Help with Lasrerwave module

I have a 200mw Dpss 532nm . Im using the Nu-light DAC & software which is ttl only. Problem is that is does not blank the laser at any time . I have it connected correctly & tried it on positive & negitive blanking (software supports both as does module) . When i probe the signal to the module when blanked i read 0.2 volts but beam is still on. The Lambda Pro nodule i had before blanked correctly with the same setup. Any ideas? I could always add some resistance to the signal to bring it down to a true 0 volts.

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

I have a 200mw Dpss 532nm . Im using the Nu-light DAC & software which is ttl only. Problem is that is does not blank the laser at any time . I have it connected correctly & tried it on positive & negitive blanking (software supports both as does module) . When i probe the signal to the module when blanked i read 0.2 volts but beam is still on. The Lambda Pro nodule i had before blanked correctly with the same setup. Any ideas? I could always add some resistance to the signal to bring it down to a true 0 volts.

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you need to switch over the laser wave driver to neg edge ttl as that what the lamda pro is . or just try swapping the + &- modulation wires around. it wont hurt ;)
read the laserwave intructions it shows you how if you go the switch route
i doubt the 0.2v will have an effect ttl is usally abit higher than that

Some LaserWave lasers have a switch on the driver for analog, TTL, and CW. Make sure that is switched to the correct setting for your application.

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Originally Posted by allthatwhichis

Some LaserWave lasers have a switch on the driver for analog, TTL, and CW. Make sure that is switched to the correct setting for your application.

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i have two switches on the side of the PSU one for ttl and one for i would think analog . If i set the ttl to negative beam is on constant , positive beam is off but wont come on with +5 volts. Also the other switch must be set in the same postion for beam to be on. This is of course affecting scanner performance as im getting tails on my test pattern.

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

i have two switches on the side of the PSU one for ttl and one for i would think analog . If i set the ttl to negative beam is on constant , positive beam is off but wont come on with +5 volts. Also the other switch must be set in the same postion for beam to be on. This is of course affecting scanner performance as im getting tails on my test pattern.

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Try reversing the polarity of the mod wires

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

i have two switches on the side of the PSU one for ttl and one for i would think analog . If i set the ttl to negative beam is on constant , positive beam is off but wont come on with +5 volts. Also the other switch must be set in the same postion for beam to be on. This is of course affecting scanner performance as im getting tails on my test pattern.

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the thing to watch with laserwave drivers they have differential inputs
so make sure you connect all your grounds to the same point
so connect dac pin 25 ,your laser supply ground and the - modulation input,scan set supply ground all to the same point . you will proberly find this will fix your problem ;);)
tails an all
trust me on this one been there and done it myself

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Originally Posted by badger1666

the thing to watch with laserwave drivers they have differential inputs
so make sure you connect all your grounds to the same point
so connect dac pin 25 ,your laser supply ground and the - modulation input,scan set supply ground all to the same point . you will proberly find this will fix your problem ;);)
tails an all
trust me on this one been there and done it myself

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Doc , i have already tried reversing the wires but it makes no difference.

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

Doc , i have already tried reversing the wires but it makes no difference.

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have you tried all the grounds together ??

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

Doc , i have already tried reversing the wires but it makes no difference.

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The control outputs the X and Y signals for the galvanometers, blanking signal and 4 bit colour
changing signal. The outputs of the interface should only be used to drive suitable equipment or
interfaces. The pin out of the control signals on the 25 way D connector on the interface is as
follows:

PIN 1 +Y Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 2 -Y Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 5 +X Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 8 -X Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 9 Red RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 10 Green RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 11 Blue RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 12 Intensity Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 13 Spare Line TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) (reserved for future use)

PIN 14-19 0V Ground

PIN 20 Blanking Signal TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) Reversible

PIN 21 Colour Bit 4 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 22 Colour Bit 3 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 23 Colour Bit 2 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 24 Colour Bit 1 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 25 Scanners ON / OFF Signal TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) (reserved for future
use)

blimey not an ilda compatable dac then
what dac is it then ??
better change what i said about pin 25 then

