Revision as of 00:32, 2 February 2020

The purpose of this page is to document the conversion of our Chinese laser to use our preferred firmware, LinuxCNC.

Importing

Why

Changing the firmware gives us a few advantages.

As an organization, we strongly value open source and this gives us the option of using a full open source stack to go from design to cut.
We have years of experience, training, and development on the current stack and have had a really positive experience with it.

Plan

The plan is to remove the controller and display panel that came with the laser and replace them with a computer running LinuxCNC, a I/O card, and a panel of our own design and needs. Our goal is to fit this all into in the new laser using the existing structure in a neat and beautiful way.

Software

Inkscape (Design)	Design Optionally, our KM-Laser Bundle
Custom Web interface	Upload to laser + CAM Name and link coming
LinuxCNC	Firmware to run laser

Hardware

Computer	Gigabyte-J1900N-D3V 4GB SODIMM
Break Out Board	C10 Parallel Port Breakout Board

Electronics

Wiring Diagram

.. in progress ..

@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 {| class='wikitable'
 |-
-| Motherboard/RAM/CPU
+| Computer
-| 2 NICS
+| Gigabyte-J1900N-D3V
+GB SODIMM
 |-
-| Hard drive
+| Break Out Board
-| Just big enough to hold LinuxCNC with some room left over for gcode and raster images
+| [https://www.cnc4pc.com/c10-bi-directional-parallel-port-interface-card.html C10 Parallel Port Breakout Board]
-|-
-| Power Supply
-| Something that supports 220v and will power the motherboard
-|-
-| LinuxCNC compatible I/O card
-| We chose a [http://store.mesanet.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=83_85&product_id=290 Mesa 7176E]<br>It cost a little more than other options but we can use the extra NIC on the motherboard instead of having to add a parallel port.
 |}
-[[Image:Laser-Electronics-Examine.jpg|500px]]<br>
+=Electronics=
-=Progress=
-The electronics as they started.<br>
-[[Image:Moonraker_electronics_before.jpg|500px]]
-Remove the top panel<br>
-[[Image:moonraker_electronics_remove_panel.jpg|500px]]
-The controller removed.<br>
-[[Image:Moonraker_electronics_removed.jpg|500px]]
-Searching through our well organized choas to find standoffs for the new electronics.<br>
-[[Image:Moonraker_standoffs.jpg|500px]]
-Mesa card mounted.<br>
-[[Image:moonraker_mesa_mounted.jpg|500px]]
-Brain wiring started.<br>
-[[Image:moonraker_brain_closeup.jpg|500px]]
-Computer installed.<br>
+[[:File:Moonraker_wiring_diagram.pdf|Wiring Diagram]]
-[[Image:moonraker_computer_installed.jpg|500px]]
-More to come....
+.. in progress ..

Convert Laser: Difference between revisions