nice one! Yes you can use a single channel 12V logic high relay. The ones they sell at Jaycar are 5V so you will burn those out. Connect VCC and neutral from the laser to the VCC and Neutral inputs on the relay and PWM to the 'S' signal in of the relay. When you enter any value above '0' for the 'S' value in the grbl software, it will send 0-5V to the PWM pin which will see it as 'high' and switch on the relay/close the switch. Connect that to the switch/trigger in of the plasma cutter. You can use a HFreq start plasma but you need to connect a cable from the plasma cutting tip to the work piece so it thinks it's touching the surface. have fun!
This is exactly why i just used the low frequency unimig pilot arc plasma. The HF plasma is very inconsistent adding that cable will help but i would rather avoid headaches and waisted parts/materials 😂 and interference with controller
@@bigkevsbuilds yeah you can modify HF ones quite easily but pilot arc Ones are cheap anyway. Problem is they burn through tips like mad if they make contact with the metal. You can add a torch height controller for about $450
Thank you for this comment. I’ve fiddled with wiring my laser engraver’s +12 -12 and pwm wires in every orientation to a normal automotive relay and it will not work. This video made me believe a PWM signal could drive a relay’s low load coil, but I’m going with your idea now.
nice video. im in the process of doing one of these. got the laser engraver already and a good plasma that will work fine with cnc. plan on given it a 3rd axis for THC, also grabbed a 3axis cnc router off ebay. so i can borrow bits from that for trying/testing :) get yourself a machine torch
@@bigkevsbuilds yer i planned to pull this 3 axis router apart that i got off ebay, and use cables, controller and stepper to make a 3rd axis on the laser frame for THC, and then use the motor and mount for a little toolpost grinder on the lathe. but the mount is moulded plastic and not metal like i had hoped. but atleast i can try it out using some parts to make sure it all works before i buy other bits for the laser frame so i can keep the 3axis router complete at the end of it all.... its my first step into CNC so didn't want to go too mad incase i cant get my head around all the software programs etc...
@@bigkevsbuilds hey if you have a email I can send you a set of plans ( ready to cut) for making a Cnc plasma, it’s a simple design, Material thickness is 3/16" so if your machine can cut that thickness you can cut the files easy, and they will fit 2x2 ,2x3, and 2x4 Rails. Nema 23 & 34 Motors can be use, only asking a donation if you like if not that’s ok 👍🏻
Hey buddy, Awesome video! Love this idea. Purchased the SculpfunS10 version as I think the linear rail will give extra support to axis. I have a Unimig Viper Cut30 MK2. Still waiting for the CNC to arrive. Could you add a link in your description to the relay used to assist people in knowing what relay is required? Can you supply a wiring diagram?
Hi, glad I found your video, I have an old Eleksmaker A3 laser engraver that I have not used in a long time and was thinking of trying the same as you, the only doubt I have is if the motors will be strong enough to move the extra weight of the head without skipping steps. what size motors are you using, looks like nema 17 but how many Nm and amps are they. thanks for sharing the idea.
Hey! Thanks so much, appreciate it and glad my video was helpful to you. Unfortunately, there’s no indication on what motors they are, but looking at them I’d say they are Nema 17. I suspect they’re about 0.9 Amps or bigger. Try not to overthink it, with my laser the plasma handle is not much heavier than the laser head. If you’re worried, maybe test it out first by zip typing the handle to the machine and just see if it will carry the weight. Hope this is helpful, let me know how you go or if you have any other questions! 😎
I have done a similar cnc plasma cutter but I have problem due to the high frequency of the plasma cutter affecting the whole sistem. Its grounded but still.. How did you solve that?
Hey mate, I see you’ve mentioned that you use a high frequency plasma cutter - I’m using a low frequency plasma with pilot arc, and that’s not causing any issues for me. If your controller is attached to the frame, you could try to unbolt it and mount it onto a piece of plastic so that its not grounded throughout the whole system. Let me know how you go!
@@bigkevsbuilds that's no good mate anyway I was thinking instead of trying to get your cnc plasma to pause at the start you could get it to start just off to the side of the piece your cutting just a thought
Hi, I have the same engraver as you, but I cannot figure out how you wired the relay, because my relay is triggered immediately with out waiting for the signal from the engraver. So the torch starts cutting as soon as I press start. Help required please.
