Cheap Chinese Laser Cutter

[Andy J]

Should have said that I had two driver programmes on my PC but unfortunately both have disappeared in the PC rebuild.  Will have them in my download back-up driver just need to recall the names.

[Martian]

Was it laser GRBL 

[Andy J]

Thought GRBL was what was loaded in the Arduino interface card Martian.

 

Have just found CNCjs software in my back up which I think was one of the programmes I used.  The other one I was looking for was a more simple interface that had all the options on the left hand side of the screen which also showed the G code being used and a row of 3 or 4 User defined buttons on the bottom of the screen.

[FlyinFlynn]

1 hour ago, Andy Joyce said:

Thought GRBL was what was loaded in the Arduino interface card Martian.

 

Have just found CNCjs software in my back up which I think was one of the programmes I used.  The other one I was looking for was a more simple interface that had all the options on the left hand side of the screen which also showed the G code being used and a row of 3 or 4 User defined buttons on the bottom of the screen.

Not GRBL..... LaserGRBL         That matches your description.

 

there's also, from the utilities I have on my PC, UGS or Candle or openbuildsControl

 

 

[Martian]

Thanks FF I did say Laser Grbl I should have capitalised  the word ?

[Andy J]

Thanks guys, yes LaserGRBL was the SW package I was looking for.

[Andy J]

Can someone please remind me what the GCODE is for commanding the laser to box the object to be cut.

[Martian]

GCODE is the machine code that the laser is controlled with created by in your case with LaserGRBL 

[Martian]

Or do you mean command code to frame object to be cut

[Andy J]

Yes, need the frame command to programme one of the User interface buttons on LaserGRBL as it does not have the function.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Andy Joyce

[Martian]

you can custom buttons in Laser GRBL or go here for a set of predefined buttons framing being one of them

[Andy J]

Thanks Martian. Unfortunately the download file for the additional buttons on the site is corrupted so could not open it. Luckily the custom button page had an example of the frame commands so copied that across to the tool.

[FlyinFlynn]

17 hours ago, Andy Joyce said:

Thanks Martian. Unfortunately the download file for the additional buttons on the site is corrupted so could not open it. Luckily the custom button page had an example of the frame commands so copied that across to the tool.

Did you follow the instructions on how to install the custom buttons? - To install custom buttons just download this file, start LaserGRBL, right click in custom button area, select “import” from menu, and select the downloaded file.

 

The file has a .gz extension but you are not supposed to try to unpack it, you just use LaserGRBL to do that.

 

The download seems to work fine for me.

[Andy J]

Never have read instructions! New buttons now installed.

 

Thanks FF

[FlyinFlynn]

On 20/10/2021 at 18:38, Andy Joyce said:

Never have read instructions! New buttons now installed.

 

Thanks FF

 

When all else fails........read the instructions?    although when you buy as much garbage from China as I do oftentime reading the instructions just leaves you even more confused than you were before.

[Andy J]

Afraid I am no better understanding the instructions for my Horus X10S tx even though I have the full manual printed out. 

 

Cutting out the solarfilm letters went well with a set now installed on my 80 inch Sparrowhawk. Bit of a faf to keep the solarfilm flat during the cutting so used double sided tape which worked well. Process took some time as I cut out each letter individually, but at least I got there in the end.

Now need to make up a smaller set for the fuselage so will try mixing up the letters onto a single cut file to speed up the process.

[Andy J]

Spurred on by the success of letters cut out for the Sparrowhawk thought I would make up some for my 40 inch Tiger Moth. However the smell from burnt solarfilm lingers for some considerable time.

[Andy J]

Now regularly using my laser to cut out graphics in solarfilm which its very good at. However I would now like to have a go at making rib tapes. Has anyone done an Inkscape template for this purpose as thinking it would take some time to get the scaling correct?

[Andy J]

Having returned to laser cutting for a new model I cant recall what setting I used for 1/8 balsa so went with 2500 T/S, 750 LS and LP 2000.

