Full Spectrum Laser Cutter

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Freeside's "Full Spectrum MLE-40" laser cutter is a Chinese-made "K40" style 40 watt CO2 cutter that has been retrofitted with an Smothieware control board to allow it to run LaserWeb, LaserGRBL, and other software for ease of use and open-source goodness on the hardware and firmware side.

K40 11-26-2018.jpg


COOLING!!!

CO2 laser tubes live much happier and and longer lives if kept between 55-70 degrees F! Toss frozen water bottles in the cooling water bucket and keep an eye on that temp. Keep it between cold and kinda-chilly if you're being so cavalier as to not use a thermometer. Also, using distilled water is preferable to tap as a cooling water since tap water can carry an electric charge when it's passing near the 16,000V of the tube and mess with the tube's efficiency/power. Sudden changes in coolant temp may be bad for the tube's life (don't toss a bunch of ice into warm cooling water, it might crack the tube). Above all, if the tube water is anything other than cool to the touch or doesn't look like water you'd be ok drinking, STOP THE CUTTER AND FIX IT.


Controller

The control board is a Smoothieware Smoothieboard http://smoothieware.org/


Motors

The X and Y motors are 400 steps per rotation nema17 motors. Configure to ~83 steps per mm at 1/8th microsteps.


Wiring

  • THIS IS OLD, Needs updated for smoothieware board*
DOCUMENT (not quite) ALL THE WIRING!


Power supply:

  • Never run the laser tube above 20mA. Such heavy cutting significantly shorten's the tube's life, and they're expensive. Make multiple cutting passes under 20mA if you need a deeper cut. This is adjusted with the power control dial on top of the cutter as well as in software if you're fancy.

There are two power supplies, a 24vDC 12A supply for the stepper motors, and a high voltage Laser Power Supply. The LPS puts out 24v of it's own, originally to power the steppers, but we've use a dedicated supply for better reliability.


The laser is powered by a generic 40w CO2 laser cutter power supply. There are many slight differences in these supplies as far as their pin headers, labeling, and pinouts are concerned. They all boil down to having the following pins though: Laser tube negative, Mains ground, 2 Mains AC inputs for Live and Neutral, Water flow protection, logic GND, Laser control (FIRE!), 5v, 24v, and "IN" for the center pin of a master laser output max power potentiometer. Oh, and the big red scary high voltage wire for the ~16Kv to power the tube itself from the flyback transformer. Moar info at this link: http://donsthings.blogspot.com/2017/01/k40-lps-configuration-and-wiring.html

Here's how the current pinout of the laser power supply (often just called LPS) is laid out.

Pin use Laser tube negative Case/Mains ground AC1 AC2 Signal Ground Water Protection "Switch Light Control" (active low) Signal Ground Control Signal (Via potentiometer or PWM 0-5v) 5v output 24v output DC power ground 5v output "Switch Light Control" (active low)
Possible Labels L- G, FG AC AC G P, WP L G IN 5V 24V G 5V L
Extra notes Case/Mains ground Doesn't matter which is live/neutral Doesn't matter which is live/neutral Signal Ground Short signal ground to WP to bypass water protection. Won't fire if not grounded. Use a discrete not gate to signal from an arduino, laser turns on with 0v, off with 5v. stays off with floating pin Signal Ground potentiometer or PWM 0-5v Probably only meant to be used with IN and adjacent Gnd for potentiometer control. for stepper motors, usually 2-4A max DC power ground Usually 1A max Use a discrete not gate to signal from an arduino, laser turns on with 0v, off with 5v. stays off with floating pin

Link to the EBAY page for the current LPS:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/110-220V-40W-CO2-Laser-Power-Supply-Engraving-Engraver-Cutter-Machine/302659966406?epid=1773715012&hash=item4677f095c6:g:o-wAAOSw18xanYWm:rk:3:pf:0

CO2 laser power supply pinout


Software

This laser cutter can work with any grbl compatible software, the most common being LaserWeb and Lasergrbl, though others exist, since it's runs on Gcode. As of just getting the machine working lasergrbl seems to be the more approachable software.


