1

Topic: Filawinder laser not lighting up

The subject pretty much says it all. The laser isn't turning on. I have red on + terminal as the directions say and the ribbon cable is plugged into both ends. All the buttons, switches, knob, and the motor work fine.

2

Re: Filawinder laser not lighting up

Alright, I don't know much about the electronics pinout, but the two pins on the ribbon cable that seem to have 5V across them have no continuity on my ribbon cable. I guess that would mean the laser isn't getting the 5V? I am reading negligible voltage on the terminals for the laser when everything is plugged in. What I am assuming is that the ribbon has 4 pins for the sensors, a ground pin that is shared, and a +5V pin, so if that is the case then the wires on the cable for +5V and ground would be broken.

3

Re: Filawinder laser not lighting up

I was about to ask if you had a multimeter.  PM me your address and I will send you a new cable.

4

Re: Filawinder laser not lighting up

IanJohnson wrote:

I was about to ask if you had a multimeter.  PM me your address and I will send you a new cable.

Sent. Thanks!

5

Re: Filawinder laser not lighting up

Ian was nice enough to send me a new cable and, after a bit of trimming (had to invert the ribbon cable connector on the sensor side) it works perfectly! No complaints other than maybe to QA check the ribbon cables a bit better smile The kit is overall 4.5/5!

"I figured out that the problem with the *new* cable was that the ends were crimped on opposite to the proper direction. In other words, one end had its pinout rotated once vs. the proper direction, so the +5V (and all the other stuff, for that matter) wasn't getting to the laser. I trimmed the polarity tab off of the sensor board end with a hobby knife, plugged it in 180 degrees around, and it works fine! Works perfect, actually! The sensors work great, and now I just need to find some free 12 hours to extrude a few pounds of filament smile"