Centroid Community CNC Support Forum

I'm still trying to figure out how to make my laser work with my setup.

Acorn board with Gecko G540 driver connected for step and direction with a DB-25 cable...I know the suggestion to use a DB-25 breakout board as suggested by cnckeith and Marty is out there and I've tried that, but when I try that I lose all functions of the G-540...I've also been told that I can't use output 2 at the relay board connector to control pwm to the laser...Endurance laser connections are 2 wires for power and ground, and 2 wires for pwm and common.
Has anyone come up with a way to make a laser work with the setup as I have it...any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Phil

How about trying something like this DB25 cable along with a breakout board, or wire it from breakout to breakout? That way you can connect what is needed for the G540 and have access to the output 2 (pin14) and common connections at the breakout board for the PWM signal.

Perhaps get in touch with Gecko Drive as well.

Thanks Scott...Thanks for the suggestions..lI did try the breakout to breakout but that didn't work, and I just got that very cable just yesterday with the intent of connecting it to a breakout board to see if I could make it work that way...I just thought I'd put it out there to see if anyone is having the same issues and maybe a solution.
I'm heading out to the garage in a bit to see what happens next.

Again...Thanks for the reply

Phil

hello. use the provided schematics for G540 "drive only" #S14979.pdf
https://www.centroidcnc.com/dealersuppo ... 979.r3.pdf

and all laser schematics are here.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... browse.php#
type in "acorn laser" to see them all.

Sword wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 1:00 pm How about trying something like this DB25 cable along with a breakout board, or wire it from breakout to breakout? That way you can connect what is needed for the G540 and have access to the output 2 (pin14) and common connections at the breakout board for the PWM signal.

Perhaps get in touch with Gecko Drive as well.

Scott...I used the cable you suggested, connected all the wires to the breakout board except pin 14 which I connected a long pigtail wire (it will connect to my laser PWM input)...connection to the Acorn board was pretty straight forward after that, and all three axes are working as they should...as soon as this storm passes, I'll get out and make the final laser power connection and I'm sure I'll beup and running shortly.

Thanks

Phil

cnckeith wrote: ↑Tue Sep 27, 2022 2:36 pm hello. use the provided schematics for G540 "drive only" #S14979.pdf
https://www.centroidcnc.com/dealersuppo ... 979.r3.pdf

and all laser schematics are here.
https://www.centroidcnc.com/centroid_di ... browse.php#
type in "acorn laser" to see them all.

cnckeith...thanks for your input...I've studied those schematics until they are burned into my brain, and finally came up with the necessary cables and connectors make to the connection at the Acorn board...I'll post again shortly when I get into final testing.

Thanks

Phil

Updating...I starting testing my 7 watt Endurance laser connection and operation using the OBT schematic and I'm able to fire the laser at different levels...low enough to aim to the "X" and "Y" zero point, and high enough to burn a mark on a piece of MDF without setting a fire (haven't fired it at 100% yet)..Now I have to come up with a Vectric post processor (anybody have one that I can use)...also considering using Lightburn for design software if anyone has any feedback on that...thanks to all who provided input into this journey.

Phil

There's a Vectric post here... https://centroidcncforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=60&t=5431 It's custom for my wants/needs, but you can check it out and give it a test run. I don't use the Vectric laser plug-in much anymore, and have been using LightBurn instead. I have a work flow using a GRBL post with custom start/end scripts in LB along with a macro in notepad++ that converts and saves the g-code file in just a few seconds.

Scott...again, thanks for your help...I appreciate it very much

Phil