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

The control outputs the X and Y signals for the galvanometers, blanking signal and 4 bit colour
changing signal. The outputs of the interface should only be used to drive suitable equipment or
interfaces. The pin out of the control signals on the 25 way D connector on the interface is as
follows:

PIN 1 +Y Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 2 -Y Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 5 +X Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 8 -X Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 9 Red RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 10 Green RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 11 Blue RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 12 Intensity Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 13 Spare Line TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) (reserved for future use)

PIN 14-19 0V Ground

PIN 20 Blanking Signal TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) Reversible

PIN 21 Colour Bit 4 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 22 Colour Bit 3 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 23 Colour Bit 2 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 24 Colour Bit 1 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 25 Scanners ON / OFF Signal TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) (reserved for future
use)

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the ttl ground , catweazle scanner ground are connected to pins 14 & 15 . Do you mean connect the scanner x & y ground to the same point ?

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

the ttl ground , catweazle scanner ground are connected to pins 14 & 15 . Do you mean connect the scanner x & y ground to the same point ?

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The DAC is made by Nu Light

no the scan set power supply to ground

it called star grounding , solves lots of problem with noise,and ground loops causing prolems
so disconnect all your grounds then for example ( take laser power supply ground to the star point and then to the laser ground) do that to scan set power and modulation input as well using same ground point ,
this is how pangolin recomend the ground system in a projector should be.
and it works to solved all sorts of problems for me

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

The control outputs the X and Y signals for the galvanometers, blanking signal and 4 bit colour
changing signal. The outputs of the interface should only be used to drive suitable equipment or
interfaces. The pin out of the control signals on the 25 way D connector on the interface is as
follows:

PIN 1 +Y Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 2 -Y Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 5 +X Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 8 -X Differential Signal 10Vpp

PIN 9 Red RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 10 Green RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 11 Blue RGB Colour Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 12 Intensity Signal 0-5V 8 Bit Analogue (reserved for future use)

PIN 13 Spare Line TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) (reserved for future use)

PIN 14-19 0V Ground

PIN 20 Blanking Signal TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) Reversible

PIN 21 Colour Bit 4 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 22 Colour Bit 3 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 23 Colour Bit 2 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 24 Colour Bit 1 TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink)

PIN 25 Scanners ON / OFF Signal TTL (0V Low, +5V High, 10mA sink) (reserved for future
use)

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I can say where, but I am sure this pin out set up is part of your problem... *vigil

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Originally Posted by allthatwhichis

I can say where, but I am sure this pin out set up is part of your problem... *vigil

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Thing is , it works fine with the lambda pro module . Its only since changing the module i have had issues. The Pin out is as per Nu-Light Manual. Any help is very grateful. I think the blanking issue is why i cannot get a decent test pattern . It leaves beam trails.

ok just try this as i said laserwave has a differental input on the modulation
so connect your laser supply ground to modulation - and your dac 0v ground
if that dont work
then try your laser with a couple of 1.5v batterys on the modulation just to see if it even works ??

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

I think the blanking issue is why i cannot get a decent test pattern . It leaves beam trails.

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Whoa, tails, or it doesn't blank at all? Can we get a picture of that test pattern? *vigil

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Originally Posted by allthatwhichis

Whoa, tails, or it doesn't blank at all? Can we get a picture of that test pattern? *vigil

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It doesnt blank. Ok tried this last night. Module is set to negative TTL . Scanner dc ground & module dc ground connected to DAC pins 14 & 15 (pins 14-19 are all linked grounds in the DAC) . If i connect to the dac , even with the dac unpowered & not connected to pc the beam comes on. If i disconnect the dac ,beam goes off . If i remove the ground wire from the ttl input on the module , it dims & starts to modulate . If i connect up the lambda pro same way everything works fine. As i dont have a manual for the laserwave module , can anyone tell me what the other switch is for on the psu . Is it mode or analog polarity. Thanks

update , with nothing connected to the laser psu the ttl `input` gives me constant 5.33 volts. Thats the problem.

Are you saying that you have 5v output from the laser driver?

If you have selected TTL- then that should happen.

TTL- requires the DAC to ground this signal to switch the laser off.

