Time for an informed decision

A forum for the Arduino based Mach4/Darwin Laser Control Panel
Jerrywi
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Jerrywi »

Hello Kirk,
I was just about to leave you a message, remembering you had purchased one recently.
I made a list of all the current sellers on E-bay and wrote down which software they were providing with theirs.
Moshidraw was one(which i've been hearing is hard to work with) Thanks for the heads up.
the 2nd software was coral Draw.
I don't remember seeing your seller but I will look again.
it appears most of them are selling around 366.00 with about 30.00 delivery
Thanks for the additional info

Jerry
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Mooselake
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Mooselake »

I was slightly off on the name, it's love-happyshopping.  They currently list a handful of K40s, but if you scroll through the description they all mention Moshidraw.

As far as I can tell, there are two big sellers that both use multiple eBay names.  This one ships from Ontario, CA.  I had a slightly bad experience with the other, who ships from Irvine, CA (both are chinese companies using US warehouses, all communications seem to come from China), but it was pretty minor.  They also a "Make an offer" button, but after several lengthy delays the best they would do was about 50 cents off.  Better than nothing and within their rights, of course, but it kinda left a bad taste and put them in my misleading seller column.  Your opinion may be different.  The prices vary regularly, as does free or paid shipping - I lucked out and got free shipping at about the currently listed prices.

LHS has a good rep on cnczone.com for machined ballscrews and similar DIY CNC parts.

Kirk
Last edited by Mooselake on Thu Dec 17, 2015 9:51 am, edited 1 time in total.
Jerrywi
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Jerrywi »

Hay Kirk,
I located the name you gave me and reviewed the facts page. The first part of the description mentions MoshiDraw and the bottom part of the description says Coral Draw?? I however have a question on north american voltage. out of the dozen or so vendors out there, I noticed a few state 220v and one stating 110v and the others don't mention the operating voltage at all.
I have both voltages available to me, but I would rather use 110v.
Does this make a difference on which vendor I go with?

Thanks again Kirk
Jerry
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Mooselake
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Mooselake »

I suggest sending them a message (iirc eBay calls it asking a question) and ask them directly.  Ask them about Moshidraw vs LaserDRW (the non-moshi board is an M2Nano from LiHUiYU Studio Labs).  My approach would be to become familiar with the machine as shipped, quirky software and all.  Then rip the electronics out, put in a PoKeys57CNC  (maybe somebody else will do it and give directions :) ), and sell the M2Nano and dongle on eBay.  You may want to do it somewhat differently.

No pressure on Art or anything like that, but undoubtedly you'll end up with the best laser controller on pretty decent hardware.

Art, anything I should add to the PoKeys57CNC sitting in my cnc4pc shopping cart?  Guess Mrs. Moose is going to get a late, laser cut, christmas present.  And, FWIW, if you google cnc4pc you get a warning from google that the site has been hacked.

Kirk
Jerrywi
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Jerrywi »

Thanks Kirk, I'll send off a message now
Jerry
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ArtF
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by ArtF »

Hi Kirk:

  Id find some terminal strips that plug into the plugs on the 57. Personally, I love the terminal strips on the
rest of the Pokeys versions, the cnc has plugs, so I used Ebay to get a few 10 pin to terminal strip and one 20
pin to terminals for the limit switches..

  Note though, that the 57 has a 25 pin plug which with proper config allows any printer port machine to be
upgraded to a pokeys easily with the one plug of 25 pins to printer port plug... Im using all th eother plugs
myself as each axis plug contains inputs for home switches and such..

Art


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Mooselake
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Mooselake »

not quite sure what you meant; I came up with
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171802485671
and something like
http://www.ebay.com/itm/290627084223

or the green screw terminals and a small adapter board, have a lot of them on hand.  I couldn't find something that just went straight from ribbon cable to screw terminals, perhaps the search-fu is weak today.

Kirk

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ArtF
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by ArtF »

Kirk:

  Im gonna use these for each axis.. then theres a 20 pin for the limit switches..

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Altech-5720-2-L ... xyLN9Semfp

Art
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Mooselake
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Mooselake »

Thanks!  While the board looks nice I've got lots of parts sitting here looking forlorn.  I  ordered the ribbon cables and will try and make some up adapters.  The slow boat will give me time to dink around with the Pokeys and finish the adjustable table mod.

Sorry for hijacking your thread, Jerry.  Let us know which laser you get.

Kirk
GlennD
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by GlennD »

I am knocking out a single sided PCB, BOB for the connections.
I can post a picture or the eagle files when I am done and it is working.
I will also provide the part numbers from Digikey if anyone wants them.
Probably should be in another thread I am guessing

Glenn.
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Mooselake
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Mooselake »

Cool, I'd like to see how it works out - start a new topic when that happens.

It sounds similar to what I'm planning to do with left over parts and a project board or two.  It'll help score a few short term points with Mrs. Moose in the "what are you keeping all this c*** for" moments, but I suspect that's a unique situation and doesn't affect anybody else  :)

Kirk
Jerrywi
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Jerrywi »

Hay Art, Kirk.
Just received  my 40 watt co2 laser. for the most part everything looks okay. it came with the box packaged inside a wooden crate. no apparent damages.
It came with a cd with several files on it. corell laser software and LaserDrw 2013.02 software.
when trying to install the software my Norton security stopped the install and stated it had "BackDoor Graybird" and Trojan.Gen.SMH.2. Very High security risk??
It also flagged the Dongle as having a virus. Did any body else have similar issues?
Also, can I hook up the usb cable and power on the laser so the computer can Recognize it without hooking up the water pump?
thanks
Jerry
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Mooselake
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Mooselake »

I vaguely remember something about a virus warning when installing, with the recommendation it can be ignored (but don't take my word for it), but didn't get it on my system.  However, I use the M$ antivirus (seems to go by different names, it's Defender on W10).  You might ask that one on the K40 G+ group.  I seem to recall something about Norton not liking GM in the past, too.

The dongle is a hardware dodad,  no files to have virii.  Strange it would flag that one.

I've never tried to run the laser without the pump going, they're on the same power strip, and I've got a flow switch to install as a safety.  If you do, don't ever try to fire it.  From Art's recommendation I've got the pump and tubing run into a 5 gal drywall bucket with 3 gallons of blue windshield washer fluid in it.  Some K40 G+ users seem to like pink RV antifreeze, which WallyWorld sells for about the same price.  Either should keep out the dreaded green algae.

Kirk
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ArtF
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by ArtF »

Yes, never run without water. Mine has a water flow switch, your may as well. You can power up, but if you press for power
you can burn your output lens in an instant.. So Id advise being very carefull if theres no water flow switch. ( You might even think of adding one, their cheap and can save you a tube if the pump stops.. ( not unusual situation.. :) )

Art
Jerrywi
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Re: Time for an informed decision

Post by Jerrywi »

Thanks Kirk, Art,
I will be ordering a flow switch while i'm setting the laser up in my work shop.

Jerry
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