Hi it sounds like you took power from the control bord on top of the laser just on the other side of that plug is a small plug that is like on the under side of the bord one with 3 wires that goes down to the laser thats the ones you use
Hello Friend. I'm trying to make the same cnc project. Only in my place I can't find 12v that goes to the laser, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Could you send a photo of the cables coming out of the laser where you have 12v. Thanks for the help
Great build mate. I’ve got similar kit to build one of these but can’t get my head around the software. I’ve got Lightburn, which I’ve seen people use but how do you get it to cut and allow for the kerf of the plasma, rather than the fine line from a laser. Hope that makes sense lol
Hi mate thanks. You have to set a lead in delay and lead out for it get true metal and also slow down the speed in light burn to 5-12 mm/sec depending on thickness of steel. Hope that helps
@@bigkevsbuilds That helps a lot mate but not quite what I meant. Say I wanted to make a 10mm hole, in Lightburn I draw a 10mm circle. With a laser being so fine, it’d cut out a 10mm hole but with the plasma cutter it makes a much wider cut, say 1.5mm, meaning it wont cut a 10mm hole, more like 11.5mm. On bigger parts it’s not going to make much difference I guess, just smaller details.
@Yosser70 so if you in your window select library and in that creat a material thickness and then you can edit cut speed and lead in and lead out of that material and in editing it you can set a in/out wards kerf offset
Hi there. I ordered parts and built one. I do have lightburn software. When I plugged 12 light bulb for testing, I can hear the relay switching when it should be switching, but testing light bulb doesn't come on. I have a testing light bulb connected to the NO and COM. I have 12V relay (tried it with 5v too but Atomstack5, which I have, supplies 10.5 volts when idle), I have correctly connected VCC(+), ground(-) and signal. Also on the 12v relay I have a high/low jumper which is currently on a high side. In lightburn I am using LINE (cutting) @100%. Any ideas where I might be going wrong?
Hey it sounds like you have everything right or the laser side if the relay is clicking on and of when the laser is firing . Just wane check you are providing the light bulb its own power 12v and only using the relay on NO (Normal open ) to close that circuit to switch the light on when it should be firing? If you want you can send me some photos on rust.dust01@gmail.com
@@bigkevsbuilds Thanks man, that helped. My mistake was that I wasn’t supplying light bulb with separate power. I will post video when I am done. Thanks a lot for replying.
Hey mate i got the signal from the laser input power going to the laser unplug the laser and use that power for the relay so when the controller wants to fire the laser it will switch on the relay
Just get a 12v logic high relay for a few dollars. The Pwm connects to the signal line and the 12v from the laser connects to the switch. When the Pwm signal rises it turns on the switch and you just connect that to the plasma trigger.
Using mach3 with sheet cam. On a hp all in one touchscreen PC I picked up used. Tables work area is 1300mm by 1700mm with torch height probing. Was one hell of a learning curve.
is there not a conf in lichtburn that Kan produce a piercing delay such as laser on whit a delay ..i my self Ar jucing estlcam there i conf a piercing delay for 1 sec ..excuse for the bad spelling
I have tried different programs myself and have learned a lot from them. I finally started using Estelcam because I also use this program for my milling machine. Here you can load dxf svg en Oder files and finally enter your milling (plasma) cutting lines and as it has to change again in between the job,s even start in the previous line if necessary it is a very cheap program and first a trial version which operating system do you use with this laser
G4 Pause command execution for the time in Pnnn. P specifies the time in seconds. Other systems use milliseconds as the pause time, if used unchanged this can result in VERY long pauses. I used this code at startup, enter the number of seconds you want to delay, look at the grbl, you can add this code in notepad or other program, so M3 (start laser) G4 sec delay
If you haven't yet figured it out. In lightburn go to enable cut through mode and set pierce delay to give it time to cut thru before moving.
Hey mate yes i have found this setting and also a lead in and lead out helps
nice one! Yes you can use a single channel 12V logic high relay. The ones they sell at Jaycar are 5V so you will burn those out. Connect VCC and neutral from the laser to the VCC and Neutral inputs on the relay and PWM to the 'S' signal in of the relay. When you enter any value above '0' for the 'S' value in the grbl software, it will send 0-5V to the PWM pin which will see it as 'high' and switch on the relay/close the switch. Connect that to the switch/trigger in of the plasma cutter. You can use a HFreq start plasma but you need to connect a cable from the plasma cutting tip to the work piece so it thinks it's touching the surface. have fun!
This is exactly why i just used the low frequency unimig pilot arc plasma. The HF plasma is very inconsistent adding that cable will help but i would rather avoid headaches and waisted parts/materials 😂 and interference with controller
@@bigkevsbuilds yeah you can modify HF ones quite easily but pilot arc
Ones are cheap anyway. Problem is they burn through tips like mad if they make contact with the metal. You can add a torch height controller for about $450
Thank you for this comment. I’ve fiddled with wiring my laser engraver’s +12 -12 and pwm wires in every orientation to a normal automotive relay and it will not work. This video made me believe a PWM signal could drive a relay’s low load coil, but I’m going with your idea now.