 

Anyway the first rid cut fine but the second rid only the top section cut leaving the lower section of the rib uncut with no burn marks at all even though the laser remained on.  Can anyone see what may be wrong with the following GCode:

 

M05 S0

G90
G21
G1 F2500
G1  X3.1671 Y44.3647
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G1  X3.1671 Y56.9324
G2 X17.0405 Y64.3424 I26.894 J-33.6601
G2 X40.7369 Y69.9543 I49.4577 J-156.0009
G2 X65.259 Y72.7023 I41.8061 J-262.2693
G2 X89.7682 Y73.7834 I37.9328 J-581.6283
G1  X89.7682 Y67.5157
G1  X96.0359 Y67.5157
G1  X96.0359 Y63.0178
G1  X99.2109 Y63.0178
G1  X99.2109 Y73.8657
G2 X156.4079 Y70.1019 I-43.4421 J-1096.6474
G2 X270.9644 Y54.948 I-133.5118 J-1449.8633
G1  X270.8881 Y49.4372
G2 X185.7267 Y43.0122 I-531.6294 J6478.9501
G2 X99.6078 Y38.147 I-240.8354 J3498.3645
G1  X99.4755 Y46.7459
G1  X96.0354 Y46.7401
G1  X96.0359 Y44.6788
G1  X89.8182 Y44.7616
G1  X89.7682 Y38.4112
G3 X40.8281 Y38.9039 I-37.2001 J-1264.227
G2 X3.1672 Y44.3647 I-1.1568 J124.6174
G1  X3.1671 Y44.3647
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G1  X110.3543 Y55.2126
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G2 X109.1827 Y52.3842 I-4. J0.
G2 X106.3543 Y51.2126 I-2.8284 J2.8284
G2 X103.5259 Y52.3842 I0. J4.
G2 X102.3543 Y55.2126 I2.8284 J2.8284
G2 X102.6588 Y56.7433 I4. J0.
G2 X103.5259 Y58.041 I3.6955 J-1.5307
G2 X104.8235 Y58.9081 I2.8284 J-2.8284
G2 X106.3543 Y59.2126 I1.5307 J-3.6955
G2 X107.885 Y58.9081 I-0. J-4.
G2 X109.1827 Y58.041 I-1.5307 J-3.6955
G2 X110.0498 Y56.7433 I-2.8284 J-2.8284
G2 X110.3543 Y55.2126 I-3.6955 J-1.5307
G1  X110.3543 Y55.2126
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G1  X165.5005 Y55.3449
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G2 X163.1723 Y49.7242 I-7.9488 J0.
G2 X157.5516 Y47.396 I-5.6207 J5.6207
G2 X151.9309 Y49.7242 I0. J7.9488
G2 X149.6028 Y55.3449 I5.6207 J5.6207
G2 X151.9309 Y60.9656 I7.9488 J0.
G2 X157.5516 Y63.2937 I5.6207 J-5.6207
G2 X163.1723 Y60.9656 I-0. J-7.9488
G2 X165.5005 Y55.3449 I-5.6207 J-5.6207
G1  X165.5005 Y55.3449
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G91
G1 Z-1
G90
G1  X3.1671 Y44.3647
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G1  X3.1671 Y56.9324
G2 X17.0405 Y64.3424 I26.894 J-33.6601
G2 X40.7369 Y69.9543 I49.4577 J-156.0009
G2 X65.259 Y72.7023 I41.8061 J-262.2693
G2 X89.7682 Y73.7834 I37.9328 J-581.6283
G1  X89.7682 Y67.5157
G1  X96.0359 Y67.5157
G1  X96.0359 Y63.0178
G1  X99.2109 Y63.0178
G1  X99.2109 Y73.8657
G2 X156.4079 Y70.1019 I-43.4421 J-1096.6474
G2 X270.9644 Y54.948 I-133.5118 J-1449.8633
G1  X270.8881 Y49.4372
G2 X185.7267 Y43.0122 I-531.6294 J6478.9501
G2 X99.6078 Y38.147 I-240.8354 J3498.3645
G1  X99.4755 Y46.7459
G1  X96.0354 Y46.7401
G1  X96.0359 Y44.6788
G1  X89.8182 Y44.7616
G1  X89.7682 Y38.4112
G3 X40.8281 Y38.9039 I-37.2001 J-1264.227
G2 X3.1672 Y44.3647 I-1.1568 J124.6174
G1  X3.1671 Y44.3647
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G1  X110.3543 Y55.2126
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G2 X109.1827 Y52.3842 I-4. J0.
G2 X106.3543 Y51.2126 I-2.8284 J2.8284
G2 X103.5259 Y52.3842 I0. J4.
G2 X102.3543 Y55.2126 I2.8284 J2.8284
G2 X102.6588 Y56.7433 I4. J0.
G2 X103.5259 Y58.041 I3.6955 J-1.5307
G2 X104.8235 Y58.9081 I2.8284 J-2.8284
G2 X106.3543 Y59.2126 I1.5307 J-3.6955
G2 X107.885 Y58.9081 I-0. J-4.
G2 X109.1827 Y58.041 I-1.5307 J-3.6955
G2 X110.0498 Y56.7433 I-2.8284 J-2.8284
