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Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:19 pm
by lasersafe1
Comment From Buildlog Author : Yes, the stainless steel things are not rollers but just a radius for the belt. They have a slot on the top and bottom so they can slide into the correct position. If you look at image 1978 above you can see that the one on the right has the tensioner screw that can push the stainless piece inward thereby tensioning the belt. It works quite nicely because I just put the system back together. Pix coming up.

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:44 pm
by lasersafe1
Snow Day!!

An amazing thing happens here in Virginia when we get a few inches of snow. Everything shuts down. Work called and they said we were closed, so time to get out the pressure washer and take care of this puppy!

What a difference a day makes! Compare these pictures to the Z-lift assembly video I shot yesterday. Looks like new now :P

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:56 pm
by lasersafe1
More assembly after cleanup

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:59 pm
by lasersafe1
Look at what I just noticed

Z-lift motor mount for an electronic upgrade from the manual focus knob! How nice that they used slots here instead of mounting holes. Obviously this allows you to tension the belt with the motor mount.

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:20 am
by lasersafe1
Now here is the part that will make the ULS engineer cry (or laugh??)

First I need to cover up the old controller keypad and find a way to mount the new DSP controller.
I might just put it in the upper lid as shown. Then again, I might want to do some moves with the lid up, so it will be better
to fabricate a box that fits the front profile.

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Then all I need is a laser. I'm going with the 40 watt DC sealed unit. At a couple hundred dollars a pop, I really feel like I can do some damage without investing several thousand dollars in an rf tube. The tray below my hand looks just about right for holding the high voltage power supply :P
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Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:45 am
by lasersafe1
Wow! It has been a busy weekend. I've been testing the DSP controller on my smaller U40 laser, cleaning the ULS laser, and making these log entries. There is now a wealth of knowledge presented for you all to interpret. The engineers at Univeral Laser Systems designed a fine piece of machinery. I would gladly recommend them to anyone who is considering a new purchase of a full blown commercial unit.

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 3:39 am
by bdring
How is the new controller working? I assume the problems with the last one are gone.

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 12:59 pm
by lasersafe1
Comment From Buildlog Author : Yes, it is working quite well with the exception of one item that makes the raster lose steps in Y, thereby causing the output to become squashed in the Y. I am waiting to hear back from China on this. I get the feeling that the math is somehow asking it to make "less than one step" and it never compensates for it on the next move. The answer may be to move to higher resolution on my microsteps.

After I get it working I will make a video.

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Wed Feb 03, 2010 1:27 pm
by bdring
You could be right about the Math error. To test your theory, try making the math more integer friendly. Make the engrave resolution an exact multiple of the image resolution (in steps) and make the stepover and exact number of steps too.

Re: UL-25E "surplus" Laser Engraver rebuild

PostPosted: Thu Feb 04, 2010 2:33 am
by lasersafe1
Comment From Buildlog Author Just increased the microstepping on both X and Y and the DSP works PERFECTLY! Video will come soon.