Don’t apologise for uploads, positive attitude and removing internal shame will make you far more productive!
nice video. im in the process of doing one of these. got the laser engraver already and a good plasma that will work fine with cnc. plan on given it a 3rd axis for THC, also grabbed a 3axis cnc router off ebay. so i can borrow bits from that for trying/testing :) get yourself a machine torch
This is a good idea thats all i need is the z axis .
The plan is to get a bigger plasma with a cnc torch head
@@bigkevsbuilds yer i planned to pull this 3 axis router apart that i got off ebay, and use cables, controller and stepper to make a 3rd axis on the laser frame for THC, and then use the motor and mount for a little toolpost grinder on the lathe. but the mount is moulded plastic and not metal like i had hoped. but atleast i can try it out using some parts to make sure it all works before i buy other bits for the laser frame so i can keep the 3axis router complete at the end of it all.... its my first step into CNC so didn't want to go too mad incase i cant get my head around all the software programs etc...
Been thinking about doing this...Thanks.
Cheers....
Well done, you got it sorted.
Pretty cool kev!
Hey Jean thanks
awesome video mate!
Thanks heaps mate! Appreciate the feedback
Great work👍🏻
Thanks mate 😁
@@bigkevsbuilds hey if you have a email I can send you a set of plans ( ready to cut) for making a Cnc plasma, it’s a simple design, Material thickness is 3/16" so if your machine can cut that thickness you can cut the files easy, and they will fit 2x2 ,2x3, and 2x4 Rails. Nema 23 & 34 Motors can be use, only asking a donation if you like if not that’s ok 👍🏻
Hey buddy, Awesome video! Love this idea. Purchased the SculpfunS10 version as I think the linear rail will give extra support to axis. I have a Unimig Viper Cut30 MK2. Still waiting for the CNC to arrive. Could you add a link in your description to the relay used to assist people in knowing what relay is required? Can you supply a wiring diagram?
Hey mate will do soon. I am testing some different ones as not all of them work
are you using the controller from the laser to control the torch being turned off and on?
Hi, glad I found your video, I have an old Eleksmaker A3 laser engraver that I have not used in a long time and was thinking of trying the same as you, the only doubt I have is if the motors will be strong enough to move the extra weight of the head without skipping steps. what size motors are you using, looks like nema 17 but how many Nm and amps are they. thanks for sharing the idea.
Hey! Thanks so much, appreciate it and glad my video was helpful to you. Unfortunately, there’s no indication on what motors they are, but looking at them I’d say they are Nema 17. I suspect they’re about 0.9 Amps or bigger. Try not to overthink it, with my laser the plasma handle is not much heavier than the laser head. If you’re worried, maybe test it out first by zip typing the handle to the machine and just see if it will carry the weight. Hope this is helpful, let me know how you go or if you have any other questions! 😎
I have done a similar cnc plasma cutter but I have problem due to the high frequency of the plasma cutter affecting the whole sistem. Its grounded but still.. How did you solve that?
Hey mate, I see you’ve mentioned that you use a high frequency plasma cutter - I’m using a low frequency plasma with pilot arc, and that’s not causing any issues for me. If your controller is attached to the frame, you could try to unbolt it and mount it onto a piece of plastic so that its not grounded throughout the whole system. Let me know how you go!
hi Very well done, have a look at Fusion 360 for designing you parts as it has preset tables for plasma cutting settings. bye
good to see you again mate was wondering what happened to you
Hey mate i am here still going had a hard drive that crashed so had no motivation to keep editing lost about 3+ videos.
@@bigkevsbuilds that's no good mate anyway I was thinking instead of trying to get your cnc plasma to pause at the start you could get it to start just off to the side of the piece your cutting just a thought
Hi, I have the same engraver as you, but I cannot figure out how you wired the relay, because my relay is triggered immediately with out waiting for the signal from the engraver. So the torch starts cutting as soon as I press start. Help required please.
Hi it sounds like you took power from the control bord on top of the laser just on the other side of that plug is a small plug that is like on the under side of the bord one with 3 wires that goes down to the laser thats the ones you use
@@bigkevsbuildsCheers, thank you.
Hello Friend. I'm trying to make the same cnc project. Only in my place I can't find 12v that goes to the laser, I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Could you send a photo of the cables coming out of the laser where you have 12v. Thanks for the help
Hi could you Dm me in instagram,or TikTok i can’t attach a photo here
Great build mate. I’ve got similar kit to build one of these but can’t get my head around the software. I’ve got Lightburn, which I’ve seen people use but how do you get it to cut and allow for the kerf of the plasma, rather than the fine line from a laser. Hope that makes sense lol
Hi mate thanks. You have to set a lead in delay and lead out for it get true metal and also slow down the speed in light burn to 5-12 mm/sec depending on thickness of steel. Hope that helps
@@bigkevsbuilds That helps a lot mate but not quite what I meant. Say I wanted to make a 10mm hole, in Lightburn I draw a 10mm circle. With a laser being so fine, it’d cut out a 10mm hole but with the plasma cutter it makes a much wider cut, say 1.5mm, meaning it wont cut a 10mm hole, more like 11.5mm. On bigger parts it’s not going to make much difference I guess, just smaller details.
