[Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter Infos

Eric Michaud michaud.eric.c at gmail.com
Thu Nov 12 00:49:43 UTC 2015 

Huh, will this do it?

http://hackaday.com/2014/09/16/usb-to-db25-adapter-uses-grbl-for-parallel-port-cnc-communication/

On Wed, Nov 11, 2015 at 4:37 PM, Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
wrote:

> So is that a custom ASIC after the FTDI converter?
>
> On Wed, Nov 11, 2015 at 4:21 PM, Zach R <organicunity at hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>>
>> *"Can someone post here a picture of the old board? " *
>>
>>
>> https://moderndevice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/fse-controller-768x1024.jpg
>>
>> Note, this was taken from a website with our same model number, this is
>> not a pic from NB.  It looks like its the same as the one you linked.
>>
>>
>>
>> *"Who the heck on this list has **DB25 parallel connector to USB. Bring
>> it in so we can A/B test this(at least an A) and see if we need to go
>> another route. I can't believe it's taken this long to get this moving.
>> I'll be at NB tonight for awhile so if anyone has one, or if there is one
>> in the space, I'll happily give this a shot."*
>>
>> These are not super common nowadays.  I looked online and many of them
>> are "dumb" passive cables without circuitry meant for printers only :/  LPT
>> legacy support is sadly lacking nowadays.
>>
>>
>> -Zach
>>
>> ------------------------------
>> *From:* Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
>> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 11, 2015 4:05 PM
>> *To:* Zach R
>> *Cc:* Zach; noisebridge-discuss
>>
>> *Subject:* Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter Infos
>>
>> Seriously?1?!?!?!
>>
>> Who the heck on this list has DB25 parallel connector to USB. Bring it
>> in so we can A/B test this(at least an A) and see if we need to go another
>> route. I can't believe it's taken this long to get this moving. I'll be at
>> NB tonight for awhile so if anyone has one, or if there is one in the
>> space, I'll happily give this a shot.
>>
>> On Wed, Nov 11, 2015 at 4:01 PM, Zach R <organicunity at hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> doubtful, but in my original post to this thread there is a link to the
>>> board we are missing.  The ICs are clearly visible and can be looked up.
>>>
>>> Also, another (kinda cool) option would be to simple hook a parallel
>>> port supporting laptop up to this thing and see what happens (assuming the
>>> software supports it).  We could get a DB25 cable and hook up a T40 for
>>> example (once I work on the mainboard a little).
>>>
>>>
>>> Let me work on the mainboard before we do the "is it worth it" math.  It
>>> may be fixable.  Eric, the mainboard is the giant PCB that actually steps
>>> up the voltage to the laser and does all the motor I/O work.  its the most
>>> expensive part (takes the AC voltage and also converts to +24 and +5 I
>>> believe).  I uploaded pictures of it and emailed to the discuss as well.
>>>
>>>
>>> Please refer to my past posts, (especially pictures and links). I've
>>> spent a lot of time answering some of these questions already.
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>> *From:* noisebridge-discuss-bounces at lists.noisebridge.net <
>>> noisebridge-discuss-bounces at lists.noisebridge.net> on behalf of Eric
>>> Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
>>> *Sent:* Wednesday, November 11, 2015 3:55 PM
>>> *To:* Zach
>>> *Cc:* noisebridge-discuss
>>> *Subject:* Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter Infos
>>>
>>> Just an fyi, he may have admitted it's a usb to parallel board, but that
>>> doesn't exactly mean it's a off the shelf component board and they may have
>>> a proprietary wiring?
>>>
>>> Can someone post here a picture of the old board? Is it this one:
>>> http://www.buildlog.net/blog/2010/08/new-laser-engraver-controller/
>>> <http://www.buildlog.net/blog/2010/08/new-laser-engraver-controller/>
>>> New Laser Engraver Controller at Buildlog.Net Blog
>>> Full Spectrum Engineering is about to release it’s new Retna Engrave
>>> laser engraving controller. It is initially targeted at the hobby and DIY
>>> market.
>>> Read more...
>>> <http://www.buildlog.net/blog/2010/08/new-laser-engraver-controller/>
>>>
>>> On Wed, Nov 11, 2015 at 3:51 PM, Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Zach,
>>>>
>>>> What do you mean by mainboard? Do you mean the USB to LPT converter
>>>> board? What's broken other than the missing converter board?
>>>>
>>>> Corey,
>>>> Yes you are mathing wrong... ;)
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> On Wed, Nov 11, 2015 at 3:14 PM, Zach <organic_unity at yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> I repeat, before we get into this conversation, let me try and work on
>>>>> repairing the main board.  That is the bulk of the cost, probably $500 at
>>>>> least.  If I can repair that it makes this whole conversation unnecessary.
>>>>> If I can't, then we should revisit the "is it worth it" question.
>>>>>
>>>>> -Zach
>>>>> --------------------------------------------
>>>>> On Wed, 11/11/15, Corey Quinn <corey at sequestered.net> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>  Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter Infos
>>>>>  To: "Eric Michaud" <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
>>>>>  Cc: "noisebridge-discuss" <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net>
>>>>>  Date: Wednesday, November 11, 2015, 3:12 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>  Maybe
>>>>>  I'm mathing wrong; I see similar ones for $3500 or so.
>>>>>  Not saying this is the best way to go, but I do wonder at
>>>>>  what point does trashing the one we've got and replacing
