Can the Planet CNC USB controller be used with a laser engraver/cutter? Can the build your own CNC based on the Planet CNC USB controller accept a Laser head instead of a router?

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Question #: 10065

Question: Can the Planet CNC USB controller be used with a laser engraver/cutter? Can the build your own CNC based on the Planet CNC USB controller accept a Laser head instead of a router?

Current Solution

The PlanetCNC USB software, like most machine control software, can be used to control a laser engraver/cutter. The typical modification is to use the Z axis down signal to fire the laser, analogous to an endmill cutting into the workpiece from an initial position above it.

For the second question, it is important to note that BYCNC machines are not based on PlanetCNC software, or any other particular machine control system. The machines themselves will accept standard signals from a wide variety of machine control systems, not just PlanetCNC or Mach3. This allows maximum flexibility for the customer to choose their own preferred software for this part of the toolchain.

That said, our machines will accept a laser head either in lieu of or in addition to a spindle. Here is an example of a combination spindle/laser mount for our greenBull machine: https://buildyourcnc.com/item/cnc-machine-laser-spindle-combo-head. We have all the parts you would need to add laser functionality to your machine here: https://buildyourcnc.com/LaserComponents.aspx, if you feel comfortable assembling your own package. Also, feel free to contact our sales department for a quote if you need a custom assembly.

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Other Possible Solutions to this Question

How can i get a complete list of all the components (electronics) I need for a CNC laser cutter with the laser controller? A wiring Diagram would probably be very helpful.
All the options for and variations of our blackTooth laser cutter/engraver are available on our website here https://buildyourcnc.com/blackToothLaserCutterAndEngraver.aspx#prettyPhoto. The wiring diagram is available here: https://buildyourcnc.com/blackToothLaserCutterAndEngraver.aspx#prettyPhoto/0/
We do not offer plans or a bill of materials for our machines at this time, but if you are interested in doing your own from scratch you can learn a lot about the design and build process from our tutorials. We wish you success in your endeavors.
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How can i get a complete list of all the components (electronics) I need for a CNC laser cutter with the laser controller? A wiring Diagram would probably be very helpful.
Are there plans to release a USB Controller to work with the Planet CNC Output Board for more advanced spindle control from within Planet CNC?
At this time we are working to release a new USB controller board that will be compatible with Mach4 software and do not have any immediate plans to update the Planet-CNC USB board.
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Are there plans to release a USB Controller to work with the Planet CNC Output Board for more advanced spindle control from within Planet CNC?
I am building a cnc mill using your USB controller and i would like to know what is the specification of potentiometer used for adjusting manual axis jog speed
Dealing with our USB BoB, the potentiometer that will be used in the key jog, is a 5V, 5k - 10k Ohm potentiometer.
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I am building a cnc mill using your USB controller and i would like to know what is the specification of potentiometer used for adjusting manual axis jog speed
Do you sell the 3 axis electronics combo , for heavy gantry , with the new Planet CNC usb controller ?
Unfortunately, we don't sell the planet-cnc controller anymore. They made a change to their software that prohibits us from creating the open source board.

We do sell three other boards that may work for you.

The Pokeys57CNC board is the mose feature rich and will work with both Mach3 and Mach4:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach4-mach3-USB-ethernet-Board

The MAch3 USB board is a good inexpensive interface that will work well if you need the interface to be USB only:
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-breakout-Mach3-USB-Board

Our in-house parallel breakout board (ytou need a parallel port for this interface to work):
https://www.buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-parallel-breakout-relay
Most motherboards have the parallel port connector on the motherboard, but not as a connector on the back of the computer case.
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Do you sell the 3 axis electronics combo , for heavy gantry , with the new Planet CNC usb controller ?
Can the USB CNC Controller be used with LinuxCNC?
The USB Interface can only be used with the Planet-CNC software which runs under the windows operating system.
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Can the USB CNC Controller be used with LinuxCNC?
Requirement of laser cutting CNC Router having working area: 100cm x 100cm x 300cm, Belt driven motion, servo motor controller
This is an open ended question to which there could be many possible answers.

The requirement of a laser cutter is having a laser with enough energy output to cut the intended material. Generally, the laser function is not tied to the working area unless the laser tube is stationary, where the farther the beam has to travel, the less energy results at the intended area (on the surface of the material).

