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Laser Engraver Control Board

Discussion in 'Laser Cutters' started by oni305, Feb 9, 2014.

Laser Engraver Control Board + Inkscape extension

Laser Engraver Control Board + Inkscape extension

Discussion in 'Laser Cutters' started by oni305, Feb 9, 2014.

This is a PCB designed to control a laser Engraver CNC

Laser Engraver GRBL PCB
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  1. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    #1 oni305, Feb 9, 2014
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  2. Tweakie

    Tweakie OpenBuilds Team
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    Excellent work oni305 - very neat and compact PCB - I look forward to seeing the details of the rest of the build.

    What power laser and what wavelength are you using ?

    Tweakie.
     
    #2 Tweakie, Feb 9, 2014
  3. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    I use a 3Watt 445nm Laser Diode but i've limited the current to a 2.1A which is about 2.5W to increase the lifespan of the laser

    and with the trimmer on the board i can regulate the current through the Laser from 1mA to the max 2.1A
     
    #3 oni305, Feb 9, 2014
  4. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    #4 Mark Carew, Feb 9, 2014
  5. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Many thanks for the support!
    from the other Topic:

    I've just finished the algorithm to translate the image to Gcode

    Tested with the openbuilds logo

    original (with white background):
    image.png

    translate in B/W:
    image_soglia_fissa.png

    and the attached file "gcode.txt" is the generated gcode (obviously...), is not finished yet (it's only a test), but I'm pretty happy with it
     

    Attached Files:

    #5 oni305, Feb 13, 2014
    Menneset, lexluther and Mark Carew like this.
  6. Mark Carew

    Mark Carew OpenBuilds Team
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    :thumbsup:
     
    #6 Mark Carew, Feb 13, 2014
  7. Tweakie

    Tweakie OpenBuilds Team
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    GCode is good too. :thumbsup:

    Tweakie.

    DSC01663a.jpg
     
    #7 Tweakie, Feb 14, 2014
    Menneset, Robert Hummel, Mark Carew and 1 other person like this.
  8. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Cool:D tnx Tweakie.

    I've modified the scritpt to scale the image at 10pixel/mm, try this:
     

    Attached Files:

    #8 oni305, Feb 14, 2014
  9. Tweakie

    Tweakie OpenBuilds Team
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    That's fine also but I don't have a problem with size (I can always scale the GCode at run-time). One thing that should be considered and as noted by Robert http://openbuilds.com/threads/laser-v.37/page-7#post-2237 - Ideally your generated GCode should have all moves following M03 as G01 and all moves following M05 as G00 with a feed-rate set at the start of the code.

    Tweakie.

    DSC01664a.jpg
     
    #9 Tweakie, Feb 14, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2014
  10. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Yes i know, but 1 step a time

    new with feed 500 & 100 (gcode_feed.txt)

    mmmm but I think to have a problem with the individual pixels, can someone try this (singledot.txt)
     

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    #10 oni305, Feb 15, 2014
  11. Tweakie

    Tweakie OpenBuilds Team
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    The feed.txt is brilliant – excellent work. :thumbsup:

    Just one point - G00 moves do not take account of feed-rate so the F500 can be omitted as it servers no purpose.


    I had to scale up the singledot.txt file because of the small moves but even then the individual dots are only just discernable - perhaps a 40Watt laser is a bit overkill for this type of test. :(


    I don’t know if this helps.


    Tweakie.

    DSC01665a.jpg
     
    #11 Tweakie, Feb 15, 2014
  12. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Theoretically yes, but i can't figure out if GRBL implements G00 and G01 in the same manner ...
    I have to make some test with my own board to check it :)

    Every things helps for the test ( especially because at the moment i have dismantled my own laser [because i want to rebuild it with the vslot])
     
    #12 oni305, Feb 15, 2014
  13. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    G01 runs the set feed rate in your console
    G00 runs the set speed that $5 is set to in GRBL believe its "seek rate" not at pc right now
    I will run your code in 15 mins
     
    #13 Robert Hummel, Feb 15, 2014
  14. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Ok here it is :)
    image.jpg
    1 other thing is m05 must be the last comment or the laser stays on and after code axis don't home. see my changes
     

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    #14 Robert Hummel, Feb 15, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 15, 2014
  15. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Noted..

