Lightburn Control Board Upgrade | Monport CO2 K40

Monport recently released a new control board for the K40s to use with Lightburn. We have wanted to upgrade our CO2 and took the chance on this one. After some trial and error we got it running and super happy with the results. Looking forward to seeing what this laser can now do with Lightburn.
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Monport 40W CO2
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[@DwightStebner]

Found this video as I am waiting arrival of my new Monport board for my k40.

[@KLRform]

We also tested the new version and it did much better.

[@K40Keller]

Interesting idea. I am currently developing my own board for the K40 laser to use Lightburn.

[@jamesreynolds6882]

Ok for any having issues, I finally got mine working. Omtech K40 stock Power supply. The Laser control plug has from left to right 3 terminals G IN 5V you have to use all 3 the 2 wire plug they send you is useless. Make your own 3-prong plug I used Black red and yellow wires. On the Power supply side Left to right Black wire to G Yellow wire to IN Red wire to 5V On the Motherboard use the first set of 3 by where you hook up the 24 V power (2 plugs connectors to the right of the one they tell you to use) This plug is Left to right G 5V PWM So Black wire to G Red wire to 5V Yellow to PWM boom works perfectly. I will say is sucks having to use lightburn to fire a test pulse for aiming mirrors my PC is about 15 ft from my laser I really miss the test fire button on the machine. Other than that it is working great. My set up I bought a Omtech K40 brand new just for a "all inclusive parts kit" Then I bought 10 pcs 2020 48" long V slot and 5 pcs of 2040x 48" vslot for $200 I Bought Cloudray mirrors and mounts for $25 Bought 3x Nema 17 .9 deg steppers made my machine 38" x 38" with a custom MDF enclosure lined with 12" x 24" tile on walls and bottom. Total cost K40 $369 + $200 in all Vslot + $30 for 3x steppers + $30 in wheels, spacers, bolts etc $20 in 2x4's $50 for 3/4 4'x8' MDF $49 for this main board. Total cost $718 maybe +- $50 in things I am forgetting. Basically doing that $800 CO2 laser that has 2 Y motors and about 30"x30" work area in the future can replace the tube with a bigger tube.

[@KLRform]

Sounds like a super fun project.

[@brianheath72]

I just built this 3 wire like you described, but still no fire, did you have to do other jumpers or grounding out other pins? I have seen other places that stated you had to ground out K+. Mine does have the water flow sensor, but it won't even fire with the button on power supply. Beginning to think a new PS might be an easier fix.

[@DustanWebb]

I do not have this board but am thinking about getting it.... anyhow without seeing a k40 in person I assume it is still just a generic laser power supply. It should be super simple to add a somple push button for the test fire straight to your laser power supply. I have a home built laser that I did the same with. I believs it was from the "G" (ground) pin to the "L" (low)pin... dont hold me to that tho

[@SPLaserworks]

Hi, I'm having the same problem. Can you please send me some pictures of it. Just to se how you have done.thanks.

[@anthonysturrup8187]

Thanks for sharing. I have the o match as well and the monport board. I cannot get it to work . Can u post a pic or vid of the set up for those of us who are not tech savy. Thanks

[@georgechambers3197]

You can change how far it pulls off the limit switch in GRBL. Thanks for the video!

[@KLRform]

That’s for the info!

[@SJSSawdust]

Great video - I just "tried" to upgrade my board. WOW - what a pain in the butt. I think I finally got it set up correctly ( with the help of your video) I do need to hardwire my lights, just the same as you did. I have used Lightburn to basically send the gcode over to my Onefinity

[@KLRform]

Glad you got it working.

[@LostCloudx4]

So I installed this board today exactly how you have. Lightburn begins to communicate... says Homing then nothing and steppers are hot AF. I fired up LASERGRBL and it works and is controllable (ignoring reverse Y axis)... But for the life of me cannot get lightburn to even add it or have it show up at all :(

[@mikeswaim2670]

Good information. I see that Monport now has a K-40 that is LightBurn ready. Guessing it already has the board in it. Thinking about getting this laser later this year.

[@KLRform]

I am going to put in a different one also and do an A/B comparison. Just an FYI before you buy.

[@rusticagenerica]

Fabulous video, well done !! Why is there only one X limit and one Y limit switch? Is there no risk on the opposite side?

[@KLRform]

Thanks. Only a risk if the size isn’t setup right.

[@osklubs]

g=g pwm=in lightburn $32=1 will sort the problems with the lines

[@KLRform]

Thanks for the info!

[@osklubs]

@@KLRform $27=25.000 change it to 5.000(it`s mm) or less and laser head will not run too far from limit switches

[@rodboorman4989]

Hi great video soved my problem did you ever find out how to do adjusting the limit switches as I stuck a new bed in mine but can't manage to find where it is in Lightburn thank you

[@KLRform]

I removed this board so really didn’t spent much time on it

[@rodboorman4989]

@@KLRform but your beds still the same

[@KLRform]

What part of the limit switches do you mean? Them going backwards or the bounce back from them?

