Setting up max "safe" power
Quote from mafoose on April 6, 2018, 1:28 pmI've noticed that the max power is tied to $30 in grbl. The $30 value is arbitrary and represent what "spindle" value will output 5V in the PWM pin.
Everywhere I've found says to keep the laser power below 15-16mA for best tube life. At 100% the tube puts out 25mA! I have found that my tube puts out 15mA at about 60% power, so I left the $30 = 2048 value alone, but on Laserweb, I chose the max PWM value to be 60% of that, which is 1228.
This lets me pick 100% power in Laserweb and I'll know that will be about 15mA. As the tube changes, I'll have to change the max PWM value in Laserweb to keep the tube at max "safe" power.
I've noticed that the max power is tied to $30 in grbl. The $30 value is arbitrary and represent what "spindle" value will output 5V in the PWM pin.
Everywhere I've found says to keep the laser power below 15-16mA for best tube life. At 100% the tube puts out 25mA! I have found that my tube puts out 15mA at about 60% power, so I left the $30 = 2048 value alone, but on Laserweb, I chose the max PWM value to be 60% of that, which is 1228.
This lets me pick 100% power in Laserweb and I'll know that will be about 15mA. As the tube changes, I'll have to change the max PWM value in Laserweb to keep the tube at max "safe" power.