Laser Engraver Driver Help

[DistortedDesigns]

Cyparagon,

They are. I've attached the old suggested schematic from PicEngrave. They use 2 counters and a resistor network. My use of the FPGA was simply to replace the 2 counters. I could also add things like reset, which they have on most counters. But i could even offer some digital feedback via a 7Seg display.

Im leaning towards that because finding 2 counters that are in stock is always a pain in the butt. Atleast with a small FPGA/CPLD, its what, 7$ for a xilinx cool runner?

Distorted designs: i see the authors of PicEngrave are using a newer schematic with a digital pot. I dig it actually. Just soldering SMD is rough.

I chose this over arduino/atmel because of the clock. This design, and FPGA design, the CNC pulses are the clock. With a micro, there's the boot up process with takes x amount of cycles. Then theres the clock syncing issues. Not to mention if i remember correctly Atmel chips "scan" inputs then write outputs serially, similar to a PLC.

That doesn't look like the dac circuit I have seen for pic engrave. This is what I am talking about.

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[Zeppelin 1007]

Right, thats the new and updated one using a digital pot. I dont think its that complicated, the first schematic is surely simpler than what i posted.

What i posted is what they originally were using.

My only issue with that new one is, that digital pot is hard to solder!

The second layout is basically the entire laser layout. Flexmod, required PSU's for everything, etc etc.

 

[DistortedDesigns]

I agree the digital pot is hard to solder and the place they mention you can buy the chip pre soldered to a board doesn't have it anymore.... so now what? I am good at soldering but don't think I can do that chip... lol

 

[DistortedDesigns]

Ok very cool news. I was wrong about proto-advantage. I was looking to see if they sold the max5451 chip already soldered to a board and they don't but they will add any chip to an adapter for you. The pic engrave give any info about the process of getting the chip soldered from them. They will get the chip from digikey and solder it to the adapter.

So what you do is find the correct adapter for the chip you want (TSSOP-14/ 0.65 pitch for the MAX5451) once you click on the adapter there is a drop down to select for them to solder the chip to the board. Go to digikey and copy their part number. Go back to proto-advantage and paste the part number into right spot and click the look up price button. Then order the chip. It was only $8 to have them solder the chip. I am sure that changes depending on the chip but less than $ 20 shipped with chip soldered to a board with pins is great.