Simultaneous laser and spindle configuration

Software / Firmware Jackpot Board / FluidNC
1

So I have just got the jackpot board running. When I try and update the config to include the laser options. I cannot get the mpcnc to home I get an “error 5” then “homeing not defined”. I feel like I’m probably missing something very obvious, but I can’t figure out for the life of me what.
Basically I have a spindle and a laser always connected to the CNC. I only ever usually use one of the two devices for a job.

Hoping somebody maybe has some recommendations on how to set this up. The relay that controls my dw660 is hooked to gpio26 and the laser to gpio27.

With the stock configuration I can control the spindle no problem.

2

Post your config.yaml and we’ll see how to fix it.

3

Use two operate configs. It is simple to swap them, save and reboot. Having a laser defined puts you always in Laser mode, you do not want that.

Generally you do not want to swing a router around while you are trying to move a laser real fast either. the flip side is you do not want the laser lens getting anything on it while not is use or it will melt itself down.

4

All I did to the yaml file was uncomment the section. I did not know if I should uncomment the 5v section at the bottom of the file as it was not shown in the help page.

> Laser:
>   pwm_hz: 5000
>   output_pin: gpio.27
>   enable_pin: NO_PIN
>  disable_with_s0: false
>   s0_with_disable: true
>   tool_num: 0
>   speed_map: 0=0.000% 255=100.000%
>   off_on_alarm: true
> 
>  pwm:
>   pwm_hz: 5000
>   direction_pin: gpio.26
>   output_pin: gpio.27
>   enable_pin: NO_PIN
>   disable_with_s0: false
>   s0_with_disable: true
>   spinup_ms: 0
>   spindown_ms: 0
>   tool_num: 0
>   speed_map: 0=0.000% 1000=100.000%
>   off_on_alarm: false 
> 
>  # 5V out gpio.26/27
>  # VMot out gpoi.2/16
>  # In's left to right gpoi.25/33/32/35/34/39/36
5

I keep the laser mounted but apply covers to the laser when I do carving operations to protect the fans and lens. I also have a power kill switch to the laser to prevent any accidental firing when the covers are on.
When I want to do Carving I was thinking I just use the m5 command in my estcam start to disable the laser mode. but if I enable the laser section file I cannot home the axis using the UI so I don’t know how to square and jog the machine when I switch to laser mode.

6

I managed to figure out the issue. I didn’t comment out the section above, perhaps it would be helpful to update the image on the tutorial page to show the section above commented out? or maybe I’m the only one foolish enough to misread it (see below). :upside_down_face:

image