[Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter Infos

Thu Nov 12 01:02:16 UTC 2015

I don't know....Henner's the one to talk to about this.  Have you tried asking the company how much it is just for that I/O board (and not the main board)?  I can't imagine it would be more than $200.

-Zach

________________________________
From: Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, November 11, 2015 4:49 PM
To: Zach R
Cc: Zach; noisebridge-discuss
Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter Infos

Huh, will this do it?

http://hackaday.com/2014/09/16/usb-to-db25-adapter-uses-grbl-for-parallel-port-cnc-communication/
[https://hackadaycom.files.wordpress.com/2014/09/grbl-db25.jpg?w=600&h=140]<http://hackaday.com/2014/09/16/usb-to-db25-adapter-uses-grbl-for-parallel-port-cnc-communication/>

USB to DB25 Adapter Uses GRBL For Parallel Port CNC ...
For the unfortunately CNCless… why won’t a standard USB parallel port dongle work? Is this one of those “parallel port” applications that uses it ...
Read more...<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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto:noisebridge-discuss-bounces at lists.noisebridge.net> <noisebridge-discuss-bounces at lists.noisebridge.net<mailto:noisebridge-discuss-bounces at lists.noisebridge.net>> on behalf of Eric Michaud <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com<mailto: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/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/re1-300x216.jpg]<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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto:corey at sequestered.net>> wrote:

 Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter Infos
 To: "Eric Michaud" <michaud.eric.c at gmail.com<mailto:michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>>
 Cc: "noisebridge-discuss" <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto: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<mailto:michaud.eric.c at gmail.com>>
 wrote:

  Subject: Re: [Noisebridge-discuss] Moar Laser Cutter
 Infos

  To: "Zach R" <organicunity at hotmail.com<mailto:organicunity at hotmail.com>>

  Cc: "NB Discuss" <noisebridge-discuss at lists.noisebridge.net<mailto: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<mailto: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

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