Hacking UM to cut stuff...

[drayson 75]

Hi community...

already discussed several times, I decided to give a laser hack a try...

Therefore I´d like to briefly present my next hack project and ask for a little assistance in gcode generation...

Target: mount a cheap 3W diode laser to the print head of my UMO and cut e.g. paper... (don´t know for what reason I´d like to build, nor to use it, but I like to do...)

Here´s the plan:

Components used:

- 9mm 455nm 3W laser diode from DTR's Laser Shop

- electronics from L-Cheapo re-designed for this stronger diode (different resistors, LM338 and other stuff)

- aluminium extrusion profile 40x40 as heat sink for laser module and to mount it onto the print head

- 3-way switch to change between heat bed and laser as I´d like to hook the laser to the heat bed control of my UMO

- PAIR OF LASER GOGGLES !!! (of course, mandatory)

As the parts are ordered, I decided to play with the software and gcode while waiting the delivery.

As I don´t want to change something in my FW, I decided to controll the laser via the heat bed commands M140 S100 for ON, M140 S0 for OFF.

This now the point where I discovered a little issue I´d like to ask if anybody has experience with...

It seems that M140 S100 has no effect on my UMO... the display does not show any temperature set nor any clicking of my relais using the M140 command (M190 would work, but as it waits for the temperature to be reached, it is not useable).

Here is a code snip for a 100x100mm square that I generated via an modified postprocessor for testing purposes:

;HEADER

G21 ;metric values

G90 ;absolute positioning

G28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops

G28 Z0 ;move Z to min endstops

M106 ;heatsink assistance - fan ON

;RAPID MOVE

M104 S0 ;laser off

G0 X49.960 Y49.960 Z8.000

;Plunge Move

M140 S0 ;laser off

G1 Z1.000

;FIRST_FEED_MOVE

M140 S100 ;laser on

G1 Y150.040

;FEED_MOVE

G1 X150.040

;FEED_MOVE

G1 Y49.960

;FEED_MOVE

G1 X49.960

;Plunge Move

M140 S0 ;laser off

G1 Z0.000

;FIRST_FEED_MOVE

M140 S100 ;laser on

G1 Y150.040

;FEED_MOVE

G1 X150.040

;FEED_MOVE

G1 Y49.960

;FEED_MOVE

G1 X49.960

;Retract Move

M140 S0 ;laser off

G1 Z8.000

;FOOTER

M140 S0 ;laser off

;FOOTER

M140 S0 ;laser off

G91 ;relative positioning

G1 Z+5 X-20 Y-20 ;move Z up a bit aside

G28 X0 Y0 ;move X/Y to min endstops, so the head is out of the way

G90 ;absolute positioning

G0 Z80 ;move platform down

M107 ;heatsing assistance - fan OFF

M84 ;steppers off

Does anybody have an idea??

Any hint is appreciated!

If anybody is interested in the laser hack, please keep me informed - so I can keep this updated :-)

Thanks in advance!

 

[hreedijk 4]

I'm very interested in the laser hack, especially for my own build aluminium extrusion printer with UM electronics.

Unfortunately I'm not that good with GCode (electronics also :-( ), otherwise I'm glad to help if I can.

 

[drayson 75]

Hi!

regarding the components and assambly, I´m confident to get the things right.

A few more info on the electronics:

I used the layout from the L-Cheapo schematics which can be found at their wiki page and recalculated it for my app. 1W stronger laser diode (just exchange the 8x 5.5Ohm 1W resistors by 10x 5.1Ohm 1W, the remaining circuit stays untouched). The diode is a 9mm 445nm laser diode which needs app. 2,4A for 3W output so taking in account the 19V of the UM, the resistors should be ok... :-)

Currently I´m working on the solution to mount/hang the laser attachement under the nozzles and adjust z=0 with a spacer equal to the focus hight + module hight.

Beside this (and some spare time), the GCode issue is the only problem I´m currently have...

As soon I have progress, I will keep this post updated... :-)

 

[hreedijk 4]

I'll appreciate that !

 

[hreedijk 4]

I also found this a while ago, but it's expensive to my opinion....

http://jtechphotonics.com/?page_id=1336

 

[drayson 75]

I found that solution too - and another solution from downunder called LaserBlade.

My target is to mix this 3 solutions...

L-Cheapo driver setup, stronger laser diode fom Jtechphotonic and the mounting solution from LaserBlade...

