[Twosoc]

Hi, some of you have already helped me out in a great way by getting me started with my laser and for that I'm truly grateful. however the long term goal was always to replace the interior gubbins with something that is a little more automated.

So I've been trying to research this, but I'm not having too much luck, as its all a bit overwhelming.

what I would like to do is buy a system or make one from components that will allow me to cut and engrave in one job and not have to twiddle the knob on the front, so basically control the power through software.
I have a dc-kiii or iv, and really want to break away from moshidraw.

I've made enquiries with thunderlaser, light objects and full spectrtum.

thunderlaser got back to me today with a quote and some information, but I'm not 100% sure what I'd be getting and what else I'd need.
they quoted me a price for this:-

THUNDERLASER DSP LASERCONTROLLER DF 212 (INCLUDINGCONTROLLER, DISPLAY, SOFTWARE AND THE CABLES)

so fair enough, not sure what else I'd need though.



Light objects haven't replied yet. I might try again witha different email adress sometimes ours doesn't always get through.

Full spectrum despite having this page claiming to supply drop in replacements for moshiboards, first said they don't sell them separately, then when I asked why this page existed replied with they make exceptions for moshiboards. Fair enough, maybe they missed that bit in my original email, these things are easy to do.
They asked for a pic of my existing board so I've just sent them one we'll see what they say.

UPDATE:- Full spectrum have just got back to me and told that it will be a direct replacement for my board, and that I can buy it separately. I've just enquired if they still ship internationally and if there's anything else I'd need to get it to do everything I'd asked. they've been quite helpful so far so fingers crossed.



does anyone have any other suggestions? I'd really appreciate hearing them, even if its just links to someone who has done it already. I originally looked at mach 3 controllers but I don't think they can control the power of the laser just off and on.

[Exsecratio]

G.Weike do a complete kit of parts but to be honest upgrading a cheap K40 or suchlike can cost more than a bigger machine would.
I'd be tempted to sell the Moshi machine and go for something with Lasercut already in use.

best wishes

Dave

[Twosoc]

thanks for the reply Dave, I get what your saying but to be honest I'm perfectly happy with the size and performance of this one, Id just like it to not use moshi or the knob on the front. I had a good look around before I bought it and some of the ones that came with lasercut seemed to be the same machines available direct from china that has been upgraded with the bits, but nearly triple the cost, certainly five times the price of the one I bought. So even if I need to spend £1000 on getting it upgraded I'm still £1000 better off.

Plus I like fiddling with things.

[herby08]

Hi there
send me a PM to [email protected] I probably can help you out to get the best for a cheaper price. I converted a few of the cheap K40 machines to the best machines in this category
greetings
walt

thanks for the reply Dave, I get what your saying but to be honest I'm perfectly happy with the size and performance of this one, Id just like it to not use moshi or the knob on the front. I had a good look around before I bought it and some of the ones that came with lasercut seemed to be the same machines available direct from china that has been upgraded with the bits, but nearly triple the cost, certainly five times the price of the one I bought. So even if I need to spend £1000 on getting it upgraded I'm still £1000 better off.

Plus I like fiddling with things.

[Exsecratio]

no worries I know the feeling of wanting to improve things rather than buy

You will also need a new power supply, the Moshi cards run basic pot controlled supplies, you will need a PWM supply to run board controlled power.

best wishes

Dave

[mondo50m]

I am in the same boat as Twosoc. I am wanting to upgrade my machine. The way I see it, It should not cost much more to make a 16'' X 20" or a 2' X 4' laser machine. How can one tell what type of power supply one has in the K40 unit? I have been told that my laser power supply is both PWM and Analog. I know this is possible, but how can I tell for sure? I look at it this way, we already have the laser tube, steppers, laser power supply, board power supply, mirrors, lenses, etc. All we really need to do is get a DSP, new stepper drivers, and build a larger table. The enclosure can be built around the table and electronics once that build is complete. We just need a place to get the DSP at a reasonable price. It looks like the one from Lightobjects is about the cheapest one out there, or we can wait for the gentleman at WildCircuits to get the one he is making done. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Milt

[herby08]

