Note: I tried this installation based on recommendations on the Endurance Facebook group and instructions found on the JTech Photonics sites. None of them worked. I could fire the laser but PWM would not work. When I entered $32=1 in Grbl I received an error message. I had corresponded with Dennis Von Hoof of Top o’ Arts who sells a laser documentation package (modified Grbl and mount design) for Bob’s CNC E3 and E4 models sometime before I considered and Endurance and knew that he was an honest guy with a great reputation.
Initial setup:
- Bob’s CNC E3
- CNC Shield 3.0 with Grbl 1.1g
Mounting was/is a small issue, but I now have it so that it is as stable as the X and Z axes will allow.
I first had to revert from Grbl 1.1g (which Bob’s had modified to defeat the laser option – understandable since the entire frame is made of plywood) to Dennis’s 1.1f. After flashing the controller, I made the following wiring and Grbl changes (I had tried this with Grbl 1.1g but could not enable Laser mode):
- Moved Z+ END STOP to the SpnEn pins
- Connected Endurance PWM/TTL wires to Z+ END STOP
- In Lightburn I entered $32=1 without an error message
- In Lightburn I entered $30=255
From then on it was just a matter of configuring Lightburn to Bob’s Grbl (apart from a 5.5 Watt I have on a 3018 PRO.
I am easily cutting 3-layer 3.4 mm Baltic Birch plywood (density of .7094 g/cm3) @ 200 mm/min, 100% power in 3 passes and 3-layer Poplar plywood (density of .4565 g/cm3) @ 140 mm/min, 100% power in 3 passes with a G8 lens. Am also having similar results with the 3 element lens.
For smoke extraction I am using a 195 CFM inline duct fan purchased from Amazon, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01M7S46YZ/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It’s not perfect but the duct hose can easily be moved from Roberta to my 3018 PRO and 3D printer.
I slapped together a shield, held on with Velcro, so I didn’t need to wear glasses all the time in the shop.
My router works fine with this configuration, including touch plate. To use my IOT relay I just swap the laser PWM connections to the relay.
One issue that I continue to have is when I power the 2 onboard fans condensation to form on the body of the laser and drips onto the work piece. For the time being I am running without the fans and laser body temp has not risen above 39 degrees.
Like I said, “she ain’t beautiful but she’s got a great personality”.