[@joeadams1236]

Hiow did you find out that the limit switch needed to be changed. I just upgraded to the Lightburn board, and it homes but when i try to cut it keep saying alarm lock. Is that the same message you were getting?

[@KLRform]

The limit switch thing was briefly talked about in the monport setup guide. I wasn’t getting any errors in lightburn.

[@freddiejames9990]

Hey great video but are you able to help me I messed up my machine settings and the company won’t tell me what they are my laser is going crazy and my axis is flipped and it keeps geinding I just need someone with the machine to lmk what the settings are I would appreciate it and I would donate to channel if helped

[@KLRform]

I can try and help. What settings are you looking for. I do not use the board from this video anymore but if I can help I will.

[@8mmmauser896]

Can I please trouble you for a copy of your GRBL settings from lightburn console tab after typing $$

[@KLRform]

I don’t have them anymore as I removed this board.

[@8mmmauser896]

@@KLRform yeah ok THANKS

[@osklubs]

need alsow... coz have wrong dimesions and speed of X and Y

[@Appleguru]

I have the board and works with Lightburn, but the Air Assist needs to have a firmware update, Monport support is non existent, waiting 2 weeks for update, Does anyone know where else that I could get the firmware? Board 4 stars Support 0 Stars

[@jamesreynolds6882]

I just got this board and installed it in an Omtech K40. Everything works but the laser will not fire in lightburn. My laser wire has 2 wires red and black, the 3 prongs on the power supply Left to right G IN 5V Red wire is on G and Black is on In, on the board itself it is G and PWM Red wire is on G and Black on PWM on the power supply I move Black from In to 5v the laser will fire only with power supply test button not with lightburn (set at max 20%) I leave it on In then test button nor lightburn will make the laser fire. here are my $$ setting (the size is correct this is a custom build I did with a new omtech K40 I bought just for the parts) $0=10 $1=25 $2=2 $3=6 $4=0 $5=0 $6=0 $10=1 $11=0.010 $12=0.002 $13=0 $20=0 $21=1 $22=1 $23=7 $24=800.000 $25=3000.000 $26=250 $27=25.000 $30=1000 $31=50 $32=1 $38=10 $100=157.750 $101=157.750 $102=157.750 $110=8000.000 $111=8000.000 $112=100.000 $120=500.000 $121=500.000 $122=20.000 $130=787.000 $131=587.000 $132=200.000 ok

[@cyberlizardcouk]

what are the p-g pins

[@cburcheri]

I'm wondering the same

[@ttp_007]

The Monport board is a PITA. Had nothing but problems with it. Board has zero instructions, the laser wiring is incorrect, and no signal comes out from any of the PWM ports when the fire button is triggered in Lightburn. The provided power connector with 24V has a jumper from the “L” to the ground, which is not compatible with my K40 causing the laser to stay on. I wish Cohesion3D boards would not cost half of the price of the K40, a real rip-off.

[@user-th6tc5un1s]

Did you solve the jumper to the L pin issue by simply removing that jumper? I have that issue, and think that may be the solution, but every guide and video I see has it in place. I'm not sure why it's not an issue for them.

[@rusticagenerica]

So sorry you had to go through all the hassle with these guys to solve your issues ! Miserable situation.

[@doc_ineeda_win5834]

Can i get that wolf file for my daughter?

[@jaredbellis6526]

I'm having serious problems putting the board in. I have followed this video as well as the one Monport put out and no luck. I have double checked everything against the documentation and have all the wires plugged where they belong. If I plug the power in from the new controller board I can get it to connect to the computer. Doing that I get no power to the laser/led lights. This video solved the led issue. If I plug in the blue wire to the power on the main board the laser will come on but I can't control it because there is no power to the new board. Any idea?

[@KLRform]

Are you saying that the controller won’t move the laser head around or it won’t fire it? I found that I have to turn the power up to something like 30% in lightburn before it would fire.

[@jaredbellis6526]

@@KLRform nothing in the laser compart seems to get any power whatsoever.

[@KLRform]

@@jaredbellis6526 you could email me pics if you want? [e-mail]

[@jaredbellis6526]

@@KLRform I now have a connection and the x/y axis are trying to home. they don't seem to read the limit switches and are making a terrible noise. I tried soldering (never done it before) and should have a connection. Any ideas?

[@KLRform]

@@jaredbellis6526 I used a multi-meter to make sure my soldering worked right afterwards. Use the E stop to get the noise to stop.

[@rusticagenerica]

Why did you not save yourself time and buy a better board? Which are some better boards? I would never buy this one !

[@KLRform]

The cohesion 3d is probably the one that rested the best. The new monport one that replaced this one also worked very well.

[@l.l.3073]

Do Not Buy a Monport super shady business. Offer a Preorder discount that I jumped on. Got my laser when they release it however I endup being charge $114 over retail and they refuse to price match their own retail price. Its a "price reduction is a marketing strategy" where they overprice their preorder and drop the price on release. As of their release price drop 4 times in 2 or 3 weeks.