Thank you Carlos for this excellent explanation of PWM, Mach3 config and how to set up for laser. You were very clear. I did stumble for about 4 hours with getting the .txt file to convert to .pp. I finally figured out you have to save the modified J tech file as a .txt then rename it to a .pp file. Thank you again for posting this.
Thanks for your explanation on how to set up PWM on Mach3. I am still struggling to get mine to actually create pulses though. I have a scope hooked up to pin 1 just as you did, but only have 5 volts solid on this pin regardless of what I try. I have disconnected my breakout board and am watching straight out of the parallel port. Has to be some simple setup I am missing. I even tried a clean install of Mach3 and only configured pin 1 as an output, no joy. I will get it, I am a Pitbull when faced with problems to solve.
I am sure you checked, port 1, pin 1 and active low on ports and pins config, output#2 enabled, and on the spindle control, uncheck enable spindle relay, and use output #2 for both CW and CCW, and check PWM control check box. PWM base frequency 250 pulses/sec. Make sure you refer your parallel port pin to gnd. it should work. Set your scope timing fast enough to read it. Good luck. Thanks for the comment.
@@CarlosMDominguez I will double and triple check everything but I think I have all that. Plus I'm going to try on a another computer in case I've got issues. Thanks for your reply.
Success!! After a fresh load of Version R3.043.062 and completing the configuration, I now have pulses! Turns out that I was missing one crucial step in testing, set Spindle speed to somethng other than 100% during test......Duh! Thanks again for your videos.
Good morning, thanks for the helpful video, i have a mach3 machine and i've correctly installed pwm laser, but for G-code creation i use Fusion 360 and i cant find any post processor right for my purpose..
There is a lot o videos out there about Fusion 360 Mach3 post processors. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-YKsRyH6zNNU.htmlsi=Y2I0GT5xc4oXeYBv This one may help. Thanks for the comment.
Hi Carlos, thank you for this excellent video. Could you please clarify why you mentioned two outputs but seeing the circuit you are only using 1 output (pin 1), Is really necessary the other output (pin 14)?
Bonjour Carlos, Thank you for a super video. I have learned a lot today as I'm getting into laser with my CNC. I also love your Mach3 Screen set for the laser instead of the spindle view. I wondered if you could share this screen set with us. Best Regards,
Thank you! Try this links, one is for the picture, and the other one is for the set. drive.google.com/file/d/1DmG4pgHs_b3frkj16WMvlnUDfYvADbCZ/view?usp=sharing, drive.google.com/file/d/1MsTiuUBXqhzgNp9w13ZVQyI_b0Aq5x2R/view?usp=sharing
Hello, you can leave the wires connected to the outputs and change which one runs with the software, you can watch my video: "How to make Mach3 buttons to illuminate" ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-LlWTQpa9MZY.html for an example of this.
I purchased a simple laser module that came with a power supply. I connected it up to AC and it will burn a line if manually moved slowly. I do not see any other connection points like your laser has. Could I use my simple laser setup and modify things in mach 3 and have it vary the power like yours does, or would I need a laser like yours to be able to control it? Thanks Hager
Your laser module has to be capable of taking PWM signals, so you can control it with Mach 3; otherwise you can only turn it on/off full power with a relay. However I don't know which module you have, I may be wrong.
Buenos dias, soy nuevo y x lo que dedusco es lo que estoy buscando, pero el problema que entre el traductor y subtitulado no puedo entender nada, podras indicarme una version en castellano?.saludos
Sure, try these links. one is for the mach3 set, the other one is for the jpg (picture of the background) they are on my shared folders on google drive. Good luck. drive.google.com/file/d/1MsTiuUBXqhzgNp9w13ZVQyI_b0Aq5x2R/view?usp=sharing, drive.google.com/file/d/1uS7a6y8QZk1wtXmfNo3TJ0y9Hy0vyooA/view?usp=sharing
you can get the set here drive.google.com/file/d/1DmG4pgHs_b3frkj16WMvlnUDfYvADbCZ/view?usp=drive_link and the background picture here drive.google.com/file/d/1dr4vvCx4ui5DdjY9gzmWcihcMXakIHAw/view?usp=drive_link
Hello, I have configured Mach3 identically to yours, but I have no PWM signal on the output, what could be wrong? I have an oscilloscope hooked up and there is no waveform
Go to MDI screen and type M3 or M4 to see if it turns it on, M5 to turn it off. make sure spindle relays are enabled and that you selected port one, and an output signal # 1 and that is enabled with the port and pin number that you are going to use on relay control (make sure that output is the same), and that motor control PWM and spindle are checked. finally that you are probing the right pin on your breakout board ( make sure the scope is properly set also) Hope it works. I hope I make sense. Good luck!