We don't use servo motors here. Rather, we use precision stepping motors instead.
https://buildyourcnc.com/category/nema

We do offer timing belts.
https://buildyourcnc.com/category/pulley

Our blackTooth Laser Cutter:
https://buildyourcnc.com/blackToothLaserCutterAndEngraver.aspx

Our greenBull Leaser/Spindle Head:
The CNC Machine: https://buildyourcnc.com/greenBullCNCMachineKit.aspx
The Laser/Spindle Head: https://buildyourcnc.com/item/cnc-machine-laser-spindle-combo-head
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Requirement of laser cutting CNC Router having working area: 100cm x 100cm x 300cm, Belt driven motion, servo motor controller
I AM PUTTING TOGETHER THE BLACKFOOT AND USING A PORTER CABLE ROUTER. CONFUSED ON HOW TO RELAY ROUTETR WITH USB BOARD. IS THERE ANOTHER SWITCH THAT GOES BETWEEN BOARD ROUTER SO PLANET CNC CAN TURN PERHAPS VACUUM OFF?
We are currently working on a relay board that will connect to USB breakout board, and the router/spindle for both the on/off function. Unfortunately we still do not have it completed or ready to be placed on our website, but it is in the final stages of testing. Please check back regularly for updated stock!

Here is a link to a tutorial for a DIY relay circuit:

There is no vacuum control on the Planet-CNC program, however you could use the same concept of the router/spindle on/off using the relay circuit. Although you will have to use either the flood or mist function for the vacuum.
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I AM PUTTING TOGETHER THE BLACKFOOT AND USING A PORTER CABLE ROUTER. CONFUSED ON HOW TO RELAY ROUTETR WITH USB BOARD. IS THERE ANOTHER SWITCH THAT GOES BETWEEN BOARD ROUTER SO PLANET CNC CAN TURN PERHAPS VACUUM OFF?
I have the build your own CNC kit 3 Axis CNC Machine 2008, were can I get the Gcode or vector files for it ? I wanted to have it laser cut
Gcode or digital files are not available for our machines.

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I have the build your own CNC kit 3 Axis CNC Machine 2008, were can I get the Gcode or vector files for it ? I wanted to have it laser cut
in your book - Build you own CNC Machine. Can I use 9/32" thick bearing instead of 1/4" thick?
As long as the bearing has a minimum thickness of 1/4" and 9/32" is a bit thicker, there will be no problem with the book build using the bearing that is 1/32" thicker. There is actually more surface area which is better.
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in your book - Build you own CNC Machine. Can I use 9/32" thick bearing instead of 1/4" thick?
I am using 5 limit switches on my 3 axis machine. I am using the usb controller for planet cnc. I would like to know where all the wires related to the limit switches get connected? A diagram would be helpful.
The diagram for wiring the USB interface board is located here: https://buildyourcnc.com/item/electronicsAndMotors-electronic-component-USB-Controller-Breakout#prettyPhoto/2/

Under the board illustration, there are three smaller diagrams of limit switch wiring. On each, there are two connections, the GND and the pin which are labeled at the ends of the circuit on the diagrams. The pin side would go to the axis label ++ or -- terminal (i.e. X++, or X--). The other end, labeled GND would connect to any ground terminal on the board.
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I am using 5 limit switches on my 3 axis machine. I am using the usb controller for planet cnc. I would like to know where all the wires related to the limit switches get connected? A diagram would be helpful.
I installed the USB CNC Planet and got out of your USB controler $ 75 .Viska have linked to a video 'Party - 2.. X - running and y and z-axis does not work, it moves step motors and controller positions X -axis works, and Y and Z does not work.
Recommend first test to check a non-working axis, is to connect the current working axis(ex X-axis) to either the y/z axis to test the actual board and wiring in other axis setup. If tests failed and working (x-axis setup) does not working in the new axis location, go the Planet-CNC/File/Settings/Axes and check if your current non-working axis setup requires a inverted pulse. Check box and test again.
Next test if first fails, is to check continuity in your wires. A simple multimeter(ohm's) will work, just connect the positive and negative ends to one side of the same wire and if reading comes to 0.000, wire has continuity and if reads 0.L then there is a break in the wire and should be replaced.
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I installed the USB CNC Planet and got out of your USB controler $ 75 .Viska have linked to a video 'Party - 2.. X - running and y and z-axis does not work, it moves step motors and controller positions X -axis works, and Y and Z does not work.
I would like to make a handheld remote for the USB CNC Board using a joystick instead of momentary switches. Could you suggest one that will work with your board.
The USB interface only works with momentary switches unfortunately. If you have extensive knowledge of digital electronics, you can apply a receiver that uses a microcontroller and a transmitter with another microcontroller that produces the pulsing signal with the controls that you need.

