K40 Mini Gerbil not firing
Quote from natandrews on September 11, 2019, 6:32 pmHi All,
Not sure if this is the right place to be asking this, but I have recently received a Gerbil controller for my K40. I believe this is a kickstarter model that is arduino based
Can anyone give me some information on this board?
I have the X and Y Axis moving successfully, but it will not fire.
Sample Lightburn GCode
; LightBurn 0.9.07
; GRBL-M3 (1.1e or earlier) device profile, absolute coords
G00 G17 G40 G21 G54
G90
; Cut @ 100 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M5
G0X2.98Y3.68
M3
G1Y67.68S409.6F6000
G1X86.98
G1Y3.68
G1X2.98
M5
M9
G1S0
G90
; return to user-defined finish pos
G0 X0 Y0
M2Settings from the controller
$$
$0=10
$1=255
$2=0
$3=0
$4=0
$5=1
$6=0
$10=31
$11=0.010
$12=0.002
$13=0
$20=0
$21=0
$22=1
$23=3
$24=600.000
$25=1000.000
$26=250
$27=2.500
$28=0.000
$30=2048
$31=5
$32=1
$100=160.000
$101=160.000
$102=250.000
$110=10000.000
$111=10000.000
$112=500.000
$120=3000.000
$121=3000.000
$122=10.000
$130=320.000
$131=230.000
$132=200.000
Hi All,
Not sure if this is the right place to be asking this, but I have recently received a Gerbil controller for my K40. I believe this is a kickstarter model that is arduino based
Can anyone give me some information on this board?
I have the X and Y Axis moving successfully, but it will not fire.
Sample Lightburn GCode
; LightBurn 0.9.07
; GRBL-M3 (1.1e or earlier) device profile, absolute coords
G00 G17 G40 G21 G54
G90
; Cut @ 100 mm/sec, 20% power
M8
M5
G0X2.98Y3.68
M3
G1Y67.68S409.6F6000
G1X86.98
G1Y3.68
G1X2.98
M5
M9
G1S0
G90
; return to user-defined finish pos
G0 X0 Y0
M2
Settings from the controller
Uploaded files:$$
$0=10
$1=255
$2=0
$3=0
$4=0
$5=1
$6=0
$10=31
$11=0.010
$12=0.002
$13=0
$20=0
$21=0
$22=1
$23=3
$24=600.000
$25=1000.000
$26=250
$27=2.500
$28=0.000
$30=2048
$31=5
$32=1
$100=160.000
$101=160.000
$102=250.000
$110=10000.000
$111=10000.000
$112=500.000
$120=3000.000
$121=3000.000
$122=10.000
$130=320.000
$131=230.000
$132=200.000
Quote from Paul on September 12, 2019, 7:39 amHi, this is the legacy Gerbil which will work as well. You need to debug the firing by setting the controller in cnc mode. Just send a $32=0 to the controller via a G-code sender or LightBurn (download a trial version). This allows you to fire the laser without motion (laser mode $32=1 is a safety feature). To enable firing you need the LP and WP connected to Ground (GND) and LO needs to pulled to Ground via the Gerbil (via command M3 or M4, M5 releases LO). If these are satisfied then any S command e.g. S300 will fire the laser.
in a nut shell:
$32=0
M3
S300
M5
and restore to $32=1 when it all works. Use a multimeter to test the LO signal. Often a bad connection is the culprit and reseat the BIG connector on the Gerbil.
Hi, this is the legacy Gerbil which will work as well. You need to debug the firing by setting the controller in cnc mode. Just send a $32=0 to the controller via a G-code sender or LightBurn (download a trial version). This allows you to fire the laser without motion (laser mode $32=1 is a safety feature). To enable firing you need the LP and WP connected to Ground (GND) and LO needs to pulled to Ground via the Gerbil (via command M3 or M4, M5 releases LO). If these are satisfied then any S command e.g. S300 will fire the laser.
in a nut shell:
$32=0
M3
S300
M5
and restore to $32=1 when it all works. Use a multimeter to test the LO signal. Often a bad connection is the culprit and reseat the BIG connector on the Gerbil.
Quote from natandrews on September 18, 2019, 12:29 pmHey Paul,
Thanks for the reply!Have set $32=0 however still not getting any output from the tube at any power level.
Just want to confirm the connections for LP, WP and LO
I have a newer style PSU, and am attempting to follow the guide for the mini-Gerbil
Fire switch is looped back at the PSU (no laser switch or water switch)
Test switch is disconnected, assume only required for test fire?Are there any other connections required for the legacy Gerbil?
Thanks!
Nathan
Hey Paul,
Thanks for the reply!
Have set $32=0 however still not getting any output from the tube at any power level.
Just want to confirm the connections for LP, WP and LO
I have a newer style PSU, and am attempting to follow the guide for the mini-Gerbil
Fire switch is looped back at the PSU (no laser switch or water switch)
Test switch is disconnected, assume only required for test fire?
Are there any other connections required for the legacy Gerbil?
Thanks!
Nathan
Quote from Paul on September 18, 2019, 2:20 pmJust 5VDC, 24VDC, Ground, LO (or laser enable) and IN (PWM to PSU IN). That should do it.
You could jumper LO to ground to see if the laser fires. Makes sure LO is then not attached to the Gerbil. Normally there are safety loops on the PSU that need to be bridge for the laser to fire, so double check this.
cheers, Paul
Just 5VDC, 24VDC, Ground, LO (or laser enable) and IN (PWM to PSU IN). That should do it.