@Yosser70 so if you in your window select library and in that creat a material thickness and then you can edit cut speed and lead in and lead out of that material and in editing it you can set a in/out wards kerf offset
Hi there. I ordered parts and built one. I do have lightburn software. When I plugged 12 light bulb for testing, I can hear the relay switching when it should be switching, but testing light bulb doesn't come on. I have a testing light bulb connected to the NO and COM. I have 12V relay (tried it with 5v too but Atomstack5, which I have, supplies 10.5 volts when idle), I have correctly connected VCC(+), ground(-) and signal. Also on the 12v relay I have a high/low jumper which is currently on a high side. In lightburn I am using LINE (cutting) @100%. Any ideas where I might be going wrong?
Hey it sounds like you have everything right or the laser side if the relay is clicking on and of when the laser is firing . Just wane check you are providing the light bulb its own power 12v and only using the relay on NO (Normal open ) to close that circuit to switch the light on when it should be firing? If you want you can send me some photos on rust.dust01@gmail.com
@@bigkevsbuilds Thanks man, that helped. My mistake was that I wasn’t supplying light bulb with separate power. I will post video when I am done. Thanks a lot for replying.
@@Traderhood
Where is your Video? :)
I ordered parts too ...should arrive by end of this week.
Do you have a link please would love to try this many thanks keep up the good work
Hey mate what link are you looking for ?
@@bigkevsbuilds for what engraver to buy
sculpfun.com/en-au?gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIubffjuHnhQMVNMwWBR2TGQr0EAAYASAAEgJSsvD_BwE.
S9
@bigkevsbuilds thanks mare my wife has that hers is 20w hopefully she will get board lol 😆
My question is can you make a second pass over the first pas
Yea i can do that but at the moment i am just using a lead in and lead out and it works fine
Amigo como você fez o pulso para acionar a tocha
Hey mate i got the signal from the laser input power going to the laser unplug the laser and use that power for the relay so when the controller wants to fire the laser it will switch on the relay
what relay are you using? what type of relay are you using
Hi just a normal automotive one 40a 12v
Just get a 12v logic high relay for a few dollars. The Pwm connects to the signal line and the 12v from the laser connects to the switch. When the Pwm signal rises it turns on the switch and you just connect that to the plasma trigger.
You don't really need to scratch the plasma, it's fine to just drag it.
The HF are hard to start and therefore scratching it helps start an arc
Do u have a plasma cutter with pilot arc?
Hi yes it dose have pilot arc
Wonder what you paid for that little CNC jig I just built a full custom table about 1500 all in with computer and software to run it.
The table/laser was $300 and software is $120 a year what software do you use ?
Using mach3 with sheet cam. On a hp all in one touchscreen PC I picked up used. Tables work area is 1300mm by 1700mm with torch height probing. Was one hell of a learning curve.
do you have a wiring diagram?
The only one i have is the one in the video, But working on another video to explain it better.
What software did you use to operate it plz
I am using light burn
what do you do so that the frequencies do not interfere with your electronics
I use a low frequency plasma cutter and unbolted the controller from the body.
Electricians do not know, they run wire.
lol they are really good at pulling that wire through that conduit
Buddy we don't have to see your face while your filming. Its nauseating the view constantly mobile.
is there not a conf in lichtburn that Kan produce a piercing delay such as laser on whit a delay ..i my self Ar jucing estlcam there i conf a piercing delay for 1 sec ..excuse for the bad spelling
Hey mate yea found a lead in and out settings that helps a bit but can be problematic if its to big it will cut unwanted line in your parts
I have tried different programs myself and have learned a lot from them. I finally started using Estelcam because I also use this program for my milling machine. Here you can load dxf svg en Oder files and finally enter your milling (plasma) cutting lines and as it has to change again in between the job,s even start in the previous line if
necessary it is a very cheap program and first a trial version which operating system do you use with this laser
G4
Pause command execution for the time in Pnnn. P specifies the time in seconds. Other systems use milliseconds as the pause time, if used unchanged this can result in VERY long pauses.
I used this code at startup, enter the number of seconds you want to delay, look at the grbl, you can add this code in notepad or other program, so M3 (start laser) G4 sec delay
I might download that Estelcam and give it a go i like trying new things will let you know what i think of it
I have scrolled true the commands one day but dit not think of this bit i will have a look its sounds like it will solve the problem