Please, Please help! I have been working on this for MONTHS and cannot get any further. I have watched hours and hours of YouTube videos, searched hundreds of Google pages with multiple "key words", and browsed dozens and dozens of websites, build logs, and Instructables. I just cannot get it. I bought the 2.5W Eleksmaker diode Laser kit and have been using it successfully. Now I am trying to control my 40W CO2 Laser Power Supply (LPS) from my Mana SE board (see images). I have used the test button on the LPS and it definitely fires the Laser Tube, so the LPS and the tube are fine. The Mana SE board is controlling the NEMA motors just fine. Here is where I'm an idiot. I can't get the Mana SE board to trigger the LPS to send the signal to the tube. I am a Design Engineer by trade and do not understand the electronics involved. I have tried very, very hard to figure this out, but after many long nights and weekends, I am finally breaking down and asking for someone to please be a good Samaritan and help me out. Please talk to me like I am a 7 year old, because I have tried many things and am at a loss. I don't know what PWM's, PDQ's, TTL's or ***'s are (actually, I do, but I just thought I add a little humor there), so please "spell it out" for me. Don't tell me to look at such and such a site, because I have, and I either have tried it or I don't understand it. If there is a part I need to buy, please send me a hyperlink or two, not just "oh, you need an inverter". I realize this is asking a lot, but I have so many things I have done on CAD and converted to GCode (with my own custom program that I wrote, I might add ;-) ), that I just want to get this thing running. The reason I am doing this is because I want to expand the size of the Eleksmaker machine to do some larger projects. And purchasing a machine this size will cost thousands of dollars more, plus the satisfaction of doing it myself... with a bit of help... OK, a LOT of help! If someone could show me how to connect the Mana SE board to the LPS, like a 7 year old, I will be very grateful and send you lots of M&Ms!! LOL Maybe you could download (or find) these pictures and show me how to connect them? Thank you so much in advance. You help will be GREATLY appreciated!
I have connected my board to the laser with a single cable by using the L on the most right connector of the PSU. I have it like this for more than 2 years. Can you confirm the amount of pins you have in the connector of the board that says LASER ( based on the image above )
Ariel, Thank you for responding to my question. I have been trying to get this for a very long time. Yes, there are is a 3 pin connector to the diode laser. But, of course, there are two wires going the actual diode (+ and -). I did buy a PWM to TTL converter (see link below), but I couldn't get that to work, either. So, without knowing very much, which pin (12 / GND / PWM) did you hook to to L on the PSU? What about GND? Doesn't the signal need a ground? EleksMaker® PWM To TTL Transition Module for Laser Engraving Machine Controller Board Mana SE IVAxis
By no means im an expert just sharing what i did. My connection is just to the GND on mosfet of my smoothieboard. Do you have access to the firmware of this board? its very important. A followup question is, why haven't you got a proper board to run this laser?
Honestly, after I got the Eleksmaker diode laser kit, I got the idea to upgrade it to a CO2 laser. I didn't think it would be too difficult to get the connector from the ManaSE (the Laser (12 / GND / PWM) connector) - that's sending the signal to the diode laser to trigger the 40W Laser Power Supply to "fire" the tube. I was wrong, I guess. As to your followup, I wasn't sure which board to use. Is yours like the one below? https://www.amazon.com/KINGPRINT-Sm...ocphy=9016277&hvtargid=pla-568346383142&psc=1
I would go with something proven to work, here is a link to a build with detailed instructions on connecting the laser to the K40 PSU. K40 ACRO Conversion He uses the xPro available here
Yes, I already looked at that. Actually, I order the MOSFET chip he used yesterday, and was going to try that too. I also ordered the Smoothieboard I showed above just a few minutes ago, and should have it this weekend. Could you, by chance, send me a few pictures of how you connected your Smoothie board to the PSU? I would greatly appreciate it!
@2x3 CNC mine is not a real smoothieboard and its very different than the board you ordered. Here is the picture
@Ariel Yahni Sorry I didn't get back to you yesterday... had meetings at work. Thank you very much for your help. I ordered and am going to try the Smoothieboard this weekend. Hopefully this will work. I will update when I find out.
I am new to this website and waiting on parts to start building a CNC Workbee but have a 40 watt CO2 that I have made numerous electronic modifications to. Safety 1st... Is you CO2 laser tube in a case or open on a work bench. The reason I ask is a friend of mine had to have one like mine and ended up burning a hole in his finger. They are not toys! CO2s are infrared in the 9.4 to 10.6 micrometer wavelength and the eye protection designed for a diode laser and included with most diode lasers will not protect your eyes from damage. You cannot see the beam. The laser tube needs to have water running through the cooling jacket before you try to run it for any sustained period of time. There is some additional circuitry and components that needs to be in place to get your Eleksmaker board to control the laser and fire it. Post a photo of what you have rigged up so far and I will try to get you fire up. I just don't want to see anyone get injured.
@Armadillo Works Thank you very much for taking the time to do the diagram... It definitely helps out a lot. I will try to get this going and let you know if I get it working. I appreciate the caution warnings regarding CO2 lasers... I am well aware of them and have taken the proper steps to be safe, including getting the proper eye protection. To honest... they kind of scare the H-E-double-hockey-sticks out of me!!!
Check out Scorch Works who has 40k Whisperer to drive co2 lasers but has some links to wiring them. Good luck on you project!
[QUOTE = "Armadillo Works, post: 76930, membro: 129593"] Ecco uno schema elettricseOTE = "Armadillo Works, post: 76930, membro: 129593"] Ecco uno schema elettrico semplice come posso farlo. Stai attento e sii sicuro! [/ CITAZIONE]Hello, my name is Alfio, I too am trying to pilot the PSU with a manase card, I downloaded your scheme, which abbreviation will have to have the MOSFET?
This WIKI link will explain what a MOSFET is. MOSFET - Wikipedia Generally it is just a solid state voltage/current regulating device.
I would get the blackbox or the xpro v4. I could not get my laser diode to work with the eleskmaker but once I got the xpro v4 and j tech photonics laser it all works as expected!
Great! The xPro and the Blackbox boards are a lot more versatile than some of the lighter boards on the market which require more support circuitry to get them working.
