We usually use a separate power supply for the Laser (as long as you make sure to connect the DC ground from both power supplies).
The main reason for the separate power source is that the laser may need more current than the controller board can safely supply. So, yes, that is to protect the controller board from letting out the smoke.
Mike
LOL, letting out the smoke! Better to keep the smoke in, right?
Thanks for the advice!
So any 3 wire laser with VCC (12-24), GND and PWM should work using the methods above?
I canāt speak for any 3 wire lol, but I expect most work the same way
I wouldnāt set high expectations for this laser. In the Amazon ads, it is listed as a 10W optical. A reviewer indicates that its performance is similar to his 5W optical laser module.
As for hookup, the cables on the right in the list of cables are probably what you want. Two wires go to the power supply, and the second set go to PWM and ground on the control board. As mentioned above, if you have a separate power supply, you need a ground wire to go to both the power supply and the control board. If all you get is a 3-wire connection, you will need to āsplitā the ground wire so you can connect both the power supply and the control board to ground.
The one thing that may be an issue is the PWM voltage. One of the listings has, " Power Control: PWM/TTL (0-5V signal control)." I donāt know if this laser uses the PWM signal digitally or does analog processing. The potential issue is that I believe the laser pin on the SKR Pro 1.2 is a 3.3V pin. If the laser uses the PWM pin digitally, then everything should work fine. If it is an analog processing, then you will not get full power out of the laser. Most newer lasers are digital.
Thanks Robert!!
Maybe I could pick your brain a little moreā¦
So to steal an image from earlier in the forum, is this the correct procedure?:
If I do it this way I wonāt need a relay?
And the last thing thatās confusing me is, if Iām taking the power to a separate power supply, why would I need a JST connection on it? Wouldnāt it be better to crimp on some horseshoes and land it directly on the power supply lugs?
Thanks so much for your insight!!!
Iāve never seen someone use a relay with a laser. There was some talk on one of the forum topics about using an SSR with a laser, but I donāt think it was ever used.
Yes, that is the correct procedure. As for the connection, what you describe is better, but this laser module does not require much in the way of a power supply. The specs on this laser say it needs a 4A power supply, and most of those power supplies are either wall warts or bricks, and both of those kinds have a barrel jack for power, not screw terminals (Iām assuming you are using a separate power supply for the laser).
A lot of laser modules (but apparently not this one) come with a companion board like this. The JST connectors plug into the board, and the board provides a female barrel jack connection for the power supply.
Hi Robert, one other quick question just occurred to me, if I power the control board with a 24 volt power supply and I power the laser with a separate 12 volt power supply, is that shared ground connection between the 2 units going to cause a problem you think?
A shared ground and two different voltage sources will work just fine. Typically, Iāve seen it the other way around with the laser running at 24V and the control board running at 12V. It is only relatively recently that Ryan started shipping 24V power supplies with his kits. But the voltage difference does not matter either way.
Thanks again!
I created a remix of a router holder to mount the laser to the Z axis. Iāll post pics of it when itās together and make it available to anyone that wants it.