Huge thanks to @xquared @AaronB @baptiste @DerrickA4mag @RolandClarke for coming out to pitch in with laser maintenance. Here’s what we accomplished today:
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Fixed the e-stop button which had come loose and fallen out
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Fixed LED strips, one of which had fallen and someone removed completely
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Made a new cover for the controller screen, so you can read it without removing it.
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Cleaned the chiller reservoir and purged the lines
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Notched out the cooler for the pump cord, so the lid closes fully
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Organized the tubing and cables a bit better
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Opened the filter box but found there had been no filters in there (!) Found a few and added them.
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Organized the flat storage and threw out lots of tiny scraps
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Added a second door switch which is wired as a hard cutout switch, which prevents the laser from firing when the door is open no matter what. We left the existing door switch to function as a soft (advisory) cutout for the controller so it will pause the running program, stop the stepper motors, etc. See below for a wiring diagram of how this was accomplished.
Future work required:
- The water flow switch is finicky. After today’s troubleshooting we are certain that it is responsible for the intermittent issues where the laser cutter is moving but the laser isn’t firing. We adjusted it and positioned it to be less prone to trapped air bubbles and it seems to be working fairly reliably now. I would like to get it replaced with a flow switch rather than this one which works based on pressure.
- Two pairs of laser glasses are broken, and one is missing a lens. Two pairs are in good shape.
- Not sure what to make of the empty filter box. It needs some attention, and one of the sensors is still missing.
- Still waiting on replacement gas springs to arrive
