LaserUser.com Forum (formerly RDWorksLab)

I guess I didn't type it correctly, power controlled air assist. I have it on the controller of my China Red, but no wiring or solenoid. My air control is the power switch for the pump and an inline valve to lower air flow for engraving.

For those that have a Top Wisdom, the 6442 will drop in, the 6445 will require enlarging the hole and letting the face hang on the machine, or making a top wedge that will hold it and not interfere with the access door.

I think when I upgrade I'm going to set a low airflow that can't be interrupted, and then Tee in the air assist control for cutting with full flow. Just a thought for now.

My understanding of the 6442 is that it will control 4 axis, but not all at once. You have to pick between the Z and U and program accordingly. The 6445 is supposed to be a true 4 axis with independent Z and U. Again I'm going off of a series of emails and such, so take it accordingly. My understanding of U axis control is rotating the work while keeping the X and Y still active. The video I saw of it in use was cutting a series of pipes and rotating them to let other pipe in at varying angles. A LOT more than I would ever do, but I could see the advantage if you plan on doing a lot of rotation engraving of jugs and such. Just pop it in and go.

It sounds like you may be talking about Russ' Ultimate air control, of which he has made a few changes. It is available from Cloudray laser and maybe from amazon sold by CR.

Wasn't talking about Russ' in particular. Hooking up Air Assist control is just a solenoid if you do it in the straight out of the factory setup. I did take my idea from Russ, not sure if it was exactly what he was talking about or not. I was just thinking about a fixed line that will always have a very small base air flow so I never have to worry about blow back on the lens. And then use the controlled air assist for full air flow for cutting.

Instead of the Off / On of the standard control, it would be a Low / High for Engrave / Cut. More of an automatic backup for my old fart memory. Using it in a Low / High configuration would also allow the machine to switch back and forth on jobs where there are both in the same work with no problems. If I was getting in a hurry, I could see myself doing a cut job after an engrave and forgetting to turn the air flow back up.

That is exactly what the Ult Air Control does- In my setup there is a small flow thru a needle valve at all times [Air assist off] and another high flow route along side of it which also has a needle valve for control. Mine uses the shop air compressor so there is a pressure regulator to get it down to a reasonable level- if you have a small air pump as supplied with most lasers, Russ has a circuit to turn the pump off and on so it is not deadheaded as it is usually powered up with the laser power. I actually have another needle valve on my control panel to fine tune the air assist on line as sometimes the higher pressure can blow small things about. Here is a pict of my control panel while it was enduring one of my periodic revisions- the needle valve is partial obscured by the wiring from the controller output panel. I have several people who use the machine when I am not around so I try to label the controls for their benefit.

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Interesting, so you have an adjustment on your 'full flow' through the solenoid as well... Hadn't thought of it, but why not? I wasn't sure if I was going to put an actual valve on my minimum flow line, or just make an orifice from a scrap plastic disk.


Have been getting cross eyed at wiring diagrams for the last hour or so. Looks like the Top Wisdom to Ruida will be pretty easy. Almost everything will be direct plug and go. The actual laser connection being one that I will have to shift three wires.

I have a couple of questions:

1. On the Top Wisdom, it requires a jumper on the Water Protect connection for Laser 2 even though there is no laser 2. Does Ruida require that or is it smart enough to know better?

2. CN1 - What are the connections for Status, Out 1, and Out 2 used for. The generic diagram shows a light for who knows what on the Status connection, and nothing in the Out 1 and Out 2 other than a generic relay.

3. CN2 - The connection marked Shot seems to be the disable switch for the laser itself, no problem there. What is the Foot SW connection used for, like a dead man or something that has to be stepped on to enable the laser to cut?

Thanks for your help, and nice fabrication job by the way.

Dave Vigness wrote: Wed Jan 01, 2020 1. On the Top Wisdom, it requires a jumper on the Water Protect connection for Laser 2 even though there is no laser 2. Does Ruida require that or is it smart enough to know better?

Configure it for "one Tube" in the vendor settings. You can turn off water protect at the bottom of the dialog for the tube you do have, if you want.

Dave Vigness wrote: Wed Jan 01, 2020 2. CN1 - What are the connections for Status, Out 1, and Out 2 used for. The generic diagram shows a light for who knows what on the Status connection, and nothing in the Out 1 and Out 2 other than a generic relay.

Status is a 'running' indicator. I use it to enable air assist (Wind switches between low & high flow). Out 1 and Out 2 are additional outputs that can be switched on a per-layer basis. I haven't done any testing so I can't tell you how IO1-4 map to Status, Wind and Out 1 & 2.

Dave Vigness wrote: Wed Jan 01, 2020 3. CN2 - The connection marked Shot seems to be the disable switch for the laser itself, no problem there. What is the Foot SW connection used for, like a dead man or something that has to be stepped on to enable the laser to cut?

Here's what the manual says for FootSW. Clear as mud, as usual, and that's from the Boss version of the manual. It reads like it's an instantaneous pause/continue switch.

Shot is simpler. I think it's a test fire switch, paralleling the Pulse on the panel maybe.

Thanks for the info on the foot switch and the WP for the second tube. I scanned the pdf on the controller, but missed that. Don't know if I'll ever use the 'foot switch', but it's nice to know I have an input I can play with if needed.

Traded emails with Russ, and he also uses the status as an indicator for his air assist. For what ever reason I was thinking it was a power on instead of a laser on indicator.

I could see all sorts of reasons for switching things only when the laser is on. If it didn't take so long to spin up, I'd put my exhaust blower on a relay controlled by it. I have it outside on the other side of the wall in an enclosure and it still resonates back inside!

What does this button do? Better asking late than being stupid forever

Philipp Pap wrote: Sat Jan 11, 2020 What does this button do? Better asking late than being stupid forever
Screen Shot 2020-01-11 um 14.18.28.jpg

Switches between step and continuous movement, which needs a trip into the menu on 6442.
Page 23 of the 6445 manual found at https://www.facebook.com/download/33537 ... fjjq2QEdlX

Ah, thank you!