Today I figured out how to turn the laser on/off via an M42 command - simple put an M400 before and it works as expected.

Next step while the parts are still on the road: generation of postprocessor for my gcode generator...

 

[drayson 75]

Brief update:

- Postprocessor for Cut2D is working perfect.

- The first parts have arrived - alu profile and fan, diodes, IC

- Fan mount to couple the fan to the alu profile is designed and printed

Next:

- Waiting for the resistors and the Laser diode to arrive

- Designing a hanger to mount it below the head

- Designing a "accordeon"-like cover for closing the top of the UMO to prevent viewing the laser beam (could be also usefull for building a camber...)

 

[antiklesys 3]

I have my laser already hooked up to my UM, will check out this GCode and see how it goes

 

[hreedijk 4]

Thanx for keeping us up to date drayson......

 

[drayson 75]

You´re welcome :-)

My 3W laser arrived yesterday - safely transported by one of my colleagues from US :-)

Currently dealing with some kind of dumbass supplier for the resistors... can´t take 3 weeks for a small package from Germany to Austria... ridiculus...

 

[drayson 75]

Hi again,

update... :-)

here some pictures of the laser head but without mountig brackets (still in progress...)

 

@ Antiklesys: how have you hooked your laser to the UM?? similar or other way? Weould be interesting...

 

[drayson 75]

Seems that it is time for an update...

Today I had a little time to solder a bit - basically because the PSU of my home built heated bed generated a nice black cloud.

So I ordered a new one and started soldering the electronics for my laser.

Here are two pictures,on the first one you can also see the schematics, on the second one I focussed on the (insulated) heat sink supporting the resistors...

 

Hope that the PSU arrives soon as I need it also for the laser.

Stay tuned...

 

[hreedijk 4]

I wish I had your knowledge about this cool hack ! :???:

 

[drayson 75]

Honestly... Its trial & error - and the advice of a few colleaques in office... ;-)

[hreedijk 4]

Nevertheless, still great work !

 

[drayson 75]

Sooo.... long time nothing happened as other stuff were more important (business....:-( )

Yesterday I had the chance to use lab equipment to chrosscheck the driver board and make sure it regulates the current as planned: status: mission accomplished - the board is working perfectly.

Only open issue is to find the right fan and place it correctly to cool the IC down as it gets HOOOTTTT....

Next step: design protection stuff and find time to assamble all at the UMO and give it a test run...

 

[hreedijk 4]

Very cool, cannot wait to see the results !

 

[drayson 75]

Hi everybody...

After a few hurdles (thanks to Sabrina and Sander for support!!) I´m back in community.

There were a few unsuccessfull tests which ended up in a redesign of the electronics closure and a redesign of the wiring between my UMO and the laser electronics too. Further I ordered a pair of new protection glasses.

I know, it´s a long journey at my side, but I guess, at the end it´s worth...

Stay tuned... :-)

[drayson 75]

Update...

Today I shot it the first time - tadaaa... the whole flat is smelling like burned paper...

IT WORKED !!!

But something I learned the hard way: selecting a relais is not easy for an mechanical guy. The SSR which I got (5V input...) was too weak and so the laser was switched on, but not off any more because of the damn SSR.

Next step: mechanical 5V-relais ant THAT worked like a charm.

ToDo: housing for laser electronics, test, test, test... :-)

Edited May 12, 2015 by Guest

[drayson 75]

First cut...

Success!!!

Now I have to play with focus and distance to make it as perfect as possible with only 3W...

Edited May 12, 2015 by Guest

[ultiarjan 1,223]

super cool !

[skinny-kid 65]

super cool !

Epic! Nice to see your forward progress.

[drayson 75]

Thank you guys!

It will take some time but I plan to post the parts and pieces if somebody like to copy it :-)

[hreedijk 4]

Still struggling with this new forum, I want the old one back !

Finally found this post back again, good work Drayson, you still got my interest!

Regards,

Harold

[drayson 75]

News...

yesterday I printed/cut a few stencils out of 160g/m² paper for painting a wooden box.

Results: see pictures :-)

What I learned:

the stencil took 8 min to cut

after this, the alu profile were the laser module is mounted in where really hot so I assume too less cooling.

have to find another solution for it - maybe more than only one fan (water cooling would work but is from my point of view not applicable...)