Software/Firmware considerations

GRBL is fantastic for controlling CNC, 3D printer, and laser cutter hardware, but it's default uses aren't laser cutters. things with spindles and extruders are what it expects to use by default. To that end you have to edit some stuff to make it understand it's part of a laser cutter.

Smoothieboard config for posterity (accessible from the D:\config.txt file off the smoothieboard

  1. Smoothieboard configuration file, see http://smoothieware.org/configuring-smoothie
  2. NOTE Lines must not exceed 132 characters, and '#' characters mean what follows is ignored
    1. Robot module configurations : general handling of movement G-codes and slicing into moves
  1. Basic motion configuration

default_feed_rate 10000 # Default speed (mm/minute) for G1/G2/G3 moves default_seek_rate 10000 # Default speed (mm/minute) for G0 moves mm_per_arc_segment 0.0 # Fixed length for line segments that divide arcs, 0 to disable

  1. mm_per_line_segment 5 # Cut lines into segments this size

mm_max_arc_error 0.01 # The maximum error for line segments that divide arcs 0 to disable 

                                                             # note it is invalid for both the above be 0
                                                             # if both are used, will use largest segment length based on radius
  1. Arm solution configuration : Cartesian robot. Translates mm positions into stepper positions
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/stepper-motors

alpha_steps_per_mm 158.2 # Steps per mm for alpha ( X ) stepper beta_steps_per_mm 158.2 # Steps per mm for beta ( Y ) stepper gamma_steps_per_mm 1600 # Steps per mm for gamma ( Z ) stepper

  1. Planner module configuration : Look-ahead and acceleration configuration
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/motion-control

acceleration 500 # Acceleration in mm/second/second.

  1. z_acceleration 500 # Acceleration for Z only moves in mm/s^2, 0 uses acceleration which is the default. DO NOT SET ON A DELTA

junction_deviation 0.05 # See http://smoothieware.org/motion-control#junction-deviation

  1. z_junction_deviation 0.0 # For Z only moves, -1 uses junction_deviation, zero disables junction_deviation on z moves DO NOT SET ON A DELTA
  1. Cartesian axis speed limits

x_axis_max_speed 10000 # Maximum speed in mm/min y_axis_max_speed 10000 # Maximum speed in mm/min z_axis_max_speed 300 # Maximum speed in mm/min

  1. Stepper module configuration
  2. Pins are defined as ports, and pin numbers, appending "!" to the number will invert a pin
  3.  See http://smoothieware.org/pin-configuration and http://smoothieware.org/pinout

alpha_step_pin 0.4 # Pin for alpha stepper step signal alpha_dir_pin 0.5! # Pin for alpha stepper direction, add '!' to reverse direction alpha_en_pin 4.28 # Pin for alpha enable pin alpha_current 1.5 # X stepper motor current alpha_max_rate 10000.0 # Maximum rate in mm/min

beta_step_pin 2.1 # Pin for beta stepper step signal beta_dir_pin 2.2! # Pin for beta stepper direction, add '!' to reverse direction beta_en_pin 2.0 # Pin for beta enable beta_current 1.5 # Y stepper motor current beta_max_rate 10000.0 # Maxmimum rate in mm/min

gamma_step_pin 2.2 # Pin for gamma stepper step signal gamma_dir_pin 0.20 # Pin for gamma stepper direction, add '!' to reverse direction gamma_en_pin 0.19 # Pin for gamma enable gamma_current 1.5 # Z stepper motor current gamma_max_rate 10000.0 # Maximum rate in mm/min


    1. Extruder module configuration
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/extruder

extruder.hotend.enable false # Whether to activate the extruder module at all. All configuration is ignored if false extruder.hotend.steps_per_mm 140 # Steps per mm for extruder stepper extruder.hotend.default_feed_rate 600 # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for moves where only the extruder moves extruder.hotend.acceleration 500 # Acceleration for the stepper motor mm/sec² extruder.hotend.max_speed 50 # Maximum speed in mm/s

extruder.hotend.step_pin 2.3 # Pin for extruder step signal extruder.hotend.dir_pin 0.22 # Pin for extruder dir signal ( add '!' to reverse direction ) extruder.hotend.en_pin 0.21 # Pin for extruder enable signal

