Thunder Laser RF Tube and Fan Control Board Ports and LED Indicators for Troubleshooting

Thunder Laser RF Tube and Fan Control Board Ports and LED Indicators for Troubleshooting

Preface: This article is high level information about the Fan Board ports and indicators and troubleshooting based of the visual observations. It is very technical


Fan Board Layout:


Fan Board Designations
Fan Board Wiring Connections




Port Designations and Functions:

P1 - 48V power Input - Power will only be present after Machine is homed (initialized)
P2 - In Parallel with P3 and used as a backup (no connection from factory) Speed of Fan indicated by D7
P3 - 48V fan control for Housing - Speed of Fan indicated by D8
P4 -  48V RF Tube Fan Speed Output - Speed of Fan indicated by D9
P7 - PWM Input signal from the Ruida Controller (L-PWM and GND on CN-5) 
P8 - Laser OK to fire from Ruida Controller Input - 5V From U-Axis Connector
P9 - Output signal of RF Tube Alarm - No connection - 5V means no alarm
P10 - 24V Power Input for the Fan Control Board
P11 - Output signal for Alarm Status of the RF tube from the Fan Board to the TL Timer
RJ1 - Output signals to the RF Tube

LED Status Indicators and Functions:

During power up, the lights may come on as part of a self test. You should only read the light status after the machine is homed and 48V is applied to the fan board.
D1 - Pre-Ionization Status Incomplete - Light Off means Ionization is Complete
D2 -  RF Tube Temperature Alarm (>65C, 149F) - On means Alarm Present
D3 - Indicates that the Fan board is receiving the 48V power on P1
D5 - RF Tube Power Supply Voltage out of range (47V-49V), On means Alarm Present
D7 - Housing Fan Speed Indicator on P2 - Brightness of LED indicates Fan Speed
D8 - Housing Fan Speed Indicator on P3 - Brightness of LED indicates Fan Speed
D9 - RF Tube Fan Speed Indicator on P4 - Brightness of LED indicates Fan Speed
D10 - Indicates that the 5V signal from the Ruida Controller U-Axis connector is ok on P8
D11 - Indicates an RF Tube alarm - On = OK, no alarm
D15 - Indicates that the Fan Board is powered on by the 24V feed on P10

Fan Board Control Voltage Sections:


24V Section
48V Section





More Detailed Port Information:


Fan Board P11 Wiring:

These signals go to the TL Timer board

Pin 1 - No Connection
Pin 2 - Blue Wire - Pre-ionization Error Signal to TL Timer - 5V means pre-ionization is complete and OK
Pin 3 - Brown wire -  Temperature Alarm to TL Timer - 5V on is normal, temperature OK
Pin 4 - Black wire - Power Supply Status Alarm to TL Timer - 5V on is normal, power supply is within range
Pin 5- Green\Yellow Wire - Normal or Smart mode for Fan Control - 0V means Intelligent Mode, 5V is standard mode

Fan Board Rj1 to RF Laser Tube "Ethernet" Port


RJ45 Pin and Wire Colors
Pin Functions



ET Series tubes (60,80,100, and 120w)
Fan board Signal Breakout to Tube DB9
Tube Port Signals

Brown White to Pin 1
Orange White to Pin 6
Green to Pin 7
Brown to Pin 9






LED and Port Truth Table:


Indicator Designation
Normal State
Pre-Conditions and Notes
D1
Off
Is on until the machine completes initialization, then On if alarm condition exists
D2
Off
Is on until the machine completes initialization, then On if alarm condition exists
D3
Off

D5
Off
Is on until the machine completes initialization, then On if alarm condition exists
D7
Off
Spare in parallel with D8
D8
Varies in Brightness
Fan Speed indicated by Brightness of LED
D9
Varies in Brightness
Fan Speed indicated by Brightness of LED
D10
On

D11
On

D15
On

P11 - Pin 2 - Blue
5V

P11 - Pin 3 - Brown
5V

P11 - Pin 4 - Black
5V






Testing:

To test some of the signals you will need a sacrificial ethernet cable. Cut the end off the cable and separate the 8 wires.



To test the 5v Enable signal with a meter set to DC:
This 5V signal starts on the U Axis connector on the Ruida controller for the Rotary.

Ethernet Control Enable signal wires:

7 White/Brown  (Control Enable)
8 Brown (GND)



To test the PWM signal from the ruida controller:
This signal starts on the Ruida CN5 controller and is the LPWM-1 and GND signals

Ethernet PWM signal wires:

Wire 1 White/Orange (PWM+)
Wire 6 Green (PWM-)

Tie these 4 wires together: (This will turn off the 3 red LED under the ethernet port on the fan board and fake out the TUBE ok signals to the controller)

Wire 7 White/Brown
Wire 5 White/Blue
Wire 3 White/Green
Wire 4 Blue

Use the alignment screen or pulse button to set up a 50% power pulse that you can hold on with the button and measure between the White/Orange and Green. You should get around 2.5VDC. You can adjust the power percent and it should scale like 1-99% power is 0-5vdc roughly. You may have to bypass the doors if you cannot get the cable out of the back lid with the door shut enough to be closed.

60Watt RF Tube Status LED signals:

Since the Nova Plus signals are NOT wired to the fan board or TL timer, you will need to use the LED's on the bottom of the tube to determine the status.

Example image of the lights of a 60W tube at rest:

Reference Articles:






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