I'm still building the laser that I've been working on for months. Another question has arisen. I am connecting the limit switches to the RDC644 controller and there are connection points for each of the three axis in CN3 and CN4. Connections are labeled LmtX-, LmtX+ etc.
I plan to have my homing position at the rear, left side of the machine. Can someone confirm that the limit switch at the left end of the X axis would therefore be connected to LmtX- ? Likewise, the switch at the rear of the machine would be LmyY- ?Seems logical to me but I've been caught out before. In any case, is that fully configuarable in settings for when I get to that later?
Sorry if this question sounds too obvious but I have to ask. And it's unlikely to be my last question I'm afraid
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Accessories: I have a combining lenses, pin tables [homebuilt], honeycomb tables , wireless remote, Modifed Ultimate Air Assist, home built non-powered rotary device, PrusaMK4 and Mini Prusa printers.
Les- that is obviously a Chinese built cabinet [I almost said factory built... but every one I have seen was built by a Chinaman with a welder from sheet steel and tubing] are you rebuilding an existing laser? I most cases I would recommend trial and error to figure out any low voltage questions you have, there are so many settings and possibilities that it is quicker to try and fail and retry than trying to noodle it out. One of my maxims is
'Fail faster and then move on'. Another is 'It is better to be lucky than smart'. [doesn't hurt to be smart tho].
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Hi Gene. If I were a sensitive soul I could be either embarrassed, insulted, hurt, proud or horrified that you could suggest it were a Chinese machine made by a guy with a welding torch in his hand. Sad to say I designed and built it myself. I had considered getting a Chinese machine originally and did negotiate with a couple of suppliers i.e Weike but at the end of the day I wasn't happy with some things. On some the controller was an old Ruida but their own version and without a promise of support. I also have a very small workshop/office to accommodate the machine and things like access and physical size is a problem. I designed this to fit against a rear wall and have provisioned the exhaust on the underside of the machine. The air feed is also in the base of the machine via a large duct from outside the office. The cabinet is fully sealed in operation so it doesn't take air out of the office. It also has things like a through the lens red diode and a cutting area of 650mm x 500mm so it will take a sheet without having to cut a strip off it. A number of other features to suit my needs and the one big benefit is that I know every last inch of the machine and wiring. It's got a 100W EFR F2 tube. It has been a labour of love, although it's taken months and at times I've hated it! Buying and modifying a chinese unit may have been easier but I'm too far in now. For the fun of it I've added another photo from a looooong time back!
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I think it was a compliment; when I saw the picture, I thought, "Wow, that's a very professional-looking cabinet!"
One comment and a question:
Where does the make-up air for the extraction come from?
Given that the extraction exits the cabinet from the bottom, may I recommend adding a "duct" inside the laser? You really want to generate laminar airflow across the surface being cut/engraved. Practically speaking, that means you want a really wide exhaust intake across the back (the width of the cutting area), about 1 - 2" high, placed at the approximate focus depth of the laser. Perhaps a bit higher, since the hot smoke will rise a bit.
Ideally, your make-up air source would be at the front of the laser and similar in shape.
By the way, I SUSPECT (don't know for sure) that the "plus direction for each axis" is "the direction away from Home". You can control which way the stepper motors turn (plus = clockwise or plus = counterclockwise) with the software. If my suspicion is correct, then the "home" limit switches should be connected to -, and the "opposite from home" limit switches should be connected to + .
Perhaps one of the other members can verify where their limit switches are connected. My controller is a little bit hard to access at the moment (that side of my laser is against the wall; the platform is on wheels, but it's still a pain to move it).
Accessories: I have a combining lenses, pin tables [homebuilt], honeycomb tables , wireless remote, Modifed Ultimate Air Assist, home built non-powered rotary device, PrusaMK4 and Mini Prusa printers.
Yep- no offense intended- that is exactly how the Chicom cabinets are made. Normally they will have a deck where the motors and tube/mirrors are installed. It looks like you have a passthrough panel below the top cover, that would be a good place for air to enter in the front.
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The days that I keep my gratitude higher than
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Thanks for the further replies about my machine. I know they were a while back and somehow I missed them. Anyway, I got the direction for each axis thing sorted I hope. As for the air movement within the machine, I have it arranged so the air enters through the floor of the machine and directed up the front gap between the table and the front wall. It exits through a grill, positioned at the rear of the table and at around the focus height as mentioned. Both the inlet and exhaust air are ducted to the outside through the wall of my workshop. That way air is sucked into the sealed cabinet, passed over the table then out through the rear grill and back down through the base of the machine to the outside world. Warm air in my small office stays where I need it. I've attached a photo or two.
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Accessories: I have a combining lenses, pin tables [homebuilt], honeycomb tables , wireless remote, Modifed Ultimate Air Assist, home built non-powered rotary device, PrusaMK4 and Mini Prusa printers.
Color me mightily impressed. More picts as you have time please. We have members building their own lasers and, I would think, more that would consider it in the future. It would also be a kindness to document how some of these ideas are working and what you would perhaps have done differently. Great stuff.
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The days that I keep my gratitude higher than
my expectations, Well, I have really good days. Ray Wylie Hubbard- unfortunately deceased
Hi Gene. I will eventually put something together to describe what I have built and how I got on with it. I have videoed some bits along the way so may even try a youtube but I've seen some pretty impressive videos and mine won't be. It had been a massive learning curve for me, especially this week trying to get motion working and under control. I'm surprised you didn't hear the cursing, crashes and screeching stepper motors. It's all calmed down now though and it's beginning to perform well.
You asked if there was anything I would have done differently. I would say so!