Ok like I said before I have converted a few K40 machine and the best way is:
first find out what you got pretty much every machine is diffeent if it comes from a different manufacturer.
the laser power supply is one part what is most different some ar PWM and some not the easiest way to identify is to ;look at the connector by PWM there should be a two pol connector for the AC, and a connector with markings like TH;TL;WP;G;IN;5V.
the next is the main powersupply it should be a 24V 10A some have the right one and some have just the old like analog version which is useless. measre the output voltage that it is 24V.
you also have the two stepper motor
now thats pretty much what you can use. but keep the mA meter in the machine this is a good version for later on to control the max current for the laser tube.
now you need :
2 stepper driver best is "2M542" from lightobject $ 50 each
a DSP controller ether from thunderlaser DF212 or the better version
is the AWC 608B from light object what cost around $ 500
thats a total of around $ 600
now if you need a 24V main power supply it cost about $ 25 and
a PWM 40W laser power supply cost about $ 205
if you take a original cost for the machine of $ 550 plus
$ 600 for the upgrade you are on $ 1.100 or with the PWM $ 1350.
the cheapest machine on the market with this features cost at least $ 1,800 to $ 2,500
its allway cheaper to convert .
but you need to do a lot of mechanical things to make sure the machine is running smooth , all the idler pullies need to be taken out and a second bearing need to be added ( $ 2.00)
everythings needs to be squared and hight adjusted. i HAVE A PICTURAL FOR THE WHOLE ADJUSTMENT PROCESS IF NEEDED.
gretings
walt

I am in the same boat as Twosoc. I am wanting to upgrade my machine. The way I see it, It should not cost much more to make a 16'' X 20" or a 2' X 4' laser machine. How can one tell what type of power supply one has in the K40 unit? I have been told that my laser power supply is both PWM and Analog. I know this is possible, but how can I tell for sure? I look at it this way, we already have the laser tube, steppers, laser power supply, board power supply, mirrors, lenses, etc. All we really need to do is get a DSP, new stepper drivers, and build a larger table. The enclosure can be built around the table and electronics once that build is complete. We just need a place to get the DSP at a reasonable price. It looks like the one from Lightobjects is about the cheapest one out there, or we can wait for the gentleman at WildCircuits to get the one he is making done. Decisions, decisions, decisions.

Milt

[Twosoc]

Thanks Walt, I've just sent a pm, but you've just supplied so much information already, I'm not sure there's much to add. It seems that even with the replacement power supply this will come in under the cost of the machine and under the cost of the other boards alone if I go down the light object route.
Have you used these yourself and if so are they good quality?

thanks Dave, I'll double check but I'm pretty sure mines a bog standard heap as chips power supply so I probably will need to upgrade that too.

Milt I hope yours works out too, I'm quite happy with mine, its much better than I was expecting having read other peoples comments on them. Yes my tube's knackered but they've agreed to send me a new one, and before that everything I did on it made me happier than the last.

the hard disk mirrors worked a treat too, they're actually better than the ones that came with it and were free! I think that was originally one of Walts ideas. if so Walt, you rock.

edit:- just uploaded some pics of the components in my laser if anyone needs to check against theirs, and if they match and it works for me then it should in theory work for you.

[herby08]

hi
yes for sure it is after my opinion the best and cheapest after everythings I recommended is done and you got one more plus if somethimng does not work right down the road you know where to look to fix it.
yes I have use the lighobject and the best from them is that you get upgrades all the time with wistle and bells what was requested or wished by the practicer around the world the soft ware is the most sofisticated on the market.
you need to learn the soft ware before you can do special stuff but this is at least three steps higher as what you have but for all the ordinary work it works right out the box.
I recomend to make a complete fresh start with all new , stepper driver- powersupply main and PWm and the DSP this eliminates all hassle.
yeah it was my idea with the hard disc mirrors and like all agree they are even at least 20 to 30% better then the most availaible mirrors because they have a reflection of better then 99% and are indistructable because of the used material.
greetings
walt

Thanks Walt, I've just sent a pm, but you've just supplied so much information already, I'm not sure there's much to add. It seems that even with the replacement power supply this will come in under the cost of the machine and under the cost of the other boards alone if I go down the light object route.
Have you used these yourself and if so are they good quality?

thanks Dave, I'll double check but I'm pretty sure mines a bog standard heap as chips power supply so I probably will need to upgrade that too.