  1. Extruder offset
  2. extruder.hotend.x_offset 0 # X offset from origin in mm
  3. extruder.hotend.y_offset 0 # Y offset from origin in mm
  4. extruder.hotend.z_offset 0 # Z offset from origin in mm
  1. Firmware retract settings when using G10/G11, these are the defaults if not defined, must be defined for each extruder if not using the defaults
  2. extruder.hotend.retract_length 3 # Retract length in mm
  3. extruder.hotend.retract_feedrate 45 # Retract feedrate in mm/sec
  4. extruder.hotend.retract_recover_length 0 # Additional length for recover
  5. extruder.hotend.retract_recover_feedrate 8 # Recover feedrate in mm/sec (should be less than retract feedrate)
  6. extruder.hotend.retract_zlift_length 0 # Z-lift on retract in mm, 0 disables
  7. extruder.hotend.retract_zlift_feedrate 6000 # Z-lift feedrate in mm/min (Note mm/min NOT mm/sec)

delta_current 1.5 # First extruder stepper motor current

  1. Second extruder module configuration
  2. extruder.hotend2.enable false # Whether to activate the extruder module at all. All configuration is ignored if false
  3. extruder.hotend2.steps_per_mm 140 # Steps per mm for extruder stepper
  4. extruder.hotend2.default_feed_rate 600 # Default rate ( mm/minute ) for moves where only the extruder moves
  5. extruder.hotend2.acceleration 500 # Acceleration for the stepper motor, as of 0.6, arbitrary ratio
  6. extruder.hotend2.max_speed 50 # mm/s
  1. extruder.hotend2.step_pin 2.8 # Pin for extruder step signal
  2. extruder.hotend2.dir_pin 2.13 # Pin for extruder dir signal ( add '!' to reverse direction )
  3. extruder.hotend2.en_pin 4.29 # Pin for extruder enable signal
  1. extruder.hotend2.x_offset 0 # x offset from origin in mm
  2. extruder.hotend2.y_offset 25.0 # y offset from origin in mm
  3. extruder.hotend2.z_offset 0 # z offset from origin in mm
  1. epsilon_current 1.5 # Second extruder stepper motor current


    1. Laser module configuration
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/laser

laser_module_enable true # Whether to activate the laser module at all laser_module_pwm_pin 3.26 # This pin will be PWMed to control the laser. 

                                                             # Only pins 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4, 2.5, 1.18, 1.20, 1.21, 1.23, 1.24, 1.26, 3.25 and 3.26
                                                             # can be used since laser requires hardware PWM, see http://smoothieware.org/pinout
  1. laser_module_ttl_pin 1.30 # This pin turns on when the laser turns on, and off when the laser turns off.
  2. laser_module_maximum_power 1.0 # This is the maximum duty cycle that will be applied to the laser
  3. laser_module_minimum_power 0.0 # This is a value just below the minimum duty cycle that keeps the laser
                                                             # active without actually burning.
  1. laser_module_default_power 0.8 # This is the default laser power that will be used for cuts if a power has not been specified. The value is a scale between
                                                             # the maximum and minimum power levels specified above
  1. laser_module_pwm_period 20 # This sets the pwm frequency as the period in microseconds
    1. Temperature control configuration
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/temperaturecontrol
  1. First hotend configuration

temperature_control.hotend.enable false # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all. temperature_control.hotend.thermistor_pin 0.23 # Pin for the thermistor to read temperature_control.hotend.heater_pin 2.7 # Pin that controls the heater, set to nc if a readonly thermistor is being defined temperature_control.hotend.thermistor EPCOS100K # See http://smoothieware.org/temperaturecontrol#toc5

  1. temperature_control.hotend.beta 4066 # Or set the beta value

temperature_control.hotend.set_m_code 104 # M-code to set the temperature for this module temperature_control.hotend.set_and_wait_m_code 109 # M-code to set-and-wait for this module temperature_control.hotend.designator T # Designator letter for this module

