Disconnection issues
Hello,
I have a new "Mini Gerbil 2 Axis Controller for K40 Laser Cutter" which I'm struggling to get working. The K40 is 2nd user, but had only been used for "10 hours maximum" by its original owner.
The original M2 Nano board worked OK.
I have connected the Mini Gerbil, the red led flashes when no connection. I am able to detect the board and home the laser head OK. If I do a basic design in Lightburn, it will start and produce the first part of the design, but then stop within 1 second with a "Connection Lost" error. This happens every time.
I have tried two different USB cables, and two PCs, including one with an otherwise clean installation of Windows 10 (both run W10).
Many thanks for any assistance!
Darren.
Just to note, I have set USB Selective Suspend to disabled on both PCs
EXAMPLE1 :
[VER:1.1f.20190214:]
[OEM:Awesome.tech . MiniGerbil:]
[SER:0x000007.Date:20190214:]
[OPT:VMZL,15,254]
Target buffer size found
ok
Homing
ok
Starting stream
Layer C00
Layer C00
Connection lost
Stream completed in 0:01
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
ok
error:1
G-code words consist of a letter and a value. Letter was not found.
[VER:1.1f.20190214:]
[OEM:Awesome.tech . MiniGerbil:]
[SER:0x000007.Date:20190214:]
[OPT:VMZL,15,254]
Target buffer size found
ok
Homing
ok
****
EXAMPLE2:
[VER:1.1f.20190214:]
[OEM:Awesome.tech . MiniGerbil:]
[SER:0x000007.Date:20190214:]
[OPT:VMZL,15,254]
Target buffer size found
ok
Homing
ok
Starting stream
Layer C00
Connection lost
Stream completed in 0:01
<Hold:0|MPos:85.503,44.510,0.000,0.000,0.000|FS:0,0|WCO:0.000,0.000,0.000,0.000,0.000>
<Hold:0|MPos:85.503,44.510,0.000,0.000,0.000|FS:0,0|Ov:100,100,100|A:CF>
<Hold:0|MPos:85.503,44.510,0.000,0.000,0.000|FS:0,0>
<Hold:0|MPos:85.503,44.510,0.000,0.000,0.000|FS:0,0>
Hi Darren,
for intermittent connections like this, please refer to https://awesome.tech/mini-gerbil-debugging-inconsistent-connection-or-operation/
You've already covered the USB, are all the other issues on the list checked/addressed?
If I had to guess, I'd say it's grounding. You must follow the steps listed under https://awesome.tech/k40-laser-grounding-instructions/
Also, please send photos of your Mini Gerbil as installed, and a photo showing your connections through to your power supply.
Regards,
Dan
Hi Dan,
Many thanks for the prompt response. I hadn't covered grounding, as I'd read on a FB group (sorry!) that in the UK you didn't need to worry about grinding the paint off the grounding pin as we have a proper earth connection in the power lead/plug/socket.
I have ground the paint around the earthing pin, and the K40 is working much better now, many thanks!
Darren.