Laserbot - mLaser software issues

reangeorge · 2017-07-06 15:36:58 UTC

useful guidance how to run BenBox and mDraw software

boje · 2017-07-22 20:20:30 UTC

Hi Simon, thank yo very much for patching MLaser and the firmware! I have hope to make the Laserbot useful - should have checked this thread before buying it…

But I’m at loss on how to compile Mlaser patched, could you outline what needs to be done? I guessed Qt is required, installed latest version and tried to compile, but except for a boatload of errors no avail.

No need for step-by-step instructions, but if you could drop a few hints on what to search for, I’ll find my way around. Many thanks in advance!

Jean

svogl · 2017-07-22 20:37:42 UTC

Jean,
true - not too much info posted, I just got it to compile on my Mac which is a developer machine, so I can’t say to much about build dependencies.

What’s your system & where are you stuck?
S

boje · 2017-07-22 21:38:14 UTC

Hi Simon,

thanks for helping! I’m on a w10 machine, installed Qt 5.9.1 and here’s what I did:

launch ‘Creator 4.3.1’, open project, finally stumbled on 'MLaser.pro’
It complains about:
missing winrtrunner.exe, cannot run compiler 'g++'
unknown modules QT: webkit webkitwidgets
"Error while parsing \src\MLaser.pro. Giving up"

Admittingly I have not the faintest clue about Qt, googling did only reveal mind boggling threads on dependencies

Did it run on your Mac without much drama? I’ll give it a try on a Mac then!

boje · 2017-07-23 12:46:22 UTC

Update on Mac: Initially same result, poked around in the files and with help of google translate and found a hint that MLaser requires an older version of Qt, 5.3. Installed that, and finally got some reaction. Yay

Turns out that Qt 5.3 expects OSX of equal vintage, but the resulting errors were straight forward to resolve with googling. Finally installed homebrew and opencv2, and voila - a build was produced, albeit with a total count of 53876 issues.

Celebration was premature, however. The executable crashes immediately… I give up at this point, having to decide between building stuff or learning Qt. I’ll check out other software / workflow options, MLaser seems to be a dead end anyway.

I must say I really like the hardware of the LaserBot, it’s really sad that the software is such a letdown…

svogl · 2017-07-23 18:13:05 UTC

Hmm, I’ll check - haven’t compiled under Sierra yet as the software does not fit my needs anyway (scalability and such…), but it did run a 2-3 months ago

My qt creator 4.3.1 works with qt 5.8 - I use MacPorts for add-on packages, and opencv 3.x (latest commits on master as we do several computer vision projects). Qt 6.2 seems available as well already (haven’t tried yet though).

I have tared a full compile from my machine including the opencv libraries here:
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0B91JOsE9uRbSbVpEN1Q5MWRiTUU?usp=sharing

… but as already explained earlier in this thread - I don’t use the app due to scaling issues; if you want to engrave a few gifs it might work out for you though.
S

boje · 2017-07-25 21:57:55 UTC

Hi Simon,

wow, many thanks! I tried first with qt 5.9, perhaps there’s too many things that break or at least require extra patching.

Scaling issue is fatal for me as well, I need the laser cutter to cut fabric for sewing patterns and cardboard. A shame, bc the cut itself is excellent and fast! But with mlaser the scale (and even distortion) is unpredictable. The end result depends on the individual cuts matching each other, a few mm would not be a big deal, but Mlaser is hopeless.

I’m now trying printrun / pronterface, python is a lot more accessible for me! X / Y movement worked out of the box with your patched firmware, next weekend I’ll try to figure out how to control the laser.

Many thanks for your support and contribution!

svogl · 2017-07-29 07:36:55 UTC

you’re welcome; if you wnt to create g-code on your own:
to turn the laser on:
M4 Px x in 0…255 to set laser output power (PWM that is)
M5 or M4 P0 to turn it off

I use the gcodetools plugin in inkscape and set the M4 command as path prefix, then M5 as path postfix command

benni.st · 2017-07-31 20:13:30 UTC

I have same problems as @svogl with the Laser Module.
After flashing Marlin Firmware it seems to be worse.
The Scaling is perfect now but I cannot use MLaser anymore.

With the original FW and Mlaser the Laser startup problem was not that serious.
Is there any possibility to pause the Laser with gcode commands for a few ms after power on?
Benni

Edit: Same issues with MLaser 2.4 and original FW.
@tec_support : any news for us regarding that Problem?

tech_support · 2017-08-02 06:07:24 UTC

Hi benni.st,
Our engineers are developing a new software which will support the Laserbot and solve the discussed problems. Please kindly wait for it.

svogl · 2017-08-02 07:49:49 UTC

Hi @benni.st,
if you play with the Marlin firmware, you can control the delay in the config file around line 1109:

`Configuration_adv.h: #define SPINDLE_POWER_UP_DELAY 0 // delay in milliseconds to allow the spindle to come up to speed’

I am using a delay of 1ms which makes things a little better, but it is still uncontrollable. I am sourcing a different laser module right now.

The MLaser app will not work with any standard firmware as it waits for a different answer string (‘oMG’ instead of ‘ok’) – I forked the repo and added a one-liner - https://github.com/svogl/MLaser/commit/afa4418ba75afd8fd506788618d2802a89141825

… but still, I am not using it
S

benni.st · 2017-08-30 20:18:16 UTC

Thanks @svogl for the Firmware and Mlaser patched.
Does someone have a compiled excecutable for Mlaser patched for Windows?
That would be great.
I tried my best but I was not able to compile it with qt.
Too many Problems and I am not a programmer.
Benni

RuMarSiEs · 2017-10-15 06:05:31 UTC

Hi all,

I bought the Makerblock LaserBot and have the same problem with scaling.

When I use a DXF (Autocad 12, 13, 14 etc) the image in mLaser is exactly 10 times smaller than the original drawing.
Smart as I am, I rescaled the drawing in AutoCad to 10 times bigger, but then the drawing in mLaser is exactly 3.5 times too small.

This happens also with a SVG and a PNG version of the same drawing

As others in this thread I need a exact 1:1 drawing to cut out some front panels.

With some test squares there is a little other issue, beside of the scaling.
When cutting trough a foam board (3mm) the horizontal cuts are trough the material, the vertical not.

I am using Windows 7 and mLaser 2.4 whit the firmware this software automatic load when pressing update firmware.

I hope this information will bring the solution a little bit closer to an solution, because at this moment the LaseBot is a bit unusable for me…

tech_support · 2017-10-16 08:53:19 UTC

Hi RuMarSiEs,

Could you please send a picture for the original image and a picture for the cut result which is 10 times smaller? Thanks!

RuMarSiEs · 2017-10-31 19:10:09 UTC

Hi Tech Support.

I did send you the DXF file and a screen shot two weeks ago.

Please can you inform me about the progress on this issue?

Thank you, Ruud

tech_support · 2017-11-01 02:59:19 UTC

Hi RuMarSiEs,

I have checked the email, sorry that we haven’t received your email.
Which email address you sent the email to? I will send you an email, kindly reply on that one if you can receive it.

Lootr · 2017-11-15 02:27:44 UTC

hi Svogl,
I have had some issues with my megapi board connected to my oxcnc. I have had this machine up and running for over 4 months and now i am having a firmware issue. I decided to try your version of the firmware that you have posted in the thread above. Unfortunately, but also fortunately i am getting the same error when i try and compile in arduino ide. I am hoping you can help me out a little in understanding where the error is so i can try and correct it in all of my software editions.

thanks from everyone with these products for your advice and help

system · 2018-06-10 14:37:14 UTC