This article will explore the firmware for the Nova series machines and how they differ.

MORE ON POWER DIFFERENCES BY FIRMWARE HERE:

Determining your firmware level

You can see the firmware version on the dsp control panel upon power up or reset:

And you can find it in from within LightBurn (you must be connected to the laser) under EDIT>GET CONTROLLER INFO:

Power settings

For version 59 and lower versions:

The power that can be set by the user corresponds to the min and max power of the Vendor setting, from 1% to 70%.

It means the customer can set the power from 1% to 70%, but the power that can be set is different from the actual power output of the machine.

If the power is set too low, the laser tube will not be able to fire, because the ignition current is not reached. There will be differences between different laser power supplies and laser tubes. Some can fire at 7%, some at 8%, and some at 9%, so the customers need to set the power start from 7%, 8% or 9%.

For version 63 and above versions:

The power that can be set by the users is from 1% to 100%, the power in Vendor setting is from 7% to 70%. It means the customer sets 1%, but actually sets at 7%. Set at100%, which is actually 70%. And because of the problem of ignition, the customers should set the power form 1%, 2% or 3%.

Rotary Config and Connector

59 and lower versions	63 and above versions
5 pin w/ switch - Y	7 pin - U
For Thunder laser users with a machine that has a 5 Pin Plug and a switch for the rotary connection will sit in the machine with the motor on the right side of the machine. This configuration takes your Y channel and outputs it to the rotary port, leaving your y axis disabled. The majority of Ruida controlled lasers are this way.	The machines with a 7 pin XLR port and no switch (even if there is a hole for one) use custom DSP firmware and use the U channel (A axis in LightBurn rotary settings) for the rotary so your Y axis is never taken offline and the port is autosensing. You plug in the rotary and you are ready to go!

For version 59 and lower versions:

The 5 pin rotary is controlled by Y axis. The 5-pin rotary requires a switch.

For version 63 and above versions:

The 7 pin rotary is controlled by U axis. After the rotary is attached, it will signal the controller and it will automatically recognize that the rotary has been connected. This is why the  and the 7-pin does not need a switch.

Dual air assist

Other settings

Compared with the old version, the new version will have some other minor changes, but they will not affect the normal use of the machine or software.

MORE ON POWER DIFFERENCES BY FIRMWARE HERE:

DC 80 & 100W Power Output Variances By Firmware Level