bdring wrote:If anyone notices an error or has suggestions, please let me know.
I had planned to install both the original interface board for use with Mach 3 and the DSP controller. One factor that stopped me from using the interface board was that I did not have a good way to deal with the PWM from the controller. I would have had to choose between the controller's PWM or the 2.x's front panel pot. Since the input to the interface is through the DB9 connector, I would need dual connectors that I would manually swap out. (Or, I suppose I could have added a switch that chooses the correct power control source before getting to the DB9. Hadn't thought of that till now.)
The ideal solution would involve a manual switch, located on the 2.x's control panel that would allow selection of either the control panel pot (via the DB9) or the PWM (taken from an unused output of the DB25 to be directed to the laser PS In connector. With this configuration, a person could do either of the following:
1. To use Mach3/EMC, connect parallel cable from computer to laser and select Front Panel as power control source.
2. To use DSP, connect parallel cable from the DSP controller/DSP control panel (in a separate box configured with a parallel port connector and select DSP (or PWM) as the control source.
Either way, there are no internal connections to change - just plug in the correct controller (Computer or DSP) and flip a switch.
Or if I were really lazy, I would ask you to do the above AND to have two DB25 inputs on your interface board, one for Mach and one for DSP with the 25 lines switched like an A/B box.