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General Mach Discussion / Re: Mach3 and laser?
« on: January 14, 2011, 12:38:00 PM »
Hi Dan,
There is little point in using Mach to control the PWM as this is far better achieved with a seperate, external controller.
A simple circuit is all that is necessary to actually switch the laser from the Z direction signal (Z+(up) turns it off and Z-(down)turns it on). The actual Z movement needs to be small (0.001 or less) to reduce the time delay but editing standard GCode to achieve laser control is easy once you get the hang of it.
Have a browse through my webpage here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/27.htm this may answer some of your questions.
Tweakie.
There is little point in using Mach to control the PWM as this is far better achieved with a seperate, external controller.
A simple circuit is all that is necessary to actually switch the laser from the Z direction signal (Z+(up) turns it off and Z-(down)turns it on). The actual Z movement needs to be small (0.001 or less) to reduce the time delay but editing standard GCode to achieve laser control is easy once you get the hang of it.
Have a browse through my webpage here http://www.cooperman.talktalk.net/files/27.htm this may answer some of your questions.
Tweakie.