Replacement for MPC03 Controller

[vincentp]

Hi All

I have a chinese laser cutter with a Leetro MPC03 controller. I bought the machine a year ago, but the tube broke and I only just received a new tube (the initial replacement was poorly packed and broke too). So I tried the controller and LaserCut cannot see it. I also tried it on friends machine (he has the same laser and controller) with the same result, LaserCut pops up an error that there is something wrong with the card and then crashes.

After getting no replies from any of the chinese vendors about a replacement I'm now looking for an alternative controller setup. I've been in touch with Testra, their gear looks good but it's a bit pricey, and it includes the stepper drivers which I don't need (assuming the ones I have are ok).

So apart from Leetro and Googoltech (who haven't bothered to reply), are there any other vendors that anyone can point me too. Ideally I'd like a usb interface, and it must support raster and vector (so Mach3/parallel port is not an option).

Thanks

Vincent.

[vincentp]

I forgot to mention that the drivers for the card and dongle are all installed ok (I'm it person so know what I'm doing with pc's).

[cicigweike]

Hi Vincent,
I am a chinese laser engraving machine manufacture, what error that laser cut software shows?
00010001 or 00020002 or 00010003 or can not open driver?
i am puzzled about your machine's problem by words, may be a video is better.

MPC03 used at PCI machine, if you want USB style, you should use MPC6535.
And you should change control lines.

Best Regards,
Cici
www.wklaser.com

[vincentp]

When I start LaserCut 5.1, it puts up a message box which says

---------------------------
Laser output
---------------------------
Open motion card error !
---------------------------
OK
---------------------------

After that it usually crashes.

I have tried this card in another machine which alread had a working card.. removed the existing card and dongle from that machine, installed mine. Start Lasercut... same problem as on my machine.

Vincent

[cicigweike]

software shows "open motion card error" because driver/software/card have problem, but as your friend's good machine show the same word, that is card's problem only.

Please check the chip on the MPC03 card.
My be the chip burn. you can use your friend's good chip test your machine.
(is it your machine supplier had give you some spare chip?usually we give two for spare)

I had attached chip's photo. if it really have problem,you can buy it from USA.
Our chip import from USA too,hehe.

If not chip's problem, you should change a new card.

Cici

[vincentp]

Well I replaced the chips today, didn't make any difference. So I guess I need a new card (might as well upgrade it to a usb based one while I'm at it). If anyone knows where I can buy an MPC6515 controller etc please let me know. So far I have had no reponse from Leetro.

Vincent

[Mongkol]

Dear All,
I try to upgrade from 60W to be 100W.I try to find the laser power supply and laser tube at 100 W power. It should be compatible with MPC03 controller also. Where can I buy these ones? Pls advise.

Mongkol

[cicigweike]

It is not a easy job of change MPC03 to MPC6515, because the MPC6515 card connect wire is very trouble.

I had attached photoes.

One of our customer had ever change a machine from MPC03 to MPC6515,
but as connect wire is so trouble, he buy a whole control box.

Cici

[vincentp]

Hi Cici

So far I haven't found anyone (Leetro included) willing to sell me an MPC6515 setup. I now looking more closely at the Testra ssLaser system.

Vincent

[vincentp]

Well good news!

I got my MPC03 card working! I got a friend who is an electronics guru to look at it. We were tracing tracks on the board and he put a probe on the done pinof the fpga (the spartan chip) pin and we noticed it seemed to post rather quick. Then we noticed that the pin could move when we moved the proble! It turned out only one 1/4 of the chip was actually soldered properly, even though it looked fine under a microscope. This card could never have worked... never mind the phoney qa stickers! Resoldered the chip (208 pins, no small job) and lo and behold it worked! I just cut the first thing on the laser, works a treat!

Vincent.

[Konstantin]

Well done Vincent.
Creative thinking!

[cicigweike]

Vincent,
congratulations on your success.

Cici