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I would like to make a handheld remote for the USB CNC Board using a joystick instead of momentary switches. Could you suggest one that will work with your board.
I build a 3 axis router CNC the gantry is heavy in aluminium plate, witch plug n'play kit you suggest me 1 or two motor on the longest axis this will be drive with chain?
What is the weight of the gantry, number of teeth on the drive sprocket and tooth pitch?
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I build a 3 axis router CNC the gantry is heavy in aluminium plate, witch plug n'play kit you suggest me 1 or two motor on the longest axis this will be drive with chain?
[823] I plan to use a DDCS stand alone controller for a CNC router build which will have two stepper motors on the x axis, one on Y and one on Z. Will the 3.1 version handle two motors synched on the X axis or will I need the 4.1 version?
No, the 3.1 version will not support slaving the X axis. You will either need to wire the two x axis driver to the same X signal pins, or use the DDCS v4.1 which does support slaving an axis.
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[823] I plan to use a DDCS stand alone controller for a CNC router build which will have two stepper motors on the x axis, one on Y and one on Z. Will the 3.1 version handle two motors synched on the X axis or will I need the 4.1 version?
How do you zero the z axis using a plate with the planet-cnc software and your USB controller?
The instructions on how to use a plate for z-axis homing (moveable sensor) can be found here:

http://www.planet-cnc.com/faq/moveable_sensor/

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How do you zero the z axis using a plate with the planet-cnc software and your USB controller?
Is there a way to use an X,Y plate that will only be responsible for corner finding in Mach3 with the Mach3 USB controller?
Yes, you can use a corner plate very easily. You will want to make a corner plate that has three independent plates that do not conduct with each other. Each of these plates will be connected to a different input (i.e. IN1 for X, IN2 for Y and IN3 for Z). The end mill or tool that is inserted into the spindle will connect to V- of the 24V power supply, or the DCM on the controller, which is connected to the 24V V-. Then, you can use the ref all home button on the program run screen of Mach3.
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Is there a way to use an X,Y plate that will only be responsible for corner finding in Mach3 with the Mach3 USB controller?
I installed the USB CNC Planet software- 2.10.1406.1201., and got out of your USB controller $ 75. 00.All have linked like a video USB CNC Controller/Interface Wiring Instructions Part 2, X - running . Y, and Z-axis does not work, it moves step motors and controller positions X -axis works, and Y and Z does not work.I used 425 oz-in motors
Recommend first test to check a non-working axis, is to connect the current working axis(ex X-axis) to either the y/z axis to test the actual board and wiring in other axis setup. If tests failed and working (x-axis setup) does not working in the new axis location, go the Planet-CNC/File/Settings/Axes and check if your current non-working axis setup requires a inverted pulse. Check box and test again.
Next test if first fails, is to check continuity in your wires. A simple multimeter(ohm's) will work, just connect the positive and negative ends to one side of the same wire and if reading comes to 0.000, wire has continuity and if reads 0.L then there is a break in the wire and should be replaced.
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I installed the USB CNC Planet software- 2.10.1406.1201., and got out of your USB controller $ 75. 00.All have linked like a video USB CNC Controller/Interface Wiring Instructions Part 2, X - running . Y, and Z-axis does not work, it moves step motors and controller positions X -axis works, and Y and Z does not work.I used 425 oz-in motors
I would like to use Mach3 instead of the software for my CNC router. Can you fix the electronics for me?
Yes, you can send your electronics to us for repair, or retrofit to work with either Mach3, Mach4 or LinuxCNC. You can send us an email at customerService@buildyourcnc.com to set up your appointment.

Some of the types of CNC electronics we will consider.

- We will work on electronics from other manufacturers as long as you are ok with the Mach3, Mach4 or LinuxCNC control software for your CNC machine or CNC router.

- We will repair or retrofit used CNC electronics.

- Some customers find that electronics are overwhelming to put together so we will finish these electronics wiring and assembly for you.

The cost for these includes labor cost for the time it takes to finish the CNC electronics repair or retrofit and for any parts that need to be replaced or added.

Here is an example of CNC electronics that we worked on for a customer:

This is the type of response that you can expect to receive after the CNC electronics are repaired or retrofitted to work under Mach3, Mach4 or LinuxCNC. You can see the entire work, which also shows the time involved. We also show what we were able to accomplish at the beginning of the video.
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I would like to use Mach3 instead of the software for my CNC router. Can you fix the electronics for me?
Just bought Build Your own CNC Machine book. It is missing the chapter on lead screws that is described on page 181 at the end of Chaprer 16. Where can I get this info?
It sounds like you got a misprinted book. If you purchased it from us, please contact us directly for a replacement. If you bought it from Amazon or a third party, you'll need to contact them. General information about lead screws is available on this website and at buildyourtools.com.
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Just bought Build Your own CNC Machine book. It is missing the chapter on lead screws that is described on page 181 at the end of Chaprer 16. Where can I get this info?