  1. temperature_control.hotend.max_temp 300 # Set maximum temperature - Will prevent heating above 300 by default
  2. temperature_control.hotend.min_temp 0 # Set minimum temperature - Will prevent heating below if set
  1. Safety control is enabled by default and can be overidden here, the values show the defaults
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/temperaturecontrol#runaway
  3. temperature_control.hotend.runaway_heating_timeout 900 # How long it can take to heat up, max is 2040 seconds.
  4. temperature_control.hotend.runaway_cooling_timeout 0 # How long it can take to cool down if temp is set lower, max is 2040 seconds
  5. temperature_control.hotend.runaway_range 20 # How far from the set temperature it can wander, max setting is 63°C
  1. PID configuration
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/temperaturecontrol#pid
  3. temperature_control.hotend.p_factor 13.7 # P ( proportional ) factor
  4. temperature_control.hotend.i_factor 0.097 # I ( integral ) factor
  5. temperature_control.hotend.d_factor 24 # D ( derivative ) factor
  1. temperature_control.hotend.max_pwm 64 # Max pwm, 64 is a good value if driving a 12v resistor with 24v.
  1. Second hotend configuration
  2. temperature_control.hotend2.enable true # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all.
  3. temperature_control.hotend2.thermistor_pin 0.25 # Pin for the thermistor to read
  4. temperature_control.hotend2.heater_pin 1.23 # Pin that controls the heater
  5. temperature_control.hotend2.thermistor EPCOS100K # See http://smoothieware.org/temperaturecontrol#thermistor
    1. temperature_control.hotend2.beta 4066 # or set the beta value
  6. temperature_control.hotend2.set_m_code 104 # M-code to set the temperature for this module
  7. temperature_control.hotend2.set_and_wait_m_code 109 # M-code to set-and-wait for this module
  8. temperature_control.hotend2.designator T1 # Designator letter for this module
  1. temperature_control.hotend2.p_factor 13.7 # P ( proportional ) factor
  2. temperature_control.hotend2.i_factor 0.097 # I ( integral ) factor
  3. temperature_control.hotend2.d_factor 24 # D ( derivative ) factor
  1. temperature_control.hotend2.max_pwm 64 # Max pwm, 64 is a good value if driving a 12v resistor with 24v.

temperature_control.bed.enable false # Whether to activate this ( "hotend" ) module at all. temperature_control.bed.thermistor_pin 0.24 # Pin for the thermistor to read temperature_control.bed.heater_pin 2.5 # Pin that controls the heater temperature_control.bed.thermistor Honeywell100K # See http://smoothieware.org/temperaturecontrol#thermistor

  1. temperature_control.bed.beta 3974 # Or set the beta value

temperature_control.bed.set_m_code 140 # M-code to set the temperature for this module temperature_control.bed.set_and_wait_m_code 190 # M-code to set-and-wait for this module temperature_control.bed.designator B # Designator letter for this module

  1. Bang-bang ( simplified ) control
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/temperaturecontrol#bang-bang
  3. temperature_control.bed.bang_bang false # Set to true to use bang bang control rather than PID
  4. temperature_control.bed.hysteresis 2.0 # Set to the temperature in degrees C to use as hysteresis
    1. Switch modules
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/switch
  1. Switch module for fan control

switch.fan.enable false # Enable this module switch.fan.input_on_command M106 # Command that will turn this switch on switch.fan.input_off_command M107 # Command that will turn this switch off switch.fan.output_pin 2.6 # Pin this module controls switch.fan.output_type pwm # PWM output settable with S parameter in the input_on_comand

