lasershark_hostapp

Please note that using this is likely to be difficult. In a perfect world, someone with actual programming chops could pick this up and turn it into something beautiful. For now, it's working well enough for me to run on my Raspberry Pi/RAMPS/Lasershark combo.

Buyer beware!

Notes for installation onto a Raspberry Pi are in the install.sh file.

Programs:

fullprint - Application for parsing g-code as generated by Slic3r to draw each layer and advance the z-axis of the printer. Note that some default settings can be adjusted within fullprint.c, so that they don't need to be re-entered at each run of the command. In order for this program to function optimally, care must be taken to add special notes within the G-code. See Slic3r notes below.

lasershark_jack - LaserShark USB ShowCard Host Application. Allows LaserShark boards to be controlled by applications that use the JACK audio backbone via ISO transfers.

lasershark_twostep - LaserShark TwoStep Host Application. Demonstrates control of a TwoStep board connected to a LaserShark board's UART. This can be used to control a stepper motor for Z-axis control when SLA printing.

lasershark_stdin - LaserShark USB ShowCard Host Application. Piping commands to this application as described in lasershark_stdin_input_example.txt will allow a LaserShark board to be controlled via BULK transfers.

lasershark_stdin_displayimage - Application intended to be piped into the lasershark_stdin application. This application will render a raster of a .png image that is less than or equal to 4096 x 4096 in size. Useful for exposing layers of resin while SLA printing. Note: this does not advance the Z-axis

lasershark_stdin_gridmaker - Application intended to be piped to the lasershark_stdin application. This application will generate a grid pattern over the functional area of the output. Intended to be used for calibration.

lasershark_stdin_circlemaker - Example application intended to be piped to the lasershark_stdin application. Commands output by this application will generate a circle.

Example Commands:

Printing From G-Code ./fullprint -f ../gcodes/ExampleFile.gcode -D 127 | ./lasershark_stdin

Raster-Displaying A PNG Image ./lasershark_stdin_displayimage -m -p 28.png -r 20000 | ./lasershark_stdin

Configuring Slic3r:

Slic3r is designed to extrude filament, and I am basically extruding laser beams onto the build platform any time there is a positive extrusion. Retraction or no extrusion result in the laser being turned off. It's sloppy, perhaps, but it's effective.

Print Settings

• Fill Density should be 100%.
• Infill before perimeters should be checked, so that the part is cured from inside-out.
• Speed settings are completely ignored. They can be adjusted within fullprint with Sweep Speed.

Filament Settings

• Filament settings are largely ignored. The laser is on or it's off, so that can't be controlled.
• If you are using an exhaust fan connected to your RAMPS, this might be a good place to control that.

Printer Settings

• Nozzle Diameter is the effective size of your laser beam. This will vary depending on your degree of focus etc. Mine is set to 0.3mm and I have a pretty well focused beam that gets hot if I leave it on too long.
• Custom G-Code -- place the following into "Before layer change G-code":

G91 ; set relative positioning
G1 Z5 F50 ; lift bed by 5 mm
G90 ; set absolute positioning
;[layer_z] L[layer_num] ; used by fullprint to over-expose early layers

This will lift the print bed away from the surface to un-stick the print, and then tell fullprint what layer you're on. You can configure fullprint to move more slowly on the first few layers to over-cure and stick to the bed.

Please see the following for more details:

http://macpod.net/electronics/lasershark/lasershark.php

http://macpod.net/electronics/twostep/twostep.php

This code is released under the GPL V2