>>>>>  it start to make sense?
>>>>>  On Wed, Nov 11, 2015 at
>>>>>  3:00 PM, Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>  What laser cutter with similar capabilities do you
>>>>>  see for about $500?
>>>>>  On Wed, Nov 11, 2015 at
>>>>>  2:51 PM, Corey Quinn <corey at sequestered.net>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>  Oof. Given that that's over 20% of a *new*
>>>>>  laser cutter, at what point do we say "screw it"
>>>>>  and start passing the hat to just outright replace the
>>>>>  thing?
>>>>>  -- Corey
>>>>>  On Wed, Nov 11, 2015
>>>>>  at 2:36 PM, Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>  Hi All,
>>>>>  I just
>>>>>  spoke with Full Spec and they said as it's EoL it's
>>>>>  $750 for a new board and converter.
>>>>>  The support tech did admit it's
>>>>>  just a USB to parallel converter: I'm going to venture
>>>>>  this might solve the hardware problem:
>>>>> https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/C2G-USB-to-DB25-IEEE-1284-Parallel-Adapter-Cable-parallel-adapter/1282038.aspx
>>>>>  On Fri, Nov 6, 2015
>>>>>  at 2:09 AM, Zach <organic_unity at yahoo.com>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>  Thanks for reply
>>>>>  Eric!
>>>>>
>>>>>    What's your skill set right now?  that would be a
>>>>>  good place to start. Right now it needs:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  1) someone to bug the manufacturer and see costs and
>>>>>  possibility of replacement parts (via links i posted
>>>>>  below)
>>>>>
>>>>>  2) hacking a new controller board which is likely parallel
>>>>>  to USB adapter (Henner seems to know about this)
>>>>>
>>>>>  3) order new transistors for the power pcb (once i take it
>>>>>  apart to diagnose- might need to bring it home where my good
>>>>>  equipment is for that)
>>>>>
>>>>>  4) taking out the controller board that is there and writing
>>>>>  down part numbers to reverse engineer as much as we can.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  and 5) googling for more info / replacement parts!  people
>>>>>  are still selling these around if you dig.  maybe we can
>>>>>  find another unit cheap.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  -Zach
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>  --------------------------------------------
>>>>>
>>>>>  On Thu, 11/5/15, Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
>>>>>  wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter
>>>>>  Infos
>>>>>
>>>>>   To: "Zach R" <organicunity at hotmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Cc: "NB Discuss" <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Date: Thursday, November 5, 2015, 5:14 PM
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Hi Zach
>>>>>
>>>>>   and the Laser Cutter folks,
>>>>>
>>>>>   My name is Eric, Mitch told me after
>>>>>
>>>>>   I stopped by for the first time in years that some
>>>>>  things
>>>>>
>>>>>   needed love after I asked about the status of a few
>>>>>  pieces
>>>>>
>>>>>   of key equipment. Focusing on the laser cutter I was
>>>>>  curious
>>>>>
>>>>>   if there was anything I could do to help, and figure
>>>>>  out
>>>>>
>>>>>   what was blocking at this time.
>>>>>
>>>>>   Nice to meet
>>>>>
>>>>>   you,-Eric.
>>>>>
>>>>>   On Tue, Nov 3, 2015 at
>>>>>
>>>>>   11:39 PM, Zach R <organicunity at hotmail.com>
>>>>>
>>>>>   wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   So I brought this up at the meeting tonight and then I
>>>>>
>>>>>   did more research.  Found some more useful info.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   model #: MLR-40
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   40w Full Spectrum Laser
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Manufacturer website:
>>>>>
>>>>>   http://en.jnmydy.com/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   And here are the pictures I took:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> http://s18.photobucket.com/user/Segasonicfan/library/NB%20Hardware%20Class?sort=3&page=1
>>>>>
>>>>>   Here is the controller board we are missing:
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> https://moderndevice.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/fse-controller-768x1024.jpg
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   http://www.laserresale.com/?fa=app.view&it=5966
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>> https://moderndevice.com/news/full-spectrum-engineering-40w-hobby-laser/
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   http://wiki.lvl1.org/Full_Spectrum_Laser
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=140518
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   https://fslaser.com/Manuals/FSL_40w_Hobby_Laser_Manual.pdf
>>>>>
>>>>>     (manual)
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   There is a second hand one for $1500 we could raise
>>>>>  money
>>>>>
>>>>>   for.  That way we have this one for parts.  That's
>>>>>  one
>>>>>
>>>>>   option.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Im going to try emailing the manufacture to see what
>>>>>
>>>>>   replacement costs would be.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   -Zach
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   _______________________________________________
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Noisebridge-discuss mailing list
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   Noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>   https://www.noisebridge.net/mailman/listinfo/noisebridge-discuss
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
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>>>>>
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>>
>
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