{"id":1436,"date":"2014-05-05T16:54:35","date_gmt":"2014-05-05T16:54:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jtechphotonics.com\/?page_id=1436"},"modified":"2020-03-13T10:03:54","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T16:03:54","slug":"mach3-laser-upgrade","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/jtechphotonics.com\/?page_id=1436","title":{"rendered":"MACH3 Laser Control Upgrade Package"},"content":{"rendered":"

MACH 3 is a very popular software package for CNC machines that enables motion control on a normal computer via a parallel port without the need for fancy extra controller boards running motion control applications.\u00a0 This simplifies the interface boards and allows for many manufacturers to make custom widgets.<\/p>\n

We get a lot of questions every day on whether our upgrade kits work with MACH3.\u00a0 The answer is a simple YES!\u00a0 But the details behind it depend on the interface board you buy from a third party.\u00a0 There are plenty of outputs on MACH3 that you can use to control the laser and every interface board we have seen implements at least one of these outputs.<\/p>\n

***NEW UPDATE****<\/h3>\n

Many people are asking for an easier way to set-up the laser with MACH3. \u00a0We have just introduced a new way to connect the laser using a “pass through” DB25 break out board. \u00a0Check out the section under Hardware Overview.<\/p>\n

Hardware Overview<\/h2>\n

The implementation is pretty simple, but first we need to understand the details of what is going on behind the scenes.\u00a0 Basically you have four things in the picture in terms of hardware:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. A computer running MACH3 software with a parallel port.<\/li>\n
  2. An interface board with terminals for motors, inputs, and outputs.<\/li>\n
  3. \u00a0J Tech Photonics laser driver board.<\/li>\n
  4. \u00a0J Tech Photonics laser.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    The computer connects to the interface board, the interface board to the laser driver board, and then to the laser.<\/p>\n

    Computer -> Interface Board -> Laser Driver -> Laser!<\/p>\n

    The end goal is to be able to turn on and off the laser with G Code in software on the computer.\u00a0 Here is an example of a TB6560 4axis controller board<\/a> with MACH3 connecting a laser:<\/p>\n

    \"Mach<\/a><\/p>\n

    If you have other controller\/interface boards, it is pretty similar.\u00a0 Look at the manual and find where they have their outputs and connect to the appropriate one.<\/p>\n

    Hardware Overview Using DB25 Dual Breakout Board<\/a><\/h2>\n

    Many motor controllers for use with MACH3 have poor documentation or the outputs just do not work correctly. \u00a0So, to get around this problem we are now offering a DB25 Dual Breakout Board<\/a>\u00a0to get the signals directly from MACH3 and not the controller. \u00a0All of the needed signals for the motors are still passed through to the computer, but the signals the laser needs are plucked from the cable using the breakout board and terminal strips.\u00a0 Choose a positive output for the red wire (like pin 17 or pin 1) and a Ground for the black wire (pin 18 through pin 25 are ground- we normally use pin 18).\u00a0 It is all set-up like this now:<\/p>\n

    \"Mach3<\/a><\/p>\n

    \u00a0Software<\/h2>\n

    Now that you have your hardware connected, how do I get the laser to turn on and off with a G Code program?\u00a0 That is a good question!\u00a0 You will need to configure your MACH3 software to tell it which output will be the laser.\u00a0 In this, there are three ways to go.\u00a0 You can either make the laser a Spindle, make the laser a Coolant, or write you own custom VB script and make the laser whatever output you want.\u00a0 We will cover the first two options here.<\/p>\n

    Which way to choose, Spindle or Coolant?<\/h3>\n

    Well, if you already have everything all set up for your machine and you don’t want to mess with changing the spindle connections and outputs you already have, maybe the Coolant is the way to go.\u00a0 The Spindle option however has the built in ability to control via PWM!\u00a0 Yes, that’s right, you can have power control built right into the MACH 3 software.\u00a0 The other good news is that MACH3 supports multiple machine configurations, so you can make a new one and call it “Laser” and build a completely spindleless configuration.\u00a0 Also, many G Code translation programs already output in terms of M3 and M5 commands for the spindle start and stop, so you won’t have to change anything in the G Code if you go with Spindle.<\/p>\n

    Spindle as Laser<\/h4>\n

    If you have chosen Spindle, you will have two options to choose from to control the laser.\u00a0 You can either just turn it on and off or you can turn it on with PWM and turn it off.\u00a0 We will first through the just simple “On” and “Off” first.\u00a0 To start, open up the “Ports and Pins” menu by clicking “Config” -> “Ports and Pins”.<\/p>\n

    To get the spindle to just turn on and off, ignore the spindle set-up in the “Motor Outputs” tab for now.\u00a0 Instead, we are going to configure it just as a standard output.\u00a0 The first thing to do is enable an output and map the pin on the parallel port to the software. \u00a0Go to the “Output Signals” tab:<\/p>\n

    \"Output<\/a><\/p>\n

    In the “Output Signals” tab, put a 1 in the “Port #” box and a 17 in the “Pin Number” box.\u00a0 This will enable the output (green checkmark next to it) and map it to Pin 17 of the DB25 connector.\u00a0 For the physical connection on your your red positive signal pin will be 17 and your ground negative pin will be pin 18 on a LPT breakout.\u00a0 Check your breakout board where you have your ground pin if not using a LPT cable.<\/p>\n

    Now go to the “Spindle Setup” tab:<\/p>\n

    \"spindle-setup-laser-j-tech-2\"<\/a><\/p>\n

    In the top left corner, uncheck the “Disable Spindle Relays” box and put a 1 in both of the “Clockwise” and “CCW” boxes.\u00a0 Since we just mapped the output #1 to pin 17 in the last step, whenever a M3 (clockwise) or a M4 (CCW) command is sent in G Code, it will now enable output #1 (pin 17).<\/p>\n

    So, the M Code to turn on and off the laser now is:<\/p>\n