TTL+ requires the DAC to provide 5v (well about 2.5v or more) to switch the laser on.

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Originally Posted by Doc

Are you saying that you have 5v output from the laser driver?

If you have selected TTL- then that should happen.

TTL- requires the DAC to ground this signal to switch the laser off.

TTL+ requires the DAC to provide 5v (well about 2.5v or more) to switch the laser on.

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i have 5.33 volts on both + and - ttl setting. Yes from the laser driver/ Doc what is the other switch for and which setting should it be on as it also has some influence on things

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

i have 5.33 volts on both + and - ttl setting. Yes from the laser driver/ Doc what is the other switch for and which setting should it be on as it also has some influence on things

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The other switch selects analogue or TTL operation.

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Originally Posted by Doc

The other switch selects analogue or TTL operation.

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so if i probe the dac ttl output i should get 5 volts ? Is anly a couple of hundred mv .

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

so if i probe the dac ttl output i should get 5 volts ? Is anly a couple of hundred mv .

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ok found the problem. because the module is always outputting 5 volts on the ttl input , the dac was also puttinig out 5 volts i have found two bad caps on the dac modulation circuit. So my software must always be set for negative blanking so i dont get the 5 volt ttl output from the dac.

Glad you found the problem

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Originally Posted by Doc

Glad you found the problem

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Doc , on the other switch which postion is ttl & which is analog ? the markings are not clear. Thanks.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

Doc , on the other switch which postion is ttl & which is analog ? the markings are not clear. Thanks.

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I would try each setting to find that out.

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

Doc , on the other switch which postion is ttl & which is analog ? the markings are not clear. Thanks.

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I can't remember, I think it's marked 'AS'.

Flip it over and connect a 1.5v battery to the yellow and white leads and see if you get a dim output (I believe yellow is +ve).

I think theres a reasonably good description of the switch functions here

http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...rwave+switches

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Originally Posted by norty303

I think theres a reasonably good description of the switch functions here

http://www.photonlexicon.com/forums/...rwave+switches

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looks lik DAC is cream crackered . Replaced the caps but no joy . The TTL goes straight into the main PIC chip so that must be dud. Bugger . Spoke to Mike at Nu Light and he told me it was likely damaged by the laser module ttl input having a constant output of 5.33 volts. On look out for cheap DAC !

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On look out for cheap DAC

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WADR, isn't that where your problems started? ;)

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Originally Posted by norty303

WADR, isn't that where your problems started? ;)

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indeed , does anyone else have a laserwave module they could test to see if they have 5 volts on ttl inpt wires on both positive & negative settings. (with no connection to dac)

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

indeed , does anyone else have a laserwave module they could test to see if they have 5 volts on ttl inpt wires on both positive & negative settings. (with no connection to dac)

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Thing is the Nu Light software & DAC wasnt cheap . I sent it back to Mike who confirmed my fear that the PIC chip is only putting out 0.2 volts ttl. #

So on the look out for DAC and software.

well i would ask for a refund , very poor design if it does not have any form of protection
on the pic outputs, and cant cope with + or - ttl properly.
how much was it ? do you have a link to it on the net ?
i dont under stand why they would even make a dac that was not ilda compatable.

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Originally Posted by badger1666

well i would ask for a refund , very poor design if it does not have any form of protection
on the pic outputs, and cant cope with + or - ttl properly.
how much was it ? do you have a link to it on the net ?
i dont under stand why they would even make a dac that was not ilda compatable.

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yes i had a good look at it and there is no protection at all. The ttl pin goes straight to the main PIC chip. Everything works apart from blanking . Cost new was about £500 (no i didnt buy it new)

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Originally Posted by stupidsexyflanders

Cost new was about £500 (no i didnt buy it new)

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:bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes:

You could have had Pangolin FB3-QS for that! Would have been worth the extra by the sounds of it.

Although I'm not an electronics expert, by any means, I fail to see how the laser could be responsible for claimed DAC voltage damage anyway.

Isn't voltage set by the electronics?