    Do you think that it's worth an option to change the resolution from 10pix/mm (actual) to 5pix/mm or 1pix/mm ??
     
    #15 oni305, Feb 16, 2014
  16. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Any smaller and I think you may run into issues maybe 5 minimum.
    Great work for sure!
     
    #16 Robert Hummel, Feb 16, 2014
  17. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Tnx @Robert Hummel , can you try this files:
     

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    #17 oni305, Feb 17, 2014
  18. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    I will run them now :)
     
    #18 Robert Hummel, Feb 17, 2014
  19. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    5 gave best results, again M05 was not the last instruction so that is why the star had a fault
    image.jpg
     
    #19 Robert Hummel, Feb 17, 2014
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  20. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Great!!
    Ok I'll add the option to choose the resolution on the extension. :cool:

    Now I've edited the script to add M05 & G00 X0 Y0 at the end of the gcode ;)

    Any suggestion on other options to add?

    Now the extension looks like this:
    exte.png
     
    #20 oni305, Feb 17, 2014
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  21. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Looks good to me so far ;)
    Would need to play with it a bit to give you real feed back.
    Awesome work for sure!

    P.s English buttons? :p
     
    #21 Robert Hummel, Feb 17, 2014
  22. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Thanks! :D
    Inkscape fault (even for backgound color), i've installed the italian version, so the buttons are translated :p (i don't know why backgound color is translated too...)

    Ok, now i can start to write the real extension, merging al the code i'writen so far...
     
    #22 oni305, Feb 18, 2014
  23. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Nice work! I need to learn to program big time :)
     
    #23 Robert Hummel, Feb 18, 2014
  24. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    It's working!!
    Now I have to make only a few tweaks in the code and it's done!!

    estensione.png
     
    #24 oni305, Feb 19, 2014
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  25. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Nice work ! Can't wait to try it ;)
     
    #25 Robert Hummel, Feb 19, 2014
  26. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    So here we are, the release candidate of the extension!!!

    Require: Inkscape ;)

    Installing: extract the archive and simply copy all the files in the folder "Extensions" of Inkscape

    Windows ) "C:\<...>\Inkscape\share\extensions"
    Linux ) "/usr/share/inkscape/extensions"
    Mac ) "/Applications/Inkscape.app/Contents/Resources/extensions"

    for unix (& mac maybe) change the permission on the file:
    chmod 755 png.py
    chmod 755 raster2laser_gcode.py
    chmod 644 raster2laser_gcode.inx

    Enjoy,

    PS: to run the extension go to: Extension > 305 Engineering > Raster 2 Laser GCode generator

    EDIT: removed the file temporally
     

    Attached Files:

    #26 oni305, Feb 20, 2014
    Last edited: Feb 21, 2014
    Menneset and Yusuf Tumer like this.
  27. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    Ty! I will give it an extensive work out ;)
    Great work my friend for sure
     
    #27 Robert Hummel, Feb 20, 2014
  28. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    I hope that you'll enjoy it

    just a side note: the extension export the whole inkscape document, so the first thing to do is to change the dimension of the document:

    note.png
     
    #28 oni305, Feb 20, 2014
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  29. Robert Hummel

    Robert Hummel Custom Builder
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    I did that and am running a test print now, must say I'm impressed :)
    1 thing if it can be added is a browse button for file save location as most windows users are use to point and click.
    I will post the results as soon as it is done ;)
     
    #29 Robert Hummel, Feb 20, 2014
  30. oni305

    oni305 Well-Known
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    Unfortunately it can't be added, inkscape gives only a few options for the GUI
    ( http://wiki.inkscape.org/wiki/index.php/INX_Parameters )


    Tnx ;)
     
    #30 oni305, Feb 20, 2014
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