 to directly turn on the pin. I believe the format for the SKR Pro would be:

M42 PC9 S1

The S values run from 0 to 255, so S1 turns on the laser at 1/256th power. This command can be sent from the terminal on the display, or by any g-code sender, or put in a file and run from the file. If run from a file, you need a newline at the end of the last g-code line. Without the newline, Marlin will ignore the line.

17

Am I correct in assuming that my max speed for my material test should be 50mm/s?

18

I don’t know of an upper limit, but your quality will go down as speed increases, and, at some point, you will begin to lose steps. Since the laser does not deal with the cutting forces experienced by a router, it can go faster. The firmware has a default limit of 50mm/s, but that can be modified using the M203 g-code. Personally, I have the following line in my Lightburn Device Settings/GCode/Start GCode that essentially removes all federate limits.

M203 X900 Y900

Note I don’t save the settings with an M500, which means, when the electronics are turned off, the federate returns to 50mm/s. That way I can play with higher speeds with my laser but still have the federate limit in place for my router.

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19

IMG_1096
IMG_10961512×2016 1.24 MB

IMG_1095
IMG_10953024×4032 2.87 MB

Here are the results of a test cut after I thought I got the focus dialed in. It appears I haven’t and I’m unsure what to do

I did quit the test once it was obvious the rest was a waste of time

20

IMG_1098
IMG_10983024×4032 2.11 MB

Here is what I saw in my safety glasses when focusing it

21

The results don’t look like a focus issue, or at least, not only a focus issue. For a cut test, you need to go much slower. For example, yesterday I cut some 5.4mm plywood, and used 2.5mm/s, 2 passes, at 100% power. For now, limit your engraving tests to a top speed of 35mm/s. I’d like to see what happens at slower speeds. There are some Lightburn settings that may help, but I need to get a clearer idea of the issue.

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