  1. switch.fan.max_pwm 255 # Set max pwm for the pin default is 255
  1. switch.misc.enable true # Enable this module
  2. switch.misc.input_on_command M42 # Command that will turn this switch on
  3. switch.misc.input_off_command M43 # Command that will turn this switch off
  4. switch.misc.output_pin 2.4 # Pin this module controls
  5. switch.misc.output_type digital # Digital means this is just an on or off pin
  1. switch.bltouch.enable true #
  2. switch.bltouch.output_pin 2.4 # sw pwm can use any digital pin
  3. switch.bltouch.input_on_command M280 #
  4. switch.bltouch.input_off_command M281 #
  5. switch.bltouch.output_type swpwm # sw pwm must be low frequency
  6. switch.bltouch.pwm_period_ms 20 # 50Hz
  7. switch.bltouch.startup_state false # start up in the stow state
  8. switch.bltouch.startup_value 7.43 # On boot it will go into stow mode, also set with the M281
  9. switch.bltouch.default_on_value 3.3 # if M280 is issued without S this is the value it will set it to


    1. Temperatureswitch
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/temperatureswitch
  3. Automatically toggle a switch at a specified temperature. Different ones of these may be defined to monitor different temperatures and switch different swithxes
  4. Useful to turn on a fan or water pump to cool the hotend
  5. temperatureswitch.hotend.enable true #
  6. temperatureswitch.hotend.designator T # first character of the temperature control designator to use as the temperature sensor to monitor
  7. temperatureswitch.hotend.switch misc # select which switch to use, matches the name of the defined switch
  8. temperatureswitch.hotend.threshold_temp 60.0 # temperature to turn on (if rising) or off the switch
  9. temperatureswitch.hotend.heatup_poll 15 # poll heatup at 15 sec intervals
  10. temperatureswitch.hotend.cooldown_poll 60 # poll cooldown at 60 sec intervals
    1. Endstops
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/endstops

endstops_enable true # The endstop module is enabled by default and can be disabled here

  1. corexy_homing false # Set to true if homing on a hbot or corexy

alpha_min_endstop 1.29^ # Pin to read min endstop, add a ! to invert if endstop is NO connected to ground

  1. alpha_max_endstop 1.28 # Pin to read max endstop, uncomment this and comment the above if using max endstops

alpha_homing_direction home_to_min # Or set to home_to_max and set alpha_max and uncomment the alpha_max_endstop alpha_min -5 # This gets loaded as the current position after homing when home_to_min is set alpha_max 335 # This gets loaded as the current position after homing when home_to_max is set

  1. beta_min_endstop 1.27^ # Pin to read min endstop, add a ! to invert if endstop is NO connected to ground

beta_max_endstop 1.26^ # Pin to read max endstop, uncomment this and comment the above if using max endstops beta_homing_direction home_to_max # Or set to home_to_max and set alpha_max and uncomment the alpha_max_endstop beta_min -5 # This gets loaded as the current position after homing when home_to_min is set beta_max 215 # This gets loaded as the current position after homing when home_to_max is set gamma_min_endstop 1.24 # Pin to read min endstop, add a ! to invert if endstop is NO connected to ground

  1. gamma_max_endstop 1.25 # Pin to read max endstop, uncomment this and comment the above if using max endstops

gamma_homing_direction home_to_min # Or set to home_to_max and set alpha_max and uncomment the alpha_max_endstop gamma_min 0 # This gets loaded as the current position after homing when home_to_min is set gamma_max 200 # This gets loaded as the current position after homing when home_to_max is set

alpha_max_travel 360 # Max travel in mm for alpha/X axis when homing beta_max_travel 240 # Max travel in mm for beta/Y axis when homing gamma_max_travel 500 # Max travel in mm for gamma/Z axis when homing

  1. Optional enable limit switches, actions will stop if any enabled limit switch is triggered

alpha_limit_enable true # Set to true to enable X min and max limit switches beta_limit_enable true # Set to true to enable Y min and max limit switches

