Using footswitch to pulse a LASER <answered>

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simmonds
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Using footswitch to pulse a LASER <answered>

Post by simmonds »

I have built a CNC LASER welder around a 1kW Chinese Fiber laser. The LASER head (with galvo wobble) is mounted to a stepper-driven gantry. I am using an Acorn controller. It works very nicely and I will be happy to share more info if anyone is interested.
CNC Welder.jpg
Custom VCP.jpg
It would be convenient to add a "spot weld" capability activated by a footswitch connected to a spare input on the Acorn.

My laser's power-level is set by the spindle analog output and it can be turned on/off by M3/M5 commands.

I would like to configure my controller so that a program would wait for a footswitch closure and then turned the LASER (spindle) on for a preset period of time then wait for another footswitch closure. Ideally, we would be able to jog the axes manually while the program was waiting, but that may be asking too much.

Any suggestons about the best strategy for implementing this behavior?
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Re: Using footswitch to pulse a LASER

Post by cnckeith »

nice looking! Please post a fresh report.zip
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simmonds
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Re: Using footswitch to pulse a LASER

Post by simmonds »

Here is a fresh report.
Since this is a rather generic question, I did not think it would be helpful.
Sorry.
Attachments
report_E062345D4517-0812215057_2021-12-02_16-32-41.zip
(661.87 KiB) Downloaded 59 times
centroidsupport
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Re: Using footswitch to pulse a LASER

Post by centroidsupport »

Are you going to just jog from point to point between footswitch closures, running a program or both? Should footswitch closures be ignored while running a job and/or in MDI?

Does only output #1 turn on (currently assigned as SpinFWD) via the footswitch? ie.. you will select the other options via the VCP
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Answers to common questions: viewforum.php?f=63
and here viewforum.php?f=61
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simmonds
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:15 pm
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Re: Using footswitch to pulse a LASER

Post by simmonds »

Yes, I would just jog to the weld-head to the desired location (as identified by the red dot) and pulse the LASER. I could also just move the part by hand since it does not need to be clamped down.

Output #1 is assigned to SpinFWD.

As I think about this more, it is probably better if the footswitch was enabled (only) when we were not running a program. Perhaps the pulses could be triggered in a user-defined macro invoked from a VCP button. Then jogging would probably be available as normal.

When the macro is running, could it watch a (currently unused) input and send something like: M3, G4 P0.2, M5, then wait for another input. I do not know if macros can work this way, having never used them.

I assume that pressing RESET would end the macro.
simmonds
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Re: Using footswitch to pulse a LASER

Post by simmonds »

Forgot to answer your last queeston...
All other actions (e.g. argon flood and lens-protecting air blast) can be done using VCP buttons.
But as you were perhaps hinting, would be very elegant to turn on the argon and air, wait a moment, do the pulse, wait a moment, then turn them off.

Would it be best practice to modify the PLC itself to accomplish all this rather than trying to do it in an mfunc macro file?
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Re: Using footswitch to pulse a LASER

Post by Allin1Chris »

Could have a macro that waits for operator.

If all functions can be activated by an M-code of some sort then should be no issue using a macro.

Can use M200 to instruct the user to jog to location, Perhaps something like this.

Code: Select all

M200 "Jog to spot weld location\nPress Cycle Start when finished"
M101 /50001 ;Wait for Footpedal Input to Turn ON(Assumption here is Input 1)
M3 S1000 ; Fires Laser
M100 /50001 ;Wait for Footpedal Input to Turn OFF (Assumption here is Input 1)
M5 ; Turn off Laser
Something like this in a macro may be what your looking for.
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simmonds
Posts: 40
Joined: Thu Aug 04, 2011 4:15 pm
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Re: Using footswitch to pulse a LASER

Post by simmonds »

I had not looked at the M100 / M101 codes. Very nice! Using them in a macro or program with a loop would make this simple. Thanks.
I would use a G4 to accurately time the LASER pulse, but the basic idea is the same.
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