Blanking 101

[Moon-raker]

I've ready through every post on PL about blanking I think. I believe my laser driver is TTL and analogue. My question in this:

To enable blanking on my laser, what do I hook the BNC connector to? I have a QM2000.NET and I think I connect it to the 25-pin connector on pin 3 and 16, but is that it? I've ready about FlexMod2's etc. Do I need this or do I simply wire a 2 pin BNC connector to pin 3 and 16 on the QM2000.NET connector?

Thanks everyone for all your help!!!

[Moon-raker]

Anyone able to help me with this one?

[Pitts]

Hi

Have you read this..

http://www.pangolin.com/LD2000/qm2000pinouts.htm

You need to decide if you are using TTL or Analogue.. I presume analogue would be your choice given you are running a QM2000.

Many people use the red connections for a single laser ( see above chart) for pin details.

There is also, I think, from memory, an article on this subject at the Pangolin site.

As you are referring to a BNC connector do you have a Viasho laser ??.

Yes you do use the 25 pin connector.

Remember most laser modulation signals tend to be "unbalanced" (not always but most tend to be) so the "+" signal will be a voltage normally varying from 0 (off) - 5 V (full on) the other side the "-" signal just gets pulled to signal ground.

You should have got a very good booklet with your QM2000 / Net system which explains in full detail.

There is also a very good article by Bill (Pangolin) on how to wire your projector to avoid earthing issues.... well worth a read for you I think. See Pangolin web site or sewarch here..

Yell out if you get stuck.. we all started somewhere..

Cheers

Ray
NZ

[Moon-raker]

I got it! I do have a Viasho laser with the BNC connector. I wired pin 3 and 16 to the connector and plugged it into the laser and viola, it is not blanking.

Thank you for your help!

Hi

Have you read this..

http://www.pangolin.com/LD2000/qm2000pinouts.htm

You need to decide if you are using TTL or Analogue.. I presume analogue would be your choice given you are running a QM2000.

Many people use the red connections for a single laser ( see above chart) for pin details.

There is also, I think, from memory, an article on this subject at the Pangolin site.

As you are referring to a BNC connector do you have a Viasho laser ??.

Yes you do use the 25 pin connector.

Remember most laser modulation signals tend to be "unbalanced" (not always but most tend to be) so the "+" signal will be a voltage normally varying from 0 (off) - 5 V (full on) the other side the "-" signal just gets pulled to signal ground.

You should have got a very good booklet with your QM2000 / Net system which explains in full detail.

There is also a very good article by Bill (Pangolin) on how to wire your projector to avoid earthing issues.... well worth a read for you I think. See Pangolin web site or sewarch here..

Yell out if you get stuck.. we all started somewhere..

Cheers

Ray
NZ

[Pitts]

So are you good now ???

I have a couple of Viasho's they can stoke it, real good in the green.

They do have (or used to) have some screw connectors inside the power supply that can work loose so if you suddenly suffer from cutting in / out or a no go situation check all of the little screws around the edge of the PCB inside. ie if you have that type.

If its the type that has the knob on the front that can "override" the overall current level, so when you do your Pallete setup make sure that is set to where you want the maximum to be. If you don't and then move it after you have set the pallete you may find tha modulation is all over the place.
If it works for you, you could simply leave that full up and then control from your QM2000 (this is quite normal).
A dead giveaway on this is if you suddenly notice that you can't turn the beam right down and there's a dot or some trace lines that shoudn't be there... possibly means you have "twiddled" the knob after having set your pallete.

One last suggestion, the guys here tend to hang out in the Lounge, lasers or Tech areas. I too was suprised that you had to put up with only my reply... normally you would have got about 20 after one day.. everyone here is keen to help. (just be careful who you listen to, there are some very experienced guys on here [not me] and there are some very well meaning folk) if in doubt just poke for more information. (Some of the many guru's... buffo,Doc,DZ,Gottaluvlasers,Pangolin,CTlasers, DSLI jon, allthatwhichis and many more, these guys have forgotten more than I know.)

I suggest list your questions in "the Lounge" or one of those locations ...

Also if you have issues with Pangolin equipment you can always talk direct to them they give wonderful support (yes I know I am biased) but they are there if you need, no matter where you bought your QM2000 from.

By the way we looooove pictures here so feel free to post some no matter what you have.

Cheers for now

Ray
NZ