laser and router connections and codes

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Martinkh
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2022 10:50 am

laser and router connections and codes

Post by Martinkh » Wed Feb 02, 2022 12:21 pm

Not a router owner yet, in planning stages. I have a background in Machining/sheet metal Mfg Eng though.
I think you have a pretty good product, but I would like to understand how I might use it wire up both a VFD spindle control such that I can control speed in the parts program, but also run a laser and be able to do the same with the power setting (w/out unplugging things). Ramping power down for slow sharp corners can improve accuracy. I am hoping that there might be a way to use a different “M” code to select the device, and then some other code for laser intensity (I do not know if it would look to “S” code as the VFD should.

I would expect my workflow to be something like Autodesk Inventor=> Post Processor=>Controller

At the Post Processor phase I would generate the G&M code. Would the M code for spindle on end up being the same as the M code for laser on or do the different outputs get different codes? It would be nice to have more than the comments in the code or the file name to prevent accidently setting the cat on fire or bouncing the spindle across the room.

Martinkh
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2022 10:50 am

Re: laser and router connections and codes

Post by Martinkh » Fri Feb 04, 2022 6:24 am

I've thought about it more and refined the question.
In order to leave both devices connected to the controller, while using one or the other, I would need to have a separate on/off commands for each head. If M03 is Spindle cw, M04 is spindle ccw and M05 is spindle off, I would need another pair of M codes to turn the laser on via the PWM control, or reassign M04 since I have not seen this used in 25 years of on and off machining experience.

Is there a good way to do this- either native or by setting up a user defined M code for on and off? Can the controller do user defined M codes? If not now, but this is an update that can be done, it would be a selling point.

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Doug
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:56 pm

Re: laser and router connections and codes

Post by Doug » Fri Feb 04, 2022 8:06 pm

The Buildbotics Controller cannot do this. While you can have the VFD/Spindle connected through the RS485 interface and the laser connected through the PWM interfaces simultaneously, you can only have one configured (and usable) at a time. Whichever one is configured will respond to the M3 (run forward), M4 (run in reverse), M5 (stop), and S (set spindle speed or intensity). The other will not do anything because it is not configured. There is no second set of commands for controlling an 'unconfigured' device.

Martinkh
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Feb 02, 2022 10:50 am

Re: laser and router connections and codes

Post by Martinkh » Sat Feb 05, 2022 6:26 am

When you say configured, do you mean hardware (switches, disconnecting etc) or software configuration?
If software, I would assume some code is in the front end of the g code program that sets this. Is this the case?

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Doug
Posts: 343
Joined: Fri Feb 02, 2018 4:56 pm

Re: laser and router connections and codes

Post by Doug » Thu Feb 10, 2022 9:37 pm

Yes, you have to go to the 'Settings->Tool' page on the user interface and select the type of spindle you are using. The choice can be some type of VFD or a PWM spindle. The PWM option is used to control the laser. You cannot have both active at the same time.

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