  1. gamma_limit_enable false # Set to true to enable Z min and max limit switches
  1. Endstops home at their fast feedrate first, then once the endstop is found they home again at their slow feedrate for accuracy

alpha_fast_homing_rate_mm_s 1200 # Alpha/X fast homing feedrate in mm/second alpha_slow_homing_rate_mm_s 800 # Alpha/X slow homing feedrate in mm/second beta_fast_homing_rate_mm_s 1200 # Beta/Y fast homing feedrate in mm/second beta_slow_homing_rate_mm_s 800 # Beta/Y slow homing feedrate in mm/second gamma_fast_homing_rate_mm_s 4 # Gamma/Z fast homing feedrate in mm/second gamma_slow_homing_rate_mm_s 2 # Gamma/Z slow homing feedrate in mm/second

alpha_homing_retract_mm 2 # Distance to retract from the endstop after it is hit for alpha/X beta_homing_retract_mm 2 # Distance to retract from the endstop after it is hit for beta/Y gamma_homing_retract_mm 1 # Distance to retract from the endstop after it is hit for gamma/Z

  1. Optional order in which axis will home, default is they all home at the same time,
  2. If this is set it will force each axis to home one at a time in the specified order

homing_order XY # X axis followed by Y move_to_origin_after_home true # Move XY to 0,0 after homing

  1. endstop_debounce_count 100 # Uncomment if you get noise on your endstops, default is 100
  2. endstop_debounce_ms 1 # Uncomment if you get noise on your endstops, default is 1 millisecond debounce
  3. home_z_first true # Uncomment and set to true to home the Z first, otherwise Z homes after XY
  1. End of endstop config
  2. Delete the above endstop section and uncomment next line and copy and edit Snippets/abc-endstop.config file to enable endstops for ABC axis
  3. include abc-endstop.config
    1. Z-probe
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/zprobe

zprobe.enable false # Set to true to enable a zprobe zprobe.probe_pin 1.28!^ # Pin probe is attached to, if NC remove the ! zprobe.slow_feedrate 5 # Mm/sec probe feed rate

  1. zprobe.debounce_ms 1 # Set if noisy

zprobe.fast_feedrate 100 # Move feedrate mm/sec zprobe.probe_height 5 # How much above bed to start probe

  1. gamma_min_endstop nc # Normally 1.28. Change to nc to prevent conflict,
  1. Levelling strategy
  2. Example for 3-point levelling strategy, see wiki documentation for other strategies
  3. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.enable true # a leveling strategy that probes three points to define a plane and keeps the Z parallel to that plane
  4. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.point1 100.0,0.0 # the first probe point (x,y) optional may be defined with M557
  5. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.point2 200.0,200.0 # the second probe point (x,y)
  6. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.point3 0.0,200.0 # the third probe point (x,y)
  7. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.home_first true # home the XY axis before probing
  8. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.tolerance 0.03 # the probe tolerance in mm, anything less that this will be ignored, default is 0.03mm
  9. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.probe_offsets 0,0,0 # the probe offsets from nozzle, must be x,y,z, default is no offset
  10. leveling-strategy.three-point-leveling.save_plane false # set to true to allow the bed plane to be saved with M500 default is false
    1. Panel
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/panel
  3. Please find your panel on the wiki and copy/paste the right configuration here

panel.enable false # Set to true to enable the panel code

  1. Example for reprap discount GLCD
  2. on glcd EXP1 is to left and EXP2 is to right, pin 1 is bottom left, pin 2 is top left etc.
  3. +5v is EXP1 pin 10, Gnd is EXP1 pin 9
  4. panel.lcd reprap_discount_glcd #
  5. panel.spi_channel 0 # SPI channel to use  ; GLCD EXP1 Pins 3,5 (MOSI, SCLK)
  6. panel.spi_cs_pin 0.16 # SPI chip select  ; GLCD EXP1 Pin 4
  7. panel.encoder_a_pin 3.25!^ # Encoder pin  ; GLCD EXP2 Pin 3
  8. panel.encoder_b_pin 3.26!^ # Encoder pin  ; GLCD EXP2 Pin 5
  9. panel.click_button_pin 1.30!^ # Click button  ; GLCD EXP1 Pin 2
  10. panel.buzz_pin 1.31 # Pin for buzzer  ; GLCD EXP1 Pin 1
  11. panel.back_button_pin 2.11!^ # Back button  ; GLCD EXP2 Pin 8

panel.menu_offset 0 # Some panels will need 1 here

panel.alpha_jog_feedrate 6000 # X jogging feedrate in mm/min panel.beta_jog_feedrate 6000 # Y jogging feedrate in mm/min panel.gamma_jog_feedrate 200 # Z jogging feedrate in mm/min

panel.hotend_temperature 185 # Temp to set hotend when preheat is selected panel.bed_temperature 60 # Temp to set bed when preheat is selected