You could jumper LO to ground to see if the laser fires. Makes sure LO is then not attached to the Gerbil. Normally there are safety loops on the PSU that need to be bridge for the laser to fire, so double check this.
cheers, Paul
Quote from natandrews on October 11, 2019, 12:20 amHi Paul,
Sorry for the late reply!
Jumpering the LO to ground allows the gerbil to fire, however I seem to be limited in power output, Can only seem to hit around 2.5mA
Getting closer!
Thanks!!
Hi Paul,
Sorry for the late reply!
Jumpering the LO to ground allows the gerbil to fire, however I seem to be limited in power output, Can only seem to hit around 2.5mA
Getting closer!
Thanks!!
Quote from Paul on October 11, 2019, 7:58 amHi this tells me that when issueing a S parm of say 500 (S range $30=1000, so half power) the meter should show 10mA. If it does 2.5mA then it's likely that the minus connection (logical ground) is not firm.
So I speculate that there is some sort of resistance in the big power connector on the Mini. Reseat the power connector.
A test you could do but be careful: Add a temporary jumper wire directly from the laser power supply (gnd) to any of the gnd header pins of the mini gerbil and see if the laser power jumps to 10mA. This would indicate a bad gnd connection.
With gnd we mean the minus 5V DC not the earth yellow/green connection.
Hi this tells me that when issueing a S parm of say 500 (S range $30=1000, so half power) the meter should show 10mA. If it does 2.5mA then it's likely that the minus connection (logical ground) is not firm.
So I speculate that there is some sort of resistance in the big power connector on the Mini. Reseat the power connector.
A test you could do but be careful: Add a temporary jumper wire directly from the laser power supply (gnd) to any of the gnd header pins of the mini gerbil and see if the laser power jumps to 10mA. This would indicate a bad gnd connection.
With gnd we mean the minus 5V DC not the earth yellow/green connection.
Quote from natandrews on November 7, 2019, 3:26 amHi Paul,
Sorry I've been missing, unfortunately work calls
After a bit more troubleshooting on my end
$32=0
S400
M3 - Nothing
M4 - Laser Fires
M5 - Laser stops
$32 = 1
S300 gives 2.5ma
s500 gives 5ma
S800 give 7.5ma
S1000 gives 10maGetting closer!
Edit: Running G-code directly
Running Lightburn generated G-Code directly does not work ,however if I replace the M3 with an M4, it will cut!Thinking I might need to move this to the Lightburn forum!
Hi Paul,
Sorry I've been missing, unfortunately work calls
After a bit more troubleshooting on my end
$32=0
S400
M3 - Nothing
M4 - Laser Fires
M5 - Laser stops
$32 = 1
S300 gives 2.5ma
s500 gives 5ma
S800 give 7.5ma
S1000 gives 10ma
Getting closer!
Edit: Running G-code directly
Running Lightburn generated G-Code directly does not work ,however if I replace the M3 with an M4, it will cut!
Thinking I might need to move this to the Lightburn forum!
Uploaded files:
Quote from Paul on November 9, 2019, 7:43 amFrom the picture I can see you use the wrong device driver. You need to select Gerbil-STM.
Hope this helps. Cheers, Paul
From the picture I can see you use the wrong device driver. You need to select Gerbil-STM.
Hope this helps. Cheers, Paul
Quote from natandrews on November 10, 2019, 12:57 amHi Paul,
Thanks for all the help!
Lightburn says that setting is not for the original gerbil, and wont seem to connect to the laser at all
Hi Paul,
Thanks for all the help!
Lightburn says that setting is not for the original gerbil, and wont seem to connect to the laser at all
Uploaded files:Quote from natandrews on November 11, 2019, 1:11 amOn this profile, laser doesn't turn off between cuts. Unless I'm missing a setting somewhere
Can you please post your settings?
Thanks!
On this profile, laser doesn't turn off between cuts. Unless I'm missing a setting somewhere
Can you please post your settings?
Thanks!
Quote from natandrews on November 11, 2019, 1:41 amEdit: Looks like I changed the $32 value at some point
$32=1 wins the game!
Looks like i'm up and running!
For any others with this issue, Standard Gerbil profile, S Max to 2048, Legacy Gerbil settings as follows:
$$
$0=10
$1=255
$2=0
$3=0
$4=0
$5=1
$6=0
$10=31
$11=0.010
$12=0.002
$13=0
$20=0
$21=0
$22=1
$23=3
$24=600.000
$25=1000.000
$26=250
$27=2.500
$28=0.000
$30=2048
$31=5
$32=1
$100=160.000
$101=160.000
$102=250.000
$110=10000.000
$111=10000.000
$112=500.000
$120=3000.000
$121=3000.000
$122=10.000
$130=320.000
$131=230.000
$132=200.000
Edit: Looks like I changed the $32 value at some point
$32=1 wins the game!
Looks like i'm up and running!
For any others with this issue, Standard Gerbil profile, S Max to 2048, Legacy Gerbil settings as follows:
$$
$0=10
$1=255
$2=0
$3=0
$4=0
$5=1
$6=0
$10=31
$11=0.010
$12=0.002
$13=0
$20=0
$21=0
$22=1
$23=3
$24=600.000
$25=1000.000
$26=250
$27=2.500
$28=0.000
$30=2048
$31=5
$32=1
$100=160.000
$101=160.000
$102=250.000
$110=10000.000
$111=10000.000
$112=500.000
$120=3000.000
$121=3000.000
$122=10.000
$130=320.000
$131=230.000
$132=200.000