G2 X110.3543 Y55.2126 I-3.6955 J-1.5307
G1  X110.3543 Y55.2126
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G1  X165.5005 Y55.3449
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G2 X163.1723 Y49.7242 I-7.9488 J0.
G2 X157.5516 Y47.396 I-5.6207 J5.6207
G2 X151.9309 Y49.7242 I0. J7.9488
G2 X149.6028 Y55.3449 I5.6207 J5.6207
G2 X151.9309 Y60.9656 I7.9488 J0.
G2 X157.5516 Y63.2937 I5.6207 J-5.6207
G2 X163.1723 Y60.9656 I-0. J-7.9488
G2 X165.5005 Y55.3449 I-5.6207 J-5.6207
G1  X165.5005 Y55.3449
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G91
G1 Z-1
G90
G1  X3.1671 Y44.3647
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G1  X3.1671 Y56.9324
G2 X17.0405 Y64.3424 I26.894 J-33.6601
G2 X40.7369 Y69.9543 I49.4577 J-156.0009
G2 X65.259 Y72.7023 I41.8061 J-262.2693
G2 X89.7682 Y73.7834 I37.9328 J-581.6283
G1  X89.7682 Y67.5157
G1  X96.0359 Y67.5157
G1  X96.0359 Y63.0178
G1  X99.2109 Y63.0178
G1  X99.2109 Y73.8657
G2 X156.4079 Y70.1019 I-43.4421 J-1096.6474
G2 X270.9644 Y54.948 I-133.5118 J-1449.8633
G1  X270.8881 Y49.4372
G2 X185.7267 Y43.0122 I-531.6294 J6478.9501
G2 X99.6078 Y38.147 I-240.8354 J3498.3645
G1  X99.4755 Y46.7459
G1  X96.0354 Y46.7401
G1  X96.0359 Y44.6788
G1  X89.8182 Y44.7616
G1  X89.7682 Y38.4112
G3 X40.8281 Y38.9039 I-37.2001 J-1264.227
G2 X3.1672 Y44.3647 I-1.1568 J124.6174
G1  X3.1671 Y44.3647
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G1  X110.3543 Y55.2126
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G2 X109.1827 Y52.3842 I-4. J0.
G2 X106.3543 Y51.2126 I-2.8284 J2.8284
G2 X103.5259 Y52.3842 I0. J4.
G2 X102.3543 Y55.2126 I2.8284 J2.8284
G2 X102.6588 Y56.7433 I4. J0.
G2 X103.5259 Y58.041 I3.6955 J-1.5307
G2 X104.8235 Y58.9081 I2.8284 J-2.8284
G2 X106.3543 Y59.2126 I1.5307 J-3.6955
G2 X107.885 Y58.9081 I-0. J-4.
G2 X109.1827 Y58.041 I-1.5307 J-3.6955
G2 X110.0498 Y56.7433 I-2.8284 J-2.8284
G2 X110.3543 Y55.2126 I-3.6955 J-1.5307
G1  X110.3543 Y55.2126
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G1  X165.5005 Y55.3449
G4 P0 
M03 S2000
G4 P0
G1 F750.000000
G2 X163.1723 Y49.7242 I-7.9488 J0.
G2 X157.5516 Y47.396 I-5.6207 J5.6207
G2 X151.9309 Y49.7242 I0. J7.9488
G2 X149.6028 Y55.3449 I5.6207 J5.6207
G2 X151.9309 Y60.9656 I7.9488 J0.
G2 X157.5516 Y63.2937 I5.6207 J-5.6207
G2 X163.1723 Y60.9656 I-0. J-7.9488
G2 X165.5005 Y55.3449 I-5.6207 J-5.6207
G1  X165.5005 Y55.3449
G4 P0 
M05 S0
G1 F2500
G1 X0 Y0

[Andy J]

Well having looked at the grbl code and all the settings seem to match with FF suggested values which he recommended some time ago, so its not that code at fault. Continued to play with simple shapes and the problem seems that the cut starts at full power then then laser power starts to decrease with time.

Nothing seems to be getting hot so does anyone have any suggestions as to the cause of the problem.

[kevin b]

You have cleaned the mirrors recently haven't you ?

[Andy J]

My cutter does not have mirrors

[Andy J]

Problem sorted. Had to turn down the laser power down to 30% and reduce the cutting speed to stop the diode getting too hot.

[Andy J]

Thinking a power upgrade would improve my cutter. Anyone spotted a cheap source for say a ~100w fixed focus laser head?

[Martian]

I use an NJE n40630 laser module in my engraver /cutter . a really cheap module will not be very good or last long and power output is misleading .it really depends on what you refer to as cheap. I personally find the NJE modules consistent .