    1. Custom menus : Example of a custom menu entry, which will show up in the Custom entry.
  2. NOTE _ gets converted to space in the menu and commands, | is used to separate multiple commands

custom_menu.power_on.enable true # custom_menu.power_on.name Power_on # custom_menu.power_on.command M80 #

custom_menu.power_off.enable true # custom_menu.power_off.name Power_off # custom_menu.power_off.command M81 #


    1. Network settings
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/network

network.enable false # Enable the ethernet network services network.webserver.enable true # Enable the webserver network.telnet.enable true # Enable the telnet server network.ip_address auto # Use dhcp to get ip address

  1. Uncomment the 3 below to manually setup ip address
  2. network.ip_address 192.168.3.222 # The IP address
  3. network.ip_mask 255.255.255.0 # The ip mask
  4. network.ip_gateway 192.168.3.1 # The gateway address
  5. network.mac_override xx.xx.xx.xx.xx.xx # Override the mac address, only do this if you have a conflict
    1. System configuration
  2. Serial communications configuration ( baud rate defaults to 9600 if undefined )
  3. For communication over the UART port, *not* the USB/Serial port

uart0.baud_rate 115200 # Baud rate for the default hardware ( UART ) serial port

second_usb_serial_enable false # This enables a second USB serial port

  1. leds_disable true # Disable using leds after config loaded
  2. play_led_disable true # Disable the play led
  1. Kill button maybe assigned to a different pin, set to the onboard pin by default
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/killbutton

kill_button_enable true # Set to true to enable a kill button kill_button_pin 3.25^ # Kill button pin. default is same as pause button 2.12 (2.11 is another good choice)

  1. msd_disable false # Disable the MSD (USB SDCARD), see http://smoothieware.org/troubleshooting#disable-msd
  2. dfu_enable false # For linux developers, set to true to enable DFU
  1. Only needed on a smoothieboard
  2. See http://smoothieware.org/currentcontrol

currentcontrol_module_enable true # Control stepper motor current via the configuration file


NOTE: 80 steps/mm is more accurate than this image's settings

Software settings: (insert bed size) (insert other software settings) May need to add "M4" or "M3" commands to laserweb start settings to enable laser use?


History

This particular laser cutter was given to Freeside Atlanta by the fine folks at Decatur Makers around October 2018, after an apparent long service life. The machine was destined for the scrap bin otherwise, with a blown power supply (common among K40 cutters with lots of hours) and no controller board. The serial number, top window size, paint scheme, etc... seem to point to the machine being made around 2012. On the good side, the motors, wiring, and chassis all seemed in good shape, and the laser tube is supposed to be an upgraded tube with very few if any hours on it at the time Freeside got it.

Ronnie Hinton and Raul Hernandez did the initial rebuild with a GRBLshield and arduino motor controller, and later persons unknown (Maybe Scott, Adam, and/or Roan?) rebuild it with a Smoothieboard.


Research Links

The first thing successfully etched on the K40 since it's resurrection

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ioctbN9JV8&t=335s DIY Arduino CNC Machine with GRBL Shield - Setup Tutorial!

https://github.com/synthetos/grblShield/wiki/Using-grblShield Using grblShield/gShield board

https://github.com/LaserWeb/deprecated-LaserWeb3/wiki/Firmware:-GRBL-1.1 Config help

https://openbuilds.com/builds/k40-acro-conversion.6592/ Someone with a very similar hardware setup, even if the physical layout is different. Good documentation.

http://donsthings.blogspot.com/2016/11/the-k40-total-conversion.html Don's Laser Cutter Things - A great in-depth resource about converting K40 cutters for GRBL based controllers.

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