Hi, I have a Diode laser and would like to upgrade it to CO2 without changing the control board and frame since it is amazing equipment. The control board has a PWM signal which I need to convert to 5v TTL in order to be able to control CO2 laser power supply. The PWM control of my diode laser works like this: 0% power - 12.17v /// 50% power - 10.52v /// 100% power - 8.87v. So it is inverted PWM control in a limit of 3.3v total. Does anyone have an idea if there is a chance to convert this to 5v TTL, and to point me out the right direction. I have attached picture of my CO2 power supply. Many thanks!
I don't understand what "inverted" and "limit" means here.
With
50% power - 10.52v
do you mean that a PWM duty cycle of 50% sets the laser voltage to 10.52V?
For a shift from 3.3V to 5V logic and (optional) signal inversion you can use a buffer gate, a transistor amplifier, or an optocoupler.
I don't have Arduino yet, I have some mechanical engineering knowledge but very weak in electronics, so I'm ready to buy Arduino just have no idea which one and how to set it the right way
You should have an idea what the Arduino should do. For level shifting additional hardware is required, not an Arduino.
Do you have data sheets for your power supply and controller?
If you are proposing to control a Co2 laser, which has very high voltages, and your very low state of electronic knowledge I believe you are "asking for it". It is not a trivial matter and it could be lethal if you get it wrong.
Also a diode laser mechanism actually moves the diode laser from place to place on the material you want to cut this is because it is small. Where as a with a Co2 laser is a glass tube almost three feet long. It remains stationary and the beam is guided to the work place by moving mirrors that direct it to the right point. This laser beam is in the infrared part of the spectrum, so therefore you can't see it, so mirror alignment has to be very precise, and you need a final lens to focus the beam to a spot. So the existing movement mechanism you have is useless. In fact there are more mechanical problems to overcome.
A Co2 laser also needs water cooling so some form of closed loop circulating water pump is needed with temperature monitoring to make sure the laser will not fire outside about 18˚C and 35˚C.
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