@@CarlosMDominguez Adjusting the slider starts working only when you load the example gcode and I give start, then I have to stop and then I can start adjusting the pwm slider, very strange and I don't understand it. You have no gkoge and the pwm control works
@@danworf you can get the set here: drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fwZ23uFYRCzvGEnZYA2hpS2PbrKjSeX6?usp=sharing you can try to copy the set file to the mach3 folder and the picture to the mach3 folder, then drop it on the mill bitmap folder inside mach3 and try it. I think these are the 2 files required. Laser Diode.se2 Main laser pic mod.jpg
You did a great job on the information, but I lost it when you saved the file to the PP folder. I saved as and put the .pp on the end but it was still saved a text doc with the txt extention on it and vetric will not see it.
Go back to the file, at the PP folder, and rename it with the .pp extension, it should work. Then you have to restart Vectric, so it will see it next time you start the program.
Hello harryten, I just fought with this for the last 4 hours. Save the file in Notepad as a txt file then rename it from .txt to .pp. I missed that to. Don't forget to change selection to [all files (*.*)] to see files in PostP. To view a .pp file as test you will need to rename it back to a .txt file then open it.
HOLA, EXCELENTE VIDEO. Como puedo descargar el Mach 3 así como se ve el tuyo con el logotipo de laser .....? Estoy intentando generar el PWM desde una tarjeta NVEN, pero no logro generar la salida. No sé si es mi software o una mala configuración seguí tu video, pero no logro obtener una salida.
No necesitas utilizar la tarjeta para generar el PWM, se configura directamente de Mach3, usando el puerto paralelo a travez de un pin de salida especificado en mach3. Respecto a como cambiar el diseño de la pantalla de mach3 puedes ver mi otro video de como cambiar las screens ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-hayDSRtr4FE.html Gracias por comentar.
@@azaelcom tiene que haber alguna tarjeta que convierta usb a paralelo. Es la razón por la que yo utilizo computadoras antiguas para estas aplicaciones. Ánimo y buena suerte.
@@CarlosMDominguez muchas gracias. Y tus videos están muy buenos. Ya me suscribí. Y veo que sabes español, espero verte en un día no muy lejano, ver video tuyos en español. Eres muy bueno.
Hola carlos yo uso un relevador para el laser y lo activo con M4 y desactivo con M5, solo que lo modifico directo en bloc de notas reemplazando z-1 por m5 y z0 por m4. te muesto unas lineas. N200G00X-118.218Y54.811M5 N210G1X-118.218Y54.811M4F600.0 N220G1X-118.218Y54.913M4F1524.0 N230G1X-119.001Y55.891M4 N240G1X-119.782Y56.850M4 Pero tengo problemas con el grabado.
Thank You Carlos great video, I got My Laser installed I used the PostProcessor from J-Tech. i've used the same setting you did on the postprocessor. I'm just having one issue. I'm hopping you might be able to help me resolve this problem. Once the M3 is activated to turn on the laser the Spindle delays approxamitly 3 seconds to start moving. it always leaves a burned dot at start of every section. any form of advice would be truelly appreciated. thank you
Try setting spindle relay delay to zero delay. go to config, ports and pins, spindle setup, see if general parameters are set to 3 seconds, if they are set it to zero. You can also disable spindle relay and use PWM control using an output signal, as I did on the video. Good luck.
Thank you for your response. I check the spindle relay delay it was at zero. I will try disabling the spindle relay delay this weekend, I'll let you know how it works.
@@CarlosMDominguez having issues with PP and ports and pins settings . laser is working but turns on and does not stop. follows gcode no stop or starts
@@garyparrett8955 Laser is turned on and off with spindle command M3, M4 to turn on and M5, to turn off. Check your spindle setup on config ports and pins. clockwise (M#) output # then from that output chose the pin number on your port. The PP tells mach3 no to move the z axis. check this video: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_tTpMRuJ_I8.html good luck.
welcome Beautiful and wonderful work I want help from you. I designed a CNC machine using Mach3, but I need a program that deals with personal photos and engraving them on wood like the laser shown. And also through Luspendal Glass, thank you
Thanks. The program I use is Vectric Aspire. Is good to engrave vector images, but not very good at raster photo images. Not using mach3 anyway. Its better to buy a K40 CO2 laser engraver for that. Or perhaps an ORTUR laser diode. Good luck.
I created the bmp files on Krita, then I used Mach Screen Editor to create the interface. The power of the laser is controlled by the spindle speed override slider.
