I just got the OPTLaser All setup. Yes also went though all the documentation but its still seeming unclear (outside of documents, and forum mentions). ** Some observations ** 1. I would like to point out that the Documentation mentions a 4 Wire or 3 Wire mode for Lasers. - The OptLaser only has 2 wires (Was a little confusing) (docs:blackbox-x32:connect-3-wire-laser [OpenBuilds Documentation]) 2. Unless I am missing something, I have found zero documentation regarding enabling Laser Mode in Control: docs:software:openbuilds-control [OpenBuilds Documentation] - This caused me to search the forums and lookup articles like this: Opt Laser Black Box setup - As I have the X32 and the OptLaser Setup, I would have expected some documentation as it relates to ensuring everything is setup all the way to running your initial hello world test run. - However I must say that even this forum article I was a little frustrated with the constant push to the documentation which does not seem to mention anything the poster was needing as well. It was not until after constant posting that he started to get more answers. - Also noted that this post only had the laser not a spindle and a laser. ** The issue ** 3. Seems I am still a little confused about the M32 Function. When I Try to turn on the Laser from the Control menu, the Spindle turns on but never the laser. I am still a little confused as to what is wrong here. - PWM port on the X32 is going to the laser control box (as I compared with the other post above). - I can run a test fire using the OptLaser Controller so I know the laser has power - The Controller is set by the factory with the mode needed for X32/xcarve which is mode 0 (Zero), this is where the laser light is the only LED in the ON mode of the controller. - Does control know how to switch between laser and a spindle? I noted a few other posts stating you always had to enable one or another, however seemed they were on the older Blackbox Control. - I can enter M3 S1 and the laser comes on M5 Off from the console of Control
Power on Laser, Power Off Spindle, $32=1 for laser Power off Laser, Power On Spindle, $32=0 for spindle Always a manual process. Super quick though. Power switches on a nice plate nearby, and adding the $32 to your CAM workflows (so its included by default)
OK Manual process got it. I use Vetric Laser Plugin, so I would assume it would add these $32 commands to the gcode, but will have to investigate further. When I was attempting to use the laser with Control, I noted that it was not etching the wood. The Laser was firing every time the gantry moved, but nothing was etching. The Wood with the same GCode was etching with Lightburn.
In Vectric that might involve copying the Post Processor and creating a seperate on for for Laser and Router, so you can add the $32 in the HEADER section: Post Processor Editing CONTROL is just a sender, takes your gcode and feeds it to the controller. But check that you didn't have the Override sliders dragged away from default positions (Feed >100% or Tool <100% for example): Grbl v1.1 Interface the firmware accepts Realtime overrides - the sliders just send those commands for you Otherwise, perhaps you changed the $30 values between CAM and runtime
OK so before I ran the GCode in Control, I ran $32=1, Verified my Feed and Tool were both at 100% Hit Run Job. The Machine starts moving and the Laser seems to be firing but nothing is engraving. Almost as if the laser is at 0 Power
