I want to combine all the circuits I have created for my laser power supply into one interface PCB. This project is attempting to do that.
It is planned to have the following features.
I am planning to use a Microchip PIC18F452 microcontroller.
Here is the prototype schematic. This is incomplete and will change several times before the project is done.
I have just about everything working. I tested the cooling flow monitor and the power level control. I need to test a few more things, then start to layout the board.
Got parts and Switched to PIC
I finally got my digital pot. I am using a Microchip MCP41010 256 step 10K pot. I am not sure the pot is the final way I want to go. I may go with a DAC instead. The code should all be the same. I was struggling with the PsoC part. The multiple external interrupts of the PIC part are going to make this a lot easier.
I am prototyping it using my EasyPIC4 development board from MikroElectronica. I am using the CCS C-complier. These combination is a very easy way to prototype. It can compile and reload the code in about 15 seconds. The MikroE board also makes prototyping very easy. The board makes thing very complicated looking, but if you look at the schematic, it will be a very simple circuit and easy to build.
So far I have the LCD working, I have it reading the power level from the Mach3 PWM. It have it correctly setting the digital pot and I have the external pot mode working too.
Send comments, suggestions, corrections to bdring@buildlog.net