Hello
I have a Chinese CNC 3018 pro with a 2.5W laser that works well.
I'm thinking of upgrading to a 10W laser however I'm unsure if this is safe or suitable for the Chinese control boards that come with these 3018 pro machines. I often see them sold with a 5.5W laser or less, but seldom with a 10W laser, and was wondering if there's a reason for this?
The laser Im looking at appears to be a simple replacement for my current laser, with just a three pin cable (+,-,pwm) connecting it to the CNC control board. There doesn't seem to be any external power supply that comes with the laser and the driver is built into the top of the laser.
Are the control boards of these 3018 pro machines typically able to supply enough power to a 10W laser safely without overheating or killing the control board? Should I stick with the more common 5.5W laser instead?
Advice or opinions from anyone greatly appreciated!