I understood voltage was fixed by the resistors in an electronic device and that the only variable was that an appliance can draw the current it needs but at the fixed voltage. So whereas you can burn an appliance out by drawing over current, you shouldn't be able to burn something out by drawing over voltage because you can't actually draw more volts than is available (you can input into something more volts than it wants but you can't draw out more volts than the source (DAC in this case) can supply).

So if it was over voltage on output, surely its the DAC thats been factory set over voltage not the laser as the laser can draw more current but can't draw out of the DAC more than the set voltage. The only way you could damage the DAC by voltage therefore surely would be to connect its input to an over voltage supply but that isn't what is claimed though is it, as isn't the damage to the output stage?

Sounds like an excuse to me for a faulty product that they don't want to replace.

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Originally Posted by White-Light

:bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes:

You could have had Pangolin FB3-QS for that! Would have been worth the extra by the sounds of it.

Although I'm not an electronics expert, by any means, I fail to see how the laser could be responsible for claimed DAC voltage damage anyway.

Isn't voltage set by the electronics?

I understood voltage was fixed by the resistors in an electronic device and that the only variable was that an appliance can draw the current it needs but at the fixed voltage. So whereas you can burn an appliance out by drawing over current, you shouldn't be able to burn something out by drawing over voltage because you can't actually draw more volts than is available (you can input into something more volts than it wants but you can't draw out more volts than the source (DAC in this case) can supply).

So if it was over voltage on output, surely its the DAC thats been factory set over voltage not the laser as the laser can draw more current but can't draw out of the DAC more than the set voltage. The only way you could damage the DAC by voltage therefore surely would be to connect its input to an over voltage supply but that isn't what is claimed though is it, as isn't the damage to the output stage?

Sounds like an excuse to me for a faulty product that they don't want to replace.

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I just had an email back fro Mike he designed the dac . He says it was damaged by voltage being applied to the ttl output . My laserwave module was also putting out 5 voltson ttl but because the ttl on the DAC has no protection . He want £175 to repair.
No chance .

Quote:

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Originally Posted by White-Light

:bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes::bulgy-eyes:

You could have had Pangolin FB3-QS for that! Would have been worth the extra by the sounds of it.

Although I'm not an electronics expert, by any means, I fail to see how the laser could be responsible for claimed DAC voltage damage anyway.

Isn't voltage set by the electronics?

I understood voltage was fixed by the resistors in an electronic device and that the only variable was that an appliance can draw the current it needs but at the fixed voltage. So whereas you can burn an appliance out by drawing over current, you shouldn't be able to burn something out by drawing over voltage because you can't actually draw more volts than is available (you can input into something more volts than it wants but you can't draw out more volts than the source (DAC in this case) can supply).

So if it was over voltage on output, surely its the DAC thats been factory set over voltage not the laser as the laser can draw more current but can't draw out of the DAC more than the set voltage. The only way you could damage the DAC by voltage therefore surely would be to connect its input to an over voltage supply but that isn't what is claimed though is it, as isn't the damage to the output stage?

Sounds like an excuse to me for a faulty product that they don't want to replace.

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I just had an email back fro Mike he designed the dac . He says it was damaged by voltage being applied to the ttl output . My laserwave module was also putting out 5 voltson ttl but because the ttl on the DAC has no protection . He want £175 to repair.
No chance .

The dac still works as does the ttl , its just that it only outputs 0.2 volts. Im thinking if i can use an op amp to bring that up to 5 volts but would the opamp work at the 10khz blanking speed. Any electronics genious out there ?

Does the laser feed back voltage to the DAC?

I always thought that it was the other way around ie it was the DAC that powered the laser driver (input) in which case if the output is over voltage surely its the DAC thats damaged itself.

Maybe someone with the tech know how can clear this up.

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Originally Posted by White-Light

Does the laser feed back voltage to the DAC?

I always thought that it was the other way around ie it was the DAC that powered the laser driver (input) in which case if the output is over voltage surely its the DAC thats damaged itself.

Maybe someone with the tech know how can clear this up.

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Yes i though the DAC provides the 5 volts which it did , but for some reason if i measure the ttl wires on the module psu they are always at 5.33 volts regardless of positive or negative setting. Thats with no connection to DAC.