INSTRUCTIONS:

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Friday, July 16, 2021

VG-L7X

A K40 Traitor am I ?

After many years true my K40, I blame my MAAD* for falling prey to a sale on a 20W laser diode machine. I am now down the Vigotec VG-L7-X rabbit hole. 

*Maker Attention Deficit Disorder

My Vigotec Expectations & Plan

  • Build it…stock
  • Get the stock configuration working and characterize its abilities
  • Create documentation for the unit; controller schematic, stepper wiring, laser diode wiring & control
  • Convert/flash the unit's controller to Laser GRBL 
  • Drive it with Lightburn
  • Design and add safety and laser protection features
  • Design enclosure and lift mechanism so it can be used in a portable mode
  • Put in use, maybe engrave my yet-to-materialize electric dulcimer.

Specs


Getting Started


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Enjoy,

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Information in the VIGOtec ecosystem

 

About the VG-L7X


Purchased here:

VIGOtec VG-L7X (wifi)

Assembly

What's On the SD card

The unit comes with a USB SD card reader.
On the SD card which came with the machine and was plugged into the controller is a Gcode file:
  • sd_default.nc
Seems the VG-L7X runs on real gcode :). [yes but a proprietary version of GrBL]

sd_default.nc file

Videos

VigoTec Stuff on GitHub 

Custom Firmware upload

https://github.com/arkypita/Vigotech-VG-L7X/tree/main/CustomFirmware-VG-L7x

Flashing ESP

  • Copy of original firmware
  • Instructions on copying the resident firmware using esptool

Issues:

Maker Forums


This is only for the L7, not the VG-L7X

Finally figured my L7 out I think. Opened the “Read This” note in the software and it says to use the basic firmware when you want to use other software. I naturally installed the latest when I set mine up.SO. I went back and installed the ‘basic’ and low and behold LB is running. So here is the ‘note’ and good luck to you all!
**4.If you have other control software and want to use it, please upload the standard grbl firmware named ‘Standard_Grbl_1.1f.hex’. Or if you have the appropriate firmware just for the control software, upload it! If you want to use other engraving machine control software, please update the firmware of the engraving machine motherboard to general firmware. **

Upload Instructions for Standard Vigotec

  • Open www.vigotec.cn 7
  • Download file VG-L7 laser engraver
  • Open file and extract all
  • (Read the “ReadMe important” file, it has all explaind).
  • Open "driver_and_upload_tools file.
  • Open “Xloader” file
  • On “Hex file” open “Standard_Grbl_v1.1f.hex” file
  • On “device” select “Uno…”
  • Select the port you have
  • And “baud rate” must have “115200”
  • Upload!!!
  • Takes some time. When uploaded it must be ready to use any laser software (except the original vigotec).

Laser Diode Head

SanWu Model BG20W 

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Enjoy,

Comments are always welcome.
Please, consider using the donate button on the sidebar if you found this post valuable!

Don
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