Milt I hope yours works out too, I'm quite happy with mine, its much better than I was expecting having read other peoples comments on them. Yes my tube's knackered but they've agreed to send me a new one, and before that everything I did on it made me happier than the last.

the hard disk mirrors worked a treat too, they're actually better than the ones that came with it and were free! I think that was originally one of Walts ideas. if so Walt, you rock.

[Twosoc]

Right popped everything into the basket to keep track of things, but I can't seem to find the 24v main power supply.

[herby08]

Hi tim
here are the main power supply
CNC Servo Stepper Motor Driver Power Supply 24V 10A DC | eBay
greetings
walt

Right popped everything into the basket to keep track of things, but I can't seem to find the 24v main power supply.

[Twosoc]

Fantastic, thanks for all your help. I've just ordered everything now, just have to sit back and wait for it all to arrive. I bet it still gets here quicker than my replacement tube.

On that note, what do you guys do with your old tubes? Bin them or can you recycle them in the glass bins?

[herby08]

Hi tim
I am glad that I could help but the real task starts when you got you stuff.
I dont know about your receiling LAW here in the US we just put them in the regular trash not receicling because thewre is gas in too.
greetings
walt

Fantastic, thanks for all your help. I've just ordered everything now, just have to sit back and wait for it all to arrive. I bet it still gets here quicker than my replacement tube.

On that note, what do you guys do with your old tubes? Bin them or can you recycle them in the glass bins?

[St Elmo]

Yeah this may sound very silly. I am upgrading my laser engraver to 80w. I already have a 80w laser power supply. Until I get my 80w tube, I want to install and test the 80w power supply on the 50w tube. If I take care to set the maximum power to 30% lower, can I test the supply without blowing the 50w tube? All specifications on both the supplies are the same except for the power rating, high voltage and current. (the connecting blocks identical)

[herby08]

if you watch for the max current not to overdrive then it should be good.
but use a mA meter to realy see how much current goes thru the tube the % settings ar not exact enough. I have seen settings of 20% what should be about max 10mA but it did go to 23mA what is to much
greetings
walt

Yeah this may sound very silly. I am upgrading my laser engraver to 80w. I already have a 80w laser power supply. Until I get my 80w tube, I want to install and test the 80w power supply on the 50w tube. If I take care to set the maximum power to 30% lower, can I test the supply without blowing the 50w tube? All specifications on both the supplies are the same except for the power rating, high voltage and current. (the connecting blocks identical)

[St Elmo]

Thanks for info. Will watch mA meter.

[Twosoc]

well, the light object stuff should be delivered tomorrow, just had to pay £66.61 customs charges :drowning:

and the replacement tube is now in country.

hopefully this week will see me back up and running.

[St Elmo]

Wishing you a succesful assembly. Just completed upgrading my Redsail X700 from 50w to 80w. Did the final repositioning of first mirror and also adjusted the drive belt on one side to give me perfect square when doing a test engrave. The alignment of optical system is now also accurate with burning all spots in centre of mirrors. Fitting the 80w power supply was a bit more work as I had to reposition some components to make it fit in the space available. I fitted a RICCI 80w long life tube 1120mm length 80mm diameter. The 50mm tubes are too long. I had to lasercut cut new mountings for the tube before starting the upgrade. The side box was also laser cut in advance. The length of box is 210mm to allow for extra length of tube. The upgrade was worth the money and time spent. The X700 is now performing like full bred racehorse! Last point I want to make Is that there is nothing wrong with Chinese machines if you buy from a quality manufacturer like Redsail.

[Twosoc]

St Elmo, sounds like it wasa slog but worth the effort, I hope it continues to perform as well.

Just got the tube and the upgrade kit through. Tube works fine, for how long I don't know but we'll see. Just got to sort through the pdf instructions on how to install this thing now.
Wish me luck I'll need it.

[Twosoc]

wow, just got everything out and tried to make sense of it. Anyone got any tips on what goes where and what is replaced, pictures of completed internals would be really helpful.
I'm off to do some figuring out.